Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sarah Gibbons, Founder of Sarah Gibbons & Co., located in Santa Monica, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am an Executive Leadership & Success Coach for leading Entrepreneurs and Creative Executives in the Tech, Creative Arts, and Foundation space. I’m based in Los Angeles and work with clients virtually around the globe, for both established public companies and growing and innovative brands like Google, Chiat, The Weitz Foundation, The LA Clippers, and more.
My approach is for individuals and teams who want to lead and live from a place of presence, purpose, and power to grow exponentially professionally without sacrificing their personal lives. I care deeply about honest and accountable coaching, and my entire coaching ethos is centered around re-defining that leadership which I believe should be considered in all areas of your life. Leadership is commonly misplaced as just a corporate art, job title, or for a person of stature. I encourage my clients to consider how they act with leadership throughout their whole day and in all aspects of their life. Knowing that when you harness your power, when you can operate from your zone of genius and be intentional with how you lead, you succeed - whatever that means to you.
Tell us about yourself
I’m obsessed with feeling alive and connected in all areas of my life - as a 40+-year-old woman, wife, mother, and Executive leadership coach. My sense of aliveness comes from making an impact that propels humanity forward. I can’t imagine myself or anyone for that matter getting to the end of their life and feeling like they didn’t fully express and share their most authentic version of themselves with the world. This became even more true for me when I entered motherhood and found myself working in the digital media world for giants like Amazon and MySpace (yes, the original social networking company) with a flex schedule, making great money, and working with smart people. The only problem was that the work didn’t light my soul on fire, and as a result, I found myself in cruise control and didn’t want that to be how people remembered me. This inspired me to go back to school and get my masters in Spiritual Psychology (that’s a whole other story), and I wholeheartedly believe that how we show up in the world, our leadership, is what ultimately people remember us by. For the past ten years, I’ve made it my mission to steer driven leaders and thought-leading organizations head-on into the space of experiencing their truth and expressing it authentically in order to create unique, dynamic, and fulfilling living legacies both professionally and personally.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I’ve successfully grown a business that has not only financially afforded me the opportunity to live in a house I love, in the city of Los Angeles, through doing something that absolutely lights my soul on fire. My clients blow my mind and inspire me daily. All the while giving me space to be on the front lines with my three boys and pursue other passions of mine - like travel, reading, being outdoors, and watching movies with my husband.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Oh my goodness, there are so many. One of the hardest things has been to stay on my own yoga mat as I run my business so that I ensure it stays a reflection of my values and not what I think I “should be doing.” I do share about my work on social media and follow what my clients are up to, but I really make an effort to limit my engagement on all social platforms. I’ve discovered that in order for me to feel grounded, connected, and creative, I have to really pay attention to how I’m feeling and, at times, really limit my intake of others’ work in my industry. Compare leads to despair, and nothing good comes out of me comparing my work to others.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Get clear on your WHY you want to start your business and be able to articulate it in as few sentences as possible. When fear, doubt, and everything in-between creep in, it will become even more important to connect to your WHY as it will act like a magnet and pull you out of the muck and inspire you to take action.
- Invest in yourself - Being an entrepreneur is exhilarating and, at the same time, can bring up all of your stuff. Invest in yourself, so you feel supported - a coach who’s willing to say the thing to you that nobody will, a community that you can share wins and messes with, and a routine that will keep you mentally, physically, and emotionally fit.
- Get in conversation and be of service- It’s so tempting to hide behind perfecting the product or the service, getting the business cards, the website, etc., when ultimately, just get out there and be of service. From there, you will garner feedback and can incorporate, refine and build as you go.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://sarahgibbons.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahgibbons.co/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahgibbonsco/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlyonsgibbons/
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.
Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.