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

Hi Kara, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I was having success, but my business began to plateau. I was ready to take my business to the next level, yet the activities that worked to get me where I was, such as networking, were not working to get me where I wanted to go next! I became frustrated with traditional networking and feeling like I was being “sold to” at every event I attended rather than connecting to help one another. Not to mention, all the unsolicited business cards and a lack of authenticity in some of the conversations. I was craving a deeper connection and collaboration. I wanted to learn from people who were like me; and needed to find people who were thinking bigger and wanted to grow. I knew that what I needed was new ideas and insight. I needed to expand my network and create new opportunities. I could not keep doing the same thing over and over; after all isn’t that the definition of insanity? I needed to STOP the insanity! I started my hands-on secret research… I found that even in the women’s networking groups, there was a sense of community missing and that, when asked, some of the women seemed excited and up for the idea of something different with more substance, more intention, and more accountability. I began to realize that there were women who like me, wanted, and needed to be part of a solutions based, idea-generating think tank: a mastermind. Upon further investigation, I also recognized the EXPENSE of MOST masterminds is what prevented these women from taking that step and achieving the goal of the next level. I realized that I needed to find more people who were growth minded and were looking for the same thing! Women who think like me! What I needed, and wanted didn’t really exist. So, I tapped into my inner, rule-breaking, entrepreneur-self and realized I did NOT need to find a group, I needed to create one! All I needed was a plan, some determination, and to find just a couple of a few people who had a similar vision… Voila! Connect For Success, the Authentic, Affordable Mastermind Was Born!

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?
The last two decades of my career have been invested in building several of my own businesses from the ground up; each of them rooted in relationships and connecting and no that is not ever easy. It’s exhilarating though and it’s fulfilling because I get to help a lot of people. Zig Ziglar says “You will get all you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want”. Frankly, when I launched Connect For Success in 2014 there was nothing like it. There was a space that needed to be filled bringing a “mastermind” concept but with a bigger sense of community was the goal – a hybrid of sorts. A mastermind at it’s core but sprinkled with a bit of networking and an amazing hub of resources for entrepreneurs who want to stretch and grow in an environment that is collaborative and compassionate.

We pivoted like many in the last year and a half and we now provide a fully online, multi-faceted, member-based resource where we break all the rules of old-fashioned networking, build solid relationships, grow personally and professionally, and have fun in the process.

Myself and the women who make us what we are, passionately believe we can all win when we embrace an abundance mentality and collaborate rather than compete. Because of the women who “buy into” our mission we have also been and humbly, awarded the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Woman Advocate of the Year in 2017.

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?
Well that’s a great question and funny enough one of my best friend’s visited me from New Jersey this past February, She needed to get out of the cold so she came to San Diego for 5 days. We went hiking at two of my favorite spots to show off San Diego… Cabrillo National Monument and Torrey Pines Reserve. We went to some of my favorite local spots like Choice Juicery, Giaola’s and the Black Rail in Carlsbad. We took a day and drove to Newport Beach to see another “Jersey” friend and went sailing for the day. We just spent some great quality time together telling stories, laughing and crying; like old friends do but San Diego is not a bad place to do that!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people who have provided much needed support and encouragement over the years but the person I want to most recognize is my husband Larry Horat.

Website: connectforsuccessonline.com

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/connect-for-success-san-diego/?viewAsMember=true

Facebook: https://www.facebohttps://www.facebook.com/ConnectForSuccessOnline

Image Credits
Ann Landstrom

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