This week I want to share a story.
It’s a success story about one of my clients, and how she started and grew her business. And it really shows how having the right kind of support and guidance can make all the difference.
When I first met Allison, she was trying to find employment as an instructional designer. She had signed up for one of my career courses, but as I got to know her better, it became clear that what she really wanted was to teach her own online courses. However, she knew that in order to do that, she would need guidance and support. So, what did she do? She joined my self-employment support group, the Free Agent Collective.
(I’ve mentioned this group before, in previous newsletters. It’s a community of self-employed individuals, at various stages of business growth, who share their own individual knowledge and expertise to help fellow members start or grow their own businesses.)
Joining the Collective gave Allison two advantages.
- She had access to a group of fellow small business owners who helped her learn everything she needed to launch her own business.
- She had a sounding board to help her work through the various trials and tribulations that come with being self-employed.
She has told me that those advantages were crucial in helping her launch her first course last year. And now? Well, for her there’s no looking back! She is now successfully self-employed, bringing in regular earnings doing what she loves—helping people through teaching.
And here’s what she has to say about her experience.
“There were so many things I needed to learn before I could launch my business. And to be honest, it was a bit overwhelming. I kept thinking “How am I going to learn all these things?” But the answer to that was actually pretty simple—just keep showing up for the weekly Free Agent Collective meetings! There is so much information sharing, education, mentoring, and teaching that goes on in those meetings. And when I was planning my first course launch, 2 of my fellow members agreed to work with me to be my accountability partners for several weeks. What great support!“
Thanks Allison! We’re glad we were able to help.
But it wasn’t all sunshine and roses. There were plenty of times along the way when Allison faced challenges and decisions. There were times when she felt frustrated, or when she wasn’t sure what to do. But she knew that, as a member of the Free Agent Collective, she could bring those problems and topics to our weekly meetings and ask the community for guidance. And that’s exactly what she did. And we, of course, were glad to help! We helped her analyze her challenges, brainstormed solutions, offered advice, and cheered her on.
“There were times when I wasn’t sure I would be able to create my business. Sometimes there just seemed to be too much to learn, or too many obstacles (or maybe too much doubt on my part!). But I stuck with it, thanks to the help and support of the Collective. I can’t express how much it helped me. If I had never joined, I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
So that’s Allison’s story. I’m sharing it because maybe you’re trying to start a business of your own. Or maybe you already have a business but are struggling to grow it to the next level. In either case, I hope Allison’s story will inspire you. I hope it will show you that you CAN make it happen, that with perseverance, determination, and guidance, you can grow your own business and keep it moving forward.
But there’s one other important element involved here: help. No matter what you are trying to achieve in your business, you will need help at some point. Whether it’s assistance with a task, coaching from a mentor, or someone to bounce ideas off of, seeking out assistance from knowledgeable peers is a wise business move. Because we don’t know it all, and our businesses can’t grow unless we keep growing too.
