Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in coaching but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Gary Smith, CEO of Fortitude Financial Coaching, LLC., located in Azle, TX, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
If you ever had a good coach, you know that they help you grow as both a player and a person, pushing you to become a better version of yourself on and off the field. What we don't realize sometimes is that we need coaches in every area of our lives...including money. If you want to be better with your money, you need someone who can coach you on your strategy and habits. A financial coach is someone who meets with you consistently to help you identify and achieve your money goals. A good financial coach helps you create and execute a financial game plan for your life.
A great financial coach inspires and encourages you along the way. A financial coach is to your money what a personal trainer is to your fitness. If you want to lose weight or get into shape, you know that you can do it alone, but your chance of success will skyrocket if you work with a trainer. They give you a meal plan, customized workouts, and consistent encouragement and motivation. In the same way, you'll get into "money shape" much faster by working with a coach who will give you a customized plan and support along your journey. Practically speaking, a financial coach will help you set and achieve financial goals and develop good money habits. No one wins a championship by accident. Even world-class athletes have a coach because we never outgrow our need for guidance.
Tell us about yourself
Like many Americans, my family struggled with debt. We weren't poor, but we were broke. Before we decided enough was enough, and something had to change, we had over $100,000 in debt, not including our mortgage. Our finances were a mess. I remember the level of anxiety and stress over finances at times was so high it seemed hard to breathe. We thought we just needed to earn more money, but that didn't work. The more money we earned, the more we spent, and the deeper in debt we found ourselves. Debt was an ever-present frustration and burden in our lives.
My wife and I avoided the subject of finances unless it was absolutely necessary. We didn't understand the importance of working together to solve the financial crisis. All that changed in 2014 when my wife was diagnosed with stage IV cancer. Our lives changed forever! We learned to live life intentionally. There was no time for stress, frustrations, or disagreements. We lived life better; we prayed fervently, we loved better, we communicated better, we worked together and got control of our finances. Within 30 months, we paid off $100,000 in debt. Sadly, in 2016 my wife passed away. I learned valuable lessons from our 26 years of marriage and beyond.
I incorporated everything I learned over the years into my coaching practice. Managing finances is 20 percent knowledge and 80 percent BEHAVIOR. If you can control the person in the mirror, if you can learn to work together with your spouse, you can do ANYTHING. I help clients without judgment. I've been there. I know what the heavy burden of debt feels like. You should never be ashamed of your financial struggles when working with a coach.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is witnessing the impact financial coaching has on my clients. Financial coaching is life-changing.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things that come with being a business owner is being "on" 24/7. My mind is always going. I have to remind myself (with lots of credit and help from my wife) to unplug and unwind. I make personal time each day to care for my physical and mental health.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
The top three tips for starting a business are, Provide Great Service, Have Patients, and Prepare to Make Sacrifices.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Hiring a financial coach is an investment in your present and your future. You should work with a coach if you need help tackling budgeting, getting out of debt, talking to your spouse about money, planning or saving for big goals – (a wedding, a car, a down payment for a home, or strategizing when and how to save for retirement). There's no better way to establish good money habits than by having a personal money mentor who understands your situation. It's the best way to help you develop the right money habits and put an end to your money problems. Coaching is meant to put money back in your pocket, not take it out. The costs associated with hiring a coach are returned to the client many times over, not just in returns on investments but also in relationships, health, and freedom.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://bit.ly/39EZJQo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FortitudeFinancialCoaching
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-smith-68278839/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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