Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Beth Kennedy, Founder of Benatti Leadership Development, located in Beverly, MA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I coach high-potential individuals who are passionate about their jobs but often on the verge of burning out. I show them how to rediscover their purpose, manage the urgency and perfectionism that can get in their way, and boost their influence and impact by implementing the five resilience strategies of my Benatti Resiliency Model®. My training programs are a way for me to offer my success strategies to more than just individuals. The focus is on keeping employees engaged and productive, enabling them to manage change and transition within the organization, and preventing burnout. I also enjoy speaking at conferences, seminars, and symposiums, showing audiences how to recharge their careers by applying the strategies of my resiliency model.
Tell us about yourself
After twenty-five years as an outreach career counselor in the Boston public school system and fifteen years providing career consulting to The Gillette Company, I decided it was time to tap into my entrepreneurial spirit and background and go out on my own. My coaching business, Benatti Leadership Development, was a natural evolution from my experience at Gillette and my advanced coaching training.
I use my maiden name, Benatti, as a way to honor my dad—as an entrepreneur, he was definitely the inspiration to start my own business. What motivates me is helping people who are committed to their jobs be the best, resilient selves in their careers and lives.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is writing my book, Career ReCharge: Five Strategies to Boost Resilience and Beat Burnout. The process of writing it made my brand crystal clear, solidified my Benatti Resiliency Model®, added richness to the coaching process, and gave me a systemic framework for my leadership coaching. In the five years since it was published, it's also boosted my profile as a resilience and burnout expert, opening up opportunities for me.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things for me has been 'pruning' my business offerings. When I started out, my focus was on providing career coaching to employees who were exploring new career paths or had lost their jobs. Over time, I realized most of my clients were seeking leadership coaching, not career coaching. They wanted to learn how to use their influence strategically, collaborate effectively, focus on innovation, and develop resilience skills to support peak performance. It was hard to let go of career coaching, but my training programs are a way for me to reach more people in an organization.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Hire individuals in areas that are not your strengths. Getting help with social media, marketing, and training materials gives me more energy and time not only for the core of my business but for my family and personal activities.
- Take time to recharge. You'll notice the effect on your health, well-being, energy, and productivity.
- Schedule time every week for deep work time, whether it's writing, business reading, or listening to podcasts. For example, when I was writing my book, I scheduled no client meetings on Monday and devoted that day to writing and research.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Have fun with new challenges! I was excited but also in panic mode when I received an invitation earlier this year to speak at TEDxNortheasternU. It definitely took me out of my comfort zone, but I appreciated the opportunity to talk about reversing burnout. Now I'm looking forward to the video of my talk going live in September.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://bethkennedy.com/
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3BK13Oj
Twitter: https://twitter.com/coachbkennedy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethbenattikennedy/
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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