Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lauren Lefkowitz, CEO of Lauren Lefkowitz Coaching, located in Bethesda, MD, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I’m an executive leadership coach partnering with clients to escape the trap of being ‘fine’ and break the work, sleep, repeat cycle. I am a recovering workaholic, people pleaser, and perfectionist, a chronic illness survivor, and once, I broke both of my shoulders chasing a vacuum. I was living in the ‘fine’ trap for years, convincing myself that working all the time and never feeling well were just part of life.
I took control of my life, learned to set boundaries and make choices, and found my version of success and joy. Now, I coach individuals and teams who function the way I used to – to create their own versions of amazing.
Tell us about yourself
I had been coaching for years, informally as a side-gig and within the scope of my career as a human resources leader. After a freak accident where I broke both of my shoulders chasing a robot vacuum (true story!) and snapped right back into my workaholic tendencies, I realized 80-hour work weeks were not in my long-term life plan.
I began networking with other coaches, hired a coach of my own, and did the work - both the hard and the rewarding work - to decide who and how I wanted to be when I grew up. And as I grew my own balance, self-care, and dream-following 'muscles', I realized I wanted to coach full time.
I am so motivated by my clients, many of whom have been where I was - long hours, feeling like an imposter, despite promotions, raises, recognition, and leadership titles, and just exhausted from being 'on' all the time and feeling like the wheels never stopped spinning.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment was actually doing it - deciding to make a real go of being a full-time business owner, giving up my corporate life, and believing in myself enough to invest in my future this way. Before I made the decision, any changes I might make always felt like they were five years in my future... but those five-year marks would keep passing if I didn't finally decide to take action.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The hardest thing so far has been continuing to push myself out of my comfort zone. I have to keep reminding myself that I'm building something BIG, and in order to do that, I have to be willing to be a beginner - and I sure LOVE being an expert! Allowing myself to look through a beginner's eyes has really opened me up to learning so many new things!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Be absolutely sure this is what you want (you don't have to be sure you can do it - no one is - just that you want it).
- Do not do it alone - hire coaches, mentors, and experts as you can afford to (and factor those expenses into the cost of doing business). You are not meant to figure everything out on your own.
- Have FUN with it! Seriously, if you're doing this, it must be because you LOVE the thing you're doing. It should be so much fun!
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
We spend so much of our lives saying we're 'fine' when we're not. We spend a lot of time self-soothing when we're not excited about our careers, lives, or futures.
We deserve better. You deserve better.
You didn't come here for 'fine.' You came here for AMAZING. Go create amazing.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.laurenlefkowitzcoach.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurenlefkowitzcoaching
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauren.coach.fineisatrap/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenlefkowitz/
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.
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