Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ipek Williamson, Founder, and CEO of Ipek Williamson Coaching, located in Sarnia, ON, Canada

What's your business, and who are your customers?

My purpose or passion in life is to be a guide for others. Like a tour guide if you think of it as a metaphor. I like to take people on a journey to their authentic, vulnerable, raw, and honest selves. I am a Listener. I listen with all my senses, heart, and soul. I create and hold a safe space where my clients feel heard 100% without fearing being judged. I call it the "no-judgment zone." I see so much suffering and sadness in the world, and if I can help ease at least a few people's pain in my lifetime, that's a good enough "why" for me. I especially love working with people who go through major changes like a career change, divorce, moving from one country to another, or retirement. I also help the ones who would like to make those changes in their lives but need a gentle nudge or guidance to take the first step toward change. Where they see obstacles, I see possibilities. Where they see challenges, I see opportunities. So, together with my client, as a fierce team, we start joyfully and effortlessly creating what they thought was impossible or hard.

My job as their Insight Coach is to raise the awareness of my clients around their hidden powers. And I use multiple tools to do that depending on my client's specific circumstances. Some tools I like to introduce to them during our work together are Positive Intelligence, Ho'oponopono, Ikigai, Mind Mastery, and other meditation and mindfulness techniques. And together, we create a miraculous journey toward a life they never thought possible.

Tell us about yourself

My career in the corporate world started as an Executive Assistant. I worked for more than 20 years as one, with the top executives of multiple international companies. One day, a few years ago, I was at my son's convocation ceremony, and the guest of honor who gave a speech was talking about his work and how it made a difference for thousands of people. I could see the light in his eyes, how moved and happy he was. At that moment, I realized that I needed to do more and touch more people's lives.

And the second chapter of my story leading to who I am today started that November day as if something shifted in me there and then. I began to change and see life from a different perspective. I wanted to do something more fulfilling. After leaving the corporate world, I realized that coaching and teaching meditation was my life purpose. My ultimate passion is to contribute in my humble way to making the world a better place and see the number of happier, healthier, joyful people grow through everything I do. The joy, hope, fulfillment, and excitement that I see in the eyes of my clients every day motivates me to show up, do and be better each day.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I can think of quite a few accomplishments from the years 2021 and 2022 that I am proud of. As an Insight Coach, I contributed to making the lives of hundreds of clients happier, healthier, prosperous, and abundant. I helped young adults shape their career decisions, coaches create solid practices, businesswomen and men get more purposeful and confident in leading others, and artists and writers create their work fiercely and share it with the world proudly. More importantly, I introduced countless people to their beautiful selves. I helped them start to understand, forgive, love, and appreciate themselves. As a Meditation Teacher, I am proud and ecstatic to have created over a hundred meditation tracks shared on multiple platforms, played over 100 thousand times, and enjoyed by thousands of people worldwide. As an Author, I wrote a children's book titled "Little Fawna is Loved, Safe, and Never Alone..." also an ebook and audiobook titled "Live Your Life in a Meditative State - Easy and Fun Ways of Meditation & Mindfulness for Everyone." As a Speaker, I joined over 20 in-person and virtual events in 2022 and additionally featured in magazines, interviews, podcasts, and talk shows. Even thinking about all of those happy events gives me so much joy.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

I do not see anything that I consider as hard that comes with being a business owner. I see challenges that I am more than capable of handling. At this time, I can think of a few, such as; Dealing with uncertainty. Though, I also love that part of my work, as every day is full of potential, possibilities, gifts, and opportunities. So, I choose to look at the plus side of having unknowns in my life. Saying no. I love helping people, and it is hard for me to pass the possibility of making someone feel better and happier. Delegating the part of my work that is taking time out of my life-altering coaching and meditation sessions. And, of course, creating a constant, significant, and respectful income through my practice. I prefer to see challenges as puzzles or games. And when they show up in my life, I get excited about the opportunities they present for me to learn and commit to solving and implementing them in my business and life. I accept and love them for helping me grow.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

The questions that anyone willing to start a business would ideally explore would be:

  • Is the business I plan to start about what I love to do, create, and proudly advocate?
  • Am I good at performing or providing what I offer through my business or practice?
  • Does the world need what I bring to the market? Am I creating a positive impact in the world through my work?
  • Will the business bring me joy, exciting connections, collaborations, and, more importantly, a decent income?

I believe that knowing your WHY is key in starting anything, let alone a business. If you can answer all these questions thoroughly and meaningfully, if you also commit and show up every day consistently, your business will not survive but thrive.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://ipekwilliamsoncoaching.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/williamson.ipek
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insightcoachipek/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ipekw7
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ipekwilliamson/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.