Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Angela Pugh, Master Coach & Addiction Unlimited Podcast Host, based in Kansas City, MO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am a Master Level Life Coach, and I work with ambitious and dynamic people who aspire to be the best version of themselves, creating and living the life they dream of.
Tell us about yourself
In 2006 I had a car accident that forced me to make huge changes in my life. I had lived in denial and avoidance, knowing I needed to change but continuing to put it off because I just didn't know what to do or how to do it.
How do you start fixing your whole life?
The truth I was facing was that I had allowed myself to spiral into a mess of a person. I was an alcoholic, a liar, immature and irresponsible; I hated myself and my life. As I looked at myself in my 30s, I realized I had wasted all the years of my adult life so far, becoming nothing. I had to get to work and figure out how to grow up as an adult. I had to change every piece of my life; I had to get a new perspective, stop playing the victim and take control of my emotions and decisions; I had to take responsibility for my shortcomings and change them.
As I saw myself transforming into a whole new person, one I never thought I was capable of being, I knew all I wanted to do was help others achieve the same thing.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Internally, my greatest accomplishment is bravery. Being brave enough to try, brave enough to fail, brave enough to handle everything head-on instead of avoiding and shrinking to fear. As an entrepreneur, my greatest accomplishment is my podcast. To create something with zero listeners and build it to the top 5% of podcasts, to touch tens of thousands of lives every month, to guide people in stepping into their lives and taking their power back, it's a true honor.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Wow. Being a business owner will push you to your limits sometimes. I would say one of the greatest challenges is building a team. I want people who are really passionate about what they are doing because it's important. And when you make a commitment to be part of someone's business, it's important. I know other people will never care about my businesses the way I care about my businesses, but I do expect people to care and want the best possible outcome. My experience has been a lot of people are so focused on how much they are getting paid with little focus on how much value they are providing or honing their skills to be the best they can be and to EARN that top dollar.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Something I coach my clients on is to get clear on what kind of business life they want and what kind of personal life they want. And this ties in with the second thing, finding one or two good mentors.
You need to have clarity on what you are building. How many hours a week do you want to work? How much free time do you want for yourself or your family? Do you want to travel? Do you want to be hands-on or hands-off? Do you want a local team and an office, or do you want to work remotely?
When you have that kind of clarity on what your big picture looks like, you can seek out mentors who have built the type of business and lifestyle that you want. I don't utilize mentors who are corporate C-suite employees because that's not the lifestyle or business I want. That sort of clarity also helps you in planning your business in your first months and years. It gives you a focus on what to work on to build appropriately and scale correctly.
Lastly, don't forget that you have a whole life. Not just family and work. It's important to have hobbies, to laugh with friends, to nurture your soul, and relieve stress and anxiety so that you get to be a happy and healthy version of yourself. You have to nurture all the areas of your life to stay balanced, not get burned out, and be able to manage the stress that comes with the business.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.angelapugh.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/addictionunlimitedpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/addictionunlimited/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-pugh/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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