Meet Kathryn Coffman

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kathryn Coffman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kathryn below.

Hi Kathryn, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

Resilience has always been a defining part of who I am, and looking back, I can see how it was shaped by my early experiences and continues to play a pivotal role in my life today – personally and professionally.

It began in my school years, starting as early as second grade when I experienced relentless bullying, which continued through much of my elementary and middle school years. By seventh grade, I had reached a point where I needed to step back, take control of my environment, and heal. I chose to homeschool for a couple years, which became a period of rebuilding and introspection. During this time, I learned the power of self-advocacy and was inspired by iconic figures like Olympic figure skater Ekaterina Gordeeva, who faced unimaginable personal tragedy yet continued to get out of bed and put one foot (or skate!) in front of the other. Her story, along with my own need to reclaim control of my life, pushed me to develop resilience – not just in a physical sense, but as a mindset.

Returning to traditional schooling, I found myself in a high school that demanded self-discipline and self-determination, much like the environment at The Evergreen State College, where I later attended. One moment that stands out is when I advocated for myself with a teacher who wasn’t grading my work in a timely manner, which nearly caused me to miss deadlines. Despite my natural tendency to avoid conflict, I requested a meeting with the principal to find a solution. This was one of the first times I truly stood up for myself, and it was a breakthrough moment in realizing that resilience isn’t just surviving – it’s taking charge of the situation and creating your own path.

Fast forward to my business life today, and that resilience continues to play a key role in navigating client relationships. One of the most recent examples was when I worked with a client who, despite hiring me as an expert, never fully trusted the process or my ideas, however seemed eager to accept the same ideas when they came from their employee. This kind of dynamic is challenging, especially when compared to other clients who are fully invested in the collaboration and appreciative of my work. The contrast can feel draining, but resilience is what allows me to maintain professionalism, assert myself when necessary, and, most importantly, keep perspective. I’ve learned that not every client is the right fit – and that’s okay. “You can be the ripest peach, but some people just don’t like peaches.” Reminding myself of this phrase helps me maintain balance and prevents me from internalizing negative interactions.

I’ve also honed resilience through conflict management with subcontractors and interns over the years. Sometimes life gets in the way or priorities change, and they can’t meet expectations, and while I do believe I am deserving of the basic decency of honest communication when things do change, I try my best to approach those situations with empathy and understanding, recognizing that it’s often not a reflection of me or my business – it’s simply life.

Finally, resilience in my business isn’t just reactive – it’s proactive. I’ve developed systems, like comprehensive questionnaires for potential clients, that help me identify red flags early on and make sure we’re a good fit before entering a working relationship. At the same time, I recognize that people can surprise you – someone who seems cold in an email may become one of your favorite clients once you get them on the phone. It’s all about balancing preparedness with flexibility, and learning that even in difficult situations, you can adapt and thrive.

Through it all, resilience has been about more than just bouncing back – it’s been about moving forward with purpose, optimism, and a commitment to staying true to myself, whether in my personal life, my schooling, or my business.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I run a digital marketing agency, Fashionably Frank Marketing, that provides comprehensive content marketing solutions to heart-centered businesses and entrepreneurs, allowing them to transcend overwhelm, discover balance, and leave impact. My absolute favorite part of my work is seeing the relief (and excitement) on my clients’ faces when they outsource to the professionals and get back to doing the nitty gritty of what they love. If you’re on the market for any branding/web design/marketing freelance work, you can view our services at www.fashionablyfrankmarketing.com. We also share a ton of free resources and tips & tricks via our mailing list, blog, and @fashionablyfrankmarketing on socials!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, three key qualities stand out as being most impactful in my journey: ability to network, resilience, and self-discipline.

First, the ability to network – or rather, who you know and how you maintain those relationships – is absolutely crucial. In every industry, relationships can open doors that would otherwise remain closed. In my experience, building strong connections isn’t just about having people in your corner when you need them, but also about fostering authentic relationships that are mutually beneficial. For those just starting, I’d advise focusing on networking with intention. Be genuinely curious about others, listen more than you speak, and always be looking for ways to help others first. Over time, those relationships become invaluable assets.

Next is, of course, resilience! From early struggles like advocating for myself in school to navigating challenging client relationships in my business today, resilience has been essential. Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back; it’s about adapting, staying positive through uncertainty, and pushing forward even when things are tough. For anyone starting their journey, understand that setbacks are inevitable. The key is learning how to manage them without letting them derail your progress. Cultivating resilience means developing the mindset to learn from challenges and stay focused on long-term goals.

Finally, self-discipline has played a huge role, particularly in how I manage my time and stay productive. Early in my career, I realized that no one was going to hold my hand, so it was up to me to stay on top of things. Whether it’s managing deadlines, setting boundaries with clients, or maintaining work-life balance, self-discipline is what ensures consistent progress. For those starting out, I’d recommend setting clear goals and creating systems to hold yourself accountable. The more disciplined you are in your daily habits, the more freedom you’ll eventually create for yourself.

Together, these three – the ability to network, resilience, and self-discipline – have shaped my career and continue to guide my growth today.

How would you describe your ideal client?

I have a soft spot for the heart-centered business owner. They are authentic and value organic growth over vanity metrics. Honesty is one of their most valued traits. They are generous in their kindness and passionate about their niche. Giving back to their community is important to them. They have realistic expectations, understand the importance of work/life balance, and celebrate the creative freedom of all of their team members. They are seeking a cheerleader for their brand and an enthusiastic collaborative partner to elevate their online marketing efforts. Marketing is a non-negotiable within their budget and they are looking to keep this partner in their corner long-term.

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Image Credits

Christie Marlatt Photography

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