The Power of a Personal Coach

Debbie utilized the expert resources of a personal and executive coach, Silver Rose, whom she first encountered when she brought in Silver as a consultant on a project while she was still working at the firm. Debbie hired Silver personally and began exploring an exit strategy and new options for her career future.

Her professional reinvention began with weekly 1:1 calls with Silver and detailed homework assignments on self assessment and personal tracking. She conducted informational interviews with business peers and joined a mastermind group that works as an advisory board of sorts to provide motivation and accountability – all under the tutelage of her coach. Debbie also joined Toastmasters and a few networking groups for outreach, education and the personal growth purposes.

Silver gave Debbie permission to explore and she realized that golf – her passion – was also an educational tool and a business opportunity ripe for developing. Her knowledge about how to generate business through golf empowered Debbie as a resource others wanted to learn from. She also saw a tremendous opportunity to build confidence in businesswomen through strategies incorporating golf.

Move Over Boys – Women Are Playing Golf, Too!

According to Debbie:

“It’s a known fact that women, as a group, don’t participate in the game of golf to the extent that men do. For the most part, they see the game of golf as a mystery to which only men hold the key. Yet, the message businesswomen hear today is that golf is a widely accepted playing field for conducting business and they are missing out on opportunities by not participating. The golf community has created women-only golf clinics targeting the female executive. Statistically, women are the largest new group coming to the game of golf today. Yet, often frustrated with their skill-set, they are also the largest group that leaves the game and does not return.”

So Debbie capitalized on demystifying this critical business skill that can be used successfully on the golf course. Her business – Golf for Cause teaches women (and men) how to use golf as business tool, to create opportunities, to forward relationships because it’s more than just about going out and hitting golf balls. Golf for Cause provides the keys and the tools to demystify the game.

In her new role, Debbie enjoys being 100% responsible for the success and failure of each strategic decision in her company. She has control over her schedule and her work product matches her integrity and is a more accurate and rewarding reflection of who she is and what she wants out of a career. Debbie also appreciates the opportunity to set a positive example for her children by doing something that makes a difference and by giving back to her community.

Making Money Playing Golf

While the new career sounds too good to be true, Debbie has learned a lot over the years. Her initial business plan was not realistic and included programming that does not fit her business model today. That took some tweaking and adjusting over time. With a small staff of only two (including Debbie) she doesn’t have a large team to rely on as she did back at the firm. Debbie has learned that she can only control so much and that delegation is not always an option. A perfectionist by nature, Debbie also learned that delivering the perfect program was unrealistic. “At some point you need to step up to the ball and hit it off the tee!”

Since golf is now her livelihood, another important lesson learned was to identify which programs work well and which generate meaningful revenue. The economy has also been a challenge and the meeting & events industry has taken a particularly hard hit. Many companies have cut training and professional development budgets entirely. Debbie learned quickly that she needed to stay flexible and open to new ideas and partnerships in order to grow her business.

A personal goal for Debbie was to keep her schedule free enough to travel with her daughter, a student athlete to national tournaments and college recruiting trips. This was a liberty she gave herself with the new business that would not have been possible at the firm. She also set up administrative systems to enable the business to run smoothly in her absence.

“I set up systems such that I have an assistant who works remotely and maintains my database, follows up on various tasks as needed, brings forward ideas, keeps me on task, etc. Finding the right person was an incredible challenge as I spent a lot of time and money getting systems in place and then checking, redoing, and re-educating.  With the right person in place – I’m free to work “on” the business and not “in” the business.”

Mission Accomplished

The mission of Golf for Cause as an organization is to develop and deliver products and services that move others to use golf as a dynamic strategy to achieve their objectives, focusing primarily on business professionals new to the game, especially women.

While Debbie benefited from the expert counsel of her coach, Silver Rose, she also suggests that women seeking a career change develop a support network to help stay properly focused on goals and to provide a level of accountability.

She suggests that new entrepreneurs work with a good accountant from the start to better understand which strategies are effective and meaningful tax-wise for the business.

Birdies, Bogeys, and Business

Debbie’s repertoire of golf educational opportunities provides a myriad of topics such as:

• The secrets even successful business owners and managers don’t know
• Create an even more rewarding business environment
• See how your business success and your golf game are a reflection of who you are
• How to improve both your business and your golf score

Participants usually spend half the day in the classroom using golf as a metaphor to learn what differentiates being an entrepreneur, manager, or technician and the how this applies to the business world. After the classroom session, participants hit the course and play 9 holes of golf in a strategic format. All levels can participate, even never-played-before beginners. The day ends with a facilitated de-brief session, awards, and refreshments. An ideal group size is 6-40 participants and Debbie customizes programs to fit an organization or individual’s needs.

The reviews are in and Debbie consistently scores big with her clients!  The programs are experiential and golf anchors the learning. Debbie’s repertoire of golf educational opportunities provides a myriad of topics such as:

Mental Mulligans: A fun and enlightening team-building workshop for your group that reveals how you show up in and out of the office, on and off the golf course. Learn to understand different behavior styles on the golf course and how they impact your game and your success in business!

Get in the Game – Business Golf with On-Course Mentoring: A great way for business professionals to add golf to their business tool boxes.

Tee Off Program: A half-day outing designed to prepare the newer (or non-golfer) who wants to make a positive impression when playing in a charity or industry golf tournament.

Nine and Wine: A golf mentoring program offering a casual golf experience, designed especially for new golfers (men and women) to help them feel at ease on the tees. Golf up to nine holes with a mentor with facilitated debrief, networking and hosted happy hour after golf (“wine” not “whine!”)

Birdies, Bogeys & Business – Success On & Off the Course: a program that Debbie co-created and delivers with Joyce Friel from Peak Performance Consulting (www.peakperformancecorp.com).  This half-day program uses golf as a metaphor to learn what differentiates being an entrepreneur, manager and technician – and the implications for you and your business.  Explore your ownership mentality and create an even more successful business environment.

All Golf for Cause programs are designed so that participants at any golf skill level can participate, even never-played-before beginners.  Ideal group sizes range from 6 to 40 participants and Debbie customizes programs to fit an organization’s or individual’s needs.

By discovering new fairways and approach shots for defining business objectives, relationship development, and marketing strategies, Debbie Waitkus has turned golf into gold.

Favorite Quote:

“The bad news is time flies. The good news is that you’re the pilot.”

Michael Althsuler

Advice and Action Steps:

• For all the perfectionists – let go already and just do it!
• Consider a professional career coach and/or a resource team to assist you.
• Find a good accountant early on if you begin a new business.
• Really think about what you are passionate about doing – your next career may be right under your nose.

Resources:

Golf for Cause www.golfforcause.com

Silver Rose, Coach  www.silverspeaks.com

It Pays to Experiment

Her physician admitted her to the hospital and prescribed a battery of steroids, physical therapy and medications along with the grim prediction that even with the meds, Rebecca would become wheelchair bound, experience deterioration of her motor skills and possibly even blindness in a matter of years as the disease progressed.  Rebecca was a tenacious patient with many questions and the desire to take control of her own health. After intense research, she discovered a connection between MS and other diseases that respond well to dietary change. She figured she had nothing to lose because the best medicine available only offered a 30% efficacy rate so she was determined to find a more holistic approach to healing. Against her Doctor’s wishes, she refused the medications and started the healing process with diet.

In the beginning she eliminated dairy, wheat/gluten, red meat and sugar from her diet and although she still felt weak – she was functional. After viewing an episode of Diet Wars on television, Rebecca learned about the concept of raw foods. She started eating raw foods that same day because of the claims of increased energy, but much to her surprise within 5 days of beginning the “raw experiment” Rebecca regained her energy and her health. All of her MS symptoms had vanished. She was blown away with the results and is now a firm believer that our bodies can heal naturally if cared for properly – they were designed this way.

Be Part of the Solution

Aware that her former “normal” American Diet was filled with refined carbohydrates, sugars, animal protein, caffeine, alcohol, artificial sweeteners, sodas, and fats, Rebecca was feeling incredibly energized with her new clean eating regimen with foods such as raw fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, sprouts, grains, healthy oils (olive and coconut) and superfoods like raw chocolate and goji berries. She was also amazed that she was able to lose 38 pounds effortlessly in the process, something she had been previously unable to do.

She found that she was telling anyone who would listen and people were amazed at her story and wanted to know more. So she committed to spreading the word and being a part of the solution rather than adding to the problem. Rebecca used her newfound energy and amazing health turnaround to co-found the business 123Raw.com and is also the publisher of Purely Delicious magazine.  Both are founded on the principle of taking baby steps towards a healthier body, planet and community. Both the online store and magazine feature healthy and gourmet raw food recipes, organic and earth-friendly products for pet, home and body, fitness tips and articles about the growing raw foods movement. Nothing extreme, just regular people looking to live a little better.

It’s Ok to be Afraid

Rebecca had the idea of starting a raw magazine before the online store, but was a little overwhelmed and intimidated by the idea because she wasn’t sure how to get it off the ground by herself. She decided to start out with an online store first because it was something she could do from home and the hope was that it would provide the necessary funds to eventually start the magazine. Since stress exacerbates MS symptoms, she really wanted a low stress work-from-home business plan. The magazine opportunity came quite out of the blue in October of 2008. The previous publisher Anna Tipps was experiencing a medical emergency and contacted her to see if she was interested in taking over the publication.

According to Rebecca:

“The lesson I learned from this is, it’s ok to feel fear (it’s normal) but don’t let it stop you in your tracks. Say yes and keep moving forward. The amazing part is that as soon as I said yes and got off the fence, people started coming out of the woodwork offering to help. Resources came to me – as they were needed.”

Determined to build a business with a conscience, 123Raw.com contributes 5% of its profits to charities including: Habitat for Humanity and The Arbor Day Foundation and offers one page in each magazine to a charity to bring awareness to their cause. Rebecca utilizes her skills from the advertising arena in her new businesses including project management,  hiring freelance talent, organizing photo shoots, designing, negotiations, brainstorming, client relations, writing, meeting tight deadlines, pitching ideas, radio, television, press checks, etc.

Support comes from all sides and so did opportunity. She spoke the desire of starting a raw food magazine and Purely Delicious “…literally fell in her lap.” according to Rebecca, which re-affirmed that this was meant to be.

Set Practical Goals

It all sounds great but what about the challenges of starting a new business venture? Rebecca underestimated the cost and time of starting a business, the state and local fees, the cost of filing for a trademark, web design, advertising, opening a merchant account, etc. She thought she was prepared but in reality knew nothing about the business end of starting a business. It was extremely difficult financially, not so much in the beginning but as months dragged on and money was going out but nothing was coming in. She used up her savings, utilized her credit cards to get 123RAW started and then even dipped into her already dwindling 401K to pay for the first issue of Purely Delicious.

Her main mistake was assuming that as soon as they were open for business that customers would flock to the door. It takes time to build a brand and attract a loyal customer base. She assumed that since she had a large following on chat sites and her blog that those would automatically translate to sales. And for a large part they did, but not in the large consistent volume that was needed. With Purely Delicious, the problem was a little different, because she took over an existing publication and therefore was responsible for fulfilling all of the subscriptions that she didn’t receive payment for, so she was starting out well in the red. Luckily, the magazine has been extremely popular and well-received and sales have increased by 25% since October 2008.

Looking back, Rebecca would make some adjustments in her business launching plan.

“I think I would have searched for a business mentor to help guide me through the start-up process. I would have set more money aside and sought an open line of credit instead of relying on my personal credit. Most importantly I would have trusted my gut instinct more. Each time I have gotten off track has been when I’ve ignored that “I don’t think this is right” feeling. It is a very humbling experience to realize how little you know but exhilarating to be in a constant state of learning and growth. Growth is rarely comfortable, but necessary. I wish I would have understood this earlier.”

I’m happy to report that Rebecca is thriving, feeling fit and healthy and 123Raw and Purely Delicious are gaining momentum and solvency. This little raw food experiment not only provided her a healthier life but a new and exciting career.

Rebecca’s Advice and Action Steps:

• Fear can be good if you realize it’s normal. Move beyond your comfort zone and test your strengths. Have courage acknowledge the fear and then take a small step forward anyway.
• Give yourself practical, attainable, daily goals. Baby steps are important in the long run journey. Try not to let yourself get overwhelmed by the enormity of the task. To climb a mountain you first have to take one step.
• Exercise random acts of kindness and pay-it-forward! Look for ways to give daily, this act also opens you up to receive.
• Consider giving back in some way with your business in your community.

Quotes: “When you are willing to try, amazing things can happen.” Rebecca Carlson

“It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else.” ~ Erma Bombeck

Resources:

123 Raw and Purely Delicious Magazine  www.123Raw.com

Savor the Success  www.savorthesuccess.com

Organic Consumers Organization www.organicconsumers.org

Prioritizing What You Value

Lara now knows from experience how hard it is to create harmony in a mother’s life. She also knows that moms often sacrifice their own needs and desires for the sake of their children putting their own lives on hold for the future.  So this mom on a mission dedicated a new chapter in her career life to helping mom entrepreneurs earn more money doing what they love, while taking care of their number one priority – their families!

She became a certified life coach and combined her business acumen with her new coaching skills to create a community and a tremendous resource for women. Dedicated to helping others succeed, Lara knows that she is not alone as a mom entrepreneur. She tapped into a powerful and growing network of women and created her business: MomBizCoach.

When I spoke to Lara her energy and enthusiasm was infectious. She is truly passionate about supporting moms who choose to be in business as a lifestyle choice. Now a successful blogger and radio show host, Lara’s network has a wide reaching territory including Canada where she currently lives with her husband and three children.

Clarify Goals and Create Harmony

Her coaching and consulting services are geared toward creating harmony for moms that also want to be successful in their business. Lara helps her clients clarify goals, develop a plan of action, and provide them with accountability and support. She customizes a personal development strategy that plays to your strengths, attitudes, and habits to work towards personalized success.

Lara’s coaching approach is comprehensive and includes:

• Taking your business idea from concept to reality
• Personal branding, marketing, and networking
• Making the most of Social Media resources
• Creating a wealth plan and budgeting for it
• Teaching you to “get out of your own way” and sell yourself
• Setting fees and accepting them

Lara tapped into her transferable skills and knew the importance of relying on her former career experiences to propel her forward in her new business venture.  One of the best things she learned from her days at IBM was customer service. She understood the value of returning calls and emails in a timely manner, and how to set (and meet or exceed) customer expectations.

Just Figure it Out!

Lara learned that she can learn how to do just about anything. The start of her career at IBM was working in Public Relations, she then moved into Education and Training in a consulting role, and finally wound up in executive-level sales and project management doing e-business for the automotive industry. She admits to knowing nothing about any part of that last role before she got the promotion, but within a few months was amazed at the new techno-language she was speaking and the e-commerce concepts she now understood.

“So I don’t get hung up anymore on not knowing how to do something. I just go figure it out by doing it. I apply this skill almost daily in my role as mom, entrepreneur, business coach, life coach, and marketing mentor to my clients.”

But what about the steps in-between launching a business and achieving success and financial stability? Lara is entering her sixth year of coaching. When she first started out as a coach, she was all about coaching and had no real interest in or knowledge of how to run a business. She struggled to find new clients, coached only one or two clients at a time and made hardly any money, which was mostly fine since she didn’t have any goals around making money. It was clear to her that she needed the stimulation, challenge, connections with inspiring people and the opportunity to “shine her light” and share her gifts more than she needed the money. Her work fulfilled her ambition, passion, talents, purpose and was an outlet for her creativity that she needed to balance her role as a mom. Then, Lara had an epiphany:

“About a year and a half ago, I made some big changes and got serious about running a business. I realized, to my surprise, that I was an entrepreneur, and I started studying everything I could about entrepreneurship, small businesses,marketing, being a solopreneur, etc.  I created my new brand/identity as the Mom Biz Coach, targeting a  narrower niche of mom entrepreneurs. This focus has completely changed my ability to attract clients (rather than me having to go out and find them like I did before), and as a result, I’ve made more this year in six months than I did in the last three years put together. I have an automated sales/marketing process that keeps my pipeline full of clients and is causing me to consider alternative methods of delivering what I do so that I can manage all of the people who are ready to work with me. It’s so awesome!!!”

You Can Have It All…Once You Know What You Want

In retrospect, knowing then what she knows now, Lara would have worked with a business coach to figure out her niche, her ideal clients, and how to craft her services as solutions to her clients’ problems. Lara shared:

“…I wasted three solid years trying to explain to people what coaching is, and then tried to sell them coaching. I had no real understanding of how I was pushing myself, my thoughts and my great ideas onto other people. It was a sales model that just didn’t work. I wish someone had told me back in 2005 how to focus on my clients. I also wasted a lot of time not setting the proper boundaries around my work time, my family time and me.  I felt guilty about wanting to work and therefore only fit work in when nobody else needed me (i.e. when the kids were napping, sleeping, watching TV, playing outside, etc.).  I also built up a lot of resentment because I wasn’t making my needs and wants a priority, so I blamed my husband and my kids (mostly only in my mind) for my unhappiness back then.”

Starting a new career is a journey and Lara’s experience shows us some common growing pains and pitfalls. In time, she figured it out and is now thriving in her own business and able to help other moms with entrepreneurial aspirations. For those who think you can’t have it all – a great career plus the opportunity to prioritize your family – you have never met Lara Galloway. Explore the possibilities with this mom entrepreneur and design your customized world!

Lara’s Advice and Action Steps:

• Notice your definition of success – does it fit you? Create your own definition of success and work towards achieving that unique reality.
• Check in regularly with a coach or mentor who can keep your grounded and give you honest and supportive feedback and inspiration.
• Whatever you believe is true so choose what you believe carefully. No matter what, believe in yourself!
• Be clear that this is your life and you are in control.
• Find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.

Quote:

“Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult.” Charlotte Whitton

Resources:

Five minute coaching MOMents on video www.youtube.com/mombizcoach

Talk Radio www.blogtalkradio.com/MomBizCoach

MomBizCoach http://www.mombizcoach.com