The most important story you’ll ever write

People often assume that the work I do is just about books.

And in many ways, it is.

For years, I’ve helped authors, founders, experts, leaders, and thinkers shape their ideas into books – clarifying their message, strengthening their voice, and helping them bring something meaningful into the world.

But the longer I’ve done this work, the more I’ve noticed something interesting.

The hardest part of writing a book isn't actually the writing.

It's identity.

Because before someone can write a book, they have to believe something new about themselves.

They have to see themselves differently.

As someone with something to say.
As someone whose ideas matter.
As someone who is ready to step into the spotlight.

And that’s where the real work begins.

Not on the page, but in the story we tell ourselves about who we are, and who we’re becoming.

I’ve seen this happen again and again:

A founder who realizes the story that built their business isn’t the same story that will scale it.

A leader who has the experience and the ideas, but hasn’t yet stepped into the identity of someone who speaks about them publicly.

A thinker who senses that the work they’re doing is evolving… but the narrative around it hasn’t caught up yet.

Those moments rarely start with writing.

They start with recognition.

The recognition that the story you’ve been telling about yourself – about your work, your expertise, your role in the world – may no longer be big enough for where you’re going.

Lately I’ve been thinking about that idea even more, because the world itself is changing so quickly.

Careers are shifting. Industries are evolving. Entire categories of work are being redefined almost overnight.

And when the world changes this fast, something deeper gets disrupted too.

Identity.

The story we’ve been telling ourselves about who we are and what our life is supposed to look like.

Which raises a new question for all of us:

When the old story stops working… what story do we write next?

That’s a conversation I’ll be exploring more in the months ahead.

Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned from years of helping people write books, it’s this:

Before anyone can reinvent their life…

they must rewrite the story they believe about who they are.

If no one is pushing back on you

I’ve been thinking about thought leadership lately.

Because sometimes challenging a manuscript or the thinking inside it is uncomfortable. And risky.

When I question an assumption, flag a weak argument, or point out where a reader might disengage, it isn’t doubt.

It’s protection.

Protection of the work.
Protection of the author.
Protection of the idea before it meets the world.

I’ve seen what happens when that protection isn’t there.

An author once came back to me a year after we first spoke, manuscript in hand, and realized she needed to rewrite the book almost entirely. Because the foundation was misaligned.

The wrong structure.
The wrong emphasis.

It’s the kind of thing that’s hard to see from inside your own thinking.

I’ve also seen the opposite.

Authors who moved through their manuscript in record time, because they weren’t circling uncertainty. The direction was clear.

I’ve seen chapters added that almost didn’t make it in – chapters that ultimately made the book.

I’ve seen writers hone their voice into something they were proud of, because someone was willing to say:

“This part isn’t landing yet.”
“You’re playing small here.”
“A reader will question this.”

That’s not criticism.

That’s advocacy.

Every serious thinker has blind spots.
Every manuscript has places where it can collapse under scrutiny.

What we’re really building is resilience in the work.

So when readers question it, it holds.
When critics push back, it stands.
When time passes, it still feels relevant.

Resilient writing doesn’t happen by accident.

It happens when someone is willing to pressure-test it with you, before the world does.

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And a few other things...

• I’m honored to be a finalist for the CANREADS award for women’s fiction. Thank you for cheering this book on.

• I loved this perspective from music producer Rick Rubin on the secret to success.

• Watched I, Tonya with Margot Robbie last weekend and was reminded how powerful great writing can be.

The story you tell yourself comes first... plus a few of my favourite things this week

Storytelling is identity work, really…

Everything starts with a story – the story we tell ourselves, and the story we tell others.

Even the bible begins with “In the beginning.”

You have to believe that you’re a storyteller, or an author, before anything meaningful happens on the page.

It took losing my job, and the identity I had wrapped around it, for me to finally start writing a book. The book became a story about two women losing themselves and finding themselves again. Through the process, the same thing happened for me.

I didn’t identify as an author. Not yet. But I knew what I was unbecoming, and that created space for someone new to emerge.

That’s why I don’t start with writing techniques.

Craft matters, but it comes later. First comes the shift in how you see yourself, and what you’re here to say.

Because the strongest writing doesn’t sound impressive. It sounds unmistakably like you.

That’s the work I’m most interested in: What is the book that is uniquely yours – the one that only you can write?

And who are you becoming along the way?

Cat

PS: I talk to a lot of people who want to write a book. Most of them don’t actually need help writing. They need help not wasting a year.

They’re wondering: Is this the right book to write? Am I structuring it the right way? Will this actually support my business or thought leadership, or just exist?

That’s the work I do with authors before (or early in) the writing process – helping them avoid the wrong book, the wrong structure, or the wrong publishing path.

If you’re at that stage and want clarity before you invest months of effort, you can reply “book” and I’ll share what that looks like.

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And a few other things...

If you’re new to this space, last summer I shared 20 ways to write your book that don’t look like writing. Check it out here and here.

Recently, I listened to the George Saunders interview with music producer Rick Rubin on creativity and writing, and I can’t stop talking about it. This quote stood out for me.

Greta Gerwig’s acclaimed film Ladybird was rejected for 5 years before it finally got the greenlight. Here’s what she says about chasing your dream.

What I look for before I say yes to a book

There are more ways than ever to write and publish a book.

More publishers. More packages. More promises about speed, scale, and “getting it done.”

That’s not a bad thing. But it does make one thing more important than ever: discernment.

Because not every book is asking for the same kind of care.

And that’s exactly what I’m listening for before I say yes to working with an author.

Some books are primarily about production. The goal is efficiency – a clear process, defined deliverables, a finished product.

And for some authors, that’s exactly right.

Other books are about transformation. Not just of the manuscript, but of the author.

These books ask harder questions. They require editorial judgment, not templates. They demand patience, not shortcuts.

They’re built to last – to sharpen thinking, deepen voice, and become a long-term asset for someone’s work and credibility.

That means the process matters just as much as the outcome.

It means slowing down when something needs shaping. It means deep editorial work, not shortcuts. It means asking better questions instead of rushing toward tidy answers.

The books I care about most aren’t built to hit a deadline or check a box. They’re built to stand up over time.

That’s not for everyone. And it’s not meant to be.

But if you’re early in this decision – wondering what kind of book you want to write, and what kind of process you want to be held by – I hope this gives you a clearer lens.

Cat

A strange lesson from rock legends

Last weekend, my husband was telling me about the Keith Richards biography he’s been listening to.

I usually tune him out.

Music, bands, vinyl pressings, the obscure history of who played what on which record – I’ve heard it all. We’ve been together a verrry looong tiiime 😂

But then he said something that stopped me.

When Keith Richards was a kid, one of his fingers was crushed by a paving stone.

Jerry Garcia lost part of a finger in a childhood accident.
Tony Iommi lost the tips of his fingers working in a factory.

Three legendary guitarists.
Three hands shaped by circumstance.

“And because of that,” my husband said, “they all developed completely unique ways of playing that shaped their signature sound.”

Huh.

Lately, I’ve been noticing something about myself.

There are parts of me – you might call them flaws, or skeletons in the closet, or things I don’t love saying out loud – that I’ve quietly tried to smooth over for years.

But I’m starting to realize they’re not liabilities.

They’re trophies.

The very things I once felt self-conscious about are the things that make my work unmistakably mine.

So now, I’ll leave you with this thought:

The thing you’re most tempted to hide…
might be the thing your work needs most.

More to come,

Cat

PS: My clients often tell me I have an uncanny ability to spot the thing they assumed wasn’t important – or was too risky to include – and show them why it’s actually the gold. That’s editorial instinct, not coaching. If you ever want help uncovering that layer in your work, you know where to find me.

What happens when a story reaches the right person

A few months ago, I received the most delightful thing – fan mail, from a reader.

She thanked me for writing my book, in which she could see her own story. It was so cool to see this book travel through time and space to reach a perfect stranger, and how a story like this could resonate across generations.

She’s not the only one.

Every once in a while, I receive a note from a reader that stops me in my tracks.

Someone tells me they felt less alone.
That my book helped them see their own story differently.

Those messages are why I write.

Not because books change lives overnight – but because they meet people in moments of doubt, transition, courage, and becoming.

That’s what I want my own writing to do.
And it’s what I care most about when I help steward other people’s books into the world.

A book isn’t just a product or a milestone.
It’s an act of love and connection.

It says: I’ve been here too.
Or: You’re not imagining this.
Or sometimes simply: You’re allowed to want more.

That’s the standard I hold – for my work, and for the authors I partner with.

Because when a book is made with care, intention, and respect for the reader, it doesn’t just exist.

It lives on, in the hearts of others.

Cat

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Last Call for My June Draft Writing Cohort

I wanted to share one last note as I’m closing the door on the June Draft writing cohort this week.

If writing has been on your mind – and you’ve been wanting more clarity, momentum, and support around what you’re working on – this is the moment to reach out.

This cohort is designed to help writers:

• get clear on what they’re writing

• stop second-guessing every page

• and actually enjoy the process again

It’s a small, guided group, and there are just a couple of spots left.

As a reminder, anyone joining this group also receives:

• access to my book clarity modules, and

• a 1-hour private consultation with me to map out your book and next steps
  (included as added support for this cohort).

If you’re curious or have been on the fence, just message me and let me know.
And if a quick 15-minute fit call would be helpful, I’m happy to do that this week as well.

Why it feels harder than it needs to

The best writing advice I ever got didn’t come in the form of a clever line edit or a brilliant fix.

It came as an off-the-cuff remark from a self-deprecating editor I worked with–one that turned out to be strategy gold.

“If you assign the story right, you don’t even have to edit.”

What he meant was this: When there’s clarity from the start—about voice, intention, and what the story is really here to do–the writing does most of the heavy lifting.

That idea changed how I think about writing forever.

Because so much of what people experience as “bad writing” or a painful editing process isn’t about talent–it’s about starting without clarity. Around voice, intention, audience, and what the piece is really trying to do.

When those things aren’t clear, editing becomes exhausting. Pages of fix notes. Endless rewrites. Frustration on both sides.

But when the story is assigned right–when the writer knows what they’re saying and why–the work feels lighter. Stronger. More confident. Editing becomes refinement, not rescue.

This is the editorial strategy I bring to the authors and brands I work with.

People aren’t just producing pages. They’re writing with more clarity, more confidence, and far less anxiety. They know what they’re building. They’re excited about the work instead of bracing themselves against it. And they’re doing it in community, not isolation.

One of my clients, Julie, shared this after working together on her manuscript:

“Working with Cat was one of the most meaningful and grounding parts of writing this memoir. She saw the shape of my story when it still felt like scattered memories and raw emotion, and helped me find clarity in the chaos and confidence in my voice.

She never lost sight of the heart of the story–even when I struggled to hold it myself. What sets Cat apart is the balance she brings: compassion paired with honesty.

Cat challenged me when the narrative needed sharpening, encouraged me when doubt crept in, and anchored the work when it felt like too much.

I’m deeply grateful not just for her editorial expertise, but for the steadiness, insight, and humanity she brought to the journey. She was an essential part of this journey.”

That shift–from uncertainty to confidence, from overwhelm to momentum–is exactly why I love this work.

Writing doesn’t have to feel lonely.
Or heavy.
Or like something you dread opening.

With the right clarity and support, it can actually be fun. Invigorating and energizing.

P.S. If you’ve been craving more structure, confidence, and community around your writing, my next cohort is forming now. If it feels like the right fit, I’d love to have you join us.

They haven’t heard you before

Lately, I’ve been afraid.

Afraid of writing a book no one wants to read.

Afraid it won’t be good enough.

Afraid it’s too late.

Afraid the moment has passed and I missed it.

And then yesterday, the worst thing happened.

I discovered a TV show that reads a lot like the book that’s been whispering to me for years.

Close enough that I nearly threw in the towel.

Because if the story already exists out there – if someone else has already done it – what’s the point?

I spiraled.

I questioned everything.
I did the thing writers do when doubt gets hold.

And then I remembered a sticky note I made last year.

A man asked me to speak to his group about storytelling.
I hesitated.

I said, Your audience is full of professional speakers. They’ve been telling stories and getting paid for it forever. Why would they want to hear from me? Haven’t they heard it all already?

He didn’t miss a beat.

“They haven’t heard Cat before.”

That was it.

That one sentence pulled me back from the edge.

And I wrote it down as a reminder. 

Because the truth is:
There will always be similar stories.
Similar themes.
Similar ideas circulating in the world.

But there has only ever been one you.

Your voice.
Your lens.
Your way of seeing, naming, and shaping experience.

That’s the part no one else can replicate.

And it’s also the part we’re most afraid to trust.

So I’m staying with this book.
Not because it’s guaranteed to succeed.
But because it keeps asking me to write it.

So I’ll ask you what I’ve been asking myself:

What are you afraid of right now?

Afraid you’re too late?
Afraid someone else already said it better?
Afraid it won’t land?
Afraid it will?

Here’s what I’ve learned, both as a writer and as someone who helps others shape their stories for books, brands, and platforms:

People don’t connect to ideas.
They connect to authors.

They don’t follow stories.
They follow the person telling them.

And whether that story becomes a book, a talk, or the narrative that carries your business forward – the work doesn’t begin when the fear goes away.

It begins when you decide your voice belongs in the room anyway.

Let’s story together,
Cat

PS: If you’re sitting with a story you can’t shake – a book, a brand narrative, or a body of work you know matters – but fear has you circling instead of moving forward, this is the work I do.

I help people turn raw ideas into the kinds of stories that anchor books, shape brands, and open doors. If you’re ready to invest in that clarity, you can learn more about working together here → https://catmargulis.com/coaching

(And if not now, keep listening. Your story will let you know when it’s time.)

What makes you different makes you extraordinary

Any Stranger Things fans here?

Personally, I'm still reeling from the finale – so I'm kicking off 2026 with a few storytelling lessons from one of last year’s most beloved shows.

Because beyond the monsters and synth soundtracks, Stranger Things is a masterclass in story.

Here are three things it gets very right – and what we can steal from it.
 
1. Meet your audience where they are

Great speakers know this.
So do screenwriters.
Along with anyone who’s read Save the Cat.

Connection comes first.

What Stranger Things won at was a shared sense of nostalgia and familiarity that created instant connection and trust with its audience.

Really, think about it: Would the show have been as popular without bikes, basements and Dungeons & Dragons? Exactly.

So question for you:
Where can you create common ground early in your story – a shared laugh, memory, fear, or truth – before asking your audience to follow you somewhere deeper?
 
2. Timing matters – but now is still the best moment

Stranger Things benefitted from extraordinary timing.

It launched before the pandemic, then returned during moments when we were craving comfort, familiarity, and escape.

Now we can’t control timing – only readiness.

If a story matters to you, it likely matters to someone else too. Sit on it too long and it risks becoming irrelevant… or worse, told by someone else first.

So write the book you want to read.
Tell the story that won’t leave you alone.
And don’t wait for “perfect” timing – it doesn’t exist.
 
3. Be willing to be different

Stranger Things could have cast glossy, conventionally “perfect” characters.

It didn’t.

It chose awkward outsiders. Misfits. Kids who didn’t quite fit – and that’s exactly why we loved them.

The Duffer brothers didn’t invent this. Movies and TV have always known this. Think:
The Breakfast Club.
Punky Brewster.
Scooby-Doo. (Am I showing my age yet?)
And then there's The Big Bang Theory, and its hit spinoff Young Sheldon.

Normal was never cool. 

So many of us are waiting for the perfect moment to tell our story.
Or waiting until we’re perfect.

And yet, what we often try the hardest to hide is usually the thing that makes us the most compelling.

So let your freak flag fly.
What makes you different is what makes you extraordinary – and deeply relatable.

Cat

Your Brand Catalyst, Story Strategist & Creative Ally. 

PS: One of my goals for 2026 is to finish a draft of my next book by June. If writing a book is on your list this year, I’m launching a small accountability + support cohort to help make it real. Email me at hello@passionprojectpod.com if you want in. Writing and telling stories is way more fun when we do it together!

What I learned after my biggest dream came true

It’s with mixed feelings that I say goodbye to 2025.

On the one hand, in many ways, it has been brutal, devastating, crushing – yes, even for me.

At the same time, I have so much to celebrate – my book! Out in the world! Doing its thing, connecting with strangers, bringing joy and catharsis around the world.

A long-held dream finally came true, and I experienced the same thing so many people do when they finally reach the summit – “Huh. I guess that wasn’t it after all.”

Because the thing is never the thing. It was never about a book. It was never about standing in front of a room, an audience, or adoring fans. It was about what it took to get there, and who I became along the way.

Just like you, I’m setting new goals and intentions for the new year. But thanks to these hard-won lessons, I have a different posture. I’m finding myself a lot more at peace and relaxed about the whole thing. I’ve learned to trust.

I now know without a doubt that there is so much more to look forward to, in the great beyond. That we can’t take any of this with us. All of it is fleeting. And the only thing that ever mattered, the only thing that ever matters, is who and how we love. That goes for ourselves too.

Whatever comes next, is just the cherry on top.

Wishing you a season full of peace, joy, and wonder.

Cat

Your Brand Catalyst, Story Strategist & Creative Ally. 

PS: I’d love to know — what did your year teach you? Hit reply and tell me the lesson you’re carrying forward.

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Cat’s Top 10 Reads for 2026

Lest you think I leave you and this year with just some random existential musings, here’s a shortcut to my favourite posts for building your next chapter and starting your passion project, especially if that’s a book. Wherever you are – beginning, becoming, or reinventing – I hope one of these meets you exactly where you are today.

1. That Time I Hit Rock Bottom

https://catmargulis.com/blog/that-time-i-hit-rock-bottom

2. What Does Your Next Chapter Look Like?

https://catmargulis.com/blog/what-does-your-next-chapter-look-like

3. Your Audience Doesn’t Need Your Pain — They Need Your Perspective

https://catmargulis.com/blog/your-audience-doesnt-need-your-pain-they-need-your-perspective

4. The Leap Comes Before the Clarity

https://catmargulis.com/blog/the-leap-comes-before-the-clarity

5. Why the Best Stories Don’t Stick to the Script

https://catmargulis.com/blog/why-the-best-stories-dont-stick-to-the-script

6. Your Story Is Your Superpower — Here’s Why

https://catmargulis.com/blog/your-story-is-your-superpower-heres-why

7. 20 Ways to Write Your Book That Don’t Look Like Writing

https://catmargulis.com/blog/20-ways-to-write-your-book-that-dont-look-like-writing

8. Spoiler: You Don’t Need to Be a Better Writer

https://catmargulis.com/blog/spoiler-you-dont-need-to-be-a-better-writer

9. The Future Belongs to Storytellers

https://catmargulis.com/blog/the-future-belongs-to-storytellers

10. What If Your Goals Are Holding You Back?

https://catmargulis.com/blog/what-if-your-goals-are-holding-you-back

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A quick note on the work unfolding lately ✨

One of the quiet joys of the work I do is getting to watch stories leave the page and start moving through the world.

Over the past little while, I’ve had the privilege of supporting several clients as they launched their books – including Jennifer, Lori, and Caroline – each using their story not just as a finished product, but as a catalyst for new conversations, visibility, and opportunities. (And yes, I’m walking that path myself, too.)

At the same time, I’ve been working behind the scenes with organizations and founders who aren’t writing books, but are still in the middle of a powerful narrative shift.

With North York Harvest, that’s meant helping reframe the conversation around food banks – moving away from scarcity and stigma, toward leadership, dignity, and what’s actually possible when communities invest differently. Watching that new story land in the media and the public imagination has been incredibly meaningful. (You can see a glimpse of that here.)

And with Layne, it’s been about a full website rewrite and brand narrative refresh – clarifying who they are now, and where they’re going next, so their story can carry them into their next chapter.

All of this work looks different on the surface – books, brands, campaigns, websites – but at its core, it’s the same thing: Helping people and organizations tell the right story, at the right moment, so it can do the work it’s meant to do.

If you’re feeling the nudge that your own story is ready for its next evolution, and you’re looking for strategic support around your book, brand narrative, or messaging, let’s connect. I’m always happy to explore what that could look like together.

That time I hit rock bottom

I just turned down $500K 😮

I was scrolling through Pinterest, updating my vision board for 2026, and I saw it:

A glittering gold meme with “I am manifesting $500K” scrawled across it.

Nope, not for me, I thought, and continued scrolling.

Then I caught myself – Why not me? Others had done it. Why couldn’t I have this too?

Just last week, I was being interviewed for a radio show about my book Again, Only More Like You, and its origins. About how I’d hit my own rock bottom, and how the first step out of it was permission.

Permission to dream again.

With no other options. No other models and examples for what I was supposed to do next in my life. With no road map for how to burn it all down and start completely over.

I gave myself permission to imagine – what was the best that could happen?

And then I set about doing what it took to build it.

I’ve manifested a lot in the past decade, since that first seed was planted. Including building a business founded on fun. I work with people I love spending time with, on projects that I care about deeply, in a capacity that makes me feel creatively alive, inspired, turned on.

I have become 100% passion project, 100% percent of the time.

Not everything has always turned out the way I hoped, but undoubtedly it’s all been for the better, and I’ve had a blast and learned so much and made so many friends along the way.

Maybe you’re sitting on that precipice right now, debating your next step. Maybe, like me back in 2016, it feels like you don’t have that many options.

Before you choose, though, I invite you to give yourself permission to dream the craziest, wildest dream you can think of. (Like $500K, perhaps.)

Then take the tiniest step toward it. And another after that.

Cat

Your Brand Catalyst, Story Strategist & Creative Ally.

PS: If you want to hear more about my author journey and the story behind the book, check out my personal essay for SELF magazine. 

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If you want help figuring out your next chapter…

This isn’t something I usually offer, but if this share stirred something in you and you want help figuring out your next chapter, I’m opening a few spots for a Next Chapter Breakthrough Session.

Two focused hours. Absolute clarity.
Just let me know if you want one.

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Christmas cheer is here!

One of the craziest things I’ve been playing with for years now, is adding ecommerce to my website. I just designed a couple of pieces I’m in love with, that make for playful holiday gifts for a loved one. You can check them out here!

What does your next chapter look like?

Whoops 🤦🏻‍♀️

Last week I hosted a workshop with only one person present. Was it destiny or fate, that he happened to be THE ONE?

I’m still figuring out whether it was cosmic forces or a dumb technological glitch that some people who signed up for my workshop were kicked out of the automation that was supposed to send them the link and reminders. And also that NO ONE got my emails promoting my workshop last week.

Perhaps a little of both.

Interestingly, the person who did magically show up? He ticked off all my boxes:

-He’s a leader, a doer, someone who gets shit done at a superlative level

-Has a big vision to uplift, inspire, empower people around the world for the better of humanity 

-Is kind, caring, generous, brilliant and fascinating, rich in story, knowledge and experience

He’d had extraordinary success as a business owner and entrepreneur, retired early for a life of adventure, sailing the Caribbean, until he felt this calling. And he has also lived a life - wow.

It was a little unnerving doing a workshop for an audience of one.

But it was also perfect because for the Q&A, we were able to go DEEP – and ended up talking for another hour.

About his vision.

About the 4 books he already knows he gets to write.

About the pros and cons of traditional publishing, self publishing and hybrid publishing.

And we came up with a strategy that we were both excited to move forward with. 

I still don’t have the answers as to how much of our lives are the product of our own choices, how much is divine and pre-ordained, how much is cosmic dust and happenstance, soul contracts, karma and whatever else you want to throw at it.

But I know this: God is good. Cool people know cool people. And my life – your life – matters. A whole helluva lot.

PS: If you missed the workshop or the day didn’t work for you and you’d love to see a replay, let me know and I’ll send you the link :)

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What does your next chapter look like?

“Human beings are works in progress that mistakenly think they’re finished.” – Dan Gilbert, Harvard psychologist 

Every 5–7 years, we outgrow the story that got us here.

What got you here – your message, your keynote, your personal story – may no longer hold the power or truth that will take you where you’re going.

Over the past year, I’ve been helping speakers, experts and thought leaders not only to write the books that will position them for growth, but also with their content and media outreach strategy, so they can better convey who they are now and who they are next as they grow their brand, business and impact.

-Like the speaker who is carving out a path from legendary fundraising MC to powerful keynote speaker

-Like the non-profit that is reimagining the future of food security and leading the way for change makers everywhere

If you’re feeling called to something bigger, better, new, and you’re ready to level up, join me for my Meet the Experts session at the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers convention in Halifax in December to discover what your next chapter could look like. 

Or let me know if you would like me to make this session virtual.

We don’t stop growing just because we’ve “grown up”

I’m a glass half full/silver linings kind of girl, but I’m also a writer… which means I can get as dark as they come.

One of the things I’ve been existentially crisis-ing over is whether I should encourage my 17-year-old son to go to university, or pursue any post-secondary education, really. (Yes, I can get that dark.)

Practically, though, would a gap year be better for him? Travelling the world for a year? Getting a full-time job and an early taste of the real world? Interning? Co-oping? Volunteering? (See what I mean?)

The jury’s still out, to be honest. But I did really appreciate the wonderful Bachelor of Arts talk at Guelph University’s open house last weekend, where program leads and students shared their take on the value of a degree.

It was a great reminder, that the journey is where the gold is, not just the destination.

That’s it’s okay to pivot again and again and again.

That sometimes it takes a little living to find out what you like, and what you don’t like.

And that that is an ongoing, life-long journey we never quite get over.

No matter how “adult” we are.

I don’t know about you, but I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. It’s constantly changing.

Every day, I learn a little more about what I enjoy, and what I don’t love.

And I try to give myself grace, and permission, to be curious, to explore, and to not consider “success” as the ultimate marker of success. But rather, how completely and unapologetically I’ve given myself over to being courageous enough to try. And to keep going.

Cat

Your Brand Catalyst, Story Strategist & Creative Ally.

PS: I’m hosting a free workshop next week for anyone curious about writing, finishing, or publishing a book. Bring your questions – I’ll save time for Q&A, and I’d love to see you there.

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Find Your Breakthrough Moment

Behind every powerful book or brand is that one moment of clarity that changes everything.

My Book Breakthrough Session ($499) is where we find it, together.

In two focused hours, we’ll uncover the thread that connects your story, your message, and your next big move, and turn it into a clear plan forward.

Because sometimes, you don’t need a new direction.
You just need someone to help you see what’s already there.

Hit reply or click here to book your session →

Your audience doesn’t need your pain. They need your perspective.

I was going to write something about the Blue Jays this week, but… too soon. 😩

Instead, I’ll talk about something that I teach all the time – writing from the scar, not the wound. Basically: stories, pain and perspective.

Because when it comes to writing, there’s a difference between healing and storytelling.

The wound is chaos.
The scar is craft.

The wound screams, “Look at me.”
The scar says, “Here, this might help.”

The wound is what happens to us.
The scar is what we make of it.

When you stop writing from the wound, you start writing from your power.

That’s why the most powerful stories – the ones that save people, move culture, or shift belief – never come from the middle of the breakdown.

They come from the version of you who survived it, named it, and can hand it to someone else like a tool.

Your audience doesn’t need your emotional raw footage.
They need the director’s cut.

Not “here’s what broke me” – but “here’s what I built from the pieces.”

Anyone can vent from the wound.

But it takes craft, courage, and distance to turn pain into something bigger than you.

We don’t need more people broadcasting their breakdown – we need more people translating their experience into insight, credibility, and direction.

That’s why the work I do isn’t for people still inside the breakdown – it’s for the leaders ready to turn the lesson into leverage:

• The founders who want their story to build authority, not sympathy.

• The leaders who know their past shaped them, but don’t need to livestream the therapy.

• The authors who want their book to grow their platform, but don’t need to perform it for validation.

That’s the energy I’m working with right now:

✅ Just signed a new book-coaching client – not because she’s in chaos, but because she wants to build her book right from the beginning.
✅ Meeting with literary agents — not to chase approval, but to create pathways for the authors I believe in.
✅ Helping clients shape narratives for media – not trauma dumps, but strategic stories that open doors.

No oversharing. No shock value.
Just clarity, intention, and a story that does something.

Not every story needs to be told. But the right one, told well, can change everything.

✨ If you’re ready to shape the story that builds your brand, positions your expertise, and opens the right doors, let’s talk.

Cat

Your Brand Catalyst, Story Strategist & Creative Ally.

PS: I’m hosting a Book Publishing 101 workshop soon.
If you've got a book in your bones and want to actually understand how publishing really works … details coming next week..

PPS: Go Blue Jays! You’re still my favourite team.

The Leap Comes Before the Clarity

Maybe it’s because it was my birthday.

Maybe it’s the workshop I attended by my friend Robb the other weekend.

Or maybe it’s just because it’s Halloween week and magic is in the air, but…

I’ve been feeling some serious vision energy lately.

As a storyteller and coach in the personal development and transformational leadership spaces, this isn’t unusual for me. Vision is my jam. I can spin a hundred possibilities into a hundred thousand potential narratives.

But here’s what I know:

Without implementation, vision stays a dream.

No amount of strategy or planning can make it real without action.

Clarity doesn’t come before the leap — it comes because of it.

So that’s where I’ve been focusing lately: on the small moves that make big visions possible –

A single, intentional conversation.

A quick email.
A 20-minute writing sprint.

Each one brings me a step closer to what’s next.

And here's the thing: When you show up for your vision, it starts showing up for you.

You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to start.

Cat

Your Brand Catalyst, Story Strategist & Creative Ally.

PS: If you’re ready to write your next chapter – and think I might be the right person to help you bring it to life – let’s talk. Book a discovery call here.

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✨ For Leaders in Their Next Chapter

If your vision involves more than a project – if it’s about stepping into a new level of visibility, or influence – I see you.

The next chapter of your work isn’t about doing more. It’s about aligning your story, message, and strategy with who you’ve become.

That’s where I can help – as your your Brand Catalyst, Story Strategist, and Creative Ally for what’s next.

Ready to bring your next chapter into focus?

Book your private discovery call here.

Your next chapter might not be what you think.

What would you do if you weren’t afraid? 🤔

That’s the question Robb Gilbear asked us at last weekend’s Do Bold Shit event in Toronto.

And it got me thinking…

What DO I really want?

Because sometimes, we’re just going through the motions –

ticking off boxes…

following some script we made up,

or others made for us

(2025 vision board, I’m looking at you).

Maybe – whether it’s our life story, a passion project, or a book we’re writing – we’re looking at the canvas all wrong.

Maybe we’re too attached to how it SHOULD look.

Maybe the next chapter isn’t about what you DO next, but who you get to BE.

Maybe there’s no single “right” path.

Maybe opportunity will follow us wherever we focus our attention and joy.

Maybe we just need to let go.

And see what unfolds when we do.

When you look at it that way, the questions change.

I find myself asking:

What would make today the most fun?

The most meaningful?

What changes for you when FUN and MEANINGFUL become your compass?

Because in the end, life really is what we make it.
And that, I think, is the most creative act of all.

✨ What about you? What would you do if you weren’t afraid?
(Share your thoughts — I’d love to hear what’s calling you next.)

Cat

PS: If you’re a writer or creative, you might enjoy my conversation with Steven James on The Story Blender, where we dig into the heart of storytelling — how to create believable characters, balance truth and imagination, and what every writer should know about crafting stories that resonate.
🎧 Listen to the episode here →

This is how we raise more money, and move more hearts

It’s my birthday this weekend 🎉

And instead of taking the day off, I’m spending it doing what I love most – deep-diving into story, purpose, and impact with a bunch of heart-centered creatives at a two-day workshop with my friend Robb Gilbear.

Because for me, there’s no bigger joy than watching people step into who they’re meant to be – and share their gifts, talents, and stories in ways that move others. (And yes, there will definitely be dancing.)

I’m also celebrating the new clients I’ve been working with, who have pulled me back into my old journalism roots – using story to amplify people, products, and missions that make a difference.

Only this time, I’m not chasing headlines.

I’m helping changemakers, entrepreneurs, and organizations lead with authenticity, intuition, and courage to bring their stories forward in powerful, resonant, and – let’s be honest – more original ways.

From helping one client redesign their website to reflect an identity shift and open new doors, to helping a not-for-profit raise record-breaking funds for a new food distribution facility through a smart, story-driven outreach campaign…

I’m not just book coaching anymore.

I’m helping mission-driven people and businesses harness the power of story across every platform – to connect, inspire, and make an impact that lasts.

If you’re on a mission to make a difference – and want your story to truly connect – I’d love to help you bring it to life. From books to brand stories to campaigns that raise millions – let’s make it unforgettable.

Because that’s what I was made for.

And I bet you were made for this too.

Cat

PS: If you’re ready to bring your mission to life through a story that connects and converts, let’s talk. Book a free discovery call with me here → https://catmargulis.com/contact

This story could change everything about your business

One of the things I love most about this work?

Seeing the exponential impact it creates for my clients and the people they help.

Whether that’s Jenni Schweers, helping women lead their fertility journey with courage and confidence…

Or Shannon Talbot, whose book opened doors to new speaking opportunities and media attention…

Or Joe Lyons-Rising, whose book positioned him as the go-to voice in his industry…

And then there’s Matt Rogers.

Matt didn’t just want to write a book. He wanted to shift how people saw him – his work, his story, his ability to make a difference.

Together, we shaped his message into a book that didn’t just sit on shelves. It opened doors: new clients, speaking invitations, partnerships he never imagined possible.

Here’s the realization I’ve had recently:

That impact doesn’t only come from writing a book.

The same storytelling strategies that helped Matt (and Jenni, and Shannon, and Joe) can be applied anywhere your story needs to shine.

✨ A website that reflects your highest, authentic self

✨ A media campaign that reframes the narrative around your business

✨ Coaching that gives you the tools to create powerful content for any channel

Because your story doesn’t only live in your book. It lives in how you show up everywhere.

And when you learn how to tell it with clarity and power, the ripple effect is exponential.

If you’re ready to explore how storytelling could amplify your impact – whether through a book or beyond – let’s talk. 

Because your story is bigger than you think.

Cat 

P.S. Don’t wait on your story. Every week I see authors’ books opening new doors they never expected – let’s see what it could unlock for you.

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🎙️ Want to hear the behind-the-scenes of how a book can change everything?

In this interview on The Book Leads podcast with host John Jaramillo, Matt Rogers shares how writing and publishing his book opened doors he never imagined – from quitting his job to launching new programs, speaking opportunities, and even leading to the development of an athletic centre. He also talks about what it was like working with me as his book coach and editor—and why he says that partnership made all the difference.

👉 Watch the full interview here

Why the best stories don’t stick to the script

I forgot how much I love going to concerts.

Recently, my hubby and I went to see one of our favourite crooners at our old stomping ground, Lee’s Palace in Toronto.

He played the songs we came for – the classics, the ones we knew by heart. But what really blew us away were the tangents: Spanish guitar riffs, drum solos that bordered on transcendental, jams that wandered and came back around in ways we couldn’t have predicted. There was even a Theremin!

Of course, I love a radio hit with its catchy chorus and hot hook. But what really holds my attention is the curiosity. The surprise. The unexpected.

Stories work the same way.

Yes, structure matters: arcs, open questions, closed loops. But when a character veers left instead of right? When an author withholds, pivots, or takes us somewhere we didn’t see coming? That’s gold. That’s the moment we lean in closer.

That’s the power of going offbeat.

👉 If you’re ready to unlock your own story and start finding those surprising turns that make your message unforgettable, I’ve put together a free guide for you: 10 Quick Prompts to Unlock Your Next Story.

Download it here and see where your story takes you:

https://catmargulis.com/unlockyourstory

 And if you’ve been sitting on a book idea or big story and you’re ready to turn sparks into something solid, let’s chat. I’ve opened a few spots for discovery calls this month, and I’d love to hear about what you’re creating.

Until next time,
Cat

Your story is your superpower - here’s why

Most of us think success stories are about winning.

But the greatest ones?

They’re about the failures, setbacks, and pivots that shaped who we became. And how we dared to keep going.

We tell ourselves we need to be polished, perfect, and “ready” before we can lead, inspire, or grow. But the truth is this: Your story – raw, unfinished, imperfect – is your greatest asset. And owning it can transform not just your brand, but also your life.

Every time you own your story, you take the pen back. You’re not just sharing where you’ve been – you’re setting the stage for where you’re going.

Your story doesn’t start when everything looks perfect.

It starts the moment you dare to speak from where you are.

It starts with one brave story, told by you.

Love,

Cat xo

PS: That's my book – Again, Only More Like You – in a library! It's all about owning your story, midlife reinvention, friendship and writing your own damn happy ending. Grab a copy here!

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The Moments That Shaped You

Last week, I spoke to a group of women-owned businesses about how to leverage the power of story.

I asked them to try a simple exercise:

👉 Think of a moment in your life that changed you.

It could be a win. A loss. A turning point. Now ask yourself:
•    What did that moment teach you?
•    Who did it make you?
•    And if you shared it… who could it help?

That’s the power of story.

The next chapter of your business, your leadership, your legacy doesn’t start with a marketing plan. 

It starts with the story you choose to tell today.

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Unlock Your Story

Ready to start uncovering the story that will grow your brand, your impact, and your legacy?

I put together a free resource to help: 10 Quick Prompts to Unlock Your Next Story.

Inside, you’ll find simple but powerful prompts to:
•    Pinpoint the moments that shaped you
•    Discover the lessons hiding inside them
•    Begin turning your lived experience into a story that inspires and connects

✨ Your story is already waiting inside you. This guide will help you unlock it.

👉 Grab your free guide here.