Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in career development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Rachel Woodman, a career success coach based in Minneapolis-Saint Paul supporting clients virtually nationwide.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I began a professional career mentorship business after I recognized that leadership skill development and workplace navigation were core reasons mid-level career professionals were not getting the promotions they deserved.
I serve mid-career management professionals (with or without direct reports) seeking to level up their careers and refine their authentic leadership styles. Typically my clients are ambitious, introverted women who are the first in their families to work in a "white collar" or "Corporate America" environment.
Tell us about yourself
I started this business to be the coach and mentor that I needed when I first began my career. Although I am proud to have most recently served in a senior management capacity for a Fortune 500 Company, am currently undergoing an Executive MBA program and am the ecstatic owner of this business... I didn't always have career success.
One night answering phone calls for a work emergency at 1 a.m., I wondered where I had gone wrong and how my dreams of being an executive were instead met with stress, burnout, and a perpetual feeling of being undervalued. I believed that I had something most people I knew didn't. I had incredible willpower, I was willing to do hard things, I was committed to excellent work, and I genuinely cared about people and the success of the companies I worked for. But I quickly realized that hard work alone wasn't the answer.
Without mentors, a support network, or adequate leadership training, I turned to the resources I had - books, podcasts, friends, and years of trial & error - before I finally realized the career-killing mistakes I was making. I was so excited to share all I learned and began mentoring employees, colleagues, friends, family, and women in the community as they asked how they can navigate the workplace and meet their goals too.
Today, my career success business is designed to break down the obstacles holding mid-level career professionals back so that they can get what they deserve in months, not years.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I love getting to see the difference my clients make in their careers as a result of our partnering together. I've had folks get big raises and promotions while others have decided to leave their place of employment for one that is more in alignment with their goals and values. Seeing their moments of clarity and budding excitement is always my favorite part of doing this work.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
I love being creative, getting into "productivity mode," trying new things, and learning new things. However, doing all of this - primarily alone in my home office - was a bit of a culture shock.
Some ways I've worked to combat this "too-solo" feeling is that I've built a network of consultants and coaches to bounce ideas off of, I've hired a project manager to work with me on prioritization and timelines, and I've worked to build a consistent schedule that allows me to feel like I'm "clocking in and clocking out" each day.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Assuming you have a clear business idea, my top 3 tips would be:
- Take time to determine what success looks like for you, get realistic about your goals, and investigate how you'd like your day-to-day to look and feel. Are there any non-negotiables for you? Write them down. There are many ways to go to market, but the energy you bring may not be a fit for your original concept — how can it evolve so that you meet your goals and values while building your business?
- Find a few folks in the same or similar space to chat with about the process of launching, what a day in life is like, and what mistakes they would avoid if they could go back. This will allow you to better understand what to expect.
- Investigate what technology is needed to run your business and consider investing in all-in-one platforms. I work with a lot of web software, and although they are all compatible with each other, it is a lot of work to save the dollars that seemed to matter when I began. Starting out with a more effective "end state" solution will save you a lot of time, energy, and stress.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://thatcareerchic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thatcareerchic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatcareerchic/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thatcareerchic
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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