In business and other aspects of life, it is essential to have someone by your side to lead you along your desired path.
While Jan McLeod enjoyed her original corporate position, there came a point in time where she wished to give back to others instead.
While this journey into her current work started with a few bumps along the way, it would evolve into The Capacity Equation over time.
Jan enjoys working as a high performance and well-being coach, mentor and speaker and wouldn’t change it for anything.
Since running her own business, freedom and flexibility gives Jan life.
Who’s your favourite entrepreneur and why?
I admire all of those people who have invested their focus, energy and time to turn their vision of what they saw possible into a reality.
What do you enjoy most about running your own business?
Freedom and flexibility it gives to my life.
What three pieces of advice do you wish you’d been given when you started?
- Develop a belief in yourself. When you run your own business you need to back yourself. Being able to do this, to trust your instinct, intelligence and vision is essential.
- Surround yourself with great people. I run what I call a virtual team. In many instances, these people do not directly work for me, however, they are nonetheless an essential and core part of my overall team. Without them, I would not have a business. I see them as part of my business community.
- Accept that building a business takes time. When I started out, I had plans and was impatient for progress. The longer I was in business, the more comfortable I became with the fact that everything takes time. Rome was not built in a day, and nor will be your business.
What advice would YOU give someone thinking about starting a business?
I love running my own business and would not change it for the world. And I would encourage those with a vision to embrace it and follow it through. However, I think the effort and time to start and build a business is often underestimated.
It is easy to get excited and swept away with the possibility. I encourage those with an interest to start a business to do research, including making contact with those who have already successfully gone down this path, to build an understanding of what is required.
What skills and knowledge areas would you recommend those starting out in business get acquainted with quickly?
Most businesses do not succeed due to a lack of financial skills. So although there is a suite of aspects to become acquainted with, I recommend developing the fundamentals in finance, business planning and management a must. If this is beyond you or not a skill in your toolkit, then develop a plan to get access to these skills.
What does your IDEAL business look like? Even if you’re not there yet, what would it look like if your business was ideal?
I think I am happy at the stage or evolution my business is at. A key ingredient I have put time and effort into is continuing to nurture and build a pipeline of future business.
What problem does being a Member of the HerBusiness Network solve for you and your business? And, how?
Her Business offers access to an amazing array of resources. It also provides a gateway into accessing the type of support you need at different stages of building your business. What I am most benefiting from currently is being part of a goals group who I talk to via Zoom every fortnight. It provides me access to a group of amazing women who I can discuss my goals and business challenges with.
Learn more about Jan McLeod and The Capacity Equation.
