Karen Cappello is a brilliant Business Strategist and Master Certified Coach (MCC); a gold-standard coaching accreditation that puts her in an exclusive group of the top 4% of coaches in the world.
She is the Founder of Karen Cappello LLC and has spent the last 20+ years catering to a global clientele of Business and Executive Coaches from North America to South Africa (and everything in between!).
With her magnetic energy and a truly gifted mind for business, Karen draws from her expansive business background to help her clients double and even triple their quarterly revenue earnings.
Her motto? Success with ease and joy!
Karen Cappello, CEO of Karen Cappello, LLC
You have a very impressive resume in the business world. What was the turning point that got you into the coaching business?
In a word: Burnout! I was working 60 to 70 hours a week in the corporate world, and even though I was really successful, I knew it was not sustainable.
Every single day, I envisioned three things for myself. First of all, I wanted to work fewer hours, which wasn't going to be hard because I was already working so many. Secondly, I wanted to have my 'comfy clothes work days' because I was tired of wearing suits and heels. And thirdly, I wanted to wake up without a blaring alarm clock. And I wanted to do all this and maintain the lifestyle I was accustomed to. When I started my own business, I got all these things and that transformation was just phenomenal.
The turning point though was on September 11th, 2001. I was at a socially responsible investment conference at a Tucson resort. Once the news hit, I went home that night and reflected on how fleeting life could be. Three days later, I handed in my resignation and it's been one of the best decisions I've ever made!
What was your early career like? Were you always entrepreneurially inclined?
Yes. I would say I was. My first job was as a Residence Hall Director when I was 21 years old, I was in charge of Centennial Hall at Northeast Missouri State University. We had 750 students and 13 staff members. Being that young, I'm not even sure why they put me in charge, yet there you are!
I did the job and was very successful. And even though I was part of a big university organization as a Hall Director, it was an entrepreneurial job because I was in charge of this hall with all these people that took all my entrepreneurial expertise.
Another job I recall is when my father owned a semiconductor manufacturing business that he had built from the ground up. I helped him on my holidays and got paid to do side jobs for the business. I went on to become President of that company and that taught me even more about being an entrepreneurial leader.
Today, I have this mantra of “success with ease and joy,” and it comes out of having to work hard for all the success I had in those early days.
What motivates you to show up for your clients each day? Do you have a role model or mentor?
Well, I would say my father is definitely a role model for me, especially in starting my own business. He would always say to me, "Look, you can do anything you set your mind to." To this day, he remains my biggest inspiration.
My father's work ethic inspired me to work really, really hard and it was a success formula for me. That's why I decided to find out if it was possible to merge the two ‒ Success with ease and joy!
That said, I definitely have some days of hard work, but they are few and far between. What motivates me each day to show up for my clients is something my mentor and coach Caitlyn Doemner said:
"Sales is an act of love and service — it requires deep empathy, swift intelligence, and the highest forms of communication. We have to show up ready to give our prospective clients the opportunity to change their lives forever.”
This is what my mission is – to change lives forever – for the better.
Post-COVID, what are the opportunities out there for aspiring Business and Executive coaches? Is it too late to enter the game?
Well, the market is very saturated. However, post-COVID, the challenges for business leaders have just increased exponentially. Prior to COVID, even 'command and control' leaders and leaders who were not as good with people, were able to get by, especially if they were employed in big companies.
Now with things like the Great Resignation, quiet quitting, and employee disengagement, these leaders need coaching more than ever ‒ much more than ever! That's why I think that while the number of coaches has increased, the need for coaches has completely outpaced the increase in coaches. There are so many opportunities out there.
Do you believe that every coach needs a coach?
I believe in the value of coaching. If you are a coach who's getting your business going or even years into it, you want to have somebody you can talk to about what's going on. You want to achieve a level of excellence and achieve the highest version of yourself that you can possibly be.
I once did a coaching engagement that was a $12,000 investment. And guess what? That one investment has created millions of dollars in my business! The return on investment of coaching is phenomenal.
The other part of this is energy. When you as a coach are asking people to invest in coaching with you, if you have not invested in your own coach, there's going be an energetic mismatch. And your prospective client won’t hire you. It won't come out like, "Oh I'm not going to hire you because it's an energetic mismatch."
They're going to say things like, "I'm not ready or I can't afford it."
So as a coach, consider making an investment that's a bit of a financial stretch for you ‒ just outside your comfort zone. You're more likely to find clients who would do the same with you. There are many good reasons to get coached!
You have a book called 'The Clients You Are Seeking Are Also Seeking You'. Could you explain your philosophy behind this?
There is a philosophy that we're all connected by a red thread, all of us. I believe if I have a thought to offer something, there is somebody out there in the world who has a thought that they are looking for it. There are all these thoughts that intersect in time and space.
When coaches start their own businesses, they're at their desks in their offices by themselves. They start to feel like, "Where are all the clients? Does anybody really want to coach with me?" So, the idea that The Clients You Are Seeking Are Also Seeking You is based on the Rumi quote, "What you seek is seeking you.”
It reminds us that there are people out there who are looking for our skills and talents at the same time that we are wanting to offer them. You couldn't have a thought without having a corresponding thought of somebody wanting to hire you.
The idea is very soothing especially when you're starting out. If you feel a lull in your business (everyone does), it will help you feel hopeful and anticipatory to know that there are people looking for you!
What is your greatest client achievement so far?
My proudest coaching story is with my client Rachel. At 80 years old, she made a million dollars during her very first year coaching! She is leading the way to show other coaches what’s possible – a true inspiration.
And it’s not only about income, but also about impact. That's what fuels me. I want to help my clients get the lake house that they've always dreamed about, or their home in the mountains, or put together trust funds for their grandkids. I mean, it's so exciting to see them thriving like that!
What does the future hold for Karen Cappello? Do you have any exciting business ideas in the pipeline?
In 2023 and beyond, I am really looking forward to stepping more into the role of CEO in my business. I've created programs and opportunities for others to deliver some of my services so that I can be the face of the business. I'd still like to be involved in marketing and sales and leave the delivery to other coaches who have achieved excellence in my programs.
I'm also on my way to my seven-figure year, which I wasn't sure I was going to go for, as I didn't want more "work". But I've just started with a new coach and I feel that now I can do that seven-figure year with ease and joy! Stay tuned to see what happens.
How can people get in touch with you?
Karen will be hosting a 3-day workshop, the Quarterly Business Boost starting on March 7th. You’ll discover how to use your experience and expertise to attract your ideal clients and become the go-to coach in your niche! You can learn more here.
There is also a VIP option which includes an extended Q&A Session with Karen, along with a chance to win a full sponsorship to the next Quick-Start Intensive ($7,000 value).
You can also follow Karen on her LinkedIn and Facebook profiles for more great insights on building your coaching business with ease and joy. And visit her website for more info!
