Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Mimi Moore, CEO of Pourquoi Pas Coaching International, located in Ottawa, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Pourquoi Pas Coaching International is in the business of transforming leaders. Our experienced and certified coaches help individuals and organizations meet their challenges by discovering, inspiring, and liberating human potential through change.
Tell us about yourself
A mother of 6, I had to find the right balance between supporting my family and my professional career as a lawyer. Over twenty-five years, I reached the ranks of senior executive positions in both the public and private sectors of Canada. I had to quit. The corporate life left me disillusioned by the workplace. I was earning well over six figures and was working with the brightest minds in the industry; all to say; it left me wanting more. After deciding to move on, I took six months off to reflect, recover, and refocus. The time was well spent and provided me with the energy I needed to leverage the sum of my life experiences in ways that could benefit others. I reskilled as an executive coach and started on a transformational journey, one simple - but vibrant conversation at a time. Today, I am so humbled by the diversity of our clients and the depth of their lived experiences; this is a powerful source of motivation and pride for me.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner? For me, two accomplishments bring me tremendous pride.
The first is the corporate culture we have created here at Pourquoi Pas (Why Not in English). While diverse, our staff and coaches share common, fundamental values of family, service – sustenance, and wealth in their broadest sense. The individual members of Pourquoi Pas are thought leaders. They are dedicated to our clients, yes, but also to each other. Pourquoi Pas is a “family” where every individual contributes in their own unique way and where everyone shares a true sense of belonging and purpose.
The second accomplishment relates to things others told me when I first started. One person told me that the coaching industry had no money to make; it was over-saturated. A second person, who believed in me, told me that I could accomplish anything I set my mind to.
I started from scratch and pounded the pavement. For me, it was about people. I love people, and so I nurtured, daily, my curiosity about the human spirit. It is about making a difference in the lives of others. I started to think about reach and how I can be most impactful. Slowly, I started to onboard other coaches, and together we started to attract more clients.
In nearly five years, we have reached over 40 organizations and 1000 individuals. We aspire to have that positive impact on people everywhere.
The coaches at Pourquoi Pas create a safe and supportive space for our clients to ponder and reflect, hope, and develop the strategies necessary to realize what they want to realize. We create and hold space where individuals gain the confidence and uncover the courage and curiosity they need to make changes – big or small.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Scalability. Scalability. Scalability. When scaling a business from the ground up, you wear many hats. It’s important to recognize your limitations while respecting other people’s boundaries. It takes time (patience and hard work!), but it should be a calculated effort, one step at a time.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
I have more than 3!
- Follow your heart and trust your instinct. They will rarely lead you astray.
- Surround yourself with good people who truly want you to succeed. Bring them in close – seek their advice. Listen twice as much as you speak.
- Mindset matters.
- Problems don’t age well. Address them as they arise.
- Mistakes happen. I have lost many bids; it hurts, but it is not the end of the world. Learn from them and move on… Literally, move on.
- Be aware of your energy… Pace yourself and play the long game.
- Have fun every day. Celebrate your successes (big or small) generously with those around you.
- Call me as the list goes on! 😊
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://pourquoipascoaching.com/
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3V2OXa2
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PQPCI_
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/PQPCI_
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086255994852
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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