“When we compromise we also cheat ourselves believing that our values aren’t worth as much as someone else’s. Instead of compromise we need to find those win-win situations that stay true to us and our values and give the world something a whole lot better.”
Tamara Stanley of My Path Forward works as a career coach to help teenagers and young adults overcome the stress and anxiety associated with the process of building a fulfilling career for themselves.
Tamara’s vision for her business developed years ago as she was raising her three boys. The same year her third son was born, her two oldest sons were both diagnosed with autism. A little over two years later, her third son was diagnosed with autism as well.
Like many parents who have a child with a disability, Tamara wanted to do everything she could to help her boys. She found that traditional therapies weren’t working for her family, so she began to do her own research. One of the startling facts she found was that teenagers with autism are at higher risk of depression and have difficulty gaining employment. With her eldest son being diagnosed late at 8 years old, Tamara quickly realized that there weren’t many services to help older children transition into the workforce, so she set out to close this gap with the creation of My Path Forward.
With My Path Forward, Tamara’s mission is to prepare teenagers and young adults mentally and emotionally for the workplace and give all people the chance to build a meaningful career that can provide them financial independence. She has studied counselling, coaching, NLP, hypnosis, mBit, meditation, career development, EFT and became a Jack Canfield trainer to help people achieve their career goals and increase their satisfaction in life.
Ideally, Tamara wants My Path Forward to be a hub that provides a range of training and development to high schools and early-career people. It would offer a range of different services to help people of all levels access training that prepares them for the workplace.
My Path Forward has given Tamara the flexibility to better support her boys, as she works from home and continues to fulfil her passion of helping people build a career they’ll love!
Who’s your favourite entrepreneur and why?
Not sure if most would call him an entrepreneur, though he is the person I look up to the most. It is John Maxwell! Reading and following John Maxwell taught me that you never have to let go of your values and standards to be successful in life.
All too often we are taught we need to compromise. Though as we compromise we lose the value in what we are doing. I have seen this so often in corporate life. Where this grand idea (that is amazing) is whittled down to something that may just resemble what the initial idea was, though have none of the value.
When we compromise we also cheat ourselves believing that our values aren’t worth as much as someone else’s. Instead of compromise we need to find those win win situations that stay true to us and our values and give the world something a whole lot better.
Why did you start your business and what gave you the idea?
My business became a dream many years ago as I was raising my three boys. Within a year we had 2 autism diagnosis and a new baby. It was a big year. Two and a bit years later the third was diagnosed with autism as well.
Like many parents of child with a disability they want to help their child. For me I didn’t like the traditional therapies and felt they didn’t work for us. So I started learning more. With my eldest being diagnosed late at 8 years old, I quickly realised that there weren’t as many services for older children. As rightly so most are focused on early intervention. I knew that gap needed to be closed.
One of the starling facts I found out was teenagers with autism are at higher risk of depression, and also when looking at employment, people with autism have the highest rate of disability of any disability.
I wanted to close this gap for my children. I have since studied counselling, coaching, NLP, hypnosis, mBit, meditation, career development, EFT and am also a Jack Canfield trainer.
My mission is to prepare teenagers and young adults mental and emotionally for the workplace, and give all people the chance to build a meaningful career which can provide financial independence to them.
What do you enjoy most about running your own business?
I love that it has given me the flexibility to better support my own boys, as I work from home, which I didn’t get in the corporate world.
What three pieces of advice do you wish you’d been given when you started?
- Be kind to yourself everyday. Some days are hard and you need to consistently step outside your comfort zone. It is so easy to beat yourself up about things. Though this isn’t helpful. Be kind to yourself everyday, and know you are doing the best you can.
- Know your ideal client in depth. I thought I knew who my ideal client was, that as I did the New Client Week I realised that it wasn’t that clear. This had resulted in my spinning my wheels a little and being confused in my messaging. Get very clear on this early.
- Take a day off. When you are spinning your wheel and not going anywhere, you are not productive. When you stay in this state it can go on for days. It is best to take a day off and do something totally different and then come back. You’ll be amazed at the focus and ideas you can come back with. You are then more productive and get more done.
What advice would YOU give someone thinking about starting a business?
There are probably a few things I would say. Firstly make sure it is something that you feel passionate about. This helps to keep you focused on the bigger picture and get you through the tough days.
Get clear on your ideal client early and know who they are in detail. This makes a big difference to your marketing and messaging.
Be kind to yourself and have a support network around you. You are in business providing the world with something that is needed. Some days are tough, and you need to help yourself through them. These are the days you can lean on your support network to lift you up and keep you on track.
What skills and knowledge areas would you recommend those starting out in business get acquainted with quickly?
I feel that most people going into business are great at what they do. They are the experts. What they are not so great at (unless this is their area of expertise) is financials and marketing. Know these two areas well to compliment what you do and it will make the world of difference.
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 have a big vision for my business. I want it to be a hub that provides a range of training and development to high schools and early career people. It would provide a range of different services to help people of all levels to access training that prepares them for the work place.
What problem does being a Member of the HerBusiness Network solve for you and your business? And, how?
It provides me with upskilling to better run my business, and connection to other business women to collaborate with, bounce ideas off and support so we can all grow together.
