Meet Chrystina Katz | Speaker, Trainer, Coach, Travel Show Host

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chrystina Katz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chrystina, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risks are a way of life for a worthwhile life, a life worth living.
My younger self took risks without even realizing they were risks until someone would say something about me being crazy, gutsy, or stupid. I just did what interested me, seemed like the right thing to do, or had to do based on circumstances. Sure, many times it was scary.

I had fears, of course. In my 20s, I read Susan Jeffers’s book “Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway”. Highly recommend this book. She helped me to recognize that fears are normal AND we can still take risks and move forward.

Over the years, I have learned to take ‘calculated risks’ by planning ahead. The secret to risk success is also to not be attached to the plan. Allow changes. Use the plan as a guide, a framework, an action plan. Then pivot when new opportunities arise and make sense.

Taking risks kicked in higher gear after a horseback riding accident in 2013. The doctors told me I would never walk again. I refused to accept that because I had a teenage daughter at home, and I could not see myself getting around my horse ranch in a wheelchair. I pushed and worked hard to heal and with a miracle, I am walking again. I can even ride and dance again.

I also learned to appreciate life more and be gutsier to experience more of life. Nowadays, live my life a bit like the theme of the movie “Yes Man” with Jim Carrey.

I have lived in seven states, and travel several times a month for work and play, and enjoy seeing new places, meeting new people, and learning along the way.

Planning ahead a bit helps make calculated risks easier and a little less scary. Taking risks helps make life worth living.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I spent 30 years in the corporate world, working in several different industries, including automotive, biomedical devices, software development, and finance. Over those decades I developed business acumen, people skills, and strategic thinking. And I discovered what I enjoyed doing versus what was needed to raise a daughter alone. When she was a teenager, I started to plan for the ‘empty nest’ season of my life. I know I would be gutsy and travel a lot.

I dreamt of working on my own terms and enjoying life through the lens of travel. While I was in the software industry, I worked virtually and loved the freedom. I left the 9-5 lifestyle and embarked on gig work with training, coaching, and public speaking. It wasn’t easy because I jumped too soon. While I had five-figure savings to live on, it wasn’t enough to comfortably build a business. I had to pivot a few times and develop multiple streams of income to pay the bills. Resourcefulness, tenacity, and confidence in myself that the Universe is helping me kept me going. Plus, support and encouragement from friends!

While I always enjoyed giving to others, it was difficult for me to ask for help. I have learned so strongly that friends and colleagues can help each other. I learned to ask for help. Something totally against my upbringing and independent nature. It was hard and scary. Yet, people were happy to help. I was shocked and appreciative.

The gutsy pivots I have made in my life, the life lessons of needing others, and the wonderful rewards, and satisfying experiences, make my life so worthwhile now.

I want others to feel that love of life too! So, I share my stories, my challenges, and the rewards on-stage, in workshops, in the travel show I host, and in coaching sessions.

My clients come to me wanting more in their lives, ready to be gutsy and make changes, yet not knowing how to move forward. After uncovering their dreams and their fears, we work through the challenges with strategies, tools, and new habits. They have a supportive guide through the difficult times, and we celebrate the successes too.

To further inspire others to Be Gutsy, I have a Travel Talk show called Gutsy Travels, and social media with inspirational posts.

I believe that if everyone was Gutsy in their life, we would have a much happier society. People doing what they really want to do instead of what they feel they have to do. Being Gutsy is scary, yet so rewarding when we are passionate about what we do in our daily lives.

Everyone can be Gutsy! It takes guts, guidance, and support.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Since we would have a week to travel and sightsee, we would enjoy SoCal and visit Nevada and Arizona too.

First California…. We would visit Griffith Observatory! The view is spectacular of the valley and of course the Hollywood sign. Check out the Walk of Fame, maybe we would get lucky and see the celebration of a celebrity receiving their own star! And visit a coffee shop, or two, along the way.

Then we would drive to Las Vegas, walk the Strip, and hike in the Red Rock Canyon. The red rocks, pine trees, and waterfalls are amazing.

Next, we would drive to Sedona and see the beautiful red cliffs and Hoodoos, hike Bell Tower, and enjoy the beautiful views of the valley.

Then drive back to SoCal, travel Route 1 to Santa Barbara, and jump in the ocean. Cold! Yet refreshing.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
In this lifetime, we are all so connected. So many people have influenced me over my many decades of life. My parents made me strong and independent. Their critical eye on everything taught me to research and plan ahead. In college, my mentor, Dr. Creighton, taught me to appreciate others in word and deed. He would thank me for doing my laboratory job, for showing up, and for working hard. Things I thought were assumptions, he showed appreciation. I hope I have given that to everyone in my life since then.

My daughter has taught me so much about caring and nurturing others. Without even knowing it, she has kept me grounded to earth and helped me push through really hard times.

Toastmasters is a non-profit, leadership and speaker educational association. Over 13 years, I learned to come out of my introverted shell and discovered my extroverted self. With supportive feedback, I got comfortable on stage, sharing wisdom and stories, to inspire others to choose to make their life worthwhile.

That is also where I met a powerful mentor in my life, speaker coach, Ed Tate. His guidance set me on the path I continue today.

Over the years I have built several deep friendships that I cherish with all my heart. Carol, Cheryl, Jamie, Marijke, and Michelle are dear friends all over the country, who have supported, encouraged, and pushed me. My deep gratitude for their friendship goes beyond words.

And moving into the future, I know there will be many more people who will touch my heart and I hope I will touch their hearts as well, supporting each other through fun and difficult times. Our relationships help make this life worthwhile!

Website: https://www.chrystinakatz.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrystinagutsypivoter/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrystina-katz-gutsypivoter/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChrystinaKatzGutsyPivoter

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@gutsytravels8099

Other: Travel Talk Show Gutsy Travels https://www.gutsytravels.com/

Image Credits
Gutsy Travels pics by Ryan Vaniski. CyberSecurity TV Show with Dr. M Jackson, Jr by John Stiles. Chrystina with car by Suzette Allen. Chrystina against a brick wall by Dawn Sullivan.