Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lynn McLaughlin, Owner of Lynn McLaughlin Co., located in Kingsville, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are passionate about helping people make conscious and positive choices with a focus on mental health.
- Taking the Helm - we have welcomed over 130 guests who have spoken from their hearts. Our guests over the past year have had personal or professional experiences and speak from a proactive perspective about children's mental health. What do we need to learn and model as adults so that our children have a toolbox of strategies they can use for life? This world is more complex than every and our children can learn skills beginning in their early years. Imagine the synergy we can create together!
- As a best-selling and award-winning author, I have published several books, and my focus now is on a children's book series titled "The Power of Thought." It's time to be proactive and give children the tools and evidence-based strategies they need to recognize and manage their emotions and solve everyday problems in a positive way. My co-author (also my niece - Amber Raymond) is a practicing social worker. We make an exceptional team!
- I have spoken professionally for over 30 years in various roles. My second book, "Jackson," shares real-life experiences of a mother desperately trying to save her son from debilitating anxiety. Speaking about mental illness and our own mental health publicly is powerful. These conversations should be as natural as talking about cancer or diabetes. I'm on a quest to help make that happen through podcasts, summits, educational forums, etc.
Tell us about yourself
I surpassed my career goals and became a Superintendent of Education in a large board serving 35,000 students. Problem-solving to address systemic issues needs to happen to force change. Shortly after beginning the role, I was diagnosed with a brain tumour. A craniotomy, months of recovery, and a gradual return to work followed. I had to learn how to do things very differently, relying on technology in ways I had never dreamed of. I retired five years later after ensuring evidence-based reading intervention programs were in every elementary school.
Hence, Lynn McLaughlin Co. I met entrepreneurs and was invigorated to open a business that would help people in a unique way. It took two years of playing "squirrel" to land on my why, purpose, audience, and more. It's now crystal clear to me. Each time I meet a podcast guest and hear how they took a crisis as a learning experience blows my mind. It's my honour to give them a platform to share their story so others can reach out to them. When I am invited to speak about children's mental health and why we are publishing a book series, it fuels me. Too many children, teens, and adults are suffering from anxiety. This is our way of being proactive before they get too close to the cliff.
Do you have daily rituals for work / wellness / fitness / mindfulness?
I am so much more conscious of the "present" today than I have ever been. In the past, I would have been bothered by all of the things on my "to-do" list. As a mother of three, the list never ended. Those things often took me away from meaningful times with people I cherish. The dishes still call my name, as does the gardening, but they are now at the bottom of my priority list. Friends and family always come first, as do the memories we create together. We each have to find our own way to stay grounded, and for me, it is most definitely walking in nature, which I do every day (weather permitting). Music and deep breathing are my path to calmness. I also intentionally limit my time each day on social media, and to ensure I have an uninterrupted sleep; my phone is always on "do not disturb" for 8 hours nightly.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
When a guest spoke publicly for the first time about being an alcoholic on my podcast, I was honoured to have her trust and respect. She was able to help many people take the first step toward treatment as a result.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
I would say it's the competition. There are over 300 million podcasts worldwide, believe it or not. 3.5% more children's books were published in the last year. We need to find a way to be recognized and stand above others to attract our audience.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Get a mentor who has expertise in your niche to be sure you have the right branding. You need to attract your audience to your product or service. Defining your "why," "how," and "purpose" is critical before you start.
- A marketing plan is non-negotiable. Without one, you will flounder and jump on the latest trends, many of which are a waste of time and money.
- Collaborate as much as possible, even with your competitors. When you connect with and work with others, you will find opportunities emerge you would never imagine. It may be an invitation to speak at a summit, an affiliate link, a sponsorship, or an email campaign. Jump on those networking calls when you can and reach out to like-minded people and businesses.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://lynnmclaughlin.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lynnmclaughlin.co/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynnmcla/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lynnmcla
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynn-mclaughlin-med-bed-ba-2a8b5384/
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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