Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey by launching a wellness coaching business, but not sure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Amy Ballantyne of Waterloo, Canada.
What's your business and who are your customers?
Helping busy, working moms over the age of 35 who put themselves last to learn strategies so they can feel energized, empowered and enough.
Tell us about yourself
My key motivation to support individuals in their wellness is my own story.
My mother lost both of her parents before she was 10. I grew up hearing about these people I would never know, never hug, never learn from. It created a deep desire and vision inside me from a young age to live healthy enough, so I can live long enough to know my great grandkids and to be a part of their lives. To be mobile, active energized and mentally with it to have a relationship with them.
We know with the research in epigenetics that our lifestyle matters. This fuels me to help others to make choices now to give them not only a healthier life now, but the chance at a healthier future.
I also deeply believe that wellness is so much more than eating and exercise which is why I focus on helping people to reduce their stress and improve their lifestyle.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
The success I have supported others to achieve. The daily big and small wins. Receiving that feedback from my clients fuels my heart.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Doing it all until you are earning enough to outsource the stuff that doesn't fuel you.
What are the top 3 tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
1. Get clear on your why. It is what will carry you through the inevitable ups and downs. Know it, post it, review it, live it.
2. Find something that fuels your heart and then do the research necessary to get all of the pieces of the puzzle in place. Don't wait to take action once you have everything in place. Use your passion to fuel you. You will learn as you go and as you grow.
3. Be open to support and delegation. The challenge of being a business owner is having to do it all on your own at first. Empowering others and allowing support means that you can focus on the parts of your business that you are really good at and that fuel you, leaving the other parts to someone who is good at the other things.
If there was one thing you could do repeatedly to help grow your business, what would it be?
Speaking engagements for groups of 50-250 people has been an excellent way for me to share my passion and my heart, to help individuals get a sense for my style and beliefs and to help them know, like and trust me.
This has been an excellent gateway for individuals to become my coaching clients. Groups include: corporate events and lunch n' learns, church groups, online events/ webinars and before covid in person events.
What are some of the things you put in place to maintain a healthy work/life balance?
There are so many tips here, but I will pick the ones I start with.
1) Recognition that I am in control of many things in my life and for things I am not in control of, reducing the time spent worrying about things that may or may not happen. I am excellent at planning and organizing which releases stress and the 'what if' spiral.
2) Gratitude for the learning when things don't go as planned as well as gratitude for the life I am living and the mini moments.
3) Aiming as often as possible to be present in this moment. Again, I take the time to plan and prepare, but really focusing on the prioritization of what is right in front of me.
So if I am working, am I working on the key things (not always the fires/ or the 'easy' things) and if I am with family, putting my phone down, and being with them, engaging with them and making those moments count.
Who are some of your favorite entrepreneurs and why?
Brendon Burchard - such a role model for me. His book Motivation Manifesto was a key catalyst for me jumping all into my business.
Dr. Wayne Dyer - his teachings have supported my growth in numerous ways. I highly recommend listening to his work on repeat.
Mel Robbins - her message is so simple, yet so powerful. She is a reminder for me that one day, I could be helping millions as I continue to get out of my own way.
Stu McLaren of Tribe - I knew him in university and am in awe of his business, his contribution to the world and his energy. He reminds me that ideas are worth pursuing and implementing. I could go on and on!!!
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Wellness is so much more than eating and exercise. Both are very important, but I love to support individuals to make small, daily shifts consistently in order to see improvements in their wellbeing.
One of the biggest areas of this is the realization that you are enough. Thinking about a baby you have seen recently, the baby can't walk, talk, feed themselves, write reports or earn money. Yet... that baby is so enough. In every way!
I love helping individuals to remember that they still have that same, small baby/ human inside of themselves that is enough and always will be ... NO MATTER WHAT!!!
I love when I see the light bulb moment of this realization happen. It is a big shift that can impact our life and wellbeing in many ways!
Where can people find you and your business?
Amy Ballantyne - Wellness & Life Coach Website
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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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