Contagious Courage: Leaping into the Unknown, Putting Family First

Ever wonder if work-life balance is a fallacy – a misnomer? Is it really possible to ‘get a grip’ on our schedules? Is it feasible to juggle the demands at home, while pursuing our passion? And if we’re lucky enough to find our passion, how do we balance that passion with home life? What about the risk? Is it really worth it? What if we fail? After all, everyone knows everyone in this small community ...

I am fascinated by risk takers and the way in which they so easily ‘jump’ without fear. I am particularly in awe of female risk takers with heart who are able to juggle kids, careers, husbands, friendships, volunteer activities, while still managing time for the occasional (or daily) shower!

Cathy Linton is one of those people – one of those contagiously courageous people who puts family first above all else – even career. I met Cathy several years ago in our sons’ Kindergarten class. She was coming from a business meeting and I was coming from cleaning kitchen counters. I marveled at how she seamlessly slipped from the role of corporate leader to the role of mom. From the get-go, she inspired me. But her recent ‘leap’ has inspired me even more and I am certain her determination and fearlessness will inspire you, too (it probably already has)!

Nominated by the Atlanta Journal Constitution as one of the five Most Networked people in Atlanta, Cathy is no stranger to success. So, when she told me she was saying Hasta la vista to the corporate world to pursue a new passion, for the sake of family life, my jaw dropped.

And then I nearly dropped when she told me she was the new owner of Casabella, East Cobb's beloved 'go-to' store for gifts, all-things home decor, and all things 'I have to have that!' The 13,000-square foot store specializes in clothing, jewelry, furniture and home décor and prides itself on the kind of personal service other stores have long forgotten.

Cathy joins the ranks of a growing number of women who own their own business. Many, like Cathy, have left Corporate America for a shot at working for themselves instead of for someone else. A report from the Institute of Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) shows that women are steadily increasing their presence in the world of small-business ownership. About 29 percent of America's business owners are women, that’s up from 26 percent in 1997. The number of women-owned firms has grown 68 percent since 2007, compared with 47 percent for all businesses.

So, what spurred Cathy to ‘leap’ and what has she discovered in the process? What can we glean from the risks she was willing to take, and how can those of us who shake in our shoes at the mere mention of the 'c'- word (change) become more courageous? I asked, and here’s what she gladly shared.

Q: Were there any turning points leading up to your career change?

"I spent the past 19 years in leadership positions at two large corporations. I was always working, but somehow always on the move, too. Juggling career and family became a way of life. After 19 years, corporate stress had begun to take a toll on me. I was letting my health decline and couldn’t even leave work to go to the doctor. I was flying to New York or LA, maybe a day trip on the corporate jet, but I was always working.

“Fortunately, I was blessed to work with amazing teams, cultures and leaders year after year. That never changed. What did change was my passion. Over the years, it dwindled. I reported to five leaders in 10 years and turnover was high, while my hours at the office and in my car kept increasing. I knew it was time for a change. The crazy thing is, where I would go never frightened me. I constantly wondered 'when' would be the right time to change jobs. There was never a 'good time' and there was always a reason for me to say, 'not now.'

Q: What finally made you leap?

"My boss lost his job in late 2015 and let me know my position would be eliminated early the following year. Wow. It was actually going to happen. After 10 years the new leadership team was eliminating a block of positions. We could re-apply for a new role or we could leave. While many panicked, I was excited. Yes, scared, but the 'when' was finally being decided for me. I knew immediately I was not going to re-apply. I had been given a gift. The stress left almost instantly."

Q: How did your husband react? How about your 8-year-old son?

"My husband and I spoke on my drive home that night, and, as always, he supported me. That evening I told our 8-year-old I would be leaving my corporate job. 'Good!' he said.

"Seriously? Was that the reaction I expected? His next comments said it all: 'Since your new boss started, you’ve been working all the time. You missed my holiday party at school, you were late to my baseball game, you are on the phone and texting all night, and you’ve been yelling at me and daddy a lot more.'

"Ouch. As a mom of an only child, I never realized how much I was impacting him. I couldn’t believe what my 8-year-old son had clearly communicated.

"He put a final nail in the coffin as he finished, 'Mom, you always tell people to follow their dreams. The job you have right now is not your dream.'

"He was so right. I try to also be a mentor and help others, but always tell them to follow their dreams. So, why not me?”

Q: How did you move from Corporate America to East Cobb retail? Why Casabella?

"I almost didn’t. I was starting the interview process for Corporate America all over again, working on my resume and meeting with recruiters. I was knee-deep in interviews when I realized I was about to do it again. I was about to return to the life that had taken over my family. While I made great friends, was I willing to do it again? Was the passion still there? Over Fall break I started researching businesses for sale. My requirement at the time was just one: close to home! No more hour-plus commutes each day. As always, my husband was supportive. He kindly reminded me to start small and we could learn and grow. During Fall break I made contact with several businesses and began learning about them. That Sunday we returned home and met with our first possible business. As we got in the car after the meeting, my husband sat quietly waiting for me to speak. 'No way,' I said. He had an instant relief. Not at all what we were expecting. My son was with us for the meeting and even he started pointing out issues. So, I kept looking. The next week I learned Casabella was for sale. It has been around for 15 years with a solid client base, and is only 5 minutes from home. I knew what I wanted to do - but was it the right decision?"

Q: Were you fearful you were making a mistake?

"Shortly after learning the business was for sale, I took my son to Casabella for a 'shopping experience.' I wanted to look at it one more time before I moved forward. I told him nothing except I needed to buy a gift. As we walked to the store, he began telling me how I needed to buy a store like Casabella. He was full of excitement and suggestions. It made my heart smile. This was the right decision. My husband and I began crunching numbers and the work to purchase a business began. His support for me continued. He had never been in the store, and did not go in the store until we submitted our offer. When we walked in he said, 'I thought we were starting small.' It is a large store with 30 part-time employees. It was a leap, but we were both ready."

Q: There is often an intricate tightrope walk female leaders must walk. If a female leader is strong, assertive, directive, and 'in-charge,' in your experience, is she labeled differently than a male leader who possesses the same characteristics? How have you handled that as a leader over the years?

"This is so, so true! A man is seen as a leader and a woman as bossy. In the communications field, there are more women than men, but it seems we are always presenting to men. I have seen women sit quietly versus presenting and defending their work. We are experts and know what will work, but fall in the trap of letting the men talk and make decisions. I have tried to always teach my team the importance of speaking up and having an opinion. In the corporate world, there are many decision makers, but speaking up gets you a seat at the table. That’s one of the reasons I love my role at Casabella. I work with a team of amazingly talented women who are gifted at what they do. I learn from them every day and I empower them to do what they do best. It’s been the best gift I’ve been given to learn and lead and lead and learn. Plus, most of my customers are women; I get to hear wonderful stories about their lives every day. It’s become an extended family of sorts. Something I never imagined but truly love.”

Q: What do you think holds women back - personally and professionally?

"There is often a stigma about working women. However, most women now work outside the home. How we carry ourselves at work sets the tone and determines our success. I believe in allowing flexibility with my teams and often remind them family is first. I believe you CAN have work-life balance – you just have to make it your priority. Everything is a rush at work – but is it? What if you miss that deadline by one day so you can see your child’s play? Was there an impact? I understand sometimes the answer is yes, but it should be sometimes – not always."

Q: What's been the best part of making the leap?

"My passion is back! I am in charge of me and I am in charge of the business. The week after I left my corporate job I had my annual physical. I was approaching high cholesterol and blood pressure. One year later, my cholesterol and blood pressure are back to normal range and I have lost weight. I am no longer stressed at work or because of work. I don't live by a calendar – in fact, I don’t even have one! The only downside? My five-minute commute has shortened my former catch-up time with friends which used to take place on my long commutes! I am dropping off and picking up my son at school now and work isn’t in the way. We eat as a family – something that was on the decline. I am also adding my marketing background to a business that has never done marketing. That’s fun, too. The ‘leap’ has been so worth the jump to the other side!

Q: What would you tell someone contemplating making a big change in their lives?

"I remind my friends and the people who work for me you spend most of your life at work - not with friends and family, but with your co-workers. If you don't love what you do, you CAN make a change. There is a place for everyone to be happy and direct their passion. I don’t believe it has to be 'work' and painful. If you have a good day at the office, you are able to have an even better time at home.

“This week I met with a friend who was a CEO of a large company for years. They merged and his role was eliminated. He said to me, ‘I have always had a Plan B, but I am the bread winner. It worries me to take that chance.’ We then spent 30 minutes talking about how he missed his twin son’s senior year of high school due to his workload. He worked non-stop, yet he disliked it. He didn’t want to do it again. I quickly shifted the conversation and said, ‘You can do your Plan B.’ I strongly believe you have to take the time to decide what you want and what is important to you. In Atlanta, the commute was at the top of my list. I wasn’t willing to jump back into the car and miss family life. By the way, I am now averaging less than 10,000 miles a year on my car instead of 30,000. I smile looking at my odometer! What is important to you? Build a plan around that."

Q: Is there a mantra you live by?

"Live life to the fullest and be the best you can be. We are surrounded by stress and chaos. Take a breath, prioritize and have fun. When the day ends, you can’t have it back."

Thanks, Cathy Linton, for reminding us to take the leap. Your courage is indeed contagious and you inspire us by your actions (and your 13,000-square foot store)! Casabella is located at 4400 Roswell Road, Suite 128A, Marietta, GA 30062, just across from The Avenue.