Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal and business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Yvonne Victor, founder of Yvonne Victor Life Coach | Life Design, located in Cary, NC, USA.

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

I'm a Life Business Coach for busy professionals who are stressed, overwhelmed, burned out, and feeling discouraged. I help them to reassess their circumstances, design a future that aligns with their hopes and desires and strategize a plan to get them there. It's far too easy to get caught on the hamster wheel of life! Somewhere along the way, you forget about why you're doing what you're doing and no longer have control over your life's trajectory. You stop living consciously, and it starts to destroy everything. I have the privilege of helping others save themselves and live to tell the story on the brighter side of life.

Tell us about yourself

Before becoming a Coach, I worked in Corporate Administration for 30+ years. I was a single mother of two and was struggling to get ahead. All I knew was to work hard but working hard wasn't cutting it. It didn't matter how many hours I put in or how many projects I tackled. I was only running fast and going nowhere. I felt hopeless that anything would change, just like my clients, but I refused to let my kids down. Plus, deep in my heart, I knew that I was made for more.

When my youngest was about to graduate from high school, I started to consider my "second act." The signs of the times were telling me that it was time to exit corporate life and try my hand at something else. It was just about that time that a former coworker offered me a ticket to see Tony Robbins. I had long been a fan of his teachings, and after vacillating over whether I should accept such a pricey gift, my husband encouraged me to go. I say it was divine intervention because all I could think of for those four days at his convention was the fact that I could do what he does. From there, I decided to get trained as a Life Coach and make plans to "go solo."

Looking back, I had always been a Coach. I was the friend and coworker that others came to for direction, to vet a new idea, or for sobering advice. It comes naturally to me. However, what motivates me to do what I do is knowing that what I do for others helps them to live a better life, helps them to have better relationships and health and create wealth, and most definitely helps them to realize dreams deferred. Better humans make a better world. We all win!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment has been maintaining a record of straight wins! Each and every one of my clients have hit their mark and been 100% satisfied with their progress. It's amazing and humbling! I take all of my clients through my signature process, The Best Life Blueprint™, which has been vetted and works if you work it, but I'm still surprised at the end that I nailed a process that works.

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

One of the hardest things about being a business owner is being the captain of the ship. As the head of the organization, I'm responsible for the success or demise of the organization. Even when I rely on the expertise of others to help make decisions, I'm ultimately the one who has to make the decision, for better or worse. That's a lot of pressure.

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

  1. Choose a venture that aligns with your authentic self. Owning a business is hard enough without adding undue pressure. Running my business, for the most part, is fun because I'm a problem solver, I'm analytical, and I love helping people. These are the same traits that helped me excel in administration and the same traits that make me a successful coach. Swim with the tide.
  2. Take the time to do your homework. I can't tell you how many times I have stopped budding business owners from crashing and burning because they didn't do their homework. Although it seems like I just up and quit my job and became a coach, there was about a year in between that I took to research my idea, decide on a market, attain credentials, and stack cash for self-funding. I know this doesn't seem like a lot of fun, but it will save you a lot of time and money in the long run. Look before you leap.
  3. Ask for help. This is a pet peeve of mine. Adults seem to think that we have to go it alone. That is, asking for help is weak, and the win isn't as sweet or relevant if you had someone help you. Poppycock! Look, you don't know everything, and you don't have to. However, you need to find the people who know the things that you don't and partner with them during the journey. Whether it's a CPA to handle your finances, a Lawyer to represent your legal interest, or a Coach to keep your eye on the ball and guide you across Homeplate, your business will never be as successful as it could be if you had asked for help. Real talk.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Play the long game. Owning a business is not a "get rich quick" endeavor. It takes years before most businesses turn a profit, and most fail before they have that opportunity. So go into it, eyes wide open and prepared not to see a positive cash flow for a minute. There's a lot of course-correcting before you find what works, and there's nothing wrong with growing incrementally. Create and follow your strategy, stay away from shiny objects, and burn the boat! You got this!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.yvonnevictor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YvonneVictorLifeCoach
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yvonnevictorlifecoach/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/yvievictor
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonnevictor/

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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