Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Angela Heeley, Co-Owner of RainTree Business Coaching, located in Lanseria, Gauteng, South Africa.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

RainTree Business Coaching is an online coaching business that provides group and individual coaching to support business and leadership health and growth. RainTree works with business owners and managers that are responsible for leading their organizations or teams through these turbulent and challenging times. RainTree provides the more conventional Executive Coaching support. It also offers middle management group coaching to empower future executives to step into their strengths so they can achieve their productivity and performance goals.

Tell us about yourself

My journey required me to step into my personal power, take ownership and responsibility and realize a deep passion for supporting other leaders to achieve the same freedom. After many years of working in corporate South Africa in the education and financial sectors, I decided to take a risk and start my own business. RainTree Business Coaching was born after 8 years of specialist HR consulting and training. I qualified as a coach through Inner Life Skills, an internationally accredited organization. I have grown as a coach, working with clients at all levels of organizations and supporting them to improve their leadership to achieve improved productivity and performance. RainTree was started in 2020 and enabled me to reach a broader community of leaders at middle and senior levels, helping businesses to be healthier, more profitable, and more impactful. This work is my purpose.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

RainTree Business Coaching, led by myself and my business partner, Leoni Coetzee, has developed three incredibly powerful group coaching programs that have made it possible for middle and junior managers to access the power of coaching. Traditionally, coaching is an executive and senior management development methodology. RainTree realized that, for business to strengthen rapidly, junior and middle managers must be supported to be thoughtful, solution-oriented, and empowered. The group coaching has been run for several businesses, and the impact on staff retention, courageous leadership, results-driven delivery, and improved management communication has been significant. More importantly, the learning has led to sustainable changes in our clients' businesses. The value added to the businesses and the managers we have worked with has been powerful and inspiring to witness. Definitely my biggest accomplishment.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

When relationships go through rocky times and don't work out, they shake the entire business. Making decisions that impact the people involved and the business is difficult and requires deep courage. RainTree was initially a business owned by three dynamic and powerful women. Unfortunately, early on, we realized that there was a mismatch and one of the team chose to leave RainTree. The emotional, financial, and physical impact of the loss rocked us all personally and at a business level. I still have immense respect for the partner who left us. I am proud of how Leoni and I led RainTree to recover and grow after the split. It was the hardest thing I have had to lead the business and team through. People and relationships are complex and important - no wonder it was so hard.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Be clear on the "Why" you are starting your business and make sure it is something that deeply motivates and inspires you. This keeps you committed even when the times are tough.
  2. Running a business takes loads of effort and commitment, but it doesn't need to be hard and difficult. Be careful of making it hard and difficult. We live what we speak and believe, and if we tell ourselves it is hard and difficult, it will be.
  3. When you are faced with what feels like an insurmountable problem, take a break, and clear your mind. My most powerful answers to problems came to me when I gave myself the space to see new perspectives and receive new insights. So often, we need to give ourselves permission to think and be with a problem (and not do). This time is invaluable and improves the power of what and how we do when we do it.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://raintreecoaching.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-heeley-9a20653a/

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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