Coaches
Coaches – I’ve got a few. Here’s one thing I learned early on as a serial entrepreneur -it’s not a solo gig even if you are a solopreneur. Well, it can be, but you won’t be successful. The secret: You can’t and shouldn’t do EVERYTHING by yourself…outsource and collaborate. You’ll also want to consider hiring folks that are far smarter than you are – you need a cabinet (of coaches).
In order to feed my entrepreneurial addiction, I’ve hired coaches. Here’s my lineup currently: Business coach, Life coach, HR Coach, wellness coach, and fitness coach. I’ve also hired and collaborated with people that are smarter than I am – but that’s another blog.
My A-Team has been critical to my success as a business owner. I don’t make any major decisions unless I run it by at least one of them.
What my Coaches bring to the table
Business Coach – AKA Robin Bienemann of Crimson Rook – the woman in pink, aka Bubbles to her granddaughters. This woman runs circles around men in their world. She ran manufacturing firms in CA, is an MIT grad and she introduced me to the world of Bourbon (again another blog – but we do a lot of great things with some shared brown liquor). I hired Robin to help me scale Red Barn, to revitalize Agency University which is now called Incrementum and we started a non-profit together – CEBA – Community Enterprise Business Accelerator. Without Robin I wouldn’t have the team I have, and tripled my revenue year over year. Smartest business decision I ever made.
Life Coach – AKA Alicia Davis of InnerOvation – aka the women who reels me in and makes me focus. I hired Alicia thanks to her partner THE Kate Houlihan – insurance guru and wine drinking buddy. I was enjoying an afternoon in Robin’s outside living room with the “girls”. I mentioned to Kate that I just can’t focus and feel like I’m “missing something” in the whole Life Adventure thing. She said I needed an Alicia Intervention. I said “sign me up” – the rest is kind of history. Alicia helped me figure out what was really important in my life and how to get rid of the garbage to find the gems. I’ve learned a lot about myself and because of it, I’m a better business owner and a better boss – oh, and a better person.
HR/Hiring/Team Coach – AKA Marcia LaReau of Forward Motion aka Marcia, Marcia, Marcia or M3.Marcia was referred to me by Robin when I wanted to make my first hire at Red Barn. I need someone to run the show – desperately! Details and organization are not my forte. Marcia spent a fair amount of time learning about Red Barn and my craziness. She wrote job descriptions, interviewed people and found me “My Jenn” – the person who really runs Red Barn Consulting. Jenn was the best thing that ever happened at Red Barn and thank God for Marcia!
Wellness Coach – AKA Ellen Palmer of Ellen Palmer Wellness – aka the woman who helped me figure out my menopausal craziness. Ellen was referred to me by Alicia. It all started when I was telling Alicia how I couldn’t focus and how 30 pounds had appeared in 18 months – I was miserable to say the least. She thought my diet might be part of the issue – so onto Ellen I went. I’m now gluten free and refined sugar free and mostly dairy free. Ellen would love if I was wine free and coffee free – but there are limits – sorry Ellen. Ellen taught me how food really has a profound effect on our bodies. I’m not perfect but I eat fairly clean and abide by the 80/20 rule. Sure, the bad stuff sneaks in every once in awhile – I’m from CT and there’s pizza here – btw GF Pizza just doesn’t cut it. So, I indulge knowing I’ll have a foggy brain for a few days.
Fitness Coach – AKA Sharon Cataldo – aka the women who I share more F bombs with than anyone else. She tortures me at the gym and I love her. I literally met Sharon when I was a baby – my parents rented from hers in a 2 family in Torrington, CT when I was little. I lost track of Sharon until my late teens when I walked into a hair salon and there was Sharon! Lost track of her again after I moved away from CT – only to find her at my gym, Energy Fitness. We were meant to be connected. She is gorgeous, fit, has an unbelievable zest for life – and she makes me work harder than I ever thought I could. Funny thing is, when I work out with Sharon it’s fun –sure I swear a lot, but I love every minute. Thanks Sharon.
That’s my A-Team. Who’s yours? Trust me on this one – if you want to be successful – find some rockstar coaches and find the rockstar team (another blog on how to do that one).
Go get em!
CD