Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tara McFarland, founder of Create Conversation, LLC., located in Denver, CO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I'm a former civil engineer turned Intuitive Life Coach focused on helping people who are asking the question "Is this it?" or actively experiencing a spiritual awakening.
Tell us about yourself
My story starts 20 years into my civil engineering career. I had checked all the boxes, education, graduate degree, promotions, marriage, kids, but I wasn't happy. In fact, my body was actively breaking down, and I was in burnout.
Fast forward a few years, after finding a coach who guided me through my awakening and taught me to embrace vulnerability, I realized I have a passion for telling my story in order to help others in similar situations. Leaving the steady job in which I had been climbing the corporate ladder was scary, and it took a couple more years to be ready to make the leap. Meanwhile, I became an intrapreneur, bringing some of the concepts I was learning to my workplace and testing out my ability to facilitate and coach people in considering new ideas such as transparency in communication and what being a leader really means.
Bridging between energy and the concrete reality around me is part of my superpower. In Human Design, I'm a Mental Projector, and in DiSC, a solid D for Dominant. I like to use these two tools to help people understand not just their personality and the best ways to communicate with others but also understand how their energy works.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I left my engineering job in November 2021 to focus on building my coaching and training business full-time! In April 2022, I gave a workshop at a dam engineering conference on communication, where I combined the concepts of the Team Dynamics model and DiSC behavioral styles. It was the first time I showed up as a coach and trainer in that particular space, not an engineer. For the first time in my career, I didn't feel like an imposter. That was a huge step forward and a signal that I was on the right track.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Becoming visible. This has been really uncomfortable for me, as I had been trying to hide and make myself small my entire life. Telling the perfectionism that still rears its head to take a back seat and keeping my focus on the people I serve helps me to stay focused on what I'm building.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Be passionate about your business. I had no idea how much energy it would take to stay the course and stay focused on the big picture. It's really easy to get bogged down in details.
- Find mentors and coaches. Connecting to people who get it and can support you in achieving your vision is essential.
- Breathe, meditate, workout, color, read, go for walks, whatever it is you do to take care of yourself. Remember that your business will only thrive if you thrive.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
It took me burning out, breaking down, and landing in my living room feeling shattered in a million pieces to turn my life around. I believe we don't have to experience a life-shattering to begin to unravel all the stories we've taken on from society and our upbringing. If you're feeling questions are bubbling up, and you keep pushing them down, get curious about why those are showing up and take action now.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://createconversationllc.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taramcfarland111
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taramcfarland111/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/createconversation/
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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