The online health coach supporting Strong Healthy Women - Peta Gillian
Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in life coaching, but not sure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Peta Gillian from Strong Healthy Women.
What's your business and who are your customers?
We help Women 45+ reinvent what is means to Age and avoid feeling like they’re living in an older persons body by getting off the Slippery Slope to Stay Strong, Fit And Flexible.
Tell us about yourself
Growing up I spent a lot of time with my nana and pop (grandparents).
This meant I was exposed at an early age, to the effects of preventable diseases and immobility which had a massive impact on what’s important, in life, to me.
I saw first hand what sitting and looking at four walls felt like – not able to go out without help, needing someone to help you shower, to have the ability to cook your meals taken away from you… and so much more.
Nana wasn’t old when she passed away, in her 60’s, in fact. I have seen the decline of my mother from the age of 30 - using her hands to push herself out of a chair and struggling to catch her breath walking around the shops, with her ability to stay mobile declining each decade.
My mother tells me “That’s the way it is”. Yet, I know, in my heart of hearts, that it does not have to be that way.
The impact was so strong that it has influenced so many life decisions, like when I left my high paying corporate career to start Strong Healthy Women which happened after a health issue of my own in my 40’s, then menopause. I knew what faced me - I was heading down the same path as the women in my family.
I thought I was doing what it takes but my beloved walking was not enough. I had missed the early warning signs and I was on the decline. I’d catch myself sitting more, when I should have been standing, moving a little slower than I used to and it wasn’t all of the time just some of the time.
Even now, I catch myself “cheating” on the way I move sometimes and quickly make the adjustment I need to.
Here’s the thing, it’s easy to miss the first time you move differently and it’s easy to tell yourself “it’s nothing to worry about”. But awareness, listening to your body and paying attention to what is happening means you can limit the impact of age on your mind, body and spirit.
Every day I get to hear stories from women in the Strong Healthy Women community about what they can now do or how life has changed for them, and this lights me up for the inside – they give me daily motivation and they know that I am just like them, doing my best each day to live well. It’s a win, win!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I am a contributing author to the international bestselling book Overcoming Life Obstacles and am about to release my own book – Move the Dial.
We’ve been recognised as the Winner of the Small Business Awards - Healthcare and fitness category and a Finalist in the Australian Fitness Industry Awards. I was invited to share our best practices in the Senior Training Certification in Australia.
One of my greatest strengths is noticing the little things which means as a business we can continue to change, improve and move in the direction that see our clients growing as well as the business.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The hardest and the best thing about being in business is the "buck stops here". It can feel lonely and isolating at times. When you make a wrong turn or bad decision it is yours to own, but that is also where the greatest growth comes from.
What are the top 3 tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
The advice I could give someone in business is to understand what the transformation and impact you want to have on your clients. How do you want to help them and who they are – know your client intimately. Be real in everything that you, don’t follow what the latest thing is, stay with who you are and how you want to communicate and serve your clients.
Be across everything and learn each aspect of your business, but don’t do it all. If you’re not good at it, get someone who is. But it is your business, so you do need to understand it, but you don’t have to do it.
Know your numbers and if you don’t understand, get the help you need. This is what will drive your business forward and burying your head in the sand does not work.
Find a mentor and/or mastermind so that you are supported, accountable and challenged to step it up.
If there was one thing you could do repeatedly to help grow your business, what would it be?
This is a really interesting question, I have been sitting here thinking about this for a while. There are a lot of strategic things I could say. But really what keeps coming back to me is "client stories".
People like to see themselves in others and relate to what they see, hear and read. When I share stories about myself and my clients this is when I see my business grow.
What are some of the things you put in place to maintain a healthy work/life balance?
One word "routine". I have a morning routine that has and caters for variables depending on the day.
I have a "move more routine" because sitting at the desk is a real killer to productivity, creativity and energy.
I have an evening routine that is about winding down from the day. The key to my routines are they are not complex, they are only a few things, they are flexible and I know why they are important to me.
Who are some of your favorite entrepreneurs and why?
Maria Forleo and Suzi Dafnis - both are go getting women, who practice what they preach and are true to who they are in their communication.
I also recommend the podcasts Content Sells and Inside Influence, plus the books Influence by Robert Cialdini, The EMyth by Michael E Gerber and Believe it by Jamie Kern Lima.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Being in business has many areas to be across, but there is none more important than yourself. When you are firing on all cylinders and believe in yourself, you will be unstoppable. Of course, you do need to do the work too!
Where can people find you and your business?
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If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share then email community@subkit.com, we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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