Sonia Satra Actress Turned Entrepreneur

Sonia Satra serves as an inspiration for women with her diverse background as a successful actress to now leading women in fitness and well being. Sonia Satra is a certified life coach, fitness instructor, and award-winning motivational speaker who has dedicated her life to helping people reach their full potential through unifying the body and mind.

Formerly the president of the National Speakers Association – NYC, she developed a one-of-a-kind Perspectives program that has brought thousands of people clarity and confidence at times of critical decision-making. HerWomen’s Empowerment Adventures have pushed women in NYC to discover their potential both physically and mentally.

I recently had the chance to interview the amazing and talented Sonia Satra. I hope you find inspiration through her story and her shift into being a passionate entrepreneur.

So many women are passionate about a multitude of projects and businesses. How was the transition between being on Guiding Light and successful actress to now creating Moticise? What was your aha moment, if there was one?

My passion has always been to help people achieve the things that really light them up. So after I left the soaps, I got certified as a life coach, and I also began motivational speaking. I loved that, because it felt like the perfect opportunity to reach people in a big way.

My biggest aha moment came one day on the treadmill. I’ve always loved exercise, not just for its physical benefits but because it impacts your mind and emotions so strongly. I was running at the gym, watching TV, and everything on was bad news. It made me tired and depressed just watching it! I thought, What if it was different? What if people exercised while focusing on uplifting, inspiring things? How much better would that be?

That was the day I came up with the name Moticise – motivational exercise. I had a vision of the business I wanted to create – I saw people in a class, exercising, visualizing, doing affirmations, creating steps, using mindset tools to create a better life – all rolled up into one fitness class. So I started researching, and I found that science backs up my own discovery – that exercise is an optimal time to create, focus, and grow. So that’s how Moticise began.

Did you find it challenging to be in the acting world and also an entrepreneur?

Yes. When I first made the shift from acting, I heard a friend ask, “When you spread your energy across two different visions, do you really maximize possibilities?” That haunted me, because I knew there was truth in it – if you try to focus on too many things, you really won’t be giving any one pursuit the attention it needs. So I chose to turn my energy toward my business. When acting opportunities come up, I still take them, because I love to act. But I know I have to prioritize, and so these days, my business comes first.

What advice would you give to women looking to pivot in their business and going for a new passion?

There’s nothing that’s more exciting to me than when someone follows through on going for what they want, even if it feels impossible. That’s living life to the fullest. You have your best chance at being your most fulfilled, happiest, strongest self when you do that.

So my advice is to do it. Break it down. Make a plan. Find mentors, and get advice. Create a vision and follow it. Keep your mindset strong by reinforcing your belief that it’s possible.

When you align your mind, body, and emotions toward what you want, you really are unstoppable. From that place, anything is possible.

Did you have any hiccups along the way and if so, what kept you motivated to keep on going?

So many, I don’t even know where to start! Everything from shooting our DVD, to figuring out sales, to finding our target audience. The original idea was to open up a gym; now we’re more online. Setbacks will always occur, and often, they’re a signal that it’s time to rethink your approach.

I stay motivated, honestly, by using the tools I teach! By staying true to myself and continuing to press forward. I know from acting that persistence is a crucial piece of success. I was screen-tested eight times before I got the role on Guiding Light. Eight times! That’s a LOT of rejection, in the midst of all the other rejections. Keeping at it, and pivoting when you need to, is the key.

Who is the one woman in this world that inspired you to be where you are now?

My mother. It might sound cliché, but it’s true. I so admire what she was able to do, being a single mom of three girls. She exposed us to so much of the world. Her sense of adventure, appreciation of people and cultures, her love of learning – those all made a huge impact on me. She taught me to just take one more step, to make that extra effort to have conversations with people, to learn, to see things differently. I love that about her and I’m so grateful for it.

I’ve always loved being active, and in one of her frustrated-mom moments, she said to me, “If you used your mind as much as you use your body, you’d be a very well-balanced person.” I find it ironic that I now run a business based on the fusion of those two things. She was right!

What would you say to women that say to themselves, “I can’t move forward with my passion because I don’t have what it takes”?

I would ask, is that really true? What’s something you’ve done in your past, even if it was a long time ago, where you did have what it takes?

We wildly underestimate our own strengths and achievements. We’re so good at looking at what we can’t do, or what we don’t have. A lot of women say to me, “I’ve spent the last twenty years as a mother. I have no experience. How can I possibly start my own business?” Let me tell you, parenting is one of the hardest things in the world. The skills you gained as a parent can be used to run a business. It’s all about reframing your experience. You do have what you need, even if you don’t see it that way yet.

So look at what you’ve already accomplished. Take those skills, combine them with your passion and vision, and you’ll surprise yourself with what you can achieve.

We love mantras…do you have one?

I’ve said it a couple times here – “Just take one more step.” The first time my husband and I traveled with the kids, we went to Greece, and that was our family mantra. My son was one and my daughter was four, so Stephen and I were constantly saying, “Let’s just take one more step!” The things we discovered just by going around that next corner, by going just a little bit farther –it was incredible.

Now I use it almost every day, especially when things aren’t going brilliantly. It always brings me a step closer to where I want to go. After all, all goals are a series of steps.

Last inspirational words to share?

You don’t have to be confident to start. You just need a little bit of courage.

When you doubt yourself, take little actions to give yourself evidence that you can do it. The more evidence you build up, the more action you take, and the more you’ll realize what’s possible. The most growth you’ll have, and the more fun you’ll have.

It’s so inspiring to achieve something, to step outside your comfort zone, to prove to yourself that you can. We all can. All we have to do is take one more step.

** Join Sonia’s weekly Twitter chat Tuesdays—11AM EST → #betterlifechat

For free videos, mini-workouts and tips follow Moticise on Youtube:   http://youtube.com/c/SoniaSatraMoticise  

Learn more at www.moticise.com

PHOTO CREDIT : Alyssa Peeks

Violette is the Founder of FemCity // an online global network featuring business and lifestyle trends with over 70 local communities designed exclusively for women. Violette is also a business coach,  motivational speaker, small business consultant, writer and mother of three. As a serial entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience, Violette is passionate about supporting women entrepreneurs through business growth, big vision strategies and positivity along the way. She has been quoted in Success, Entrepreneur, MSNBC, and Mashable. She has been seen in People, InStyle, and Real Simple Magazines. For more inspiration and business tips, visit www.femcity.com and www.violettedeayala.com. Follow Violette de Ayala // @violettedeayala