Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal and business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lesley Martin, Founder of Lesley Martin Coaching, located in Buffalo, NY, USA.

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

I have an online life coaching business helping courageous high achievers take their lives from good to great.

Tell us about yourself

My background is as a holistic psychotherapist. I initially got into that field because I have a real passion for helping people change their lives. Also, I went through my own process of healing from adversity in childhood and got to a place where I could create a stable marriage, maintain a peaceful household, and build a successful business. At a certain point, though, I started to question, what else is there? Could I maybe expand into something bigger? Yeah, my life's good, but what if it could be great? This is where life coaching comes in. There are so many people like me. They've done the personal work to heal and create stability, and their lives are pretty good. There's not a major problem that needs therapeutic intervention, and yet, there is still something holding them back from living the life they really want. The reason why I get up in the morning is to help empower others to transcend the limiting beliefs of what they think they're capable of and move into possibility. Expanding their self-concept of what's possible for them is how I help others take their lives from good to great.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is growing a business that generates multiple six figures yearly. I think about my aspirations when I started, and looking back, I recognize I am far beyond what I ever thought possible for myself. I've done it by helping many, many, many people change their lives for the better. And I'm not done yet!

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

One of the most challenging things about being an entrepreneur is essentially being in a class by yourself. No one else has a business exactly like yours. Even when you ask for advice and support, all the decisions are still up to you. And sometimes, there is no way to know how things will turn out until you try them and discover what happens. You must be incredibly self-reliant and completely trust yourself and your business. The author Ray Bradbury sums it up best when he says, "You've got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down." It's totally like that.

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

  1. Be patient. Building a successful business will be harder and take longer than you think it should. It's okay. Nothing's gone wrong; that's just part of the process.
  2. Get some help with the tough stuff. We all have different skill sets. It's really important to know where you excel and get support around the things you're not good at. It will save you a lot of time and frustration.
  3. Remember your why. If you really want to create a successful business, you need a compelling reason. There will be days when things won't go well. You'll doubt yourself and want to give up. Remembering why you're doing all of this in the first place will help you keep going.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://linktr.ee/lesleymartincoaching
Website (Business): http://lesleymartincoaching.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lesley.p.martin.3
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesleymartincoaching/
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3HkFcja

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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