BestSelf Co.’s Cathryn’s Lavery On Building & Growing A Successful Self-Improvement Company

BestSelf Co.’s stated mission is to inspire you to think bigger and achieve your goals so you can become the best version of yourself and lead a life you can be proud of. The company creates tools that get you planned, productive, and positive, because, with these skills in your pocket, you can achieve anything. So whether you want to run a full marathon, build a business to manage full-time, write a book, raise incredible children, or increase your financial wealth, you can rely on the tools, resources, and community of BestSelf Co. to help make any/all of your goal(s) happen.

Offerings from BestSelf Co. span all sorts of genres, time-frames and hobbies. There is the SELF Journal, there are calendars and posters, there are online-based courses, and even game-esque card decks. In turn, there is something for anyone who is look to be their “best self” in the near-future.

I had the pleasure of speaking with founder Cathryn Lavery about the past, present and future of BestSelf Co. on behalf of The Hype. More on BestSelf Co. can be found online at www.bestself.co.

To you, what sets BestSelf apart from other productivity and/or positivity-oriented companies?

Cathryn Lavery: BestSelf is set apart from other productivity oriented companies by our tight knit community. There are almost 40,000 members in our Alliance Facebook group, where individuals come together to support and lift each other with their goals and dreams. It is so inspiring to see members share their accomplishments and be able to celebrate together. I have never been a part of such an engaging group before, and it is truly amazing.

What was the wakeup call for you to first become your best self?

Cathryn Lavery: My journey started in 2012 when I started my first business and began devouring personal development books on my commute to and from my architecture job in New York City. When I started applying what I learned and experimenting, I started to get more accomplished, felt happier and everything in my life got an upgrade. Then I realized what was missing from the traditional education system and wished more people could experience this change earlier in life.

Who are some of the people you look to as inspiration for being a productive and productive first?

Cathryn Lavery: Tim Ferriss, Tony Robbins and many of the authors I learned from over the years.

Is there a company accomplishment you are most proud of?

Cathryn Lavery: Winning the 2016 Build A Business Award was a huge deal; in just nine months we had grown to one of the biggest ecommerce stores on their platform as a beginner business. Then just a year later we had scaled “4x” and won the Shopify Build A Bigger Business in partnership with Tony Robbins. This was an incredible experience and the first time ever any company has been able to win both competitions.

What was the transition from BestSelf being a concept to a path and career for you?

Cathryn Lavery: We started BestSelf as a passion project on the side of our other businesses. Our first product, the SELF Journal, came from scratching our own itch. After reading and testing so many things over time, we had a system that worked — a 13-week goal framework that allowed us to focus on the right things and get further in 3 months than we may do in a year through an extreme and efficient focus on what’s important. As a product designer and architect, I had experience with bringing things to life so I worked to develop BestSelf into a holistic self-improvement movement.

For someone not yet in the BestSelf world, what’s a good product or two to start with?

Cathryn Lavery: The SELF Journal and the Icebreaker Deck are two fan favorites and great ways to start down the path to living your best life. The SELF Journal is a 13-week goal-setting journal that is proven to help achieve goals and create positive habits that will help make success inevitable. The Icebreaker Deck contains 150 conversation prompts to help you have more meaningful and deeper conversations with just about anyone in your life.

What is coming up for BestSelf in 2020?

Cathryn Lavery: In 2020, we are planning a few revamps of our favorite products, including the Weekly Action Pad and the Project Action Pad, as well as the Self Journal. We’ll also be expanding our Discovery Deck product line and introducing more ways to help our community on their path to personal development.

When not busy with BestSelf, where does your free time usually go?

Cathryn Lavery: What free time? (laughs) Just kidding. I live in Austin, Texas with my fiance and my two dogs. When I’m not working you can find me hanging with friends, being creative, foodie dinners, travelling, biking, working out, hiking or reading.

What was the last concert you attended for fun?

Cathryn Lavery: The Chainsmokers in New York City in 2019.

Finally, Cathryn, any last words for the kids?

Cathryn Lavery: It’s never too late to get better and level up. I finished university at 24 with a Masters and Diploma of Architecture. I got a job in New York City making 30K a year which was barely enough to scrape by in such an expensive city. I decided to take destiny into my own hands, started a side business with just $489, grew it to eight times my salary and then quit. Two years later, I sold it and have started three businesses since. It all started when I started my quest into personal growth. The world will reward you for showing up and improving yourself, and as you continue to improve, you will see all the improvements compound.

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Tags: BestSelf, Cathryn Lavery, Self-Improvement, The Chainsmokers, Tim Ferriss

About the Author

Darren Paltrowitz Darren Paltrowitz is a New York resident with over 20 years of entertainment industry experience. He began working around the music business as a teenager, interning for the manager of his then-favorite band Superdrag. Since then, he has worked with a wide array of artists including OK Go, They Might Be Giants, Mike Viola, Tracy Bonham, Loudness, Rachael Yamagata, and Amanda Palmer. Darren's writing has appeared in dozens of outlets including the New York Daily News, Inquisitr, The Daily Meal, The Hype Magazine, All Music Guide, Guitar World, TheStreet.com, Businessweek, Chicago Tribune, L.A. Times, and the Jewish Journal. Beyond being "Editor At Large" for The Hype Magazine, Darren is also the host of weekly "Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz" series, which airs on dozens on television and digital networks. He has also co-authored 2 published books, 2018's "Pocket Change: Your Happy Money" (Book Web Publishing) and 2019's "Good Advice From Professional Wrestling" (6623 Press), and co-hosts the world's only known podcast about David Lee Roth, "The DLR Cast."