I discovered personal development in my twenties whilst working in marketing and recruitment. As I attended the events I met so many passionate people who wanted to turn their passions into a business, and leave the daily grind of the jobs behind. I knew I could help them set up their businesses and get the word out there. My first business was ‘The Booking Queen’ and I was focused on helping these people get bookings for their businesses.
It was also at a personal development event that I discovered that I too, wanted to be free from my job and work for myself. The following year, my role was made redundant, and I never looked back.
I help multi-passionate business owners who feel overwhelmed by all of their ideas.
In my online bespoke coaching packages, I suck all of the ideas out of busy minds and map everything out using a combination of coaching, strategy and intuition. The clarity gives my clients confidence in what to focus on right now, and what to put aside – to give themselves room to breathe!
Being a member of the HerBusiness Network connects me to other established businesses in a wide range of industries that I might not have connected with otherwise.
Who’s your favourite entrepreneur and why?
I don’t have one specific favourite, but right now, I love following Rosie Rees because she’s an advocate for marginalised communities, and her work in the space of intimacy and sexual wellness is both powerful and inspiring.
What do you enjoy most about running your own business?
Having the freedom to choose how I spend my time and that my business supports my lifestyle.
What three pieces of advice do you wish you’d been given when you started?
- You cannot do it all yourself and getting help is not a sign of weakness. You can be both fiercely independent and deeply supported by others.
- As soon as things become repeatable, document the process WELL and outsource it. It takes time to begin with but it will free your time up.
- Business as usual (BAU) requires a fair chunk of your focus, time and energy. It’s hard to also pursue a number of different projects simultaneously, on top of BAU. Don’t burn yourself out or spread your focus too thin.
What advice would YOU give someone thinking about starting a business?
Get yourself a coach or mentor early, to sort through your ideas and learn the skill of discernment. Entrepreneurs are rarely short on ideas, but just because we can, doesn’t always mean we should! Less is often more, rather than pursuing every single idea we have.
What skills and knowledge areas would you recommend those starting out in business get acquainted with quickly?
As I mentioned above, get yourself some support. Learning how to receive and seek out support is an essential skill in business. Track your money, both in and out. Get really clear on your boundaries – what works for you? The days you work, the number of hours you work, the type of clients/students/patients/customers you want to work with. Learn how to market and sell. Your mindset is also important. Find things that help your mindset and your internal dialogue to support your business to thrive.
What does your IDEAL business look like? Even if you’re not there yet, what would it look like if your business was ideal?
My ideal business funds a completely location-independent lifestyle for my husband and I, and eventually we’ll be based in Indonesia. I’ll be at a computer far less, running more events that include rich face to face, heart to heart and belly to belly experiences. It’s ultimately about entrepreneurial freedom – on my terms. It looks different for everyone!
We’ve got some land over in Indonesia (Sumbawa), that we planned to move to before the world changed in 2020, so that’s still on the radar, but has been delayed for now.
Learn more about Chenae and Entrepreneurial Freedom.
