Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Danielle Uhl, a transformational business coach based in Castle Rock, CO, USA.

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

I am a Transformational Business Coach for newer business owners and multipassionates, helping them become the version of Success they desire so they can build a business they love that makes great money that also aligns with their life. My clients know they're meant to pursue the work they love but often feel stuck on HOW to make their success happen and question if they're good enough.

By taking an individualized and holistic approach to coaching through Life + Business + Mindset integration, I help my clients get clear on their business foundation, marketing strategy, and sales process by creating a process that aligns with how they are uniquely designed to work. As a result, my clients show up and take action differently in their business, which helps them increase their revenue, make confident decisions, create a balance between intentional work and relaxation, and overall build positive life habits and changes aligned to their own version of success.

Tell us about yourself

After landing (what I thought was) my corporate dream job, I found myself feeling that something was off and guilty for wanting more. I deeply desired to do the work I loved and felt was my purpose on this planet. So, long story short, I decided to make radical changes, take the leap to leave my day job, and pursue my business full-time. I've gone from struggling and not feeling good enough to running three profitable and sustainable businesses from the ground up. Today, I get to do what I love AND make great money doing it. As a Multipassionate, I am a Transformational Business Coach, owner and professional photographer of Underexposed®, singer and performer, and avid traveler. On my own journey, I was also told many times that I couldn't be multipassionate, do multiple things, and be successful -- I needed to choose just one thing and focus. But I deeply knew that's just not who I was. So I didn't. I knew being multipassionate was how I was designed and fulfilled me to pursue many passions, so my mantra became #WATCHME; I'm going to do it my way. Years later, I now have my #WATCHME® brand that encourages others, especially multipassionates, to own their power and story, pave their own path, and create their own version of success.

As a coach, it's become my mission to help other business owners and multipassionates do the same! Every person has their own unique definition of success. It's important to me that my clients as business owners aren't just successful in their business, but rather I want them to THRIVE -- to create their own version of success in their business, life, and how they feel on a daily basis (aka their mindset).

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Such a great question! While I have had many very exciting stories and accomplishments about getting to travel the world doing what I love, the thing that stands out to me is that, overall, I've literally created my dream life. As cheesy as that may sound, I am in love with the fact that I get to do many things I'm passionate about, make a living doing it, and getting to travel the world for it! Had you told me 10 years ago what my life would look like, running a photography business, singing and performing in beautiful locations all over the world, and getting to coach other business owners to help them transform their lives and businesses, I'm not sure I would have believed you. But because I've done it, it is just more proof that others, my clients, and YOU can do it too. That it is fully possible to create the life and business of your wildest desires. That you can be multipassionate AND successful. That YOU are possible!

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

One of the greatest lessons I have learned, and one of the key areas I coach my clients, is how much your personal beliefs, stories, experiences, and traumas affect your business if you don't work through them and get support. I always say that my greatest personal development journey has been starting a business. It's amazing how much personal stuff comes up to the surface when you get out of your comfort zone and pursue new things. How an experience you had as a child that you think is totally unrelated to your business can hold you back in many ways in your business if you're not aware of it and how to process through it. Personally, I've done a lot of work learning how to get curious with my own thoughts, work through and shift limiting beliefs and stories, healing from past experiences and childhood trauma, as well as rewire and intentionally instill new beliefs so that I can take a different action, grow personally, and grow my business. This has been one of my greatest investments for myself and my business, but it is incredibly worth it. It's been the most challenging part, but deeply rewarding and transformative. And overall, one of the main reasons I do what I do as a Coach.

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

  1. Allow yourself exploration first. This is something that is key, especially if you are multipassionate, because you have to explore what you are passionate about and decipher for yourself what feels good to pursue and monetize and what you should keep as a hobby. Plus, it's not going to be only doing the parts you love doing; business involves many things you probably don't love doing so much too. I often encourage my clients to dip their toes in and explore an idea with a beta-test client or have a conversation or shadow someone who's already doing what they want to do. The two parts I ask them to do is, one understanding the logistics and seeing if they can and want to do that work and two, feeling into their body and intuition if they feel good about moving forward to pursue it. Sometimes the second part leads to realizing they actually don't want to do it, or it brings up fears/doubts/challenges I can coach them through so that they can take the next step to get started. The important thing is being able to tell the difference.
  2. Be willing to work through your own stuff and get support. Like I shared, starting a business is a personal journey that kicks up a lot of past fears, emotions, and traumas. While this is normal, if you don't get the support you need to help you work through it, it will spill over and affect your business. So be willing and proactive to get support, do the work, and grow personally while starting and growing your business.
  3. "Shoulds" are your red flag. This is something I work with every client on. When you find yourself thinking, "I should be..." recognize this as your red flag to pause what you're doing, get curious, and shift your action. As business owners, we are often consuming podcasts, books, trainings, etc., on what others have done to create success. While it's important and great to continue to learn new things, tools, and strategies to grow your business, it's also important to remember that there's no one right way to do business or get results. You need to find ways that work best for YOU so that you show up, take action, and therefore get the result. Too often, we think we need to follow someone else's path that doesn't feel good to us, so we find ourselves thinking, "I should do it this way..." When you find a "should" coming up for you, pause, and ask yourself what about this doesn't feel good to you. Then instead, how can you shift it in a way that gets to feel good and more aligned with how you work. Then take that action instead.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.danielleuhl.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanielleUhlLLC/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielleuhl_/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-uhl/

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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