Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Nefeli Soteriou, a Behavioral & Creativity Coach based in New York, NY, USA.

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

My business has two arms. As the life coach for creative professionals, I specialize in helping filmmakers, animators, videographers, and game designers. I had the opportunity to guide others, however, in my private practice, such as visual artists, photographers, and musicians. In my experience working for mental health as a Behavioral coach, I was a generalist. I helped clients with chronic health issues, stress, transitions, cancer, and everyone that needed help. My tools palette is rich. Aside from a certification in Creativity Coaching with Psychology, I use Cognitive Behavioral Training techniques from my training in mental health.

The other arm of my business is solving creative problems for businesses that need marketing, infomercials, or promotional material with video and motion graphics. I am known for making concepts comprehensible. I will work with your budget to make a story design that wins audiences. We start by brainstorming ideas. I will write the screenplay, prepare storyboards, so you see how things will look when finished, to filming, to editing, and deliver the product for professional distribution. Other projects I completed successfully are logo design, poster design, social media post design, and retouching photography. In this second arm, I also place my filmmaking career. As an independent film producer, I bring a film to life every few years.

Tell us about yourself

Committed to the arts at a very young age, I played the mandolin and earned degrees in Photography (B.F.A.) and Film and Media Arts (M.F.A.). Trained in both traditional and digital approaches to solving creative problems, my experience is comprehensive. Some of the positions I took are Digital Visual Designer for touch screen Video Games, Live T.V. News Editor, Photographer, Graphic Designer, Concept Artist, Videographer, Writer, Stage Manager, Theatrical Set Designer, Motion Graphics Content producer, Visual Art Teacher, Filmmaking Production Professor, Educational Program Manager, Media Operations Manager, Computer Applications Adjunct for Designers, Media Consultant, and Film Festival Judge. Coaching was a natural next step in my career path, and also that I am very much interested in the Behavioral Sciences. I truly enjoy helping clients trust their inspirations and pursue work and a lifestyle that really fascinates them.

What first got me started working on my business was the desire to have the flexibility to travel and have time freedom. I wanted to share my time between two continents, Europe and the U.S. I am thankful I actualized my goal. I am happy to share that I was always self-motivated. When I worked for corporations, I gave myself fully, with minimal or no supervision. Now, as a business owner, I have honed my leadership skills. This, I believe, enhances my well-being.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment is hearing my clients tell me how our work together brought them results. I love to be of help!

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

One of the hardest things that come with being a business owner is embracing the unknown. Once I learned to manage my brain, I welcomed it. That's one way I support my clients under my coaching hat. I guide them to develop mental fitness muscles for going from point a to point b in life.

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

  1. Feel your fear and do it anyway (it is also a classic book that I highly recommend, "Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway" by Suzan Jeffers).
  2. Choose a business you would really love and that you are passionate about. If in doubt, seek professional help from someone like myself to guide you in navigating.
  3. Refrain from acting on an impulse. For example, don't quit your job. Pursue your business part-time until you are ready to scale up.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.nefelisoteriou.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HolistiConsultant
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nefelisoteriou
Twitter: https://twitter.com/IntentPictures
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nefelisoteriou

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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