We recently connected with Catalina Magee and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Catalina, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
When asked: “Where do you get your work ethic from?” you think about how you grew up, and I am no exception. I learned my work ethic through tough times when I was younger. I had to step out of what was comfortable and face hard things.
I started working as a kid. I learned that it wasn’t just about earning money, but working hard for a better life. As a teenage kid, I left my home country of Romania. It wasn’t easy, but I learned to be resilient, resourceful and keep going, no matter what. I learned that there’s a lot of power inside me – enough strength to keep going, enough bravery to keep facing hard things, and enough stubbornness to not give up. Along the way, I found out that hard work pays off. It helps you grow and get closer to your dreams.
So, my work ethic is a reflection of everything I’ve been through, and an intrinsic part of my being. It’s a promise to myself to not just get by, but to really make the most of everything I do. As I keep moving forward, my past experiences motivate me, and kindle a fire within me, pushing me to take on new challenges enthusiastically.
In a world where everybody wants things quickly and seeks instant gratification, it’s important to understand that real success comes from grit, grind, patience, and consistency. Remember your beginnings, have a clear picture of your desired future, work hard, and let your strong work ethic help you along the way.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
To keep it simple, I am an entrepreneur, actress, and published author. I am obsessed with financial freedom, (that led me to real estate investing) and deeply embedded in creative fields like publishing, acting, and writing. I caught the entrepreneurial bug early.
Since my early 20s, I’ve built 10 and sold six businesses. Two out of six were magazine companies. Both were humanitarian.
After selling Trend Prive Magazine (my first magazine company), I worked as an editor for the U.S. government.
Now, what ticks my excitement? It’s creation. The very act of manifesting an idea or an emotion into something real. Currently, I’m finalizing my new book: “How to Make Money from Home.” I can’t wait to share it with the world and hopefully inspire others to take control of their financial future.
Also, I act in a riveting TV show – “Dark Ops”, by Knight Studios. It’s a thrilling journey, bringing life to phenomenal narratives, shaping characters, and celebrating stories that inspire and impact.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Empathy: Looking at all my projects, I can see that I have consistently shown a strong commitment to humanitarian causes and the importance of empathy in my life. I always fought for what I believed in, extending my help wherever and however possible. You’ll get most self-fulfillment when you genuinely help others. And somehow, this helped build great relationships and a community of supportive friends. This inherent compassion significantly influenced my entrepreneurial pursuits, better understanding how to serve customers or fix their problems. If you’re starting your journey, my advice would be to find something you’re genuinely passionate about and use it to drive your purpose.
Resiliency: Developing resilience can greatly aid those starting out on their journey.
Adopt a growth mindset and view challenges as opportunities for learning and growth, rather than obstacles. This will help develop the habit of bouncing back from adversity. Not every endeavor will result in success. Accepting this fact and viewing failure as a learning experience is crucial to building resilience. To have that mindset, you need to keep a humble spirit.
The more successful you’ll become, the more haters you’ll have, so you need to grow thick skin fast. Understanding and managing your emotions, will help you stay calm under pressure. Much like a flexible tree that bends but doesn’t break in a storm, resilient individuals adapt to adversity without being overcome by it, making them better equipped for the inevitable challenges life throws their way.
Thank God, I’ve always been nonchalant when it came to failures. Sometimes, I smiled and told myself: “Oh, okay…. They closed a door in my face? I’ll come back and buy the whole building, watch!”
Financial literacy and the art of selling: Knowing how money works and understanding how to make it work for you is crucial in any line of work. My advice for individuals at the beginning of their path would be to spend time educating yourselves on financial literacy—it pays off in the long run.
Talent is not enough. Every single person on this planet is born with some kind of special ability. I think what is truly special is the person who has the courage and resources to invest in themselves, or knows how to promote and showcase their gifts to others. Rather than wasting money on unnecessary stuff, use it to invest in yourself and learn how to sell your skill or product.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
Feeling overwhelmed is a common experience, especially when juggling multiple tasks or facing high-stress situations. What helps me, is that I have a dedicated prayer room in my house, so it’s there that I often retreat, humbly bowing down to pray for guidance and inner peace. My advice is to pray about it, and leave it in God’s hands.
If praying is not your thing, I recommend creating a list of tasks, ensuring you assign them accurate priority. Tackle the most complex tasks during the morning hours, when you have most energy, vigor, and clarity.
I also wholeheartedly believe in nurturing the mind-body connection as well. As such, I consciously stick to a balanced diet, investing in diets that reinforce both my physical well-being and emotional resilience. So, I highly recommend exercising at least half an hour daily, coupled with getting adequate sleep.
If these approaches fall short, reaching out to your family or best friends, might provide the perspective you need.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://catalinamagee.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialcatalinamagee
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialcatalinamagee
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catalinamagee
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/catalinamagee
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@officialcatalinamagee/about
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@catalinamagee
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