I'm Val! Coach for creatives
like you who are ready to be healthier, happier and more empowered women who love the business you run, the people you serve and the life you live!
Success Stories: How Client Experience Helped Amanda Get Off the Hamster Wheel
I’m SO EXCITED for you to meet my client, Amanda of Studio A Designs, a boutique design company that creates strategic small-business branding to convert lookers into customers.
Amanda has been a designer for about 15 years and, like most of us, her business started as a side hustle.
“I just wanted to be home with my kids and make some money on the side to support my family.” she said.
As she dipped her toes into working with clients, her side hustle turned into something she loved. But, as we all experience as creative entrepreneurs, she started working All. The. Time. She shared, “I felt like I was on a hamster wheel that I didn’t know how to get off of.”
Amanda never felt like she was doing enough even though she was working more than full time hours. Even 15 years into her business, she didn’t have systems in place to create the level of client experience she wanted, which made it a struggle to grow.
Amanda knew it was time for a change. She had tried a few things on her own, but it just wasn’t working. Desperate for a solution, she began looking for a business coach and I’m so grateful she found me and joined my group coaching programs, Rooted Resolve and Creative Income Cure!
The first thing we do in every program is create a clear and personal definition of success because I believe that lays an essential piece of the foundation you need to make all your business decisions. “It’s been such a great reference point to come back to and say, ‘Nope, that doesn’t align with what I want to do and what I want this to look like.’” Amanda said.
Defining her version of success upfront helped keep Amanda on track for this whole year. She shared, “I’m the kind of person who once a system is set up, I can do it. I just needed to hear Val say, ‘This is what you need to do, and this is how it needs to be laid out.‘”
It has been SO FUN to hear updates from Amanda both during the program and now months later as the impact grows. Like so many creatives, it was really hard for her to say no… which I’m guessing you struggle with too.
But here’s the thing…saying ‘no’ to things that leave you exhausted or aren’t a good fit is actually one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself and your business.
Amanda shared, “I got so much encouragement from Val to feel like it’s okay to put boundaries up. It feels good to feel in control of your own life.”
The retreat is always my favorite part of the group programs and it was one of the most helpful parts for Amanda too. “We all feel the same way where we’re just tired and want everyone to be happy. Having other like-minded people who feel the same way and are super passionate was such a blessing.“
I do everything I can to help everyone feel seen, heard and valued on the retreat, because I just really love my people! I don’t want it to feel like an impersonal course, I want everyone to get one-on-one support and attention. “Val was just so gracious. It can feel sensitive to talk about your weaknesses, but she never made anyone feel like it was a weakness, but it was a strength we just had to harness in the right way.” she said.
“On the retreat, I was so overwhelmed at first thinking, ‘It’s not clicking. I’m not getting it.’ Val stayed up late with me right by my side going over the numbers and looking at the spreadsheets until I understood them. She’s not going to let you fly under the radar if you have the will to want to do it. That was special to me.”
I mean it when I say I truly will do whatever I can to help apply the concepts to YOUR business and YOUR life. I don’t believe in straight up copy/paste strategies, so I don’t approach coaching that way.
I also love how Amanda developed friendships with other women in the program and that’s my heart for every group – that you’re introduced to new “biz besties” who can become long-term, trusted friends. “You can become best friends with people you’ve never met before. I was surprised by how open people were and how Val made everyone feel comfortable and safe enough to open up the way they did.”
Amanda loved how much we covered during our time together and was surprised by how in-depth we got. “It was nitty gritty, get it done and actually implement it type coaching, and that was in addition to the personalized coaching that catered to my specific business!”
You see, I believe there are two essential elements to success: strong roots and follow through. When it comes to balance, your systems are the roots that will keep you grounded to your definition of success and allow you the brain space to get your work done. And just like goals without action, what good are systems without follow through? I take a very hands-on, implementation-focused approach to coaching where you have worksheets, templates, accountability, feedback and personalized coaching to give you everything you need to actually follow through to do the work and Amanda RAN with it!!
And the result?
Amanda scaled back her hours to a 4-day work week and is living a version of balance she literally felt was an “impossible dream” before coaching. Those are her words! *Commence happy tears*
“I’ve been taking Fridays off, which has been so helpful for my own mental health and stress level.” AMAZING, girl. Seriously amazing.
She’s also continuing to improve her client experience to really serve her people well, which goes a LONG way in referral marketing. A few client experience improvements I suggested that she’s working on are…
Amanda is so close to launching these new systems, and I’m so excited to see how her business flourishes as a result!
“The investment in the program at first was scary, but it is going to pay off. I’m definitely going to make my money back and then some,” Amanda says.
If you’re considering group coaching, take Amanda’s advice: “If you actually follow through and do the things she tells you to, you’re going to get your money back. There is no reason why anyone should not work with Val. Just because you think you’re organized and have it all together or have been doing this for a long time, you still can learn something and grow in a different way. Don’t let your pride get in the way of doing something that’s scary but so worth it.“
Gahh, you’re makin’ me cry over here, Amanda!
Friend, I know it can be hard to make time for the big picture and back end of your business when you’re in survival mode waiting for things to slow down. Let me tell you a secret though. It’s not going to slow down. Neither business or life slow down until you tell them to, but that’s the beauty of being your own boss! YOU have the power to make that decision and get off the hamster wheel! But I don’t expect you to know how to do that on your own, which is what I’m here for. If you’re done living overwhelmed, overworked and undervalued, then it’s time for simplified systems that bring LIFE.
Apply to join Rooted Resolve and enroll in Creative Income Cure to take back control and build your impactful business around your life. ♥️
I'm Val! Coach for creatives
like you who are ready to be healthier, happier and more empowered women who love the business you run, the people you serve and the life you live!
free starter spreadsheet
WHAT DO YOU THINK? COMMENT BELOW!
share this on