119 | Melissa Left Credit Suisse. Now She’s Running a Coaching Business on Her Terms

Speaker: 00:00:01

Hello.

2

: 00:00:01

Welcome to this episode of

Women in the Coaching Arena.

3

: 00:00:04

I'm Jo Lot and I help qualified

coaches build a successful

4

: 00:00:08

business with honesty, not hype.

5

: 00:00:10

I'm really excited today to share a case

study call from Melissa, who has been

6

: 00:00:15

part of my business of coaching program.

7

: 00:00:18

She shows us what the transition is

like from corporate to becoming a coach

8

: 00:00:25

for your own business, and there are so

many lessons in here that I wish I had

9

: 00:00:30

have known when I started my business.

10

: 00:00:32

And I still reflect on

and learn from right now.

11

: 00:00:36

So I hope this inspires you

to see what's possible for

12

: 00:00:40

you in your coaching business.

13

: 00:00:43

Thank you so much, Melissa, for

agreeing to talk as a case study

14

: 00:00:47

for my business of coaching program.

15

: 00:00:49

I would love to hear a bit

about you and what you do.

16

: 00:00:52

Sure.

17

: 00:00:53

I'm Melissa Schmidiger.

18

: 00:00:55

I am the founder and CEO of Bravo

Darlings, and I help high achieving

19

: 00:01:00

professionals cut through confusion

and find clarity and, go for what

20

: 00:01:07

they want through career transitions

career pivots, or even just going for

21

: 00:01:13

that next promotion without burnout.

22

: 00:01:16

Yes, totally.

23

: 00:01:18

And can you think back to 12 months or so

ago when you first came to work with me?

24

: 00:01:24

What was going on for you at that time?

25

: 00:01:27

We started working together

in April last year.

26

: 00:01:30

At that time I had become

redundant with Credit Suisse.

27

: 00:01:35

It was a redundancy that I had

actually welcomed because I

28

: 00:01:38

wanted to move from corporate.

29

: 00:01:41

I was the global head of employer brand

marketing in Credit Suisse, and I had

30

: 00:01:46

the opportunity to go to UBS, but I

really wanted to move to coaching.

31

: 00:01:50

I'd just finished my Integral coaching

certificate in November, the year before.

32

: 00:01:56

But I knew that to do that I

needed to deepen a few skills.

33

: 00:02:01

I wanted to do some work in

resilience coaching 'cause I

34

: 00:02:04

had just recovered from burnout.

35

: 00:02:06

But I also knew that, you also need

to get fundamentals in business.

36

: 00:02:11

You can't just be a coach.

37

: 00:02:12

You need to learn how to

manage a business of coaching.

38

: 00:02:17

And that's when I found you.

39

: 00:02:19

I had been looking for many options

that really taught the basic

40

: 00:02:23

groundwork of the business of coaching.

41

: 00:02:27

And I saw you pretty much everywhere.

42

: 00:02:29

You were in a lot of channels.

43

: 00:02:30

You had podcasts.

44

: 00:02:32

I found your LinkedIn and Instagram

and your story resonated with me.

45

: 00:02:37

You had left corporate hr, so you

had a corporate background like me

46

: 00:02:41

and built a business and had the

same struggles it felt very familiar.

47

: 00:02:47

And then it was something

that spoke to me.

48

: 00:02:49

And then of course, it was also your

warmth, the way you delivered your

49

: 00:02:52

story that stood out versus the other

people that I had also come across.

50

: 00:02:57

And that's when I decided,

let's talk to Joanna.

51

: 00:03:01

Yes, I remember receiving your

first email 'cause you must have

52

: 00:03:04

signed up for a lead magnet.

53

: 00:03:05

You probably didn't even know

what a lead magnet was then.

54

: 00:03:09

You went into my nurture sequence

and I remember you reply quite

55

: 00:03:13

quickly and buying quite quickly.

56

: 00:03:15

I dunno how long you'd been part of my

world prior to that lead magnet sign up.

57

: 00:03:20

But yeah.

58

: 00:03:20

Do you remember the natural

sequence and the sequence of

59

: 00:03:23

how you came to buy from me?

60

: 00:03:26

Oh, I think it must have been

one download, and then after that

61

: 00:03:31

I already told you my story and

then the next thing I said oh,

62

: 00:03:34

but I downloaded something again.

63

: 00:03:35

And then I also answered that.

64

: 00:03:36

I'm like, oh, Joanna must think

I'm just answering everything now.

65

: 00:03:41

You know, you are the ideal client who

actually responds to nurture sequences.

66

: 00:03:47

So yeah, I think there's a good

learning for all of us on what

67

: 00:03:51

Melissa shared there, as in.

68

: 00:03:53

Sometimes it helps to see you on different

channels or hear you or be on an email

69

: 00:03:58

list or maybe see you on social as well

and get to see different sides of you,

70

: 00:04:02

read the story that resonates again, why

it's so important that we share our story.

71

: 00:04:07

So thank you Melissa.

72

: 00:04:08

I think tons of learnings for all

of us in what you've shared already.

73

: 00:04:13

And can you tell me what was most

useful for you in the program?

74

: 00:04:20

I think there are three things

that I found most useful.

75

: 00:04:23

The first are really the

practical tools and frameworks.

76

: 00:04:28

The second is the community

and the third, you and Jacqui.

77

: 00:04:34

So let's talk about the

tools and frameworks, right?

78

: 00:04:36

I think first off, you know the

tools and frameworks in the program,

79

: 00:04:43

having them around gives you a

lay of the land of what to expect.

80

: 00:04:51

There's an email and I'm not there yet.

81

: 00:04:53

But like many of us in the

chat say, don't get pressured.

82

: 00:04:59

Just do it at your pace.

83

: 00:05:00

Yeah, but the reason the tools

and frameworks are there is

84

: 00:05:04

really for you to know what needs

to be done for the business.

85

: 00:05:11

It's not a race.

86

: 00:05:12

Yeah.

87

: 00:05:12

It's really that the fact that there

are just so many things to set up a

88

: 00:05:18

business that need to be done, and

coaching, unfortunately is not going

89

: 00:05:24

to be the most use of your time unless.

90

: 00:05:28

You get the proper fundamentals down.

91

: 00:05:31

And I think seeing those tools

and frameworks, it's important.

92

: 00:05:35

And like one of the frameworks that

I mentioned to you prior to this

93

: 00:05:38

call, Joe, that really helped me

was just getting my mindset set

94

: 00:05:43

in that I had transitioned from a

corporate executive and into a coach.

95

: 00:05:50

Because without that mindset shift.

96

: 00:05:54

I could get my niche straight, but if

I didn't get my mindset straight, it

97

: 00:05:58

would really be a very difficult road.

98

: 00:06:01

So some of those tools and frameworks

are quite useful in setting your

99

: 00:06:06

business in the right direction.

100

: 00:06:10

The second is the support of the

community because as I said when you

101

: 00:06:14

are wanting to get moving, you wanna

be the A student and get everything

102

: 00:06:18

right and go through all the frameworks.

103

: 00:06:21

But the community is what really gets

you through your ups and downs because

104

: 00:06:25

there will be many, I mean, not only

do your clients feel imposter syndrome,

105

: 00:06:30

but you also feel imposter syndrome.

106

: 00:06:33

So that's what the community does.

107

: 00:06:35

It sets your mindset, it helps you.

108

: 00:06:38

The community is a bunch of coaches

who also are going through the

109

: 00:06:43

same program, who've been there.

110

: 00:06:46

Some like me have just started.

111

: 00:06:48

And some are coaches who've been

there for years and who feel like

112

: 00:06:51

they need a bit of a way finding.

113

: 00:06:54

Yeah.

114

: 00:06:54

And to be in a room full of people week

after week talking about their experience.

115

: 00:07:01

You not only learn with them,

but you learn through them.

116

: 00:07:04

So it's amazing.

117

: 00:07:05

And I feel quite happy that until

now I'm still friends with some of

118

: 00:07:10

the people I met in the program.

119

: 00:07:12

A very special group of people

who open up their fears.

120

: 00:07:16

And let you be part of

that and grow with you.

121

: 00:07:19

And the third, as I mentioned, is

you and Jacqui because both of your

122

: 00:07:23

experienced coaches and you're not

exactly the same, but you're not

123

: 00:07:27

exactly different, but you give us this

whenever we have questions, either you

124

: 00:07:33

or Jacqui jump in, provide an answer.

125

: 00:07:37

That is timely, that is

relevant and challenge us.

126

: 00:07:43

You know, Jo, you're the

supportive voice, and Jackie's

127

: 00:07:45

typically the challenging one.

128

: 00:07:47

But both of you together, give us a point

of view that moves us forward and gets us

129

: 00:07:54

to a better place at the end of the day.

130

: 00:07:56

And we all learn.

131

: 00:07:57

When we read, somebody's questions, the

whole community learns from the answers.

132

: 00:08:03

So that is really powerful.

133

: 00:08:06

I'm so glad you mentioned it.

134

: 00:08:07

I forget to ever mention that I

have someone amazing called Jacqui.

135

: 00:08:11

Who used to be my one-on-one

coach when I first started.

136

: 00:08:14

So I knew she was amazing.

137

: 00:08:15

She literally used to make questions

that make my head hurt so bad.

138

: 00:08:21

It was exhausting having coaching with

Jacqui in a good way because she just

139

: 00:08:25

makes your brain new neural pathways

create every single step of the way.

140

: 00:08:31

So I was so, so happy when I asked her

if she would be part of the program.

141

: 00:08:36

And she agreed.

142

: 00:08:37

I'm, so, so blessed.

143

: 00:08:39

And she also helps me masses

just , in how she does things

144

: 00:08:43

as well as my approach too.

145

: 00:08:45

So it's great to see that

there's different approaches

146

: 00:08:47

and that both can work as well.

147

: 00:08:50

So thank you for mentioning Jacqui

and what's different now then 12

148

: 00:08:54

months on from your role being

made redundant at Credit Suisse?

149

: 00:08:58

And you were living in

Switzerland, I think, at the time.

150

: 00:09:01

Yeah.

151

: 00:09:01

Tell me more about your last year.

152

: 00:09:04

Since the time we've met, well,

first of all, now I'm living in

153

: 00:09:08

the Philippines with my husband.

154

: 00:09:10

So that's one big milestone that's moved.

155

: 00:09:12

I can't believe that not only have

I built a business and launched, but

156

: 00:09:17

we've also had a transcontinental move.

157

: 00:09:21

So that's crazy if you think about it.

158

: 00:09:25

Second when I had just started

the program, I still hadn't been

159

: 00:09:29

certified with ICF, but now I've

gotten my ACC, which is a huge step.

160

: 00:09:35

'cause , that was something that I had

wanted so that I could be fully certified.

161

: 00:09:39

And the third thing too was one of the

things that was really bugging me was I

162

: 00:09:43

didn't know how I could show up on social

media because like I said, many of us who

163

: 00:09:48

come into coaching wanna do good, but we

don't necessarily wanna market ourselves.

164

: 00:09:54

Right.

165

: 00:09:54

And I was one of those people,

and it's ironic considering that

166

: 00:09:58

I'm a marketer by profession.

167

: 00:10:01

I didn't wanna market myself, but.

168

: 00:10:05

I think I had 1200 followers at that time.

169

: 00:10:09

Since then, in a year,

I've tripled my followers.

170

: 00:10:13

I get very good engagement actually on my

post now, somewhere in the area of like,

171

: 00:10:19

each time I post, I get something like

65 to 80 comments on every post I make.

172

: 00:10:25

Which I think is pretty good, I

post maybe five to six times a week.

173

: 00:10:29

So feel like I've come quite

far relative to how I started.

174

: 00:10:35

And now I work with about

three to four people a month.

175

: 00:10:41

That's quite regular.

176

: 00:10:43

And that is something that I had

stated that I wanted to do as well.

177

: 00:10:46

And I've just launched a group

coaching cohort together with Women

178

: 00:10:50

of the World Coaching, so that's nice.

179

: 00:10:52

It feels like I'm on the right path.

180

: 00:10:55

Of course, we always want to do more

and be better, but I think given

181

: 00:11:00

everything that has happened in life,

I think I'm quite on the right path.

182

: 00:11:06

Yeah, totally.

183

: 00:11:07

It's so easy to always have such

high expectations for say, that

184

: 00:11:13

first year of building a business.

185

: 00:11:15

And in fact, you've absolutely aced it.

186

: 00:11:18

But it's funny how we always want

five years growth in one year.

187

: 00:11:21

And you probably have had

five years growth in one year.

188

: 00:11:24

And so I, it's so nice to talk to

you here and hear you accept all of

189

: 00:11:31

the things that you've learned, all

of the things that you've built,

190

: 00:11:33

the achievements that you've made.

191

: 00:11:35

Oh, that's the other thing.

192

: 00:11:36

I think by now I've guested

on maybe four podcasts.

193

: 00:11:40

That's something that I wouldn't

have done before either.

194

: 00:11:45

And I did a LinkedIn live

that had, I think people from.

195

: 00:11:50

Paris, Zurich, New York,

India, all join in.

196

: 00:11:55

Again, these were things that I've

just never thought I would try,

197

: 00:11:58

but they've been quite, successful.

198

: 00:12:01

So I think I found myself in this

last year just trying things,

199

: 00:12:07

so that, has also come from

200

: 00:12:11

the program, you know, the idea that we

should just try things like who cares?

201

: 00:12:15

We should just put ourselves out there.

202

: 00:12:18

Yeah, totally.

203

: 00:12:19

And after such a long time in

corporate, especially in a senior role.

204

: 00:12:24

That's actually a lot harder.

205

: 00:12:25

I find working with people that have

been super senior in their roles before

206

: 00:12:29

is harder because I suppose whether

there's a longer way to fall or you're

207

: 00:12:32

not used to being so open and trying

things so readily if you haven't got like

208

: 00:12:37

a guarantee that they're gonna work out.

209

: 00:12:39

What was your biggest

takeaway from the program?

210

: 00:12:43

I think.

211

: 00:12:45

Just try it.

212

: 00:12:46

You would have these exercises

on our weekly calls where you

213

: 00:12:49

would just encourage us to,

write a post and then post it,

214

: 00:12:56

right?

215

: 00:12:56

Just try something out and

just, do it and then forget it.

216

: 00:13:01

It was so difficult for me at

the start, but I think , now I'm

217

: 00:13:04

done with overthinking and over

perfectionism, there is something

218

: 00:13:10

to be learned from the trying.

219

: 00:13:13

Yeah, I love that call where we go on

mute and I give you 10 minutes and a

220

: 00:13:18

framework to write a post and aim to

post it by the end of that 10 minutes.

221

: 00:13:24

And people are like, I normally

spend four hours writing a post.

222

: 00:13:27

How can I do this in 10 minutes?

223

: 00:13:29

But if you have a framework.

224

: 00:13:32

And you have a timer on, you

have someone asking you to do it.

225

: 00:13:36

It's amazing what you

achieve quite quickly.

226

: 00:13:39

A lot of what I've learned is to

unlearn a lot of the perfection

227

: 00:13:45

that corporate often teaches you.

228

: 00:13:49

Of course we want to please our

clients, but at the same time,

229

: 00:13:53

there's this fine balance as we're

building, we just need to build.

230

: 00:13:57

And you can only improve, say, I know

you've obviously built things like your

231

: 00:14:01

website, your lead magnet,

your nurture sequence.

232

: 00:14:04

You just have to start with

something and then you will edit it.

233

: 00:14:08

But publish it and then

edit it again and again.

234

: 00:14:11

Start and iterate.

235

: 00:14:13

What are you looking

forward to next, Melissa?

236

: 00:14:15

So I am looking forward to number one

I'm currently auditing my programs

237

: 00:14:23

because I want to find a way where I

can really create a better five star

238

: 00:14:28

experience, which means that I need

to find opportunities where I can

239

: 00:14:34

create more operational efficiency.

240

: 00:14:37

Yeah,

241

: 00:14:39

totally.

242

: 00:14:40

Hopefully now you've been in my

program, you'll start to think,

243

: 00:14:44

oh, I could automate weekly emails,

even though they make everybody feel

244

: 00:14:49

quite stressed, they're also useful.

245

: 00:14:51

So there's probably lots of

things that you can start to

246

: 00:14:54

build out now in your own program.

247

: 00:14:56

Yeah.

248

: 00:14:57

And then part of that will be, okay, how

do you create a subscription program?

249

: 00:15:01

Right.

250

: 00:15:02

You know, as part of that too.

251

: 00:15:04

So there are things that I want to

be doing that create the efficiency,

252

: 00:15:07

but also create a bit of steadiness,

totally recurring revenue.

253

: 00:15:15

Amazing next step.

254

: 00:15:17

Would you recommend the

program, and if so, who to?

255

: 00:15:21

I have recommended the program

to so many people already.

256

: 00:15:23

Good.

257

: 00:15:24

I think I've seen them

on your calls, in fact.

258

: 00:15:27

Oh, exciting.

259

: 00:15:28

Thanks Melissa.

260

: 00:15:30

Every time I see a potential

like, you need to talk to Joanna.

261

: 00:15:33

I've been recommending

you for the past year.

262

: 00:15:37

Who do you think the

program is suitable for?

263

: 00:15:41

The program is suitable for anybody

who is serious about wanting

264

: 00:15:45

to build a coaching business.

265

: 00:15:49

In fact, I've told people,

even if you're not a coach.

266

: 00:15:52

But you want to build a service business.

267

: 00:15:57

You should work with Joanna

because you need to figure out

268

: 00:16:00

what the business should entail.

269

: 00:16:04

It's the same steps.

270

: 00:16:05

Do you wanna be a therapist?

271

: 00:16:07

Even if it's a consultancy

business, it's the same kinds

272

: 00:16:10

of steps and the same kind of.

273

: 00:16:13

Thinking that would apply.

274

: 00:16:16

I have told one of my friends

in Switzerland to speak with you

275

: 00:16:19

because while she's doing consulting

work for NGOs, she doesn't have a

276

: 00:16:25

viable business and operations flow.

277

: 00:16:30

So that's when I think of

who would benefit from you?

278

: 00:16:34

There's, it's quite broad actually, but

just because there's a way of thinking.

279

: 00:16:40

And that's why I see even your

clientele over the last few months,

280

: 00:16:44

the people who are joining the

program has gotten much broader.

281

: 00:16:48

It's not just coaches, right?

282

: 00:16:49

Like you have the

somatic , it's much broader.

283

: 00:16:54

It's totally suitable for

consultants and trainers as well.

284

: 00:16:59

So like you say, same sort of process.

285

: 00:17:01

If there is someone listening now and

they are in their coaching business,

286

: 00:17:07

they're maybe feeling stuck, stagnant,

what would be your best advice for them?

287

: 00:17:13

My best advice for somebody

who's feeling stuck or stagnant

288

: 00:17:16

is, number one, don't lose hope.

289

: 00:17:19

Sometimes it's just because you're missing

a trick, and sometimes you just need a bit

290

: 00:17:27

of help to unlock your potential, right?

291

: 00:17:32

Sometimes you just need

to be coached yourself.

292

: 00:17:36

Yeah, totally.

293

: 00:17:37

It can be really hard to

ask for help, can't it?

294

: 00:17:40

Yeah, and I think also like

patience, there's a lot to build

295

: 00:17:45

and there is a steep learning curve.

296

: 00:17:47

Like I said to you before we had this

call, I remember for you thinking you

297

: 00:17:51

were just from like zero to up here.

298

: 00:17:55

And it wasn't always easy, and

you definitely did contact several

299

: 00:17:59

times saying, this is too much.

300

: 00:18:01

There's so much to learn.

301

: 00:18:02

How am I ever gonna do this?

302

: 00:18:04

And so it's such a joy to look back now

and see that you have got over the social

303

: 00:18:09

media fear and now you are acing it.

304

: 00:18:12

You did get over the lead

magnet and nurture sequence.

305

: 00:18:15

Oh my God, yes.

306

: 00:18:18

All of these things that felt like such

massive hurdles at the time and gained

307

: 00:18:23

your first clients, had your first

sales calls, did your first webinars.

308

: 00:18:28

There's so many things that I think are

such a huge celebration for you that I'm

309

: 00:18:32

glad you are sharing your story so others

know that it's okay to have those fears.

310

: 00:18:39

Yes.

311

: 00:18:39

And I think it's giving yourself grace on.

312

: 00:18:42

And what you can and cannot do.

313

: 00:18:44

But at least now I have a lay of

the land, which is what I wanted.

314

: 00:18:47

I wanted to know what

are all the moving parts.

315

: 00:18:49

You know, every single little

thing we learn, you could learn for

316

: 00:18:53

thousands of hours how to ask great

questions or create great space.

317

: 00:18:58

So it's just like you say, how can we

have a focus on that particular skill?

318

: 00:19:03

Absolutely ace it.

319

: 00:19:04

Then develop the next skill

because you've already got the

320

: 00:19:07

baseline now of all of them.

321

: 00:19:10

So I think that's probably one thing.

322

: 00:19:13

That's one piece of very

specific advice, right?

323

: 00:19:16

Because you can't do everything.

324

: 00:19:18

Well, we're just not built for that.

325

: 00:19:19

Yeah.

326

: 00:19:20

Love it.

327

: 00:19:21

Thank you so much, Melissa.

328

: 00:19:22

Any parting words to coaches

listening that would be

329

: 00:19:25

motivating and inspiring for them?

330

: 00:19:29

For anyone who's listening, who's feeling,

oh, when's this gonna happen for me?

331

: 00:19:34

It can happen anytime.

332

: 00:19:37

You've just gotta be certain that this is

what you really want and then you've gotta

333

: 00:19:41

put your back in it and then ask for help.

334

: 00:19:45

Love it.

335

: 00:19:46

Great advice.

336

: 00:19:47

Melissa.

337

: 00:19:47

Thank you again so, so much for

sharing your journey with us.

338

: 00:19:51

It was wonderful to work with you and I

cannot wait to see what's next for you.

339

: 00:19:56

I hope it was wonderful

to hear Melissa's journey.

340

: 00:19:59

There are a couple of spots remaining

for the 3rd of June intake for

341

: 00:20:04

the business of coaching, and the

price goes up after this round.

342

: 00:20:08

So if you know you want to join and you

are free to start on the 3rd of June, I

343

: 00:20:13

know that it is the right time for you.

344

: 00:20:16

You will find the details to the business

of coaching program in the show notes.

345

: 00:20:21

It would be wonderful to work with

you and fast track your journey.

346

: 00:20:26

Microphone (Samson Q2U Microphone):

Thank you so much for listening to this

347

: 00:20:28

episode of Women in the Coaching Arena.

348

: 00:20:31

I have a mess of free resources on

my website joannalottcoaching.com.

349

: 00:20:37

That's Joanna with an A

and Lott with two T's.

350

: 00:20:41

joannalottcoaching.com.

351

: 00:20:43

And I'll also put links in the show notes.

352

: 00:20:47

Let me know if you found

this episode useful.

353

: 00:20:50

Share it with a friend and

leave me a review, and I will

354

: 00:20:53

personally thank you for that.

355

: 00:20:56

Remember to trust yourself, believe

in yourself and be the wise Gardner

356

: 00:21:00

who keeps on watering the seed.

357

: 00:21:02

Get into the arena dare, greatly and try.