Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey personal and business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Diana Lowe Founder of Blue Light Leadership, located in Phoenix, AZ, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Blue Light Leadership is a leadership development company focused on educating, training, and coaching remote leaders in emotional intelligence. My aim in building this business is to help leaders communicate, collaborate, and connect with more empathy and resilience.

I work with directors and senior executives in Fortune 500 companies to transform their team spirit and communication, turning low-performing teams into highly productive and engaged ones. My learning and development company focuses on using evidence-based research in positive psychology for coaching, which allows us to use a whole-person wellness approach in coaching.

Tell us about yourself

Early in my career, I was an ex-pat and worked in several countries, including the UK, Australia, and Mexico. Living and working abroad provided me with a deep and intimate knowledge of other working cultures. Through my experience in the financial industry, I saw that many leaders lacked emotional intelligence and that toxic workplaces were common. Thus, I have made it my life mission to train, coach, and equip leaders to thrive using emotional intelligence tools to improve communication and leadership skills.

In finance, I had three bosses that did their best to ruin my mental health. They had no regard for others and showed no care even when mentioned. It took me months—even years—to recover from the psychological abuse. No workplace should allow that behavior. In my recovery, I promised myself I would be part of the solution and not contribute to the problem. This mission is very personal to me. I do not want anyone to go to work and face what I did. So I am working hard to help educate, coach, and train business leaders on how to stop this from happening.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My first hire: hiring my first and then my second team member was a huge accomplishment for me! This is something I didn’t think would be possible. I struggled with lots of fear around hiring, but ultimately it has been amazing. The truth is that it has deepened my conviction in what I do and raised my game because I feel a deep sense of responsibility to grow for those who work with me in my company.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

I think it can be really lonely. Before having a team, I longed to run ideas by someone else or talk through things with someone else. I do have peers I can do it with, but they are outside of my business, so they really don’t fully understand. There is nothing harder than having to make a difficult decision by myself because, ultimately, it could make or break my business.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

I'd like to share some advice that I wish I had received.

  1. Follow your intuition. You have your own unique path to success, and it won’t look like anyone else's because you are unique. So many times, people made comments or made me believe I was doing something the wrong way, and maybe I was, but at the time, it was right for me. I just follow my gut, and it has never steered me wrong.
  2. Owning a business is difficult and challenging, so find a business bestie. Someone who has an owner's mindset and who will support and challenge you. I found a business bestie, and I have a mentor and a coach. Apart from my own, these three voices are the most important ones I listen to. They really help me see things from differing points of view. Getting a mentor was a real game-changer.
  3. Limit work talk at home. It is always nice to share the wins with your family or talk about a problem to get advice and give them a peek into your world, but ultimately, I think it is important to keep the conversation limited to work at home. I think all leaders should have a coach, therapist, shaman, spiritual guide, business bestie, and mastermind so that when they come home, they are all tired of work and can be present and loving with their families.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://bluelightleadership.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlueLightLeadership
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluelightleadership/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianaelowe

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-light-leadership/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianaelowe/

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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