Lisa Larter

Lisa Larter knows all too well what it is like to have to move through challenges and rise above what may bring her down. She has worked hard to build a thriving coaching and consulting practice and she shows up fully for the people in her life. She is passionate, positive and always willing to help others who need to move forward. Her big heart, joyful smile and compassionate way of living make her a joy to know. She is living fully.

Tell us a little about yourself

I was born in New Brunswick, spent most of my life growing up in Haliburton, Ontario and relocated to Ottawa in 1988. Lived most of my adult life in Ottawa and now live in Nova Scotia. I own a coaching and consulting practice and love helping other business owners design a strategy to create the business they want. I am inspired by helping women. I love to read, travel and learn new things. I am passionate about making a difference and I am fascinated by the human potential.

Who inspires you in your life? Who do you look up to? And why?

I am inspired by people who came from modest beginnings and created big, successful and impactful lives. I look up to people like Richard Branson, Tony Robbins, Oprah Winfrey because they built what they have, it wasn’t handed to them. I love a good rags to riches story, but most of all, I love the impact people can make once money is no longer their objective. When you have more money than you need in life, you can help other people. I am inspired when I see people give back, create causes and make a difference. A good friend of mine passed away this year. Thousands of people showed up at his funeral and spoke of the impact he made on their life. He inspires me to live that type of life, one where you are remembered for making a difference.

What have been some of the biggest challenges you have had to overcome in your life ? What did you do to move through them? What did you learn? What do you wish to share with others?

There have been lots of challenges, from quitting school to being broke and in debt to being sick and unable to work. In all cases, I’ve always considered “what can I do” and have done my best to overcome those challenges by taking action to move forward. It’s been a life long commitment to live life the way I want in spite of challenges. People think I don’t have challenges because they see the success I have in my business but thats not true. I just choose never to be a victim and always to find solutions. I am inspired greatly by those who overcome adversity and I’ve decided to be like that. I know when to let go of the struggle and move in a new direction that changes the state I am in.

What are you most proud of?

I am most proud of my business, especially given that I did not grow up in an entrepreneurial home, I quit school at 18 and I don’t have a post secondary education. I’ve been self employed for ten years. As a business owner, not only do I make a difference for my clients, I also provide my team members with their livelihood. I’ve never not been able to make payroll and I’m proud that I’ve built a successful and profitable company and it’s one that my team can rely on and trust for an income. I’m also proud of my marriage. My husband and I both come from parents who divorced and we’ve been together since 1995. I am proud that I found such a great life partner and that we have so much love and mutual respect for each other.

What do you want your older self to know?

That I lived a rich life. That I took all the right risks, I was bold, fearless and capable. That not only did I build a successful business, I made a difference building successful lives too.