Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lorine Dolby Hoffer, Founder of Lorine Hoffer Coaching, located in Arlington, VA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
As a coach & educator, I help companies, groups, and individuals more deeply connect to themselves and others through intentional communication while getting clear on & claiming the changes you want to fully support learning, growth, and relationships. I offer support through courses, workshops, consultations, and focused individual & group coaching.
In addition, I've been a practicing professional massage therapist for over 25 years - I can incorporate massage therapy into my one-on-one coaching services to support clients in understanding the language of their body in all ways so they can break the habitual tension patterns that can bring them physical and emotional discomfort.
Tell us about yourself
I first ended up opening my business because the opportunity fell into my lap, and my intuition told me, "Do it." And I have continued to connect with both my intuitive and logical/pragmatic sides since.
At the heart of it, I love helping people learn the language of their full body so they can more deeply connect to themselves and others. I'm a huge believer that connection is an innate human need (not want, but need), and communication is a foundational piece of fostering and nurturing connection.
Many people are not raised in an environment that truly invites and nurtures communication and connection. As humans, we spend a lot of time "standing in our own way," physically and mentally. I love helping people open up to receiving possibilities in a way that feels really simple and aligned with them while honoring their innate need for connection with themselves and others.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Being a successful solopreneur for almost 25 years on my terms! During that time, I've built/rebuilt my business three times, lived in two states, survived a fire in my office and having to move without notice..., and I've done all of these things while building my business the way I've wanted it to look, not the way anyone else told me it should look.
My business is an authentic extension of me, and I believe that is a huge accomplishment.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
As a solopreneur, I feel one of the hardest things for me is finding a connected and aligned community. My work has predominantly been one-on-one with coaching and massage therapy. I get to connect with my clients deeply. However, I struggle to find a business community that I truly connect with in the same way.
I guess the short answer-- it can feel quite lonely. I also feel like a lot of business owners get lost in their business and neglect their individual selves and needs. Long-term wellness of all types (physical, emotional, relational) grows from nurturing the whole self and not only our business.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Get really clear on what boundaries are generally and specifically in what yours are for yourself both in and around your business. If you aren't sure, ask for support.
- Explore your relationship with money. That relationship will impact every part of your business in multiple ways. Explore the messages you've taken in from everyone around you (family, media, friends, society) and really get clear on what messages YOU want about money and what relationship YOU want to have with it.
- Embrace change and flexibility. Be present at the moment and be willing to switch things up. The world is constantly changing. We need to be ready to as well.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I'm going to share my bio because I feel like it hits on a lot of my true self. Authenticity is one of my core values, and I definitely like to be true to myself, even when it doesn't "fit in" with the expectations around me.
Connection, communication, and consent. Those are my passion and the foundation of my work through coaching, education, and massage.
I love helping others learn & understand the unique language of their body so they can approach life’s plot twists from a place of grounded strength, compassion, and understanding. I’ll support you in claiming the change you want while building an authentic connection with yourself, your family & friends, your coworkers, and your customers.
I love to laugh, curse, explore nature, hang out with my insightful daughter, “get to the good stuff” in connected conversations, and notice beauty every day. Described as having both fierce compassion and fierce independence, I’ll hold space for you and hold you accountable for the big changes you’re ready to claim.
I am a Certified BodyMind Coach and Licensed Massage Therapist with a degree in psychology & special education. An entrepreneur for 25 years, I opened & rebuilt businesses for myself and others in multiple states.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.lorinehoffer.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lifeconnected
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorinehoffer/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorinehoffer/
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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