Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Véronique Carignan, a life mentor, based in Varennes, QC, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I help my clients unleash their creativity and connect with their inner truth. My customers are mainly women who are looking for a more meaningful life, to reconnect with themselves, and to quit the hustle mode. And to find more purpose in their daily life.
Tell us about yourself
After studying for five years at University (M.Sc.), I worked as a psychosocial counsellor helping families in crises (a government job) for almost ten years. I knew I had that entrepreneurial fiber in me, and I just wasn't sure what to do. I always felt torn apart between my creative/inner artist side, thinking I should follow this path, and the more "reasonable" side, thinking I should go for something safer.
I started a clothing company and soon came to realize it was not aligned with me, so I sold it. Then I came back to my studied field and started an online counseling company. I learned to create and sell online courses and specialized with teen parents. A really nice niche with not that many people offering help! But again, it felt so unaligned at one point, even if the business was doing great. So I sold it to my partner!
And I took a few months to really just live my life and observe what is really my soul purpose. I tried a few different things and started abstract painting. This is the turning point where I came to realize (accept would actually be a better word) that I really have this creativity in me, this inner artist. So now, every day, my big why is embodying my own path towards creativity and helping other women to also connect with their own creativity and inner truth. To create white space in their life to be able to listen to that inner voice and their intuition.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I manage to create my own schedule with things that are really important to me. I prioritize my kids, my family, and my self-growth. I have worked too much in the hustle culture, and now, I really am doing things my way, and that is an amazing feeling!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
I recently decided to start this coaching business in English (my first language is French and all my previous businesses were in French). I did not think it would be that hard to start from zero community creation. Since I have my community in French, I kinda forgot that it took months and years to build that! But at the same time, I am super proud of doing it in English because I feel it opens so much more doors for me to meet people from all around the world.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Do more self-growth. Not just business growth, self-growth first! Your patterns, mindset, and limiting beliefs are in your own way, and no course or 1-2-3 steps will teach you about that, you really need to do the work. For me, the combination of journaling a minimum 3 times per week + having my mentor 1:1 is really what I need.
- Creativity comes in the white space, so make sure you have those in your schedule. It's always when I am not working or doing something where my mind is just relaxing and not thinking about a precise goal that I get my best business ideas.
- TRY, take those massive inspired actions! Reach for your courage, and just do it. Everything is renegotiable anyway. The more you take actions and reflect on them in your journaling and white space, the more your actions will be impactful and aligned with you.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.veroniquecarignan.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085309307358
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veronique.carignan/
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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