What does business success really look like?
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You're working fewer hours and carrying a lighter load.
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Your revenue and profits are expanding swiftly.
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Your team members and vendors are meeting and surpassing your expectations.
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You have a clear understanding of your finances and maintain well-organized financial records.
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You are confidently making decisions driven by data.
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You have perfected your time management and productivity skills.
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You're excited, engaged, and enjoying the journey.
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You are confident in your long-term strategy and envision a consistent path forward that makes sense.
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Your enterprise has become a catalyst for personal development, fostering your growth and evolution as a leader.
Is Business coaching worth it?
Get to Know Us
As an entrepreneur who owned a restaurant, catering company, banquet hall, and event planning business, I never believed I needed a business coach, but I was mistaken. As entrepreneurs, we often believe we can handle everything because we have a clear vision for the company we're building. It feels like no one else grasps this vision. Does that sound familiar?
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I shared the common sentiment until attending a networking event, the Central Iowa Business Conference (CIBC), hosted by the Urbandale Chamber, where I realized that my own businesses could benefit from external assistance.At the conference, I had the opportunity to listen to the legendary Tommy Breedlove, and that's when I realized it was time to seek help.
The first recommendation I have for everyone is to pick up Tommy's book, "Legendary." You'll be grateful later. This book will set your mind on the right path and prepare you to ascend to the next level. What's one aspiration you've dreamt of pursuing but lacked self-belief? Do you have something in mind? I have one for myself that I'll share!
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I always dreamed of attending Notre Dame for my education. However, my high school grades weren't the best, and my passion for sports meant I didn't focus as much on academics as I should have. My family knew that I had set my sights solely on Notre Dame; I was determined to get there, no matter what anyone said. By my junior year in 1998, I began to accept that my dream might not become a reality, that I might never make it to Notre Dame. I can't divulge my entire journey or its outcome here, as it's a story I reserve for my public speaking engagements. The crux of it is that I had to find a way to achieve my goal, which required hard work, determination, and an unwavering will.
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To achieve the grades I needed, I had to hire a tutor because I knew I couldn't manage it alone; I needed some extra assistance. Although it cost money, investing in help was necessary to make my dream a reality. College is already costly, but the additional amount I spent provided me with the tools to fulfill my dreams. Without this help, I believe I might have given up and been left with a lingering 'what if.
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Scaling your business can cost significantly more than a $150,000 college education, so taking on such a venture alone only heightens the risk of failure. The fear of hiring an incompetent coach may be the only deterrent. It's crucial to conduct thorough research to ensure their values align with yours. When you find the right coach, as I did with Tommy's team, you'll be certain. My philosophy is to never live with the 'What if?'—this applies to both personal and business aspects of life. 'What if' can lead to endless questioning. Therefore, it's essential to find a highly qualified coach to guide you.
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There are two key areas where a business coach must excel:
1. Possessing a deep, experiential background in scaling a business.
A significant portion of the value of business coaching lies in the ability to leverage your coach's experience for your own business. This can help you sidestep major pitfalls that could cost time and money, enhance your creativity and idea validation, and prevent learning tough lessons through direct experience. If a business coach lacks this hands-on experience, they are merely novices, and I would be hesitant to hire someone who has never managed a business before.
What makes a great
business coach?
2. Facilitation Skills and High Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
Business coaching transcends mere advice on basic strategies and tactics. As your business grows, you'll likely devote over 75% of your effort to interpersonal dynamics. This includes interactions with team members, customers, stakeholders, and crucially, yourself.
An exceptional business coach excels in posing pertinent questions and engaging in profound listening. They possess the emotional acuity to comprehend and resonate with your expressed sentiments. Amidst confusion, they guide you to concentrate on the pertinent elements of an issue until clarity emerges. In preparing for a difficult interaction or dialogue, they skillfully reflect your approach and its probable impact on others.
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A business coach must excel in both business acumen and emotional intelligence (EQ). Without the necessary business experience, yet strong in facilitation and EQ, one might be better described as a life coach, or with the appropriate qualifications, a therapist. Conversely, possessing extensive experience in scaling businesses but deficient in facilitation skills and EQ, one would align more closely with the role of a business consultant.
So Why work with me?
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The real question is, why wouldn't you work with me? My entrepreneurial spirit was kindled by the man in the picture to your left—my father. He exemplified hard work by managing multiple restaurants. As a child, my first job was washing dishes at his store. I was around 13 years old, earning $1.25 an hour.
I believed it was a substantial amount until I learned that my father's employees were earning $5 an hour. After discussing this with my dad, I received a raise rather quickly. His unwavering determination to sustain our store was evident through the daily specials that attracted customers. Back in the '90s, he had the right ideas for running a successful restaurant, but as technology progressed, so did the methods of communication. He hasn't grasped social media; he still thinks placing an ad in the newspaper is the way to go.
I had to explain that social media is akin to placing an advertisement in a newspaper. It took some time, but he understood that his marketing knowledge was still applicable; we just approach it differently now. As I matured, I became an entrepreneur within my family's business. Being the youngest, I introduced fresh ideas, many of which I learned from my father. After 15 years in the family business, I gained a deep understanding of the struggles entrepreneurs face.
One key lesson I learned is that I can't do everything on my own, a tough concept to grasp. In 2017, I ventured out alone to explore new business ventures. I launched "Party on the Lake" in Iowa, offering my services as a captain for boat parties. It was a promising idea but given Iowa's limited lake size and a 16-week window to maximize earnings, the business model required significant refinement.
By the 2022 season, I concluded "Party on the Lake," but not wanting to waste my efforts in becoming a USCG Captain, I founded "Captain Young Travels." This ongoing venture allows boat owners or renters to hire a captain for guided experiences. I operate in both Iowa and Florida, and while I have grand plans to expand, they require substantial capital and legal work to involve other captains. I believe in the concept's potential, yet I'm mindful of balancing work with personal time.
Simultaneously, I assisted small businesses with social media and consulting. Initially doubting it could be a standalone business due to self-doubt, working with a coach helped me realize my capability and passion for this work. That's when I began to establish Young Designs' presence. So far, I've had some incredible clients who have become like family to me. Why choose me? Because I invest care into every business I collaborate with. I strive for your success in both your professional and personal life, as I never want you to wonder, "What if?"
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What are we actually going to do together?
Let's divide this into two aspects: structure and content.
Here is the structure of my business coaching sessions:
Each session starts by establishing a clear objective: What is your target outcome by the session's end? This clarity significantly contributes to the coaching's return on investment. This initial goal-setting typically occupies the first 15 minutes.
Throughout the session, we'll tackle the challenges you're facing. Our dialogue will incorporate various methods:
Facilitation: I'll pose probing questions to assist you in uncovering truths and insights. The aim is to offer new perspectives.
Problem-solving: We'll jointly brainstorm possible solutions to your issues. My objective is to stimulate your creativity to generate numerous viable ideas, which we'll then sift through to find the best implementation strategies.
Mentoring: Whenever questions arise, I'll impart wisdom from my experience to support your decision-making process.
To conclude each session, we dedicate the final 15 minutes to establishing accountability (essentially, homework). What will you achieve before our next meeting? What steps will you first take? How will you track your progress? If needed, what incentives or consequences will be tied to your performance? This segment's purpose is to facilitate immediate action post-session.
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We will also focus on your personal life. This isn't about therapy; it's about mastering the tools necessary to be there for your family, children, and spouse. However, you've overlooked the most crucial person: "YOU." It's essential to allocate time for yourself. Whether you have hobbies or are seeking to discover one, it's vital to carve out personal time. For those leading a single life, it's equally important to find time for oneself. Amidst dating, socializing with friends, and family commitments, it's easy to neglect oneself. Regardless of your family status or lifestyle, finding personal time can be challenging. We'll address this together. Achieving balance in business and personal life is key, and it's up to you to define what that balance means. We'll devise a plan to ensure this balance is realized, so we never have to wonder, "What if?"
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