Why You Should Hire A Business Coach!

I recently finished the second coaching session in the course My Design Assistant's lifespan. I heard things I didn't love, things that were intimidating and ideas that were exciting. Coaching can be a big financial commitment and a challenge, but it is worth it.

I hired a Kae Whitaker when I first started My Design Assistant. I had an idea of what I wanted to achieve, but not the slightest clue of how to get there. As you know, launching a business can be frightening because you are putting yourself out there in hopes someone wants what your selling AND there can be a BIG learning curve. Kae helped me to layout my pricing structure, determine what documents I should have in place, and a provided a method to find clients. I'm confident my session with Kae gave me the confidence I needed to put my plans in motion without having that "Oh no, what have I done?" moment.

A few weeks ago some events happened that helped me realized some holes in my business model that I needed to remedy immediately. This time around I hired a coach to help me strategize how to scale my business and better serve my clients. I scheduled time Natalie Eckdahl of Biz Chix. I thought it would be fun to hear another point of view, and like Kae and Michele mentioned below, she came highly recommended. Natalie helped me to look at my business from a more analytical point of view than I was able to do on my own. I needed a little kick in the pants to realize that perhaps there are some things I can do to improve my business that I wasn't quite ready for or have been putting off. I Liked that Natalie sent me a questionnaire ahead of time to allow me to share the things I really wanted to focus on. It's funny how you might think about all theses things you would like to improve in your business, but when you are in the moment, they might be hard to articulate. Having the questionnaire in advance allowed me time to think about what I needed to say.

Natalie was very professional, warm and kind, and also, blunt. A business coach is not your friend. They are not there to tell you how fabulous you are, pat your back( okay, they might do a little of that) or sugar coat things. A business coach is there to help you face the reality of your business, acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses and lead you down a path of success. There is nothing wrong with discussing your business with friends, but of course, your friends love you and aren't likely to be as forthcoming or knowledgable about the business advice you need. You and your business are unique, and it can be so helpful to have a session with a coach that is tailored to you and your business needs.

Here are my biggest takeaways from my coaching session:

- Know your worth and don't be afraid to ask for it.

-Know your limits and set boundaries ( I learned this the hard way as a high school cheer coach! Not everyone needs your cell number.)

- Think about what you love most about your business and find how you can do more of that.

-Take care of yourself.

Are you thinking about taking the leap? Do It! I know some great coaches to get you started. I have worked with each of these lovely ladies in some form, if not a coaching session. You won't regret your time spent with them.

*Natalie Eckdahl (Catch Her A Well Designed Business episode here.)

*Michele Williams (See her interview with MDA Here and catch her AWDB episode here and here.

*Kae Whitaker ( Another AWDB alum, learn more about her in these episodes.)