Please introduce yourself and your business.

Hi! I’m Kimberly Smith, a Mindset & Resilience Life & Career Coach, and the founder of Encompass Life Coaching in Houston, Texas. As a coach, I specialize in mindset, stress and anxiety management, confidence, and goal achievement. I’m degreed in sociology and psychology, and prior to life coaching I spent over 10 years working in talent acquisition for a variety of industries. I’m a native New Yorker, proud Houstonian, mental health and DEIJ (Diversity Equity Inclusion & Justice) advocate, mother, yogi, and dachshund lover.

Through my business Encompass Life Coaching I offer one-one-one life and career coaching services and group coaching programs. I help my clients so stressing and focus so they can flourish within their careers, families, businesses and relationships. They learn how to move through self-doubt, they build a positive and resilient mindset, while increasing energy and confidence, and achieving their goals. I also partner with employers to offer engaging workshops and trainings that enable team members to create sustainable success strategies at work and in life. This helps employers maximize their talent development while fostering a working culture where team members thrive.

What inspired you to start your business?

When I started my business I was going through a shift in life personally and professionally. I had recently been laid off, and people who knew my background kept coming to me asking for my assistance with their resume, their job search, and the interview process. While I was deciding on my next professional move, I was able to put my skills to use and it ended up blossoming into a business. I had already been looking to get certified as a Life Coach and after my certification was complete, it all came together very organically.

How do you help your clients?

It’s common knowledge that stress is rampant in our modern world. While stress is something that will always be a part of our lives to some extent, it isn’t something trivial or to be dismissed. Our world has been in a mental health pandemic for decades, and the root causes is stress.
My mission is to help people unsubscribe from “hustle” culture and effectively manage their stress. So they can focus on what is important, and truly flourish personally and professionally. You do not have to do it all or burn yourself out to be successful. By helping others understand the damaging effects of a chronically stressed lifestyle, and teaching them how to change their circumstances to reduce and mindfully manage stress. I am helping them live happier, healthier, and more fulfilling lives. When people have less stress they think clearer, make better choices and decisions, treat others with respect and kindness. They become more productive at work and at home, and have healthier relationships.

What are the top 3 things you learned since you are your own boss?

As an entrepreneur their have been many lessons! The top three things I have learned are:

1) Mindset, energy, and daily strategy are everything!
2) Learning to deal with and detach from disappointment is part of the game of life and business.
3) You/I/we can’t mess it up! Mistakes and failures only bring us closer to the right answers.

Tell us your favorite business book.

Rich As F*ck by Amanda Francis. So much of entrepreneurship and life is mental. This book has been really incredible at helping me identify some of the limiting beliefs I had about money and wealth. It’s also a FUN business book because Amanda Francis is not your typical author/entrepreneur. She has a unique perspective on life, business and money.

And lastly, why are professional branding images important for your business?

Having professional photos that truly represent me and my business helps me feel even more confident in sharing my gifts, talents and services with the world. As a coach, people really want to get to know me before they dive into working with me as a client. Images that look and feel like the experience of coaching has helped my clients feel comfortable entering a process which is completely new to them. I use my branding images across all marketing and social media platforms. This shows brand consistency and helps build credibility and trust with my audience.