Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in coaching, but not sure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ranchelle Van Bryce, the founder of Sharp Women, an entrepreneurial success coach in Canada.
Tell us all about your business...
At Sharp Women our mission is to help 1 million women let go of competition and comparison, to live their best lives so they can create more influence, impact and income. We host events in Alberta and we have an online Magazine that is about carrying out our mission.
What's your background and motivation to grow as a business owner?
What I found is that most entrepreneurial women who are successful believe that they aren’t enough. They are frustrated with how hard they are having to work and nothing they are doing is helping them create more wealth. What they really want is to have the time and money freedom that they originally wanted when they said yes to a business.
They think that they have to work harder (and they can’t), that they need a new strategy or tool. They also believe that they don’t know enough, that they need to do more, learn more, and work harder.So they end up Investing time and money into the thing that doesn't work. But the real problem is they need to shift how they are approaching their problems and challenges and to understand that a new strategy based on how they currently think will bring more of what they don’t want.
And that was my story, I had a very successful 7 figure business by working as hard as I could. I even had ‘working’ vacations. I made what I thought were the appropriate sacrifices to owning a successful business. One day, after a series of events and a lot of heartache I realized that no matter how much $$ I had earned, no matter how hard I worked, I still felt like I wasn’t enough. Although I had success on the outside, it came at a great cost; my health and my relationships. I felt alone, I was lonely. Everything was suffering, including, at that time, my bank account. In fact, I bought into every GURU using their secret marketing messages that I wasn’t’ enough until I bought this THING-- you know, their thing!
It always felt like I didn’t know enough, wasn’t smart enough, pretty enough, insert __ enough. I bought every single new widget out there to build my business and nothing helped long term. Then a miracle happened. One day, after being so completely open about my struggles with someone I respected but did not know well - she said something that changed my life. She said ‘me too’. I couldn’t believe it, here was this ‘successful’ woman sitting across from me who felt the same way! I knew then that it was time to show up differently and that is why I do what I do.
As an entrepreneur, what does success ultimately mean to you?
Being in business since 2000. I (like many others) have had different businesses and have had to pivot many times. I think anyone who is in business has accomplished something. I have built multiple businesses at once, I have raised a family during this time and have survived through the crash of Oil and Gas crisis and a pandemic. Things are amazing!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being an entrepreneur?
The loneliness. It can feel really lonely when you are building your business. Sometimes you mistakenly think that you are the only one feeling the way you are feeling.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run or grow a small business today?
Be passionate about it (it isn't always glamorous), find yourself a coach (or a mentor), be committed but not rigid. Things have a way of working out and may not be what you envisioned.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I always have much to share; depending on what people need. :)
Where can people find you online?
https://sharpwomen.ca/
https://ranchellevanbryce.com/
https://www.instagram.com/ranchelle/?hl=en
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as an entrepreneur or business coach 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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