Success is Subjective: Real People. Raw Stories. Embracing a Non-Linear Life!
Interviews of people who took a break from life at one point or another to get help, grow up, or just to reassess their life direction. Some guests struggled with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, a death in the family, or just decided college was not the place for them. These stories are all-to-real, and yet we don't talk enough about how common it is for those who took a gap year to defer college, went to college and took a break, or those who struggled launching into the workforce post-college graduation. This goes out to all the young adults and parents of young adults who are struggling and contemplating what will happen if they walk away right now.
Success is Subjective: Real People. Raw Stories. Embracing a Non-Linear Life!
Episode 322: Learning to Say Yes - Kathy Nauta on Finding Her Path
Today’s Success is Subjective guest is Kathy Nauta. Kathy’s path to becoming a therapeutic and educational consultant looks nothing like the straight line she once imagined for herself. Growing up in a family where work was purely about survival, Kathy pursued accounting solely for the promise of financial security—despite feeling out of place every step of the way. After years in corporate finance, multiple relocations, raising three kids, and supporting a child with higher needs, she slowly found her way into advocacy, special education work, and ultimately the consulting practice she runs today. In this conversation, Kathy reflects on how her definition of success shifted from money and titles to emotional well-being, meaningful work, and a balanced life. She talks candidly about the pressure young people feel, how overstimulating our world has become, and why parents must prioritize their child’s social and emotional health over academic timelines. She also shares the personal experiences that shaped her approach with families — and the power of saying yes to new experiences as a way of truly getting to know yourself. This episode is especially resonant for parents of teens and young adults navigating uncertainty, as well as anyone who grew up believing that productivity equaled worth. Kathy’s honesty, warmth, and decades of lived experience make this an episode full of grounded, relatable wisdom.
Kathy’s Resources:
Kathy Nauta Educational Consulting
Facebook: Kathy Nauta Educational Consulting
IECA - Independent Educational Consultants Association
New Jersey Children’s System of Care (CSOC)
NAMI
COPAA - Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (SEAT Training)
Connect with Joanna Lilley
Therapeutic Consulting Association
Lilley Consulting on YouTube
Email joanna@lilleyconsulting.com
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