Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lori K. Walters, Founder of Lori K Walters Coaching, located in Sechelt, BC, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I’m an Integral Master Coach™ for parents of teens and young adults. In my private practice, I provide 1:1 coaching to parents who are struggling in their relationships as their kids become more independent. We go to the heart and soul of what they’re stumbling up against as they navigate their changing role from parent-child to adult-adult relationships. People work with me for 3-6 months to release old parenting patterns and develop a part of themselves that allows them to build new relationships with their kids. My goal with every client is that they find peace in their parenting.
Tell us about yourself
First and foremost, I’m a mother. I know the pains and challenges of raising kids into adulthood. In these years, they are changing quickly – school, friends, hormones, jobs, physical growth, emotions, relationships, and decisions – and it requires parents to be patient, open, and adaptive at every turn. It’s also the time when a distance can grow between a parent and their kids. What I learned is that the quality and closeness of the relationship depend on parents doing their inner work to face their frustration, worry, or disappointment and step into a new way of connecting with their almost-adult child. I decided to create this business because I think young people get a bad rep. They have huge expectations placed on them, and it’s heartbreaking to see so many of them abandoned, overtly or subtly, by their families and communities. I want them to be encouraged to find the beat of their own hearts and supported to become the unique, brilliant, creative adults that our world needs. I believe that peace begins in our own hearts and our own families and ripples out into our communities. And when my clients find peace in their parenting, they are contributing to something much bigger and long-lasting.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I am most proud of my Sunday Letter to Parents of Teens and Young Adults. It took a while to get into the rhythm of writing, but now it’s a labour of love and something I look forward to every week. It is deeply fulfilling to hear their positive feedback and know that I’m supporting and inspiring my readers.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
When I started out, and my inbox was empty day after day, I took it personally, like I was doing it wrong or that people didn’t want what I had to offer. Even though I knew this was common for solo practitioners, it was hard to stay motivated. When I recognized my business as completely separate from “who I am,” I started working to support its growth through the ups and downs with more balance and clarity.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- It takes time. Your business has to walk before it can run, so settle in for the long haul. Be realistic, and don’t quit your day job.
- It takes a village. Find like-minded individuals, entrepreneur collectives, coworking groups, and other people beyond family and friends to commiserate with and encourage you.
- Get help. Find a business mentor or coach with whom you resonate and invest in learning from someone who has gone before you.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.lorikwalters.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100065584567231
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorikwalterscoach/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lori-k-walters/
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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