Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in coaching but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kari Ginsburg, Founder of Uproar Coaching, LLC., located in Alexandria, VA, USA.

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

Uproar Coaching is a coaching consultancy that supports women and femme leaders to spread out, get loud, and be boss bitches. Specifically, I support women and femme business professionals who are looking to take their careers to the next level, launch or grow their business, and maximize their satisfaction and joy.

Clients of Uproar Coaching are ambitious, bold, and willing to take thoughtful risks, and they'll subscribe to services that demonstrate value and progress towards their goals. They may not fit into traditional molds or models of leadership, but that's what makes them special-- and that's what we work together to celebrate and amplify.

They work hard and play hard. In their free time, they can be found at a whiskey bar, a craft brewery, a tattoo parlor, an independent bookstore, or a dog park... their couch is a shared workspace. They value excellence, creativity, resilience, and play. They're gonna get shit done with polish and panache. They are mermaids and unicorns and banshees and forest witches. They're nothing short of badass.

Tell us about yourself

There have been times in my career– when I was a new contributor and when I was a young executive– when I forced myself to behave in a way that was inauthentic. I tried to become someone I wasn't because I thought that would help me be successful. I allowed my voice to be made smaller and my presence a little less flashy. Women who I reached out to for support or who offered to mentor me often had an agenda.

I didn't know how to speak up for myself or who to reach out to for nontraditional mentorship, coaching, and guidance. I was afraid that by asking, I would be admitting that I was an imposter, unqualified, or undeserving of my achievements. And honestly, I thought someone might notice my need as a weakness.

It took me a very long time to crawl out of the hole I shoved myself into and to own that I'm less conventional than what's "normal." And that's ok. In fact, it's more than ok. When I finally breathed my authentic self into my work and my interactions, my ability to get things done exploded. I sometimes think back on those years I spent small and quiet as wasted time. It wasn't, but I can't help but wonder what could have been. I don't want anyone else to feel that way. It's time to amplify your truest, most colorful self. It's time to be the luminary glitter bomb you know yourself to be.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I launched Uproar in June 2020, when we had no idea how long the COVID pandemic would last. Building a business when there was so much uncertainty in the world took an enormous amount of courage and persistence and a lot of Sour Patch Kids. The rules for being a business owner were changing almost daily. The rules for finding and meeting clients and partners were pivoting entirely online through digital and social media channels. Not only was I learning about myself as a business owner (and what it means to balance being in business with doing the very thing that I went into business to do-- coaching), but I was trying to figure out an intentional playbook for myself. What I did know-- what I understood from the start-- was that "how business should be done" wasn't going to work for me. That just wasn't my style.

To date, I've supported over 170 clients in achieving their goals, and I'm really proud of how much positive impact my clients have seen. I'm proud that Uproar has grown, and I've expanded my services in response to my clients' needs. I'm proud of the way I've been able to maintain my style of leadership and entrepreneurship without compromise. We're still here and adapting yet again to this post-COVID marketplace.

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

There are so many hard-earned lessons that come with being a business owner. Figuring who to let in (and how to let go!) when I needed different subject matter expertise (e.g. SEO support, automating my CRM for a better client experience) has been challenging.  Believing that there's only so much that I can do and that good enough can really be good enough... when you're a business owner and entrepreneur, you're it.  You're everything.  The pressure is immense.  As I mentioned before, figuring out how to conduct my business in a way that gets the job done but still reflects my style and my values has been a wild balance to strike. And owning that when I needed a break and actually taking it.  I can't support other people and hold space for their aspirations if my well is empty, you know?

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

  1. Be humble. Accept your limitations and hold your boundaries. Find the partners you're comforting letting in. Secure your external support network and lean on them. Bring your whole self to the party.
  2. If it's not a HELL YES, it's a NO. There is tremendous power in understanding where you want to grow as a business owner. There will be a lot of opportunities and influences along the way that may detour you from those goals. Remember that there's more power in saying no than saying yes. When you say no to something, you're actually saying yes to some Thing else. It could be a vacation or a more relaxed opportunity to deliver for a client; it could be room to internally strategize or nourish your business and yourself. Your time is finite, and so is your energy. Spend it on what adds the most value to you.
  3. Embrace YOUR way of doing things. When you're starting your own business, you can follow the books and blogs about how to set up and go about your business. You can feel inclined to try everything because "everything has worked for everyone else before." You can model your business after the environment you've left. You can fall into your own marketing funnel and reestablish your bookkeeping tech, and pivot between website platforms. You don't have to, but you can do these things. You'll try and fail and try and learn and try again. You'll bump into things. It will hurt. You will hurt. It stops hurting when you embrace that the way you want to conduct business is unique to you, to your style, your product, and to your goals and values. The moment you embrace that your approach is the right approach for you is the moment that you'll feel it all click into gear. Allow yourself the grace and the space to do business by your informed rules and in your way.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Being a leader doesn't have to be lonely. So often, it can feel like you have to do it all on your own, especially if you're literally the only person on the payroll. Figure out whose voices and opinions you trust, and allow them to contribute to your vision. You'll end up with a strong product or service in the end. And you'll feel more confident about the legacy of those decisions.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.uproarcoaching.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UproarCoaching
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uproar_coaching/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kari-ginsburg/

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.