More often than not people aren’t aware of what it means to work with a business consultant and coach. I regularly get asked to bring on some of my coaching clients on my podcast to give them a sneak peek of what it actually looks like and how it helps their business grow. In this episode of the Business & Life Conversations Podcast, I’m thrilled to bring in my one-on-one coaching client, Jessie King from the Admin Hatch. I am going to be coaching her about something she is currently struggling with so you can get a feel of what it entails when I coach. We are also going to talk about why she decided to get me as a coach and what has worked with her in having me as her coach to date.
Important Links Mentioned in the Show:
Women in Business Retreat 2020
Angela Henderson Active Business Facebook Group
Angela Henderson Facebook Business Page
Prefer to read Case Study: From Overwhelm to Clarity? Here’s the transcript:
ANGELA:
You’re listening to the Business and Life Conversations Podcast with Angela Henderson, Episode 76.
Hey there, you’re listening to the Business and Life Conversations Podcast. My name is Angela Henderson and on this show, we talk about improving your business, life or both, by having amazing and rich conversations with brilliant guests who will inspire you and who will give you tips and tricks to help you grow both in life and in business.
Well, hey there and welcome back to another epic episode of the Business and Life Conversations Podcast. I am your host, Anj, from Angela Henderson Consulting where I am a Business Consultant and Coach who has helped hundreds of women business owners get all the pieces in place to have consistent 5-figure months and then on to 6-figure years without burning out in the process.
Now, I often just assume that everyone knows what it entails when you work with a business consultant and coach. However, the truth is many people don’t have a freaking clue. How do I know this? Because I get asked regularly to bring on some of my one-on-one coaching clients and also clients from my group coaching program, Profit Pillars because people have told me that they’re curious to know what does it actually look like to have a business consultant and coach? And more importantly, how does it actually help their business to grow?
So today, I’m thrilled to bring on the podcast, Jessie King, from The Admin Hatch who’s currently a one-on-one coaching client. And in this episode, we’re going to explore what made Jessie take the jump to invest in herself but also her business. I’m actually going to be coaching Jessie on this podcast about something she’s currently struggling with so that you can see and hear, I guess, because it is a podcast, not an actual show; hear people, what it actually entails when I coach and what has worked with her in having me as her coach to date.
But before we jump into this episode, I just want to let you know that this episode is sponsored by my 12-month group coaching program, Profit Pillars, my 12-month group coaching program for women business owners who are ready to take action and to grow profitable businesses. The program includes the complete Profit Pillar training system with videos, PDF guides and more; monthly lives, strategy sessions, monthly hot seat sessions, monthly mastermind classes with guest experts, 24/7 access to our private VIP Facebook community, world-class member support and special bonuses and secret surprises along the way.
To learn more about my 12-month group coaching program, you can head to angelahenderson.com.au and click on the program. Now, let’s get into this amazing episode with Jessie King.
Welcome to the show, Jessie.
JESSIE:
Oh, thank you so much for having me.
ANGELA:
I’m so excited to have you on the podcast. Yes. And it has been a pleasure getting to know you over the last six months as one of my one-to-coaching clients. But before we get into that, I do want to know how is beautiful Tasmania today?
JESSIE:
It is actually really nice down here. So it’s 31 degrees and sunny.
ANGELA:
Dude, that is; like again, for those of you that don’t know, Tassie’s temperature can be a little bit temperamental at times. So the fact that you guys are at 31 degrees, all ready and so early into summer is quite warm.
JESSIE:
Yes. I am in a dress today for the first time in months. So I’m feeling good.
ANGELA:
Yes, you got to take that sunny days as much as you can. Now, one of the things that I like to kind of get into is asking you a little fun question before we get into the deepness of this episode. So I’d like to ask you the fun question; my fun question for you is what is your actual favourite place in Tasmania and why do you like it?
JESSIE:
Oh, that is a really good question. I am all for Salamanca. So, it is a strip in Hobart where it’s got heaps of nice restaurants, it’s got a really nice park there, and it’s just a really good spot to hang out with friends and family. So yes, that would probably be my favourite place. But I’m also a bit of an introvert, so I do like my home as well.
ANGELA:
Nothing wrong with that. I can totally appreciate the essence of the comfort of your own home. But listen, I used to live down in Tassie and I do use to love going to the Salamanca markets on the weekend. It is a beautiful vibe, I mean, there’s a little people overload for my liking at the end of it. But knowing that I’m a local and could come and go as I please is always lovely. But is a beautiful atmosphere on a Saturday; I don’t know if they do it on Sunday or just Saturday; I can’t remember, but I always love going down there.
JESSIE:
Yeah, it’s really good down there and I’ve got my favourite all-time restaurant down there. So yes.
ANGELA:
And which is? You have to plug it now.
JESSIE:
Oh, yeah. Rockwall, which I’m sure for any Tasmanians listening or anyone who has experienced or has probably been and it is incredible.
ANGELA:
Alright, I have to add; we are coming to Tassie in January so I may have to add that to the list. Maybe we have to meet up there, is what we may need to do, Jess.
JESSIE:
Yes, let’s do that.
ANGELA:
Now listen, you and I, I’ve been your business consultant/coach for the last six months and like I said at the beginning, it has been fabulous seeing you grow within these six months. You are actually one of the quickest action takers I know. All of my clients take action, but you’re like next-level action taker.
And so today, I just want to have a chat to you and with the audience about; I really want to showcase what it looks like to coach with me and what that looks like just for anyone in general; and whether or not they’re going to coach with me or whether or not they coach with someone else. But about the benefits of really being able to have someone that keeps you accountable, someone that keeps you on track, someone that kind of gets to know you without it being your husband or your partner who really; they don’t probably care about or your friends who’s just going to agree with everything you say.
So today, I really want to explore what that look like for you going from that overwhelm to gaining some of the clarity you have in the last six months. But in order to kind of give the audience a little bit more about who you are and what you do, I’d love for you to just explain a little bit about your business and how you first had; like what in you made you go, “Shit. I need to probably need to start changing things out.” So tell us a little bit about your business first, Jessie.
JESSIE:
Yes, for sure. So my business is called The Admin Hatch. So basically, we’ve actually take care of administrative tasks for growing businesses so they can focus on the growth of their business and increasing their profitability without the added stress of doing everything on their own. So we specialize in offering business projects and accounts administration to growing businesses.
We started in January; so I started with myself and another girl. I am the owner and founder, but I have an employee, and since then, we’ve grown and I now have three employees and myself. So following on from that, when I realized that I needed a business coach was probably about four or five months ago where I just felt so overwhelmed by everything.
I’m a mom as well so I have mom life, I’m at uni and I also have my business. And my business was doing pretty okay, but I just knew that I needed help to focus my energies and efforts on the things that were going to get me to my long term goal, which is why I got in touch with you. But I did also get in touch when I first started my business, so I did know about you.
ANGELA:
And you did, which is interesting because I’d love for you talk a little bit more about because you and I did initially meet and then you’re like, “Nope. It’s alright. I’m good. I don’t need a coach right now.” And then, like you said, four months in, you’ve reached out. You’re like, “Okay. I actually think I need a coach right now. Like, I need someone, a consultant. I need someone to be able to advise me, guide me and just tell me what I need to do to get to that end goal.”
So can you tell us a little bit or explain a little bit about what actually made you kind of take that jump and really realize that investing in your business is something that’s going to be important to you but to the business, and ultimately, your family. What was it that you’re like, “Shit. I got to pick up the phone now four months later and actually say I need some help.”
JESSIE:
Yes. So right from the get-go, obviously, before starting my business, I was on maternity leave and I was doing a lot of research into running a business and managing a business and something that kept on popping up in podcasts that I was listening to and books that I was reading was investing in a business coach. So I knew before starting business that by having a business coach, it would be really beneficial for me.
But I think one of the things, like my biggest obstacle was the financial investment, and because I was bootstrapping my business, I just didn’t have the financial backing to invest in a business coach so early on. But when I got four months in, I soon realized that it was just going to streamline my business so much and help with the growth and profitability of my business by engaging someone to help me build a sustainable business I guess.
So I was listening to your podcasts, I was on your Facebook group, I was probably one of your number one stalker.
ANGELA:
I love a good stalker.
JESSIE:
And I remember driving to one of my clients’ offices and I was listening to a podcast of yours and I can’t remember which episode it was, but the whole way down, I was just nodding my head and I was thinking, “Yes. This is me. Like, I need help.” And I went on to your Facebook group and I read through one of your posts and it was a post about kindness and everything like that. And then, I just realized I needed you in my life, so that’s when I sent you a message and the rest is history.
ANGELA:
And boom. We’re here, now. And so, obviously, you’re like, “Yep. This is…” You’re driving along and you’re like, “Yes. I finally need my help,” but what was it like? Can you kind of pinpoint what was it that like the specific things you were facing at that particular time where you’re like, “I really need some help or strategy around this.”
JESSIE:
So at that stage, I had two employees on and I was just like, I find that I’m not blowing smoke up, but I’m pretty knowledgeable. I’m doing a degree in business in marketing and HR, so I thought, “You know what? I can just use the internet, podcasts, books to paste it all together for me.” But in that moment, I just felt so overwhelmed. There was so much more to business that I realized and I was just; I was overwhelmed.
I was doing long days; I was trying to juggle mom life as well as business life and it just hit me that I needed someone who have the knowledge and the experience and the understanding of business to be able to mentor me and guide me in the right direction. So I was focusing on the tasks within my business that were going to be beneficial for me. I was finding I was doing a lot, working on my business a lot.
And I was doing tasks that weren’t probably benefiting me in the long-term, so that’s why I just knew in that moment, I just needed some help with the chaos and with the overwhelm and just to really hone in on what the service offering was that I was going to be providing, so then, I could set myself up for success.
ANGELA:
And we can talk a little bit about that, too, when you came to me, we had one particular ideal client in demographic, but in the last kind of six months, we’ve worked out, actually, they’re probably not your ideal client, would you agree?
JESSIE:
100%. 100%. When I first engaged your services, my ideal client was men who were in their mid-40s and who had; they’re independent or like an independently-owned business and they were struggling with their admin tasks. I soon realized that they are still my target market, but it is more growing businesses. My target market now are business who are in that growth stage who need the support so then, they’re not having to do it all on their own and so can be; like can grow and be profitable.
But it did take me a little while to put down my, I guess I had some like shutters on and I didn’t want to see it. But at that time, they were my main clients that I had on board. So that’s why I thought that was my target market.
ANGELA:
But what we found out though, is like you said, it’s not that you’re not servicing them. So the thing is your primary ideal client, you can have multiple ideal clients per se, but the one that we used in our content strategy, in our messaging and everything is going to our new ideal client that we’ve been able to work out and the guys in that construction field, etc. they’re more like your secondary ideal client. So you’re still working, not that you’re saying no to them, but they’re coming to you, they have found you and they’re okay with that.
So yes. So it is important for you, those of you that are listening that so many times, they’ll say you must have one ideal time and I disagree with that. You can have different types of ideal clients but you still need to choose one that you’re kind of targeting, messaging to even on your Facebook ads.
Like, I just had a gentleman that I saw at the Queensland State Government because I’m a business mentor for them there. Now, I don’t market to males; he’s looking at signing me. So it’s one of those things that you get to still choose who you work with at the end of the day even if you have one primary ideal client. And with your skillset and what you do from all the tasks and administration stuff that you’re able to support people with, you could support a variety of businesses. But were just choosing to hone in on one cohort so we can really make that efficient and precise on that.
JESSIE
Absolutely right.
ANGELA:
Now I also like the listeners to kind of get a feel about what coaching looks like, Jessie. And obviously, you and I have an hour session or two-hour sessions depending on what works with your schedule. So this is going to be very quick kind of scenario about what this looks like.
But I want you to kind of; like I said, I want to give the listeners a taste of what it looks like. So can you give me an example, I know you and I are catching up in a couple of weeks for our next session. But we’ll kind of fast forward one of those things you want to bring to the table to bring here today. So what’s something that you’re currently kind of stuck on and that you want to hit me up on next session that we can kind of crank out here to show the listeners what it looks like.
JESSIE:
Yes, for sure. So obviously, I guess, to me, just how we were talking about how I’ve come to realize that I have a few different types of ideal clients and my target market has shifted a little bit. I’m still business-to-business, but I would really like to know how I can better connect with my audience on Instagram because that’s where they are. They’re on Instagram and LinkedIn, but more so, I want to focus on Instagram first before moving on to LinkedIn.
ANGELA:
Yes, perfect. Okay, as you’ve just said, you moved from the LinkedIn like over to Instagram and you do a really great job. But one of the things that I’ve seen, and again, I would have brought up with you is around Instagram stories. As we know, when I attended Social Media Marketing World in America in March, it was one of the biggest things that Mike Stelzner talked about was Instagram stories and how it’s really the platform is ultimately rewarding businesses for utilizing the stories.
So in your instance, with the shift of your ideal client, and even though it’s still B2B is that so many people are eating up stories right now. And so, it would be great for us to be able to showcase to your audience what Jessie is, both from a human element and the agency, collectively, because again, it’s not just Jessie, you’ve got, like you said, your team. What does that look like behind the scenes, and then, ultimately, how can we keep reinforcing the stories; how they can work with you?
And just to add Jess, we really need to like, really look at developing a little more in-depth in our sessions, but a story is just that there’s a beginning, a middle and an end. So if you start the day with, “Hey, everyone. It’s Jessie here,” maybe your team will take over for the day and show them what it is like in the life of Zoey, for example. But we want to go, again, beginnings, we’ll show them the morning, we then like show them a few tasks about what you’ve been working on in the day, we then might do a little hit in one of the stories about how they can book in for a discovery call with you, and then we’ll wrap up, “Okay. We’re just closing shop for the rest of the day. We’ll see you tomorrow.”
So it’s really important that we do that. Also in stories, make them fun. You can do polls in there, so we can ask them a question about, “What are you currently struggling with with your business in regards to admin tasks?” And then, when they answer, you just, “What we could be doing is then,” that means they’re in your DM now. And now, you can start a dialogue with them.
Now, it may feel right at that stage and say, “Hey,” you’ve been talking back and forth, “Hey, I’d love to offer to hop on a discovery call to see how I might be able to help you more.” Or not everyone is going to be at that stage yet. But if you can move them from your story into your DM, that’s when you really start to have those personal relationships and those human to human connections.
And therefore, I’m a huge believer, people; I’m just speaking at the retreat last week about conversations equal conversions. So the more conversations we can have with people in that DM and get them over to a discovery call, the more likely you are to get those conversions, Jess. So that’s kind of a nutshell about how I would start to break that down, and then, obviously in our session, we would be a little bit more in-depth about what type of story is, what can we plan, what needs to go in there. But how does that feel for you?
JESSIE:
Yes. Good. I definitely agree.
ANGELA:
And with Instagram stories, I should also note that what we can do is you can still add a location to your Instagram stories and you can add up to 10 hashtags in your Instagram stories, too. So people are still utilizing and looking for those. And you can hide those, so people are like, “Oh. I don’t want to have 10 hashtags in there.” We can minimize those hashtags behind some of your words and no one even knows they’re there. So adding those hashtags and that location will also be an added bonus for us to increase your reach and visibility.
JESSIE:
Yes. Cool.
ANGELA:
So, cool. Alright. So we’ve got a little bit about how the coaching works, we’ve talked a little bit about your overwhelm and kind of gaining that clarity. I’d like to ask you again, and you can be as kind or not kind as you want; I’m totally okay with that. But what has been your favourite part with working with me as your business consultant and coach?
JESSIE:
Yes. Look, that’s a really good question because there’s lots of aspects I really enjoy. The biggest one for me is bringing me clarity. Just going from a sort of like an organized hot mess to thinking what I knew what I was doing to now, really feeling confident in my service offerings. But the biggest thing that I really enjoy working with you is that just having your support and knowing that you’re there and also that you’re aren’t afraid to share your knowledge. And obviously, that’s why I signed up with you is because I was just; you were just giving away so much free content on your podcast, in your Facebook groups and also on your blog. So I thought, if that’s what you’re giving away to your audience, imagine what you’re going to give away to your one-on-one clients and I haven’t been wrong.
You’re just not afraid to share your knowledge and your information that you have to help me grow and create and build a sustainable and profitable business. So that would be my favourite all-time thing.
ANGELA:
Well, thank you for that. And now, for those listeners that are sitting on the fence going, “Yeah, yeah, yadda yadda. The New Year’s coming. I need to change something.” And listen, I’m all about change and taking action and all that. But my thing is for those listeners sitting in the fence and wanting to work with a business coach or sign up for say, a 12-month group coaching program that I have, what words of encouragement would you give to them?
JESSIE:
Just do it. Honestly, I wish I have had done it right from the very start as most of your clients probably do, but that’s not how it turned out. But my words of encouragement are listen, for example, if it’s going to be you, Anj. Listen to your podcast, read your blogs, join your Facebook group and book in for that free 30-minute discovery call because they’re all the things that made me realize that you were the right fit for me and for my business and you will not regret it.
I have just, I have a long-term goal in place now and within that, we have lots of short-term goals to get to that and it’s just brought so much clarity to me and I now know where I need to be spending my time and my business has grown so much ever since I have engaged with my business coach. And the things that we’ve done that I would not have been able to do on my own. So, yes, I highly recommend. It is worth it.
ANGELA:
Well, thank you for that. And again, for those that are sitting on the fence, whether or not it’s me or someone else, I always talk about test driving, right? So if people, if you are like to sign up for someone or someone’s program and they’re going to not let you test drive, and I’ve used this example on another podcast before; you don’t go to BMW or Range Rover; all those places and go, “I’m going to take the $200,000 dollar car. I don’t want to see the inside. I’m not going to test drive it. Just sign me up.” If they’re not prepared to give you time so know you’re the right fit and that they know they’re the right fit and can move your business forward, those are just one of many red flags.
If you can’t go to Google and find a person that you want to engage in as a coach, again, another red flag because you should ultimately be able to see them either on an online presence or an offline presence. Again, their name will get out there, good or bad.
And always ask, too, like, “Hey, this is really great. But I love to speak with one of your current students, one of your ex-students that have wrapped up with you.” If they’re not willing to put you in contact with people, then that’s another red flag. So again, whether or not it’s me or someone else, just be mindful that you can always; you want to make sure that you’re engaging in the right person because you’re going to be spending a lot of time with them.
And it’s an intimate relationship from the point of view is that again, there are tears, there is laughter, there is all that. And that’s important that you’re going to be able to have those, that closeness with the person you’re working with.
JESSIE:
Yes. 100%. And just on that, before engaging you, I did like have an experience with another business coach, which was a bad experience. So I guess what I want to tell your listeners as well is if you do have that bad experience with one, don’t give up on it because you may well just find your match the next time. And like obviously, we’ve just done six months and we’re signing on for another six months because it is just something that is so beneficial to my business.
ANGELA:
Well, thanks for that. And I do agree with you Jess, is that I don’t know how many discovery calls I do in a month where I hear these horrific stories that women in business have had with people who have never run their own business, they don’t have any social or personable skills, or quite frankly, they’ve got no strategic skillset, right? So again, never give up. Always, I mean, I’m not saying don’t be cautious, but just know that there are good people out there that will do the right thing.
Now last question, Jess; two last questions, actually. What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started in business? Not just from a business coach, but just collectively, in business. What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started?
JESSIE:
How important it is to have a strategy in place. For the first four months, I was sort of tread water and my business sort of expanded a lot quicker than I had anticipated. So I guess for me, the biggest thing that I have learned is it is so important to have a strategy in place. Even if you’re not working on it every single day, it’s just good to know where you’re going to be going and what you’re going to be striving for. So then, you can just; whatever decision that you make on a day to day basis, you’ve just got that in the back of your mind. And that for me has been the biggest thing that I wish I have known from the start.
ANGELA:
Fantastic. And I know there’s a great book by Emma Isaacs, you know who; she owns Business Chicks; called Winging It. And I think there’s an element, I think we all start off by winging it, absolutely. But there comes a time where if you really want to grow, you’re going to have to no longer start to wing it in. It’s something that I shared ages ago on the podcast is when [Inaudible 23:40] obviously goes, “Well, if you keep doing what you’re doing, that’s why you’re a six-figure business and I’m a 7-figure business.” And I was like, “Damn, she did not just say that to me.” But it’s the reality, right? Is that you can only keep doing things the same way before you actually need to end up doing them a little bit more tight, a little bit more strategic. So great advice on that about having that strategy.
And for those listeners, Jessie, that may need help with their administration tasks in order to get them out of the overwhelm and being able to really work on growing their business versus being in their business, how can they find you?
JESSIE:
The best place to find me is on Instagram, which is just @theadminhatch. But you can also find me on my website, but if you’re willing to have a chat with me, that’s probably the best place to get in touch with me and that’s where most of everyone that I have a connection with are found on Instagram.
ANGELA:
And what is your website address if they do you want to hop over there and potentially book in for a discovery call.
JESSIE:
Yes. So my website is theadminhatch.com.au.
ANGELA:
Alright. Fantastic. And just to remind you before we sign off that my team and I will also be putting together the whole transcription for this episode at angelahenderson.com.au. And as I mentioned earlier, if you enjoy this episode, I would love for you to share it, especially on your Instagram stories and tagging me @angelahendersonconsulting or share it on whatever social media platform you love. I’d also love if you could subscribe so that you don’t miss any future episodes. And if you also feel like it, leave a review because leaving a review means I get to serve more people.
I wish you a fantastic day no matter where you are in the world and I look forward to you joining me next week for another amazing episode of the Business and Life Conversations Podcast. Thanks so much, Jessie, for being on today and I hope you have a fab day down in Tassie also.
JESSIE:
Thank you so much for having me.
ANGELA:
Thanks for listening to the Business and Life Conversations Podcast with Angela Henderson, Overwhelm to Clarity in Business. www.angelahenderson.com.au
