Ep. 36: Katie O'Toole Smith on choosing joy
Katie O’Toole is a human sparkler, but she didn’t start out joyful. Her dad was an alcoholic. She started drinking at 11 years old. She got sober at 16. She became an unwed mother at 21. Then she entered the male-dominated world of selling cars and became known as Katie The Carlady.
Katie sells and leases cars, but has also made it her mission to educate consumers with tips on buying and leasing vehicles in the articles she writes for the Cleveland Jewish News, Cleveland Womens journal and on her podcast, Carlady Talk.
Katie, who has been sober 33 years, talks about how to choose joy, no matter what life chooses for you.
My Takeaways:
Every day, choose joy. No matter what.
Every night, give thanks. No matter what.
In every situation ask, How can I serve here? How can I bring love into this situation?
There are no big deals. Life is too short for big deals.
Bio:
Katie OToole Smith has been advocating for consumers for over 26 years in automobile marketplace. Katie has multiple arms of her business including finding the perfect deal, consulting consumers through the car buying process, educating consumers by creating content for a number of sources including the Cleveland Jewish News, Cleveland Womens journal, Carlady Talk podcast, blogging, on Facebook and her website Katiethecarlady.com
Managing and running her company, Katie The Carlady LLC for the last 7 years, has allowed her to build a forum to help change the conversation between consumers and dealers and break the cycle of archaic models in the industry. As an expert in the auto industry, Katie The Carlady has become a trusted brand.
In the local community Katie has been active with non profits helping those struggling with addiction and alcoholism. Currently sits on the board and the Edna House for women. Is the membership chair for the Cleveland chapter of NAWBO (national association for women business owners). "Empowering and educating women is a passion”. The recipient of the Woman of Strength award in 2018 through Recovery Resources of Cleveland and participating in the Circle of strength which is a womens’ giving circle allowing women to choose where to put their philanthropic dollars.
Website and links:
@katiethecarlady on Twitter and Instagram