Rachael and her partner Ben run a video production company. Their fun, playful and highly creative approach to videography was not really being represented in their client work and while Ben is the videographer with all the technical knowhow, Rachael had yet to find her place within the business and this was impacting her confidence and her motivation.
Rachael decided that the Flourish programme and business coaching for her video company was right because...
“Lorna’s passion and energy and the way she spoke about my potential made me really want that for myself. Her belief is all about helping other businesses grow and this really resonated with me and what I want to do. And she made me feel like I was going to be supported throughout. I was investing her and investing in me.”
It can be difficult to know what to expect when you start a new coaching programme or have not experience coaching before...
“I almost wanted to be told what to do: ‘This is how you run your business.’ ‘This is your marketing plan. And ‘You're strong enough to do this.’ And just get on with that.
Well, I definitely got the message that I can do this, but Lorna didn’t tell me what to do. She let me see for myself that I could do it which was a whole different ballgame.
This is like every other idea was mine, every thought was mine, it just needed prying out. And it stopped imposter syndrome and removed issues out of the way that I hadn’t realised were there.”
Rachael found the habit of self-reflection to be particularly useful...
“I found self-reflection increased my confidence, and this was quite unexpected.
Lorna made us question our entire business set-up, everything right down to the core of us. At one point we asked ourselves, ‘Are we doing the right thing? Should we be in business?’
But it was done in the gentlest of ways, Lorna didn't throw a stick of dynamite and then go pick up the pieces. It was more a case of looking at building the business brick by brick and then shuffle the bricks around and then we built a bigger and better business from that.
And I think that was essential because we would have continued to chase the wrong clients for us and been creating something we didn’t want, whereas now we're excited every day to get out of bed and do it and meet our kind of people, hear their stories and grow their businesses in partnership with them.”
Ben joined the business coaching sessions too, as appropriate, and revisiting their client niche was a very significant part of the process...
“It was hard, and I didn't expect it to be that hard. We could do so many things, but because we really thought about it we appreciate what we want much more and we know it’s absolutely right; it feels honest.
And as part of this, we understand our roles, our place within the business which makes the most of our own areas of expertise. And it’s OK, I don’t have to know everything.”
Having a more structured way of planning out their future for the business has taken the pressure off, and helped Rachael focus on the success of what they are achieving rather than what they are not...
“My thinking had been really overwhelmed with all of the things we’ve got to do today, right now, so working on the vision of where we wanted to be and creating the timeframes for that were huge. We stopped rushing ourselves. We were very much, ‘I want this, and I want it now’, which was causing a real problem because the outlook was: everything is a failure if you aint got it today.
We’ve given ourselves a realistic timeframe, which allowed us to focus and then plan backwards. Now we know what we’re doing, and it allows us to celebrate.
And Lorna got me to do all this in a way that I really enjoy. Amazing! I’ve even got the kids working on their visions too!”
Rachael’s core values played a big part in all of this...
“Understanding my core values was really massive, especially being able to bring out my creativity, fun and disruptiveness into our business. Those values just flow out of my mouth all the time now. It helps me to be really clear about what the business is about, and I make no apologies for it. And at networking I can tell very quickly who is going to love working with us, and us them.”
And Rachael says the Flourish workshops have been very useful to her and Ben...
“I love, love, love all the techniques that we use together in the workshops. That we bring a different issue to each one and all the techniques are reusable and can be used in so many ways. And I’ve been using the techniques on Ben too.”
When it comes to whether the investment in business coaching was worth it...
“Ultimately the Flourish programme is giving me a business. So, you know, the cost of what I paid compared to what I'm going to get back is tenfold or more.
Would my old business have survived another two years? I’m not sure. Whereas with this business we’ve the next 20, 25, 30 years... and I'm going to work hard to be the best of me.
The programme has brought out my inner superhero from hiding and Lorna is my cheerleading sidekick!”
Rachael’s advice to anyone considering joining the Flourish coaching or programme is...
“The hardest thing is starting. And overthinking. Do not consider it a weakness that you need help in business. It shows more strength to put your hand up and say, ‘I need help’.
Just do it because what you're going to get back from the programme are the tools that are going to guide you for years to come – and I’m talking business and life skills. There are skills I’ve learned here that have changed my life. Just do it and DO IT!”
To find out more about how Lorna Thomas / Be The Best You In Business coaching and mentoring could support you to increase your confidence and grow your business with clarity, focus and control, book a call...
Opmerkingen