"Will and determination can take you far, if you don’t let fear get in the way" with Sarah Finch

Photo Credit: Jessica Kaplan Photography

Two decades ago, Sarah Finch shifted her experience as an actor into a career in learning and development by earning an MA in Educational Theatre at NYU and convincing a small communications training firm to hire her.  Since then, she has helped thousands of leaders through her training programs, leadership coaching, and keynote speaking in L&D roles with high-profile organizations like The Second City, Vista Equity Partners, and the YMCA.  Five years ago, she decided it was time to lead her work with her own voice and launched her solo business providing leadership and team development her way – with a unique mix of practical expertise, business acumen, and theatre-savvy. Her client list has since tripled and she is having the most fun of her long career.

Can you tell our readers about your background?

I was going to be an actor. That was my childhood dream. I went to Northwestern University with the sole purpose to be a theatre major and then act after graduation. I had some mild success in the local Chicago theatre scene but learned after a few years that I absolutely hated auditioning and the lack of control that most actors have over their careers. That was a tough realization and required a lot of souls searching for me in my mid-20s. At the time I was also working as an administrative assistant just to pay the bills. I ended up at Arthur Andersen shortly before it collapsed. In that very old-school, corporate environment I saw first-hand how my theatre training would be helpful for many of the consultants I worked with. Since I had to find a new path other than acting, I looked for a graduate school program that would help me transfer what I knew from theatre to a world of corporate training. That lead me to NYU and the rest is history. I have continued to develop my own expertise and skills through each job I have had in this career….a career path I never knew existed when I started working!

What inspired you to start your business?

Fortune and fate. My job with Vista ended unexpectedly and not on my terms, but with a healthy severance package so I had the luxury of some time to decide what I wanted to do. My husband had been encouraging me for years to go out on my own, and it seemed that the universe was giving me a chance to try. So I took it.

Where is your business based?

I’m based out of Chicago, Illinois, but I do a lot of my work virtually – even before the pandemic. Most of my clients are not local, and many are global. Over the last two years it has been particularly interesting to work with clients all across the US as well as in Europe, Australia, Asia, and South America through my Zoom screen.

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

First, I researched what type of business I needed or wanted to be and the logistics of set up, taxes…the boring stuff. Ultimately, I decided to simply be a sole-proprietor, obtained an EIN and business bank account, and created business cards (which was my biggest waste of money since I never used them!). If I grow over time, I may move to an LLC model, but for now, this works for me.

The second thing I did was build a website. I was convinced that I couldn’t say I had a business without that. In retrospect, that probably slowed me down a bit as it took me several months to make the site look how I wanted it, but when it was done it was my launching tool. It also forced me to define what my business did. I definitely was aspirational in some of the services I listed, but it was all work I knew I could do if asked. I also solicited some testimonial quotes from a few of my past clients to help show some credibility right away.

When it was done, I shared it on LinkedIn, and direct messaged about 100 people in my LI network to let them know what I was doing. I increased my presence on LinkedIn and tried to post something at least once a week. I also was setting up informational conversations with people in my network and finding additional networks to tap into. I took advantage of some great networking Facebook groups I was already part of as a member of the National Speakers Association and learned a lot from talking with women who were already doing things similar to what I wanted to do. It took 6 months for me to land my first client through a referral from a former boss of mine.

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

The most effective thing for me was the network I built before I started my business. I didn’t know it as it was happening of course, so this is all hindsight, but the relationships I created and the good work I was doing apparently left a positive impression. At least 80% of my business has been direct hires from my network or referrals from them to new clients. I’ve tried to keep connected with those relationships as well, mostly through LinkedIn these days.

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

My belief in my ability to make this work was absolutely my biggest challenge. As an actor, I can take anyone’s message and make it my own. After so many years of incorporating the messaging and point of view of my employers, I wasn’t sure that I knew what to say on my own. I doubted that I really had anything someone would want to pay me just me to do without the name of a known organization attached to mine. A type of imposter syndrome, I suppose.

To help counter that thinking, I spent a lot of time writing thoughts and ideas down in a notebook so I could find words that were mine – not Second City’s, or Vista’s or the Y’s – but mine to offer up to my clients. With every client engagement, my confidence grew and that helped as well.

I also decided not to create a business name other than my own. That might change down the road, but it was important to me to establish that I am the one doing this work, that I am the business this time.

How do you stay focused?

In terms of my actual client work, the focus is never an issue. Whether I’m coaching a CEO, running a group training, delivering a keynote, or creating the content, I’m 100% in tune with that work. That’s the easy part! It is like being on stage for me; I’d do a lot of it for free because I love it. But I have two kids and we have bills to pay. My husband is successful in his job, but not to the point where I don’t have to work at all. I keep focused on the business side by regularly reviewing my accounting ledger and seeing if I’m on track. That process grounds me and motivates me so my business can continue to thrive. That part isn’t super inspirational, but it is reality.

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

My path has been unconventional compared to others in this industry. I’m not the only actor to move into this realm, but the organizations I’ve worked with during my career is absolutely unique. Who else has worked with an esteemed improv theatre, one of the most successful private equity firms today and one of the biggest non-profits in the country? Let alone that in each of those roles, my clients were external so I was working directly with just about every type of industry.

Second City gave me the opportunity to work with so many big business names like Deloitte, Kraft, Major League Baseball, Farmer’s Insurance, and so on; my client list from those 7 years is enviable. Vista had over 50 portfolio companies while I was with them and the YMCA was made up of over 800 local Y’s, each with their own culture. That breadth of experience with so many different types of organizations and leaders at all levels is hard to earn.

Combine all of that experience with my theatre skills that allow me to connect and engage my audiences and I stand out. There isn’t a single client that I’ve worked with who hasn’t commented on my bio and how interesting it is….my Second City experience alone usually gets me into a conversation. I was able to create my own path to my business today, and my story has helped me stand out and be successful.

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

Keep doing good work? Honestly, this is my weakest area as an entrepreneur. I’ve been spoiled to have so much referral business, that I’ve been able to grow with very little marketing effort. I need to change that, and it is in my plan for this year to really expand how I market so I can reach new clients.

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

Don’t let fear hold you back. If you have the desire to try to build a business, that is more than many people have to start with. Will and determination can take you far, if you don’t let fear get in the way.

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

The app is definitely my Peloton app, which I use with my budget-friendly non-Peloton bike. I don’t read a lot of blogs, though I’m starting one of my own this year. Two books come to mind – Talk to Me: Listening Between the Lines by Anna Deveare Smith was one I read over and over early in my career. Her style of communication, and ability to interview people in ways to really distill their inner thoughts just amazed me. Another is the book Switch by Chip and Dan Heath. I was first introduced to it at the YMCA when we used it to help with a massive culture shift, and I still reference it in my work today. The concepts are so easy for people to understand, yet often the things most forgotten when trying to drive change in a team or organization.

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

Calendly. I couldn’t possibly manage my calendar and scheduling with all my coaching appointment, client meetings, travel, training, etc. without it!

Who is your business role model? Why?

Brené Brown. She didn’t set out to be a famous author and speaker. That happened because she is passionate about the research and work she does, and people wanted more from her. Also, she has stayed true to herself throughout her growing success. I saw her speak once at a conference and she was even more genuine in person than I expected.

How do you balance work and life?

In a household with two working parents and two busy kids, it is a constant challenge. However, it is SO much easier to do now that I have my own business than it was when I worked for others. My kids and husband actually get more of me now than before. I can pick them up at school, have more control over when I travel, and generally be less stressed about work because I put my own pressure on myself vs managing someone else’s pressure. If I need most of a workday to take my daughter, who is a competitive figure skater, to a competition I can schedule my calendar accordingly 90% of the time. That flexibility is the key to my balance and starting my own business gave that to me.

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

Playing the piano. I have played since I was 5, and it is my version of meditation. When I play, I’m fully focused on the music and everything else goes away. I don’t do it nearly enough, but I always benefit when I do.

What do you have planned for the next six months?

To up my marketing game! I just revamped my website, and am recommitting to creating more presence on social media beyond LinkedIn including a new Twitter and Instagram account. I’m also developing some new on-demand tools and online programs. I’m thrilled with the growth of my business, but there is only one me and a finite amount of time I can offer, so I need to expand my services in a way that can help people even when I am not available to work with them directly.

How can our readers connect with you?

The quickest way to connect with me is via email at sfinch@sarahfinch.com or at my website www.sarahfinch.com

You can also find me on:
LinkedIn:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahfinchleadercoach/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/sarahfinchleadercoach
Twitter:      https://twitter.com/SFLeaderCoach
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/sarahfinchleadercoach/

"How To Learn To Finally Love Yourself" with Tonya Leigh

As a part of my series about “How To Learn To Finally Love Yourself” I had the pleasure to interview, Master Life and Self-Image Coach, Tonya Leigh. Tonya, Certified Master Life and Self-Image Coach, is inspiring women to add more elegance into their everyday lives, motivating many to flourish.

She’s been called an enchanting confidante for women around the world who seek to style their minds and create their lives from a place of joy, passion, and love. In a world that’s constantly telling us that we’re broken and need to go harder, faster, and hustle our way to success, Tonya’s philosophy is a breath of fresh air because we know the truth: no woman is broken. She encourages women to embrace their femininity, cultivates their confidence, and savor their lives — one bold thought, feeling, and action at a time.

With a community of over 75,000 women, Tonya has spoken to global audiences on a wide array of topics ranging from being a woman in today’s world to embracing entrepreneurship as fun and spiritual journey.

Thank you so much for joining us! I’d love to begin by asking you to give us the backstory as to what brought you to this specific career path.

My path looks more like windy roads, potholes, and a lot of U-turns, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Isn’t that what makes for a rich life, after all?

I grew up in the Bible belt of the Deep South in a trailer where girls typically became a teacher, secretary, or nurse. I chose the latter, as I was married at eighteen and a mother by twenty-two. I felt like I was living the life that I was “supposed” to live, but there was another life within me that was tugging at my soul. With this said, I didn’t have a clue as to how to get from here to there.

One night while working in the ICU, a doctor asked me, “Tonya, who do you want to be?” 
 
 Having the courage to answer that question, and live out my answer, this moment changed my entire life. This led me to sommelier school, Paris, back to school, finally losing the extra 70 pounds, and ultimately to hiring a life coach. When I discovered the world of personal development and mixed in my love of Paris, I knew that I had a new voice to add to the conversation — the voice of femininity, style, and elegance. 
 
 After this, my company was born, and I continue to ask the question, “Tonya, who do you want to be?”

Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you hope that they might help people along their path to self-understanding or a better sense of wellbeing in their relationships?

One of the most loving things we can do for ourselves is to stop trying to fix ourselves. We are not broken-down cars that need to be fixed, instead, we are amazing masterpieces waiting to be created. If my journey has taught me anything, it’s that we get to create ourselves on purpose, and not because we’re not enough but because we know that we are.

I’m obsessed with the concept of self-image and how it shapes a woman’s life. I’m in the process of creating a school devoted solely to this topic. I want women to know that no matter their past or what they’ve been told, they get to decide for themselves who they want to be and how they show up in the world. This is the decision that shapes your entire life.

Do you have a personal story that you can share with our readers about your struggles or successes along your journey of self-understanding and self-love? Was there ever a tipping point that triggered a change regarding your feelings of self-acceptance?

It was a series of moments that changed me little by little until one day I looked in the mirror and deeply loved and appreciated myself. 
 
 My journey to self-love was more of a back-door approach. I spent so many years seeing myself as “less than,” which led to an eating disorder, excessive weight gain, dysfunctional relationships, and a life full of insecurity and anxiety. I tried all the self-help tips and tricks — posting “I love you” on the bathroom mirror, reciting mantras in the car, and getting regular manicures. But, my brain was so resistant that it wasn’t working for me, so I started to imagine what a woman who loves herself thinks, and what I discovered is that she doesn’t sit around trying to love herself, she just does. 
 
 With this said, trying to love myself was a testament to my lack of self-love. The harder I tried, the more I felt the absence of it. So, I decided to take the focus off of me and just start doing other activities — taking classes, going to the pool (even when my brain tried to convince me that everyone would laugh), going on trips, pushing myself to try new things.

Then, one day, I realized that I had so much respect for the version of me that was living life (even with all the negativity in my brain), but by enjoying the world, I started to enjoy the woman living it. So, ironically, it was so much easier to get on board the self-love train when I stopped trying to love me and simply started enjoying the world more.

· According to a recent study cited in Cosmopolitan, in the US, only about 28 percent of men and 26 percent of women are “very satisfied with their appearance.” Could you talk about what some of the causes might be, as well as the consequences?

What a sad statistic, but since I’ve been a part of this 26 percent, I understand psychology really well.

We are exposed to an ideal of beauty from a very young age. I grew up during the era of the supermodels, such as Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, and now, it’s the Kardashians. Notice how the standard of beauty is always changing, which makes feeling beautiful an impossible goal if we’re looking outside of ourselves for validation and approval.

The consequences? It’s the demise of the most important relationship you have, the one with yourself. Can you imagine dating (or even marrying) someone who’s constantly telling you that you’re not enough, that you should lose weight, or you need to get rid of cellulite. That would be a terrible relationship, right?

Although, this is exactly what we do to ourselves. The cost of this relationship is that we never feel enough, and we work hard to fill that void, but nothing outside can offer this. It’s a decision that you must make for yourself — “I am enough, no matter what.”

When you feel enough, you become unstoppable, and you take action, not to prove yourself, but instead to express and honor yourself. The intention behind your action is everything.

As cheesy as it might sound to truly understand and “love yourself,” can you share with our readers a few reasons why it’s so important?

Oscar Wilde said, “To love one’s self is the beginning of a lifelong romance.” Without self-love, you’ll forever be trying to get love from outside of you, seeking validation and appreciation. You’ll sell your soul for a sliver of love, and at the end of the day, it was only yours to give yourself.

How you get to self-love will be an individual journey of commitment and persistence, but to love yourself is the best decision you’ll ever make. However, self-love is way more than self-care. Love is fierce. 
 
 When a woman loves herself, she shows up fully in her life, she respects herself, she trusts herself, she expects the best for herself. She’s tough with herself, only because she wants the best for herself. Imagine a loving mother that doesn’t allow her child to play in the streets. Sometimes that’s how we need to be with ourselves.

Why do you think people stay in mediocre relationships? What advice would you give to our readers regarding this?

You don’t get what you want, and you get what you expect. If you’re in a mediocre relationship with someone, it’s because that’s what you think you deserve. This is also a sign that you have a mediocre relationship with yourself. Once you start having a love affair with you, you won’t tolerate anything less than what you deeply desire.

When I talk about self-love and understanding I don’t necessarily mean blindly loving and accepting ourselves the way we are. Many times self-understanding requires us to reflect and ask ourselves the tough questions, to realize perhaps where we need to make changes in ourselves to be better not only for ourselves but our relationships. What are some of those tough questions that will cut through the safe space of comfort we like to maintain, that our readers might want to ask themselves? Can you share an example of a time that you had to reflect and realize how you needed to make changes?

Every day I have moments where I reflect on myself and realize what changes are necessary. For example, a recent moment is that I had promised myself that I was going to work out. When the time came for me to go to the gym, my brain had a little temper tantrum and convinced me that I “deserved a break.” I skipped the workout and spent the rest of the day feeling bad that I had left myself down. 
 
 Now, some would think that self-love is accepting that decision and moving on, which is partly true. I am not an advocate of beating yourself up … ever! But, I also know that one of the best ways to destroy the relationship that you have with yourself is to break promises to yourself. Imagine dating someone who promised to pick you up at seven for dinner and didn’t show. Yet this is what we are doing to ourselves. 
 
 So, I had to be tougher on myself the next day when it was time for my workout. My brain had the same temper tantrum, but I put on my gym clothes and kept the promise to myself. The reward was not only feeling better but knowing that I am a woman who shows up for herself (and on those rare occasions when I don’t, I don’t sweep it under the carpet but commit to doing better).

As my mother used to tell me, “I love you, but I don’t like your behavior.” I now understand what she means. Turns out tough love, when driven out of deep care for yourself, is one of the highest forms of self-love.

So many don’t really know how to be alone, or are afraid of it. How important is it for us to have, and practice, that capacity to truly be with ourselves and be alone (literally or metaphorically)?

I was once one of those people who was afraid to be alone, and today, I love my alone time. What changed were my thoughts. If you don’t like being with yourself, it’s because you don’t like who you’re being with yourself. Many people want to escape themselves because the thoughts in our minds are so horrendous. It’s like hanging out with an abusive boyfriend all day. Who wants that? Yet, we do that to ourselves. When you create a more loving image of yourself, you may find that your company is the best company in the world.

How does achieving a certain level of self-understanding and self-love then affect your ability to connect with and deepen your relationships with others?

Only when you truly understand and love yourself can you offer the same to others. It’s when we don’t that we find ourselves doing what I call “emotionally outsourcing,” which basically means: I don’t love myself, so can you love me? Or, I don’t understand myself, so will you understand me?

We outsource our emotional lives to people who can’t even manage their own, and then we wonder why our relationships are so dysfunctional?

When you start to care for yourself emotionally, it shifts your energy. You set boundaries with love, allowing people to be upset if they choose. You stop trying to manage other people to feel better. You show up in rooms with an attitude of “I need nothing from you and I want everything for you.”

It just so happens that the world respects that kind of woman.

In your experience, what should a) individuals and b) society, do to help people better understand themselves and accept themselves?

In order to help people better understand and accept themselves, collectively, we need to start teaching basic emotional tools. Most people don’t understand that the reason why they feel the way they do is because of thoughts in their heads. They think it’s the outside world that’s creating their anxiety, worry, overwhelm, sadness, or whatever emotion they are experiencing, but it never is. You are always the one creating your emotional life.

When you truly understand that, you stop trying to change the world (or your appearance, income level, or any other circumstance) to feel better. And, as you start to feel better, you start to attract things into your life that was so hard to create when you were at war with yourself.

What are 5 strategies that you implement to maintain your connection with and love for yourself, that our readers might learn from? Could you please give a story or example for each?

1. Journaling — every day, put your thoughts on paper: your ideas, your goals, your crazy thoughts, all of it. There’s something powerful about getting things onto paper and looking at them instead of carrying them around in your head. Every morning, I wake up and grab my journal. Some mornings, I write down the thoughts that are causing my anxiety, and other mornings I write letters from my future self. Future self journaling is very powerful. You go into the future to the version of you that’s created what you desire and let her offer you support, ideas and lots of love.

2. Dressing Up — we underestimate the power of style in our lives, but all your choices are a reflection of your inner world. Style is one of the ways I create my days on purpose. Instead of waking up in a bad mood and throwing on a pair of sweats to confirm that mood, I put something on that reminds me of who I want to be, and like magic, my energy shifts. Plus, for me, it’s a sign of self-respect, as I don’t dress to impress others, though I love impressing myself.

3. Body Checks — many women are very disconnected from their bodies. In fact, many women don’t want to be in their bodies for various reasons. Years ago, on my weight loss journey, I got into the habit of doing hourly body checks, which is basically checking in with your body to see how it feels and what it needs. 
 Sometimes, it’s a little encouragement or some food. Other times, it wants to go for a walk or dance in the living room. But, this ritual has helped me get back into my body and pay attention.

4. Goals — this may not seem like a form of self-love, but I see it as a way of taking care of myself. My grandmother used to tell me, “an idle mind is a devil’s workshop.” Having goals that move my life (and my development) forward keeps me focused and gives me something to wake up to every day.

5. Money Dates — What do money and self-love have to do with each other? Everything. Caring for your money is a form of caring for yourself, because like it or not, you need money to live a well-lived life. Because of limiting stories and beliefs around money, many women don’t want to look at their money or they don’t take care of it in a way that serves them. Having a weekly money date where you get intimate with your finances is one of the highest forms of self-love.

What are your favorite books, podcasts, or resources for self-psychology, intimacy, or relationships? What do you love about each one and how does it resonate with you?

I started my personal development journey with Martha Beck, who wrote Finding Your Own North Star. That book will forever have a special place in my heart because it was a defining moment in my life when I discovered that my mind (not the outside world) was the source of my struggles. 
 
 One of my best friends, Brooke Castillo, owns The Life Coach School. Her work is brilliant, and her podcast is full of tools on how to manage our minds and lives. 
 
 I’m in an interesting stage of my life, however, where I’m not reading a lot of self-help books. There are seasons for everything, and I’m in a season of creation, not consumption. What I mean is that the artist needs to be inspired and then she needs to inspire. I see so many clients get stuck in constant self-help consumption that they spend more time reading about life than actually living it. I often say that the best way to improve your life is to enjoy your life, so right now, I’m reading books that simply delight me — books on style, poetry, fiction, and design.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? Maybe we’ll inspire our readers to start it…

As I mentioned earlier, I am obsessed with self-image and how it impacts our lives. You can’t become wealthy if you’re being poor. You can’t become healthy if you’re focused on disease. You can’t be loved if you feel unlovable. Your self-image shapes the jobs you have and the partners you choose. 
 
 For this reason, the movement that I’m currently ecstatic about is challenging women to have the courage to answer the question, “Who do I want to be,” and then living out their answers. 
 
 I want every woman in the world to look in the mirror and see what she desires to see — strong, confident, beautiful, sexy, wealthy, healthy, powerful, whatever she decides to be.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote” that you use to guide yourself by? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life and how our readers might learn to live by it in theirs?

One of my favorite things that I say to myself daily is, “Bring it! I was made for this.” There is something so powerful about this statement because it forces you to not fight with what is, but to become the kind of person who is willing to experience it and rise about it. My maiden name is Rising, after all.

Thank you so much for your time and for your inspiring insights!

"Be patient" with Stephanie Hadjipateras

Photo Credit : Elizabeth from Studio Live

Stephanie Hadjipateras has been a life coach for several years. Born and raised in Athens, she obtained her coaching qualifications in London, where she established her business in 2016 and has since helped many clients in achieving aims and objectives. Prior to life coaching, Stephanie was in the events industry and studied fashion; two experiences that she’s brought over into her life coaching in terms of the things she learned and observed. Her subsequent multiple surgeries, coupled with other health issues – some of which affect her everyday life today – led her into finding her passion in helping and guiding other people. She and her husband Christian are based in Athens. www.embrace-the-change.com

Can you tell our readers about your background?

I studied to become an event planner and designer, which I did for a few years. One day I decided to pack my bags and move to London to pursue my other passion, which was helping others in the form of life coaching. I became a qualified coach in 2016 while simultaneously taking an interest in hypnosis. 

What inspired you to start your business?

I guess I’ve always wanted to help others from a young age, but never really knew how and I had so many other things I wanted to do. One day I met a life Coach who changed my life and I believe that is what inspired to finally purse my passion and follow that path.

Where is your business based?

My business is based in Athens where I live with my husband and adorable dog. I work online with amazing people from all over the world. 

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

I wanted to learn everything I could about Life Coaching so I took a course to become a certified Life Coach and then did many hours of training. 

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

Social media has really helped and alongside the other benefits that the online world has to offer. What helped in the beginning was word of mouth, which for me is the best way. 

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

There are so many amazing coaches out there, so finding my niche and sharing my story was something that was hard in the beginning, but now feel very confident about what I offer.

How do you stay focused?

Staying focused can be difficult and there are harder days than others. I practice a lot of mindfulness through meditation and I also do puzzles and paint by numbers, which not only do I enjoy and find fun but also helps with concentration and staying focused. 

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

As I have mentioned before, there are so many talented Life Coaches out there with fantastic skills; coaches who focus on stress and chronic pain in their own way. I would have to say the thing that differentiates my business is that I will try to push you out of your comfort zone, but at the same time, be there for you and always try to make it fun 

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

I would have to say engaging with other, building relationships and trust.

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

Be patient. There are many tools and strategies out there to help you and support you..use them. Having said that even things don’t work for you as fast as it has for others, it doesn’t mean anything, your time will come, so don’t give up. 

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

I love hearing masterclass from the mindValley app, where you not only grow in your business but also as a person. 

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

I love doing videos because for me this is the best way people can understand who you are as a person and feel more connected to you. 

Who is your business role model? Why?

I would have to say Jane Austen, and not because I am a hopeless romantic and would love to have lived in that time, but because of what this talented woman managed to accomplish, despite the time she lived in and what people may have thought. A very strong, confident, inspiring woman.

How do you balance work and life?

Work/Life balance is very important to me, so I make sure to always have time for my family and not let work interfere. For example, no work after a certain time or during dinner, and I always make it a point to leave time for myself even if it is just for 15 minutes. 

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

One of things I love to do is to put on some relaxing music and do a puzzle or watch a movie

What do you have planned for the next six months?

Actually, we are moving from north to south Athens, which is exciting, so that is one big thing. Keep growing my business and spend time with loved ones.

How can our readers connect with you?

Please feel free to contact me through my website

www.embrace-the-change.com or through social media:

www.instagram.com/stephlifecoach/

"Plant seeds. Lots of them," with Alexis Haselberger​

Alexis Haselberger​ is a time management and productivity coach who helps people do more and stress less through coaching, workshops, and online courses. Her pragmatic, yet fun, approach helps people easily integrate practical, realistic strategies into their lives so that they can do more of what they want and less of what they don't. Alexis has taught thousands of individuals to take control of their time and her clients include Google, Lyft, Workday, Capital One, Upwork, and more. She can be found at

Can you tell our readers about your background?

I spent the first 15 years of my career running HR and business operations in early-stage start-ups in the Bay Area. In a start-up environment, there is always so much more to do than people to do it. People work hard, they work long hours, and they burn out.

My super-power was always the ability to get A LOT done, and done well, with minimal effort and stress. I had a boss that used to tell people that I could do in 20 hours what most could do in 60 hours. Over time, people started recognizing these skills and starting to come to me for help with streamlining processes, creating systems, prioritizing their work, and general time management. When the last start-up I worked for went out of business (as more than 90% of start-ups do), I decided that the most impactful thing I’d been doing was helping others with time management, productivity, and stress reduction. And luckily, that was also the aspect of my career that was the most fulfilling for me.

At that point, I decided to open my own time management and productivity coaching and consulting business so that I could help others kill it at work, and have fulfilling personal lives as well. I haven’t looked back. Turns out, there are a lot of folks really struggling in this department so there was a strong product-market fit.

What inspired you to start your business?

Aside from the fact that I knew I had a skill set that could really improve the quality of other people’s lives, the real reason that took me from idea to reality was the increasing sense that I just didn’t want to work towards other people’s goals anymore. I wanted to get up every day and work towards my own goals. I wanted to know that what I was doing, every hour of every day, was my choice and for my own purposes.

Don’t get me wrong, I worked for great companies and awesome people, doing stuff that I thought was worthwhile. But it wasn’t mine. And over time, that’s what really inspired me to actually get started on my own thing.

Where is your business based?

I’m based in San Francisco, but my business was mostly virtual before COVID and is totally virtual now.

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

The very first thing I did was buy a domain name and get a basic website set up with Squarespace. It took just a few hours and it helped me to feel like “ok, I’m legitimate” even though I really had nothing yet. No clients, no product. But I wanted to have something to point to when talking about my new business.

Next, I set up the basics. I got a business license (which San Francisco requires), I set up a business bank account and I registered for an EIN.

Then, I started telling people in my life that I had opened up a business, while I started figuring out my first product, which would eventually become a time management and productivity coaching program. To create the product, I started by just writing down everything I knew about time management, productivity, management, communication, etc. These writings turned into a “Best Practices Library”, which in turn became the base for the coaching program.

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

The tactic that I have used that has been the most beneficial for raising awareness has been for me to get in front of other people’s audiences. If you don’t have your own audience, you need to capitalize on the pre-build audiences of others. For me, that meant being a guest on podcasts, getting quoted in articles (using HARO to find leads), speaking at conferences, and partnering to do webinars.

The other thing I did that is just so simple but I don’t think that many people actually do is that when I first got started, I emailed every single person that I knew and told them what I was up to and who my ideal clients were. And I mean everyone. I emailed people I hadn’t spoken to since high school, the insurance agent of a company I worked at 10 years ago, coworkers from 4 jobs ago, my husband’s friends, my parent’s friends...everyone. It was uncomfortable, for sure, but it also got me my first few clients, which in turn led to other clients.

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges for me has been to learn how to market myself and my business without feeling sleazy. I’ve taken a number of approaches to this. First, I just put myself in uncomfortable situations, over and over again, until they felt comfortable. I’d go to a conference and pitch myself to every single vendor (hey, they were captive audiences!). I used a social networking app called Shapr to learn how to talk about my business with a huge range of people. I took a copywriting class that helped me feel more confident in writing sales copy. Essentially, I decided that in order to grow, I just had to get out of my comfort zone and start practicing the stuff that didn’t come naturally. I’m still on the learning curve, but my business is definitely growing, so something must be working!

How do you stay focused?

I have a few different practices for staying focused.

First, I use a task/project management app to track every single thing I need to do in my business, as well as delegated items. I have a daily, weekly, and quarterly planning process to ensure that I stay focused on my top priorities. If it’s not in the app, I don’t do it. In that way, I steer clear of shiny object syndrome.

Every quarter, I review the backlog of ideas in my task app, and I choose a few things to focus on for the quarter. I add these goals into a quarter-long calendar appointment that appears at the top of my calendar so that I am constantly reminded of my focus. And then I add related tasks and projects for these goals into my task app so that I can properly prioritize the work to make these things happen.

On a more granular level, I keep all notifications (email, Slack, etc.) turned off and I keep my phone on silent. I don’t let the incoming distract me from my focus for the day. I’m still very responsive to others, as that’s crucial for my business, but I do it by batch processing my communications a few times a day instead of answering things as they come in.

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

A big difference between my business and a lot of other productivity-related businesses is that I focus on meeting people where they are and fostering an environment for self-knowledge so that people can build skills and processes around who they are already instead of trying to fit themselves into a box. For instance, I’ll never tell a night owl to “just get up earlier before your kids wake up”. Could they do it? Maybe, for a short time. But that’s not going to be a habit that sticks, because it doesn’t fit who they are.

I also espouse a pragmatic, reality-based philosophy around time management and productivity. We assess where we are, and we move on from there.

My goal is to help people use their time intentionally, according to their own goals and values. It’s not to get them to use a specific tool or follow a specific schedule. I’m helping people build sustainable practices in their own lives, that fit who they are and that doesn’t make them feel bad about themselves for not being able to “get it right”.

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

The most effective marketing strategy for me has been to simply ask my clients for referrals. When you do the kind of very personal work that I do, those personal connections are gold. Social proof is really key in my market.

Also, my blog has been a great marketing strategy for me. I produce weekly content that is truly actionable and takes less than 5 minutes to read. This allows me to provide real value to people on a regular basis, and stay top of mind by showing up in people’s inboxes each week.

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

Plant seeds. Lots of them. What I’ve learned is that you just have no idea where that next client will come from. You don’t know what seeds will grow. But if you plant a lot of seeds, your opportunities are greater than if you plant fewer. What do I mean by planting seeds? Talking to people about what you do, meeting new people, offering to help others, making mutually beneficial intros, etc. Aim to give more than you get.

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

The app that I recommend most frequently to my clients is ​TickTick​. It’s a simple, yet incredibly powerful, task management app. You can think of it as an external brain. The reason I love TickTick so much is that it’s super easy to use, which means there’s a very low barrier for entry. No one needs to read a manual to start using it. Also, if you want it to do more, it can. It’s got a habit tracker, it syncs with your calendar, it has a Pomodoro timer, etc. But the features aren’t in your face, so if you don’t need them, you can start simply. Also, the free version is quite robust and it syncs seamlessly between web and mobile. It just a really good task app.

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

My favorite business tool, hands down, is ​Calendly​. Calendly is a scheduling app that syncs directly with my calendar and it probably saves me 5 hours a week in terms of just the back and forth of scheduling meetings and appointments. I also love that I can set up different meeting types with different amounts of buffer, for different purposes.

Who is your business role model? Why?

I always have a hard time answering questions about role models. Because I’ve never sought to emulate anyone else, I have a hard time identifying with this question. So, I’ll say this: I admire strong women who’ve built businesses around something that matters to them, and who’ve done it without compromising on their own values.

How do you balance work and life?

2 words: strong boundaries. I work pretty normal hours, usually from about 8 or 9, to around 5 or 6, Monday through Friday. When I’m working, I’m 100% focused. I don’t get distracted, I don’t check Instagram and I don’t take personal calls. But when I’m not working, I’m not working. I don’t check email, or do any work, on nights or weekends. Nights and weekends are for family and me. I’m what you’d call a “hard segmenter” and this compartmentalization is what helps me maintain balance.

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

On the regular, I read and I run. I’m in 2 book clubs and I've been averaging about 1 book a week right now. Reading (often with a cocktail in hand, to be clear) allows me a little daily escape into a different world. I like fiction and non-fiction pretty equally. I also run almost every day; it’s my transition between work and home. I finish up work, go for a run, and then come back and make dinner.

When I REALLY need to relax, I love to travel. I have never, in 20 years of working, checking email during a vacation. So when I’m on vacation that’s a chance for me to truly decompress and not think about work at all for a couple of weeks at a time.

What do you have planned for the next six months?

In the next 6 months, I’m planning to launch my group coaching program, Take Control of Your Time; I only open it up twice a year. I’m also hard at work on a brand new online course for working parents about how to kill it at work and be present at home. I’m really excited about this product, which will be my third online course, because working parents are really struggling right now during COVID, with kids at home while trying to work from home. And it’s a self-paced course that people can do at home, in the time they’ve got.

How can our readers connect with you?

●  Website: ​https://www.alexishaselberger.com/

●  Youtube: ​https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh9iAkCALqr3FsKfYOqjb3Q

●  Insta: ​@do.more.stress.less

●  FB: ​@domorestressless

●  FB Group: ​https://www.facebook.com/groups/domorestressless/

"Disable your social media push notifications" with Liz Theresa

Liz Theresa, business mentor and founder of LizTheresa.com, has been helping entrepreneurs find clarity and uniquely market themselves with confidence for the past eight years through her strategic website design and clever copywriting services. She wants every entrepreneur to rise and be the star of their own business. She’s also the creator of Concept to Creation, her flagship branding and web design program and you can download a free copywriting training video from her at freecopyvideo.com.

Can you tell our readers about your background?

Sure! I’m a business mentor, web designer, and copywriter. I’ve proudly been helping small businesses and entrepreneurs find clear and unique ways to market themselves with confidence since 2011 at LizTheresa.com.

I started this business after I completed my Masters of Arts degree in English at Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. I graduated with my degree knowing I wanted to help entrepreneurs improve their online presence. To give you context, 2011 was two years after Twitter was invented. Online marketing was a hot new field - so I didn’t have a ton of competition. And then it hit me, my web design hobby (yes, hobby) was essential to businesses who want to improve their online presence. Because let’s face facts - your marketing doesn’t work if your website doesn’t work!

What inspired you to start your business?

Before I had the realization I could start my business, I was applying to jobs in the online marketing world. Most positions required 3 to 5 years experience - even though, like I said, Twitter was 2 years old. How on Earth could you have 3 to 5 years experience doing online marketing in 2011? Nearly impossible.

Anyway, I finally got ONE interview for a company in Massachusetts to write product descriptions for wigs. Yep. You guessed it. Like “Let loose and wear this sassy wig out for a fun night with the girls!” Believe it or not, I was over the moon excited about the job opportunity, especially since they invited me to interview for it. There I was, in a brand new outfit with a tricked-out, graphically designed resume. The art director looked at my resume (and me), sighed, and said, “You’re way too creative for this job. It will literally suck the soul from your body - and I can’t do that to you.”

I remember nodding respectfully and thinking, “I wonder if this is a compliment or not.”

Next thing I knew, I was back in my VW Beetle, calling my mom (my unofficial business) and telling her what happened.

 “Mom, I know I want to help people market themselves better. Why won’t anyone hire me for that?”

 And she said something so revolutionary - I never forgot it. “Liz, you don’t need permission to help people with their businesses. Just go do it.” And LizTheresa.com was born.

 Where is your business based?

Norwell, MA (a small town south of Boston, MA).

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

I started by creating a website - which is something I’d known how to do, but for some reason, didn’t see as a monetizable skill. Silly me! I ended up launching under my legal name (at the time) - LizDowney.com. I realized that there’s a lot to naming a business - and I felt hampered by my own name as far as how I saw myself, which is why it became LizTheresa.com. LizTheresa.com (to me) symbolized a clean slate and allowed me to feel free to show up as the best version of myself.

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

Success in business is 100% who you know. Meeting the right people at the right times can take you to some amazing places. In the beginning, I’d met a girl on Twitter who was doing social media marketing (very cutting-edge for 2011) - and she taught me so much in the early stages. She was my mentor - for sure - and ended up introducing me to my first few clients. Things exploded from there - and I’ve had different mentors and coaches since my beginnings, all of whom lift me higher.

 My podcast Liz on Biz, as well, has connected me to some incredible minds in the business world and I’m incredibly grateful for that.

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

Our biggest challenges can also be thought of as our biggest growing pains. In 2015, I remember going to bed late one night - to only get up 2 hours later because I had a client launching a program at midnight. As I lay in bed waiting for midnight, I thought to myself, “This is not life. This is not living. This is not the business I started.” It was then that I knew I needed help - and I hired my very first contractor to support me in times like that.

How do you stay focused?

I absolutely love time hacks - and I’ve blogged pretty extensively on how to make the most of your time. Especially for service-based businesses like mine, time is your #1 asset - above people and above money. Those two things are replaceable but TIME is the only thing you don’t get back.

Once you realize that about time, it will level up how seriously you take the hours you get in a day - and then you can start implementing some time management strategies. I always recommend people start with time auditing - because you need to critically examine how you’re spending a typical day in order to know what needs improvement.

Something quick you can do right now - disable your social media push notifications. Those things can eat up an hour if you’re not careful!

 How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

When you’re a service provider, it’s your best bet to differentiate yourself based on service rather than on price. In other words, competition should have very little to do with how much you charge - and more to do with how you position yourself, the quality of customer service you provide, and the quality of your product (outcomes). Service is definitely how I stand out. You know that - and my huge personality. People love the way I show up in my business so I try to bring that in as much as possible.

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

Word of mouth and networking. Leveraging and nurturing my professional relationships has been the most impactful part of growing my business.

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

 Don’t quit early and don’t expect results immediately. Work on your idea and do everything you can to make it work, and you’ll be OK!

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

 App: The Calm app. Meditating for 10 minutes a day has greatly improved my mental health which, of course, leads to a clearer head so I can stay focused on my business.

Book: Wuthering Heights - This was the first book I ever loved. I read it my sophomore year of high school and it really lit up my love of reading. I would have never majored in (and got my Master’s in) English had I not read this book.

Blog: Elephant Journal - I read this for spiritual and mindset tips and I’m proud to say it was the first place I’ve been published.

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

I use Freshbooks all. the. time. Freshbooks is amazingly underrated. It gets slotted in the same category as Quickbooks but does a TON by comparison to invoices and expenses. It has a pretty slick project budgeting and time tracking system built for teams.

Who is your business role model? Why?

I have a few role models but I would love to tell you about Farnoosh Torabi. Farnoosh is a personal finance expert and host of an amazing podcast called So Money with Farnoosh Torabi. I absolutely am so inspired by following her. Knowing her has taught me so much about business.

 What do you have planned for the next six months?

My biggest plan is actually maternity leave! I’ve done a lot of preparation to keep my business and team fully operational during leave time which will go from July to August. I take great pride in having a team that works well together and look forward to the unique challenge motherhood will bring to my business.

How can our readers connect with you?

You can find me over at LizTheresa.com, on Facebook in my group: Internet Fame (http://internetfa.me), on Instagram @LizTheresa, and on Twitter @LizTheresa.