We had the good fortune of connecting with Cait Ross and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Cait, what matters most to you?
Relationships are the foundation of my business and of my life. It’s no secret that as humans, we are neurobiologically hard-wired for human connection and to be in relationship with each other and the world around us. For me, my relationships are what allow me to feel safe to explore the creative parts of me… the parts of me that are able to birth new creative ideas that support developing new service offerings and new & innovative ways to serve my clients and community. At Potential Haus, we exist to help humans & organizations unlock their infinite potential. And we do this by supporting leaders, business owners and creatives to develop the inner resources required to achieve the external results they desire (i.e. more vibrant health, more success with more ease, more money & abundance and above all — inner peace). Our approach and framework are grounded in nervous system regulation — which is a conscious process any human can choose to engage in, by leveraging the power of the brain and the intuitive nature of the body to make intentional shifts and changes in pursuit of a particular goal or desired outcome. And can you guess what one of the best ways to regulate your nervous system? You guessed it! Strong & safe relationships 😊
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
It was a hot and sunny day in August in downtown Chicago. I had a busy day meeting with prospective clients and was getting ready to leave an after-work event when I felt a rush of dizziness fall over me. The next thing I know, I’m hailing a cab at the corner of Wacker & Lasalle and en route to the ER at Northwestern Hospital — just a few blocks away from my River North apartment.
Surely I had just had a heart attack… but wait! I’m only 28 years old? How can that be??! The doctor walks in the room, wearing the traditional white coat and with virtually no expression on his face says, “Miss Ross… you’re perfectly healthy. You’re free to go.”
“What just happened to me?” I thought as I sat in the back of the cab on the way home.
Little did I know that I would start to experience daily panic attacks for the next few months… among many other symptoms – no SIGNS. Signs that my body had enough.
The years of achieving, performing & pushing myself to be my very best had manifested into a chronic health condition that left me feeling scared, confused, and ridden with anxiety. My body had had enough. It was time to slow down and since I refused to do it consciously… my body decided to slow me down for me.
Burnout. A 2 year nightmare… and also my greatest teacher and biggest blessing.
This experience was the catalyst for me to found my company, Potential Haus — an organization on a mission to help equip humans with the inner resources needed to thrive in the modern world.
The reality is: The #1 problem businesses face today are the unprecedented levels of stress & burnout spreading across their organizations and they toll it continues to take on employee well-being, company culture and business performance.
Individuals across the globe are struggling to navigate the unprecedented rate of change; increasing demands, workload & responsibilities; and the unpredictable nature of the economy and other world events.
At Potential Haus, we believe every person & organization already has inside them what it takes to thrive in the post-pandemic era. And we also believe that there has never been so much change, uncertainty & noise — that are so often blocking people from the health, success & life they desire to create. And the reality is… organizations only grow & thrive when their people do.
Our mission is to unlock human & organizational potential through the science of the nervous system & the art of human connection. We do this by activating mindfulness, resilience & compassion within workplace cultures through world-class keynotes, immersive workshops & transformational well-being programs. The foundation of our approach is grounded in nervous system regulation — the conscious process any human can engage in to better understand, shift & elevate the state of their individual nervous system for more resilience, creativity & success. We leverage the latest in neuroscience, positive psychology, mindfulness & poly vagal theory to inform our approach to human transformation.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Where do I start?! Anytime we have visitors, I always like to take people to the amazing nature spots we have around Austin. Lake Austin is one of my favorite places to spend time on the water, and a day at the lake wouldn’t be complete without a quick stop at Mount Bonnell for one of the best views of the city and the lake + surrounding nature.
A day at Barton Springs is always in order, followed by fresh juice at my absolute favorite spot, Alchemy Juice in the Casa De Luz square.
For music, relaxing and time at the pool, I love bringing visitors with me to Soho House on South Congress – a beautiful space filled with creativity and renewing energy.
We love eating out just as much as we love hosting friends in our backyard for dinner at home. Some of my favorite dinner spots are: Hopfields, the Peacock, Josephine’s House, Tiny Box Woods, and Elizabeth Street Cafe.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the love and encouragement from my parents – from Day 1, the’ve always been my biggest cheerleaders and supporters instilling the belief in me that I can do anything I put my mind to. And to my fiancé, Michael who provides me with the deepest love and support each and every day – especially on the tough days… thank you for being on this journey with me <3
Website:Â caitross.com
Instagram:Â caitrossco