Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in retirement coaching, but not sure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jacquie Doucette of Beyond Retirement, Canada.
What's your business and who are your customers?
I help people figure out the next stage of their journey. Retirement isn't an endpoint, but rather a waystation on the road to your future.
Figuring out what comes next is often daunting, especially if you've been following the career path for awhile. What to do after that career is not always an easy choice.
Tell us about yourself
I'm one of the folks I serve - I had the same career for 40 years.
Along the way, I realized that I didn't want to be "just a retired person" when I left my job. I wanted something NEW, something that would make me want to get up. Sitting on the sofa watching Netflix for the next 30 years just doesn't cut it.
So I started searching for "how to prepare for retirement" and I discovered that there is lots of information on preparing financially for retirement, but how to actually LIVE isn't covered. I knew that was where I could be useful... people are living longer now than ever before, so there is a need to show them how to do that in the best possible fashion.
Life is so much more than money.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Helping someone figure out what direction they want to go is my biggest joy; watching them take action in that direction and find happiness at it is my biggest accomplishment.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Knowing when to say "no" to someone - we can't solve all the problems or fix all the mistakes. Sometimes we have to tell the client that their idea simply isn't feasible, or that their assumptions probably aren't going to work out the way they think. Watching someone's hopes deflate is hard.
What are the top 3 tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
1. Do your research first - figure out exactly what service you're going to provide or what hole you're planning to fill with your business. This can take some time and effort.
2. Don't give up when you hit your first (or second or third) hurdle. There's always a window opening when a door is closing. Be patient with the process and progress will happen.
3. Be willing to collaborate with others. Nobody can do everything alone; we all have areas of abundance and of deficiency in our character. The sooner you accept this and begin to draw on it, the better off you'll be.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Nobody likes to think of retirement, and many people feel that it's too far off to worry about (or that they'll never get to retire.)
A better approach, in my opinion, is to remember that you don't retire FROM something, but rather TO something...if you're always moving forward, if you're always growing and learning, you'll always succeed.
Where can people find you and your business?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/beyondretirement/
https://www.beyondretirement.ca
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share then email community@subkit.com, we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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