Today we’d like to introduce you to Coty Martin.
Coty, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Born and raised in Miami, Florida as a troubled and confused kid headed nowhere fast. At the age of 14, I was challenged with the decisions of becoming a man or a statistic. I chose to become a man! Gifted with natural talents on the football field and the ability to express myself both poetically and musically, I began to set goals that would later direct me to a positive mindset. Coming from an unstable childhood, I understood the importance of building and maintaining positive relationships. By the time I graduated from high school, I had lived in 22 different homes and went to 10 different schools. I understood early that perseverance would be the key to overcoming my adverse background and that failure was never an option.
I used football as a tool for positive growth and music as therapy to overcome each adverse phase of my life. And after only playing one full season of varsity football in the 10th grade due to two season ending injuries in 11th and 12th grade, I was still able to successfully graduate high school and earned a full scholarship to play football at South Carolina State University.
After struggling with the transition from high school to college, my at risk past became present. I was kicked off the football team multiple times due to negative actions off the field and was at risk of losing my scholarship. I then had another season ending injury that would set me back. I was also in a terrible car accident that caused a serious back injury. Doctors explained to me that I might not be able to play football again, which terrified me.
I immediately turned to my favorite source of therapy, which was music. After months of rehabilitating my injuries and reflecting on my life through recording music, I understood that the only way to overcome my adverse situations and succeed was to change my mindset and to do things differently.
After the positive mindset shift, I would later become the starting running back on the football team, award with multiple Most Valuable Player trophies, All-Conference, and selected to the HBCU All-Star football game where I won Most Valuable Player.
I would later earn my Bachelors and Masters Degree from South Carolina State University, become a Licensed Professional Counselor and developed a passion for assisting others with embracing and overcoming adversity and with developing a positive mindset for a successful life.
Not only did my lifelong journey of adversity build character, but it also made me a man! It helped me become a better leader. It guided me to my purpose. Most of all. It taught me to be a great husband to the woman of my dreams and the best father a child could ever have!
As a result of my lifelong history of adversity and successfully overcoming obstacles that were supposed to make me fail, I felt the need to write a book that would motivate and inspire others to become self-aware and assist them with the tools to become self-motivated and transition from a negative to a positive mindset.
In 2017 I authored my first book titled, “Passport To Life: Journey To A Positive Mindset,” which is a personal self-help development and self-improvement tool. Following my book, I developed a curriculum and a program called “Unlock Your Greatness” based on Social and Emotional Learning to design for both adolescents and adults to better themselves and give them the tools needed to lead a successful life.
Courage + Motivation is a brand designed to motivate and inspire individuals to be their best and not settle for less. I built a business and a brand based solely on my life’s history of adversity and overcoming it and turning it into achievement. I teach individuals to embrace the hardships of life and to focus on the big picture of success by giving them the tools to be able to set effective SMART goals that are obtainable.
Through Courage + Motivation, I developed an online education program for personal development and self-improvement called Adversity University. Adversity University provides individuals with life skills and tools that they can use for a lifetime. These skills are to improve your life in personal, business/school, social, relationships and health. I provide Counseling and Clarity Coaching services to individuals, families, groups and organizations. As a Speaker, Author, Psychotherapist and Clarity Coach, I began to impact positively and change the lives of those who need it most.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road, and all and I will not be telling the truth if I say that it is a smooth road now. I have to learn to adjust just as I had to do my entire life. I had to learn to take the good with the bad and to trust the process. My biggest struggle with success was my lack of patience because I use to be one that wanted everything to come fast but had to learn that anything that comes too fast 1) will not be appreciated or will be taken for granted and 2) can and will be gone just as quick as it came. I learned that hard work does not have a cheat code, and the only way to truly succeed is to work hard because the pay off will be that much more worth it.
Faith, Focus, Consistency are my magic words for success. My lack of patience in the past showed me that my “faith” wasn’t as strong as I thought it was because I would get distracted and loose “focus,” then start focusing on another project and not see my current one through. In doing that, I failed to be “consistent,” and my chances of success reduced big time! Once I recognized my shortcomings and developed my simple but impactful recipe for success (Faith, Focus, Consistency), I began winning in ALL aspects of my life, personal and business.
Please tell us about Courage + Motivation: Psychotherapy & Coaching .
Courage + Motivation: Psychotherapy & Coaching is a counseling and clarity coaching organization. I provide Counseling and Clarity Coaching services to individuals, families, groups and organizations. As a Speaker, Author, Psychotherapist and Clarity Coach, I began to impact positively and change the lives of those who need it most. We provide clarity coaching for both personal and business.
Courage + Motivation is an organization designed to motivate and inspire individuals to be their best and not settle for less. I built a business and a brand based solely off my life’s history of adversity and overcoming it and turning it into achievement. I teach individuals to embrace the hardships of life and to focus on the big picture of success by giving them the tools to be able to set effective SMART goals that are obtainable.
Through Courage + Motivation, I developed an online education program for personal development and self-improvement called Adversity University. Adversity University provides individuals with life skills and tools that they can use for a lifetime. These skills are to improve your life in personal, business/school, social, relationships and health.What I am most proud of with my company is the impact I am making and the lives that I am changing.
I can’t speak on what sets me apart from others because I am not focused on what others do. But I can speak on the huge impact I have made over the years, the amount of dedication I have for those I work (individuals, families, groups and organizations), and my ability to changes lives for the better. The main thing I focus on is results.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I can’t say that I have a favorite memory from my childhood, but the times that I enjoyed the most was spending time with my entire family during the Christmas holidays. Those were some of the best moments of my life. Anybody that knows me knows how strong my feelings are towards my family.
Contact Info:
- Website: cotymartin.com
- Phone: 678-348-0618
- Email: booking@cotymartin.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cotymotivation/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CotyMotivation/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/cotymotivation
- Other: www.linkedin.com/in/cotymotivation
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