Sarah Haskell met Lorna at a Christmas fayre, where she had set up a small stand to promote her fledgling business, Hera Photography Ltd. Taking advantage of an empty neighbouring stand, Sarah transformed the space into an impromptu studio, encouraging Lorna and her friends to gather for a group portrait.
This serendipitous meeting with Lorna was just what Sarah needed as a new small business owner to find focus and begin transforming her hobbyist approach into a professional business venture...
“Lorna saw and experienced my hobbyist scattergun approach to my business first hand. I knew I needed to do something about what I was doing and when I found out she was a business coach, quite frankly, I was a bit embarrassed.
I was having great fun, and I had joined a great networking group, but the business needed professionalising if I was going to go anywhere with it. It was clear to me over a virtual cuppa that Lorna and I would get on.”
Sarah’s initial expectations of what business coaching and working with Lorna could do for her were around getting some clarity to help her prioritise...
“I was doing a lot of firefighting, and I was overwhelmed by everything. I needed to know what my first priority was going to be. What did I need to firefight?
I'd never run a business based on me and my ability. I wanted a handrail to know what to do, which way to go and when.”
The coaching has had a big impact on Sarah and her business, building her confidence and her success...
“Three things have come together powerfully for me...
Boundaries! Finding out what my own boundaries are, finding out what that looks and feels like when somebody crosses my boundaries, and establishing that ‘ No’, is a complete sentence.
My own values and my own self-worth and my value in my work.
These have built my confidence, which builds success, which in turn builds confidence etc.”
Like many business owners starting out, Sarah resisted the idea of restricting what she might photograph and who she might work with...
“I was a bit reluctant to get on a niche but was spreading myself too thin. It’s been a journey of discovery as Lorna helped me to identify why I like working with certain people (and not others) – what they had about them, and why I want to do more work with people like this. I realised my clients need to share my values and my worth.”
As someone who had previously been used to working to a corporate routine, Sarah needed to find her own routine and accommodate new ways of working...
“Because I'm getting busier, I've been setting up a framework for the way I work. I’m testing what works and I’m refining it as I go. I like setting some guidelines for what the working week looks like so that I avoid overworking and have time for a personal life. I think this will be pivotal in keeping me from being overwhelmed again and again and again.”
Another new technique for Sarah is that of rewarding herself doing for things that she’d been putting off...
“I had found rewarding myself for doing a task difficult. But the other day, I rewarded myself after doing a task that had kept me awake for quite some time. Now that I’ve discovered that my rewards need to be creative and tangible, I quite like rewards!”
And Sarah uses Lorna as a sounding board for her ideas...
“Lorna has made herself largely indispensable to me as a mentor and a coach! I’ll say to her, I've got this exhibition coming up, I’ve had these ideas... and what about this? And how do I approach this? Being able to bounce ideas off her is invaluable.”
Sarah is thinking, feeling and doing things a little differently these days and is seeing results...
“The scattergun hobbyist approach to business was a great beginning, but applying my focus opened me up to new ways of working. I’m applying a strategic approach to everything I'm doing, from the specialist photographic processes I want to use to the overall business processes.
Business is on the up, and it's a more considered, consolidated business. I feel more confident in approaching people and valuing my worth. It’s gone from chasing every lead at any cost to identifying which leads are really the kind of business I want to spend time on.
Really, it's all about confidence in my own ability and valuing my self-worth - it's all the things that I thought were nice to have, but they're actually essential if you're going to understand your business better, and therefore do your business better.”
Now Sarah thinks that the foundations are in place for her and her business to really start performing...
“I have worked to create a solid baseline for a quality business, and I feel we're in a good place to develop the business from here. I am a good photographer, but Lorna’s given me the permission and moral courage to say, ‘I am a great photographer’.
It can only exponentially build and improve from here on in.”
Would Sarah recommend Lorna’s coaching?
“Yes! Lorna really does help me and my business to flourish. She is very accommodating of my idiosyncrasies and adapts accordingly.
You can tell that Lorna doesn’t just to this for business - her interest, passion, commitment and enjoyment come across and it feels like she is invested in me. It is extremely valuable and very much appreciated and respected.
I have trust and respect in Lorna. She has the moral courage to stand up to somebody who can be testy, and go.. “Yeah, Sarah... have you thought about...?” I feel like I'm actually performing.
Lorna will tell you the truth. You might not like to hear it, but you probably need to hear it. She never says I’m wrong, but she has a good way of getting me to rethink and getting me to a different conclusion. If you don't want to hear the truth, go elsewhere.”
Sarah encourages others considering working with Lorna to do so...
“I didn’t know I needed Lorna until I met her. I’m a great photographer and she has empowered me to say that.
I didn’t know what I didn’t know. She has helped me structurally, organisationally and professionally, as well as the mental bit. Have a cuppa with her on a free call and see what’s the chemistry between you is like. You have nothing to lose.
Do not expect an easy ride. Do not expect an overnight tripling of your business income but you will get empathy, understanding, someone who is in your corner, and a handrail because you can’t do it all on your own.”
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...