Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in coaching but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sheila Leclerc, a Certified Professional Life Coach based in Duncan, BC, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business is to bring life-changing shifts to high-achieving entrepreneurs who are juggling business and family life. Together we do the deep work that has them get off the hamster wheel to burnout and to step into their full confidence and power so they can not only have a thriving business that they love but also win at home. This allows them to access a new level of success and truly feel fulfilled. My customers are successful and confident on the outside: high achieving, appear to be 'perfect,' and have many accomplishments and accolades but don't feel successful on the inside. Inside they feel self-doubt, like they're not enough and never going to get "there."
Tell us about yourself
Hospitality and adventure tourism were the industries I started in. I really love to serve people, be helpful and create great experiences. After many years in the industry, I began to fall into the 'Rat Race' of working a corporate job. I was living for the weekends, unfulfilled, and doing something that felt 'easy' to me. I felt that there was something more for me out there, something more purposeful and meaningful. This was when I discovered Life Coaching. Once I learned that life coaching is all about helping others to clarify and reach their goals, move forward, and reach new levels of success, I knew that this was what I had been looking for! I enrolled in a coaching program shortly after and have been coaching since 2011. I absolutely love what I do because it not only allows me to use my natural gifts of clarity, empathy, and organization but seeing others take the leap toward their dreams is so incredibly fulfilling for me. I want everyone to have the experience of believing in themselves and doing what they love. It's also very cool that I get to model 'do what you love and have created a business where I get to create my schedule and set it up so that I have lots of space to be with my two young daughters. It is possible!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is taking the leap myself to leave the safety of a corporate job to do what I love and pursue my passion. It was scary, exciting, and unknown. Many of my co-workers thought I was crazy to leave. Now that I'm here, the biggest reward is sharing in the successes of my amazing clients.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Being your own boss. For me, I find it easier to be accountable to someone else. When I'm setting my own deadlines, I don't always stick to them. If I had a boss telling me the deadline, I would make sure to stick to it!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Get support. Being an entrepreneur can be lonely, and you can end up spinning your wheels (like I did when I first started out). Make sure you have an abundance of support around you: networking groups, entrepreneur friends, mentors, a coach, a bookkeeper, etc. You don't have to go it alone.
- You are your business; make sure you create a strong foundation. The foundation I'm talking about is you. Take care of your own health and well-being so you can show up powerfully for your clients. Mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual. When you take care of yourself first, you get to thrive instead of just survive.
- Create a business that you love. That inspires you, lights you up, and challenges you to be your best self. When you are doing what you love, it's no longer work. As Wayne Dyer says, love what you are selling, and then your only job is to go out there and sell love.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Whatever is happening inside ends up translating into our businesses on the outside. Taking on some personal growth work can create such a huge difference in your personal life that ends up adding to the success of your business - which is a big part of your life.
My lack of confidence used to show up in my business as discounting rates, not asking to be hired, and leaving a lot of money on the table and clients underserved. After doing my own personal work, not only do I feel more empowered, lighter, and happier in myself, but my business is thriving as a result - which means more of an impact out in the world! I believe that success is an inside job, and this is what I have created my coaching programs around.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://coachsheila.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sheilaleclerccoaching
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachwithsheila/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lifecoachsheila/
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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