1. Tell us about your business.
BizTrainHer is a boutique firm specializing in working with women in business. We provide training, content strategy and consulting with small business owners. We can help educate, support and coach you to growing your business. If you have loads of content and are an expert in a specific field, but are struggling with sharing your content with your clients – we can help. If you are looking for individual coaching and consulting to guide you through challenges and obstacles within your business – we can help. If you are looking for a keynote speaker or trainer for your network – we can help. We love supporting women in business.
2. Other than being an entrepreneur, who are you? Tell us about yourself.
I am a mom of three- Charlie is 5, Sarah is 3.5 and Peter is 5 months. I feed my soul through my work – I love helping other women. I was an educator for 15 years before moving to entrepreneurship where I educate myself everyday. I love to learn.
I strive to lead a balanced life where I work to nourish my soul so I can be a better mom to my babes. I love hanging with them, going to the park, the zoo, doing crafts, baking – all that stuff- and I acknowledge I am a better mom when I have stepped away for a couple of hours every day.
3. What motivated you to go into business for yourself?
My husband. He is an entrepreneur and I have watched and supported him grow his business over the last 6 years. I have a highly transferable skill set from being an educator. With his encouragement, I have built a company that allows me to work in my passion (so it’s just fun) AND help contribute to our financial well-being.
The biggest motivator is finding a schedule and business that enables me to be flexible with my time. I still have lunch with my children everyday and am available when they need me. I also gain great satisfaction when I see my business growing (exponentially at the moment!) and need to implement new systems and strategies to manage it.
4. How do you overcome challenges and obstacles in your business?
I keep a very close and supportive network of other mom entrepreneurs. We support each other and help each other whenever we can.
I have learned the best tool to overcome challenges is to ask for help. I used to be afraid to seek help as I felt it was a sign of weakness. It’s not. It’s a sign of an empowered woman who wants to learn and improve and progress.
I also learn from experts who are already doing what I want to do. I learned the hard way that trial and error is both costly and time consuming. And what do I not have lots of? Spare money or time to waste.
5. What are your greatest strengths as an entrepreneur?
I am innovative and I love to strategize and find solutions to problems. There is always an answer around a problem and I won’t stop until I find one. I guess you could call that perseverance.
I have also learned to put boundaries on my time. That has been a huge step for me. I now have a clear vision of where I can offer the most value to others, and I stay focused on maximizing and shaking my money maker. It means I walked away from opportunities that I would love to have been involved in, but they weren’t aligned with my vision and business goals. Thank you business plan.
6. What are you most passionate about in your business?
BizTrainHer.com is all about helping and supporting other women in business. I love that everything I do has a purpose – it is to designed to help someone else. That is a powerful reward.
7. What is one piece of helpful advice you would give to other entrepreneurs?
Seek guidance when you are feeling lost, stuck or when you are struggling. Reach out to someone who has been where you are and who has overcome that challenge. A mentor can help you move mountains.
A mentor or training course may involve a financial investment on your part – so you need to be particular about who receives your hard earned dollars. You are the best investment your business can make. When you invest in yourself, your brain finds a way of turning that investment into profit. That’s a good Return on Investment (ROI).
About Shelagh Cummins
Shelagh designs, develops and delivers performance improvement solutions developed over 19 years as a coach, instructor, river-guide, teacher, and leadership program director. She is the principal at BizTrainHer.com - a boutique training company specializing in working with women entrepreneurs and women in business.
Loved learning about Shelagh!! Very inspirational and can’t wait to learn more! Dina