Greetings! It’s the start of a new season in the Celebrate A Sister series that highlights about 25 women on creative journeys and a few good men who reached out to sound their voice and share insight from 8 destinations so far. And yea, I might need to edit the name of the series soon – all in good time.
I recently invited a few more bright lights to shine here with us on the blog and the first to set the pace this Gregorian calendar year is Skate Kween 246. She is gliding smoothly on the skating scene in Barbados (to start with) with joy, finesse and a natural knack for entrepreneurship. Here she is – Katrina “Empress Itrina” – SkateKween246.
Care to share your favourite fruit?
Mango or orange. I have so many though but I would say (off the top) – I love mangoes first and foremost.
When was your joy for skating stirred up?
My joy for skating was re-ignited about 2 years ago when my daughter travelled and she said “mum, I want to learn how to skate.” So I bought her a pair of skates and had them shipped to her and she went to a skate rink there (she was in Florida at the time) and she went and she fell and she came home and told me. Thankfully it wasn’t a bad injury and when she returned to Barbados we started her skate lessons. I was explaining to her what to do, then I said “let me put on the skates – let me demonstrate and then we can go forward from there.“
When I put the skates on I realised, “Oh my gosh; I still have it” and it felt so good – it felt so freeing and from there is was just WHOOSH — what you see now.
How was the transition from working a 9-5 in a more formal setting to more free-form flow, and how have you managed to apply self-discipline and perseverance to your businesses?
It was a matter of nearly life or death. I felt as if I was dying a slow death incorporate Barbados, and I think it had a lot to do with the organisation I was a part of and I was doing my business on a part—time basis. I just had to take the leap; as I said it was a life or death. I started to experience some health challenges that I had never experienced before. The challenge was that when I was doing my business on a part—time basis I would have a lot of clients who would ask for during the day appointments. I was used to have my appointments on evenings after my full—time job but then when I actually went full—time, the appointments didn’t come in during the day as I anticipated so that was a challenge…then I did my marketing.
I am a communications specialist and marketer by profession and qualification so I really work hard at pushing the marketing and the full-time business. Definitely, before covid (when things started to really take off and was on a next level) I was on the verge of expanding and then covid happened. I’m a pretty-disciplined person – naturally and what I found really enhanced my ability to be self-disciplined was knowing that I was helping more of my clients. I was able to target more clientele – expand my market by doing what I love and get paid for it. The discipline (I’ll tell you it was challenging but) I found it easier the more time I spent in the business and I saw the gains and I got the positive feedback, so it was not easy but I would say it became easier along the way.
Biggest challenges, brightest highlights and most memorable lessons? (however is most comfortable for you to share)
Challenges
During and post covid. During, there was a surge — I got the most orders online for my product (the yoni egg) from outside of Barbados however during covid, all airlines – all post services shut down here and so I was unable to ship. I had like over 200 orders because I guess at that time people had more time to themselves, and they were immersing into their journey – they needed an inner compass – an inner solitude to help them through the shutdowns and whatnot and they turned to the yoni egg but because I could not ship those ‘bad boys’ out, I actually had to refund over (I don’t even wanna call the number) – let’s say the majority of them.
There were some orders that were repeat customers so I was able to reach out to them and explain about the shipping and they were like, “no problem. We know your product and we trust you – wait until things are up and running again.” But I lost money like I had never lost before so get it – the money came in – they had actually placed the order but then I had to refund almost each and every one of them so that was a huge challenge. Since then, posting to my International customers has become a challenge as well because I am unable to compete with the postal fees for the U.S and more, so that was a HUGE challenge.
Highlights
My brightest highlights came definitely during the shutdown when I had an influx of overseas clients who wanted one-on-one coaching I did online. I always used to do coaching online prior to the shutdown but during the shutdown when everybody started to use zoom and these online platforms, I was already in the game – like 3 or 4 years prior. That was a HUGE highlight.
All in all, I would say my highlights are those clients who saw a shift within themselves and have been able to overcome THE issue or issues that they came to me with — that has always has been and will always be one of the biggest highlights of my business, Orgasmik Intelligence.
The Skate Kween Academy was an opportunity that arose when there was a resurgence of skating in Barbados after the shutdown – when Barbados started to open back up and so I started skating and I saw an opportunity. People wanted to learn how to skate and some people didn’t want to do it in crowds – some people didn’t want to do it on the asphalt and so I saw an opportunity, so I rented an air-conditioned studio (board floor) and started to offer classes. That was also a highlight in my entrepreneurship journey where that opportunity arose and SkateKween – in March – April we’ll be celebrating our first year.
Lessons
My most memorable lessons in business. One for sure – in choosing a business partner, ensure that it is not based on friendship. If it is based on a friendship, make sure that there is some kind of contract; some kind of written agreement that you both sign and agree to, definitely…that’s for sure. And another lesson is: always believe in myself and my vision. For me, there are so many parallels and life lessons and correlations…
You recently shared on Instagram about overcoming a hurdle of childhood fear and are now venturing bravely into seawater. How has that journey been?
Learning to face that fear of going to the deep water was totally transformational for me on so many levels, mentally, physically, spiritually and after being able to do it, it helped me to also feel comfortable facing fear of making some other life-changing decisions that I had on hold for a minute. So right now I’m still there with my trusty floaty while I’m out there swimming in the deep water (a pretty sprinkle of a laugh.) I hope to release the floaty – well – I will release it in the sense that I will always have that floaty but I think I will be able to remove the floaty from around my waist this year but I think I will always have it tied to my hand or something like that because…man, out there the currents and stuff like that…I think I will always want that there but I will not have it around my waist. That’s the direction which I’m going.
I went to a different beach (Brandon’s beach) yesterday morning and because I’ve been doing this work at Browns Beach and yesterday I saw Brandon’s beach in a whole different light than I have never ever seen before because obviously I used to avoid the reefs and the rocks but now I’m swimming, I swam over the reefs and I saw fish of all sizes and colours and variations…it was sooo beautiful. I want to also graduate to snorkeling so where my head is down all the time and I’m just breathing through the snorkel. That’s what I also want to achieve in 2024.
Any specials coming up with Skate Kween? Advice and safety steps for former skaters getting ready to join the Barbados skating adventure?
In 2024, Skate Kween Academy, we are going to be offering our next level – intermediate classes for our skaters so skate dancing. With the beginners, which we have been offering from our inception we’re gonna be now offering the intermediate so those who have completed the beginners and want to do the intermediate, we’ll be doing that this year and we’re also celebrating our first anniversary and we’re bringing in our international (at least one, we’re looking at a second one, depending on sponsorship.) International skater from Miami; his name is Jedidia Henderson (RocsWorld) and he is a phenomenal skater AND skate coach and we’re looking to bring out some really good activities.
How do you pace work and rest?
That is an absolute priority for me, Indra. I do not play with my rest. I must get my at least 7-8 hours sleep e-ver-y single night. If, for whatever reason y’know – out skating late and then I have to get up the next morning to work I will only do that for a maximum of two nights. After that, I have to get my rest ‘cause I truly believe in getting the recommended amount of rest and not only that – but good sleep. It has never really been a challenge for me but I know getting good sleep nowadays is. challenge for too many people. Ive never done any research and stuff like that but I honestly believe that the lack of sleep that some people are having significantly contributes to the decrease in mental health.
Favorite tea?
Absolutely is peppermint and lemongrass.
One that zesty aromatic note, that was yet another radiant one on a creative journey – this time on skates, sharing insight and valuable life lessons with us as part of the “Celebrate A Sister” (with some gents in the mix) series.
Related guest post
Note: There’s a difference in opinions online about the yoni egg mentioned earlier up. Please do your own research. This is not a medical blog.
its Joy Within 