Today we’d like to introduce you to Catelyn Hassell.
Hi Catelyn, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
Numbers have always fascinated me. I walked into a job interview for a receptionist position and after being there for less than a week, the comptroller approached me and told me he had another position that he thought would suit me better.
He began training me in all areas of accounting for small businesses and I fell in love at the age of 18 years old. During that time in the office, I found out I was expecting my first child. I was in a very unhealthy relationship filled with mental, emotional, verbal toxicity.
I stayed far past the expiration date and turned to a dependency on narcotic medication to cope with my reality, which resulted in an extremely unhealthy relationship with self. I didn’t know if I was coming or going most days. I felt hopeless and helpless. The only thing that I was certain of was the love I had for my son, and a deep desire to get better for him and give him the life that he deserved. He was my reason to pull myself out of the hole I was in and take steps to get better for him and myself. I entered recovery at the age of 22 years old with nothing but the clothes on my back and a beautiful three-year-old son that saved me from myself. I ran from what was left of my old life and found myself faced with a choice. Grow up or drown. I did what any single mother would do and found a job to make ends meet.. At the time security for the two of us was my ultimate priority and I focused on rebuilding a life for us. I took the jobs that I could find, with people who did not question the gaps in my work history, (that were in large part, a result of my struggle to get to the other side of what felt like a looming darkness that I couldn’t get rid of). I was blessed with people who took the time to see my potential and give me a chance.
I eventually found myself back in the accounting field for a local small business and immediately remembered why I loved it so much. Local small businesses are my absolute favorite, because behind the scenes is a family using all their brainpower to get it going and keep it going. Fast forward to today. I am married to a wonderful man and I am the mother of two beautiful boys. It didn’t come without a struggle. Maintaining my attendance at a regular 9-5 was extremely stressful while also trying to show up for my children.
In 2019, I made a decision to legitimize the freelance bookkeeping side work that I had started in 2016. I took a risk and began working towards gaining enough accounts to work for myself full time. Kids grow up way too fast, and the need to be able to make them a priority was extremely important and personal to me. I found a way to do what I love professionally and keep my children at the forefront of my life. All the while supporting local small businesses in their day-to-day operations. I never imagined that I would become a business owner myself but here I am, and I believe that I’m being called to pursue this dream while also finding a way to give another person a chance to earn a decent living wage while others maintain the flexibility to show up for the family. I am not quite there yet, but I believe in my ability to achieve it and give back to another individual, what I was always searching for myself.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Oof! I wouldn’t call it smooth. I spent the last ten years working on myself in the midst of motherhood and family demands. Life shows up, but I’ve learned there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Self-love and inner work is hard when you grew up in an atmosphere holding the idealism that taking care of yourself is selfish. I am constantly working with that inner critic in my head that wants me to believe that I should feel guilty when I take time to take care of me. Change starts with us on an individual level. In order to be the best mother, spouse, daughter, friend, businesswoman, etc, I have to be healthy. If I choose to ignore the inner work, I am not the best version of myself.
Grow through, what you go through. Right? Looking back, I’m not sure I would change anything about my past despite the pain because it has molded me into the person I am today, and well I kinda adore who she is and the potential she holds within her.
We’ve been impressed with Aligned Bookkeeping of West Volusia, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I provide bookkeeping support to small businesses who find themselves in need of an extra hand but cannot justify the cost of an in-house bookkeeper. My specialty? Keeping the ins and outs of day-to-day finances in order.
This lays the groundwork for growth for my clients and provides them with insight into their business. Think of it as creating a map, you’ll never know what direction to head without an understanding of where you have been. Capturing the financial information for a business, allows them to know what works and what doesn’t.
I want to support my clients and celebrate their success with them.
My brand? Well, I’m not entirely a cliche businesswoman. My hair is often accented by not-so-natural colors, and I have multiple tattoos. Unfortunately, in society there has always seem to be an expectation of what people feel a business professional should look like. Life under the fluorescents of corporate business was exhausting. I felt less than because according to society standards I did not look the part, and not everyone was willing to look past the impression or mental constructs that erupted within them, when meeting me the first time.
I’m proving to myself daily and others around me that I don’t have to fit society’s expectations physically to be taken seriously. I can be myself and thrive. I’ve learned that what I look like, has nothing to do with who I am and the values I hold in both a personal and professional world. I honestly hope that gives others inspiration to continue to march to the beat of their own drum and DREAM BIG, because nothing is impossible.
The only limitations that we have are the ones we place on ourselves. Not everyone is going to like you, and that’s okay. Opinions and constructive criticism are important to help us evaluate our affect on the world around us and our true values, but we don’t have to use them as crutch. Adversity is a part of life and learning to adjust the sails and navigate through it, is an opportunity for growth if you choose to see it that way.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
If you can dream it, you can do it.
Don’t allow fear to paralyze you, blocking the flow of your potential.
It’s not always going to be easy starting from the ground up, but to get to the other side of the bumps in the road builds characters.
Have a plan ALWAYS, walking blindly into anything new is never a good idea.
Most of all give yourself some grace.
Don’t set yourself up for perfection. You’ll hear a lot of nos before you get that yes. Keep going!
I know the critic in me doesn’t want to admit this out loud, BUT you are going to fail sometimes. Even the most carefully calculated plans can turn out entirely different than we intended. This is also a growth opportunity if we choose to continue to grow, despite the failure. Life in large part is a social experiment, we cannot collect the data unless we choose to test the waters. A scientist doesn’t give up when his hypothesis doesn’t match the actual results of the experiment. They examine the outcome and make the necessary adjustments to create the results they are hoping for. We can do that too. Don’t give up five minutes before the miracle happens!
Contact Info:
- Email: Office@alignedbookkeepingofwv.com
- Website: Www.alignedbookkeepingofwv.com
