Sara Boatz

Sara Boatz is a game changer.  She looks at the world, people’s businesses, work and personal lives through a future lens – what it could be.  She looks at things differently, and helps her clients look at things and think differently.  Sara has a knack for not only taking people where they want to go, but to places they never thought they could.

For over 25 years, Sara has run her own business creating personal and business strategies, action plans and communication platforms for her clients to move them toward a future they only dream about.  Her mantras:  “What if?”  and “Why not?”

A seasoned professional and published author of a personal reinvention book, Sara is dedicated to changing people’s businesses and lives to be that of their dreams.

What is one experience that has shaped you to be the person you are today?

Being told by my dad, whom I idolized, that I couldn’t do something – actually several times.  Being told I would not be able to accomplish something that I set out to do may have been meant to “protect” me or keep me on a structured path, but it only served to challenge me.  My answer each time he said it was “Just watch me”.  No matter what it was – moving from Iowa to Los Angeles without a job, getting a job with a national advertising agency without any experience, starting my own business, running triathlons or becoming an author, his fear of my failure was a fire that ignited all my effort and energy to succeed.  And when I succeeded, he was right there to congratulate me and celebrate with me.  I truly believed that I could do anything if I put my mind to it and was willing to work hard to make it happen.  It turned me into a driver who met my own goals and followed up with What if?, What’s next?, and Why not?   I believe everyone has it within themselves to do the same.  And I decided that I could extract it from them and facilitate growth. 

What is one experience that has helped you grow yourself, your business, or your career? Please explain how.   

As I have mentioned, I truly believed that I could do anything I wanted to do, if I was willing to work for it.  When I started my business, Boatz Knutsen, Inc., my partner and I had clients that would ask us to do projects, saying, “Do you think you can do that?”  We would say, “Yes, we’d love to.”  Then we’d look at each other and say, “We need to figure this out.”  One example was when we were engaged by Target Corporation.  They said, “We need someone to facilitate a creative and compelling team building and strategic planning meeting for the next fiscal year.  Can you do that?”  We said, “Yes, we’d love to.”  We had never done that, so we  researched, created, practiced and edited.  When we executed it, they said, “Wow!  That was amazing.  How many of these have you done?”  I said, “Counting this one, one.”  We continued working with Target on many projects for the next 10 years.  This is just one example of so many where I jumped into a challenge that I had never attempted before and had to not only figure it out, but maintain a personal goal to blow away their expectations every time.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

I like to start out with some exercise, either going to the gym or walking a few miles at home.  That gets me in the right mind frame to take on and accomplish anything that needs to get done.  (It also get’s exercise out of the way so I don’t find any reason to skip it later.)  I review every client each day to look at their needs, deadlines, communication and preparation needed to stay ahead of them so they never have them ask me where something stands.  I plan out when I need to do what and then dive in and execute.  If there is extra time, I get ahead of deadlines well in advance so I have time to review and edit and deliver more than was expected.  I probably over-communicate, but none of my clients are ever unsure of the status of a project.  I also “grease the skids”.  I like to get buy-in on my thinking and processes as I go to make sure there are no surprises and we are working from the same objectives for each project.  My  goal is to ALWAYS over-deliver – surprise and delight.  When a client says, “This was more than I expected,” then I am happy about what I delivered.  

I sell and represent things that are intangible.  People can only imagine what they will receive and agree on a fee that satisfies what they believe they will get.  I listen very intently and hear exactly what they say and also what they don’t say.  I ask a lot of questions and create buy-in every step of the way.  In the end, my presentation includes What they asked for, What I did, Methodology, Findings, Assessment and Recommendations.  (They can actually follow my thinking process.)  I hear between the lines and present to them not only what they asked for, but also ideas which might impact them in other ways.  It’s always about them and their goals.  I thrive on delivering more than they thought I could deliver.

What goal did you set yourself for 2021?

2021 has brought many new things for me to take on.  I am still doing projects for clients and reinvention sessions for individuals, but my primary  goal this year was to find a “real job” that would allow me to earn benefits for my family.  My husband, who has always received corporate benefits for our family, planned to retire.  Trying to get a job with benefits during the Covid pandemic at 61 years old, with over 25 years being self employed didn’t prove to be an easy feat.  I could just hear my dad say to me, “I don’t think you will ever find a job that will give you benefits after being on your own for so long.”  Well, just watch me.  It wasn’t about the money, we are ok there, so I researched all kinds of companies with good benefit programs.  I found that Trader Joe’s provides one of the best benefits packages available if you meet a consistent number of  hours a week as a cross-trained crew member.  I was able to obtain a job there and qualified for full benefits for me, my husband and 2 daughters on July 1st.  My husband retired July 2nd.  There was no question in my mind that I could meet that goal, but it was a challenge.  I couple this repetitive job with my strategy work and personal reinventions and I feel very full and productive.  (Nothing like cutting a deadline close though.)

How do you bring ideas to life?

I focus first on the ‘why’.  I bring ideas to life through experiential research.  I like to experience the products/services my clients deliver to understand why people buy or engage with them.  Is it to quell a fear?  Alleviate some pain? Or obtain some type of gain?  These are the things that make people take action.  Finding the why around actions people take has proved to be a very solid way of creating the right recommendations and bringing new ideas – hopefully some they hadn’t previously thought about – to help a client obtain their goals and grow productively and profitably.

What’s one trend that excites you?

One trend that excites me has come out of this crazy, out-of-control time called the Pandemic.  That trend is creativity.  People all over the world who were in a rhythm, found themselves out of control.  Kind of in a very boring chaos.  While it started out as just sitting and waiting; trying to figure out what’s next, this craziness has ultimately forced people to live forward.  To get “unstuck.”  To take control and figure out a way to move forward.  That is the space I live in everyday.  I help companies and people get out of doing what they “should” do and start doing what they “want” to do.  Both meet their needs, but when you do what you “want” to do it’s a lot more fun.  I hated watching the news through the pandemic, but I did it to see the stories about how people took steps to make their situation better.  And the benefits, they may not have expected, emerge from those steps.

In my case, I figured out that the core things that I need are to stay busy (as staying home during the pandemic with nothing to do was going to make me crazy) and that me and my husband need medical benefits.  So I got creative.  After applying to so many jobs in management and marketing with no luck, I threw all caution to the wind and removed all of the boundaries.  Why does it have to be in my current career field?  As long as it could meet those 2 needs, couldn’t it be anything?

So with an open mind, I found a job at Trader Joe’s.  It is a job that will yield the medical benefits needed for the next few years, and it will keep me busy.  But, in reality, it is so much more.  It has taken away so much stress I had with other jobs.  It has helped me lose 21 lbs. so far, and has helped me become more kind and understanding of others who are just trying to get through this challenging time.  Bottom line, like so many others in the world, I got creative to meet the needs of myself and family and am now living forward in a positive way.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Believe in yourself and your instincts.  Be comfortable in your own skin, as you have a lot to offer and a fierce drive to impact many.

What is the one thing you do over and over, and recommend everyone else do?

Live forward.  

What is one strategy that has helped you grow yourself/your business/career? Please explain how. 

Be courageous.  It’s hard to take risks and most people won’t stick their necks out before things are proven.  I love trying new things.  Do they always work out?  No, but doing things I have never done before have put me on the leading edge in many respects in terms of my personal and business lives.

What is one failure/challenge you had (personal or professional), and how did you overcome it? 

Infertility.  Children were always in my life plan.  When, at 32, I found I couldn’t get pregnant easily it was not only a challenge, but a perceived failure on my part.  I was not willing to give up that dream and researched and tried many avenues and never gave up.  After 4½ years and 9 surgeries, I brought 2 beautiful daughters into the world and they are the lights of my life.  They gave me a purpose and confidence that I could indeed achieve anything.

What is one (content) idea that you’re willing to give away to our audience? (this should be an actual idea for content, not advice)

In order to live forward you need to get your ideas out of your head and onto paper.  Articulating your dreams is the only way you can work to try to close the gap between where you are today and where you want to go.  It also gives you a great reason to say “no” to things and people who want to take you away from the path that leads you to the life you want.  Here’s how to do it:

1. Describe who you are today – good, bad and indifferent.  What your life at work looks like, and what your personal life looks like.  How do you describe yourself?  How do others describe you?  What are your core values?  What are you passionate about?  What do you currently have to work with – your skills and abilities.
2. Now, dream!  What do you want to achieve and experience in life – from your bucket list to some ridiculous dreams you might have that mean something to you.
3. Work backwards to close the gap between where you are today and living a life of your dreams:
   1. Describe what your perfect life looks like three years from now.
   2. Create one year milestones – ask, “What would I have to do this year to move myself toward that three-year perfect picture and put me on the path to living the life that matters to me?”
4. What is in the way?  Describe barriers that you will have to get over, around or through to meet those one year milestones.
5. Create your action plan.  List each one-year milestone and write down strategies that will help you achieve that goal.  Follow that with action steps you will take to get there and identify others who might help/support you and set the timing for when it needs to be done.  (Don’t forget the timing – due dates are big motivators for most people.)
6. Execute!  Plans are not going to help you if you put them on the shelf.
7. Finally, CELEBRATE!  Every achievement, big or small along the way.  Remember it’s about progress, not perfection.  If you are moving forward toward the life you want, then you will never be stuck.  Life is too short to live someone else’s dreams or orders.  Do what you need to do to live the life that really matters to you.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why? (personal or professional)

This was free – on the internet – but I would have gladly paid $100 for it.  It is an old 2009 video by Simon Sinek, called Start with the Why?  It is a simple concept that changed the way I looked at everything.  It changed the way I did strategic planning for individuals and businesses.  Based on a concept Sinek calls The Golden Circle of Communication, rather than presenting who you are and what you stand for by telling what you do, then how you do it, you start with the WHY.  Why you do what you do.  Then you describe how you do it and finally what you do.  This method helps people with like minds connect around the why.  If you agree with the why, you will be glued to the how and what and want to buy or take action.  There is much more that Simon Sinek explains and it is brilliant.  Look him up on YouTube.  It will change the way you communicate forever.  Is that worth $100?  To me, it was priceless.

What is one piece of software, app or a web service that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

Google.   Everything is on the web.  If you don’t know how to do something, look it up.  Look at YouTube – you can find step by step instructions on almost anything.  Don’t let “not knowing how to do something” stop you from getting it done.  If you can’t follow the directions or get enough information from articles and research available, you can certainly find someone that can help you or do it for you by just using Google.

What is the one book that you recommend our audience should read and why?

It’s not a book, but the 18 minute video by Simon Sinek called “Start with the Why” I spoke about above.  It can be found on YouTube.  It is a simple concept he shared in 2009 (a little old but still relevant) that will make you look at your business and your personal life completely differently.  It has inspired a lot of my work over the past years.

What is your favorite quote?

“A leader is great, not because of his or her power, but because of his or her ability to empower others.” John C. Maxwell

What people have most influenced your life and why?

Ordinary people who are stuck.  I look at life, not as what was, but what could be.  People who are “stuck” can’t see the forest through the trees.  They are rudderless, not focusing on where they are going, rather simply existing or making it through life, day to day.  I help people get out of that place and think differently – think about a life that would matter to them and help them figure out how to get started and achieve it.  These people say that “I have helped them so much”.  But, everytime I work with someone to get “unstuck” I personally learn and grow.  Each story and plan they create inspires me to be better and maintain my efforts to live forward and enjoy life to its fullest.  

What made you choose the path you are currently on?

Boredom.  I am an overachiever.  I set goals for everything and work to achieve them.  In my mid-forties I looked at my life and said to myself, “I think I have done about everything I set out to do for myself.  Now what?”  I actually took myself through the visioning process that I had 

created to help companies grow.  It really inspired me to inspire others.  I don’t teach, I inspire. That is what has made me who I am and put me on the path I am on.

What local businesses would you recommend our readers support?

Whatever businesses and/or groups that surround them with people of like minds.  No one can do “life” on their own.  Everyone needs support.  Surrounding yourself with people of like minds provides you with support, new points of view, and networks you may not have ever considered before.  By finding things you have in common with others, you can create a plethora of new possibilities and support for a life that matters to you.

What local nonprofit would you recommend our readers support?

Paying it forward has many mental and physical benefits.  Finding a non-profit organization that could benefit from your experiences and knowledge is good for both you and the organization.  Again, I would say any organization that you are interested in and have people with like minds will not only support them, but will also be beneficial to you.  Support them with your time, your knowledge and your money.  Paying it forward is a win-win.

What is the biggest challenge you have ever faced? 

Getting my M.B.A. in my mid-fifties.  I had a goal to get my masters degree – being the one in my family with an advanced degree.  I wanted to teach at Pikes Peak Community College and they said I needed a Masters Degree to qualify.  Never being one to be told I couldn’t do something, I enrolled and finished in just 2 years, graduating with honors with a Masters in Business Innovation.  I have to say that remembering everything about statistics at my age was an incredible challenge, as was competing with kids half my age all while working full time.  I reached my goal in spring of 2017 and taught at PPCC’s Workforce Development division for 3 ½ years.  I truly believe that if you want something bad enough, you will do what it takes to make it happen.

What is your most memorable childhood experience? This can be good or bad.

Moving to Mexico.  When I was 13 years old, my overachieving dad was promoted to General Manager of a John Deere manufacturing plant in Monterrey Mexico.  Leaving my friends at that age was devastating and going to a place where we didn’t speak the language or know how to blend in was unthinkable.  It turns out that it was one of the best years of my life.  I learned so much about myself and my life and it took the fear out of taking risks and entering into the unknown.  Adapting to such a different culture helped me believe I could do whatever it took to make any situation a positive experience.

Who is your biggest inspiration?

My father.  He was a “self-made” millionaire that came from a very poor but good family.  He boot-strapped his way through life earning a free education by doing what he was best at – playing baseball and basketball.  He took what he was best at and made it work for him to obtain the goals he set for himself.  He rose quickly through the ranks at John Deere & Co. because he was driven and goal-oriented.  He LOVED to achieve.  He also thought of others and cared deeply about his family.  His legacy was education.  Because of his professional success, he was able to educate 11 people in his lifetime.  Himself, his wife, his four daughters and five granddaughters.  All of them succeeded as happy and productive citizens.  He established the values we all follow today to be good people and make a difference.

What is your self-love routine?

Being accepting of myself and allowing me to be still sometimes.

What affirmations do you say to yourself?

I am perfect, just as I am and I can achieve anything if I am willing to work for it.

If you had a superpower what would it be?

Inspiring people to be inspired and take action.

Where do you get your fashion inspiration from?

I don’t know much about fashion – which I’m sure shows.  I am extremely casual and hope that others see beyond my shell to see the person I am, and impacts I make.

If you could choose only 3 items to take with you, which ones would you choose?

They aren’t items, but are the 3 most important things to me – My husband and 2 daughters.  I can do anything knowing I have their love and support.

Which are your favorite 5 spots in Colorado?

Vail – where I met my husband 35 years ago

Colorado Springs – an amazing place to raise our two beautiful and talented girls

Rainbow Falls in Woodland Park – my husband’s fishing club that offers so much stress-reducing peace, beauty and relaxation

Summit County – where we have gone so many times to enjoy all the mountains offer

Denver – where we have enjoyed so many sports, concerts and good friends in “major market” style

Which is the next destination on your wishlist?

Australia and New Zealand

What is the next exciting project in the pipeline for you?

Planning all the travel destinations we want to see.  One of my “bucket list” goals is to visit all 7 continents.  I only have 3 under my belt to date, so I need to get busy.

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Whatever you believe would be most impactful to those reading it.