Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Phil Drinkwater, a business and life coach, based in Manchester, England, United Kingdom.

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

I'm a coach who primarily helps people pleasers recognise and move on from the challenges that this causes in their lives. Initially, I've been working in business - particularly with business owners - but I'll soon be launching an App that will help anyone who chooses to engage. People pleasing sounds like a very positive trait, but it causes significant problems in life, work, and relationships and creates ongoing emotional instability. It can be very distressing and may lead to anger, frustration, jealousy, and resentment.

Once people pleasers recognise how they're holding themselves back, they can begin to climb a ladder, which starts with the least uncomfortable times they're putting themselves second. Once they reach the top, they'll choose to put themselves first much more often in life and become much happier. It takes time and dedication, but it's perfectly possible. The programme I've developed will allow them to get there.

Tell us about yourself

I have a long history in the business. I've built my own non-coaching business for over 20 years from the ground up, and I love to try and experience new things and grow as a person. Along the way, I spotted people-pleasing traits in myself, and at a time, it got in the way of my happiness, but it's talked about so little. It's my mission to talk about it way more so this group of people can become clearer with what they want and happier when they achieve it.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I would say the day that my business grew past a team of 10. It felt like a massive milestone, and it's certainly the case that companies who reach this stage develop a general level of security if they keep their wits about them. So, at this point, I recognised that things were going very well, and I became incredibly satisfied.

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

Outside of the obvious such as resilience, I would say having no one to speak to about your journey. When you're excited, something amazing happens, and you're feeling proud, but you have no other entrepreneurs to share in your joy, it's quite hard. I feel like I want to explode and tell the world, but my friends and family might not really understand how hard it was to get here and the sense of accomplishment that you have in growing as a person and achieving something that was so huge.

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

  1. I would say that times have changed, and to take advantage of that. It's possible to look for and find fantastic employees worldwide on the likes of Upwork, People per Hour, and Fiveer. You also have access to masses of information on the likes of YouTube, MasterClass, and millions of other courses to upskill yourself.
  2. Understand how you work best. It might be that you're best on your own all or some of the time or that you love a noisy environment. It might be that you love having a team around you or prefer to just get on by yourself. It could be that you love a challenge or prefer a business with simplicity at its heart. Maybe you like to learn by reading, watching courses, or experiencing for yourself. Learn to listen to who you really are, and you'll discover success.
  3. Recognise that success doesn't happen overnight. In the first 6 to 24 months, you'll likely be playing around with ideas trying to find some glimmer of success. You'll try different marketing methods, processes, and ways of working and possibly even switch business entirely. Once you have some success, it's about repeating that with processes, but finding it can take time. Keep going and learn at each step of the way. A Growth Mindset is fantastic because it says there's no failure, only winning or learning.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://phildrinkwater.coach/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-drinkwater-62191428/

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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