Meet Fiona Keary

FIONA WAS DOING GREAT. BUT, LOOKING FOR GUIDANCE…

At one point in her business, Fiona had been working vigorously to attract new clients and structure her business adequately, but something was still missing. The resources she had been using were failing to help her move her business forward.

She knew that she needed to take action, even though she had reservations. So, she decided to take a leap of faith because she wanted direction and accountability.

Her leap led her to an invaluable experience.

Style Liberation went from being “stuck” to reaching over 400 clients and a series of sold out live events. Fiona saw a substantial increase in revenue and in new clients.

Style Liberation finally had a solid, predictable marketing system that was well organised and had a healthy budget. She created a business that she says, “doesn’t even feel like a job,” which is the real success.

Now her business is thriving, and she is able to see herself as a confident business leader. So what was her secret? Where did she find all the tools needed to get over her tipping point? The answer is mentoring.

It was the “Making It” webinar which revealed to Fiona that mentoring was what many successful businesswomen were doing to stay on track and get results. These women had someone who understood their experiences and needs, was propelling them forward, and had been giving them invaluable advice and support along the way.

Fiona confesses that even after watching the webinar, she was hesitant about mentoring. There were so many options out there – and that made making a decision more complicated. Fiona struggled to prioritise what she knew was an important turning point in her business.

 

IT WAS HARD TO INVEST IN HERSELF…

She explains that one of the hardest decisions to make was to invest in herself. She feared that it wouldn’t be worthwhile or that she would take too much time away from the business.

But she did it anyway.

Through the HerBusiness mentoring program, Fiona met PJ, her mentor. PJ helped Fiona find her focus. “When Fiona started her business, there wasn’t a lot of structure,” said PJ. “She had a laundry list of ideas – all really great ideas – but they weren’t heading in the same direction. Instead of covering a large range of areas, we took a few ideas, focused on them and started to give her business depth.”

“We just needed to get rid of the noise. And, all I had to do was ask the right questions. She knew the answers but just needed someone to get her thinking in the right direction,” PJ continued. “The most powerful thing she did was make a plan. Now she has a predictable business and knows that if she does ‘A B and C’ then ‘X Y and Z’ will happen.”

Mentoring is how Fiona grew her business and got over the tipping point. The professional and monetary benefits were not the only upsides, either. Mentoring has also shaped her as a business owner and developed her personally.

 

A NEW SENSE OF CONFIDENCE…

“It gave me confidence. I know that I have a person in my corner providing me with solid advice,” she said. “My mentor pushes me out of my comfort zone, and I have taken so many leaps that I wouldn’t have taken by myself. Or, I probably would have made some pretty stupid leaps that didn’t get me anywhere. I really just needed that gentle push or nudge in the right direction.”

PJ stresses that he didn’t GIVE Fiona confidence, rather that she built it herself. “Most people think that mentors give them the confidence when really we just help them find it,” admitted PJ. “Fiona just needed someone to support her and pull the confidence out of her. It is built a little at a time – it’s a process of gaining confidence in small pieces after each success.”

The best part of this relationship is that the learning was reciprocated. PJ said that he has gained so much from this relationship too.

“When you have to explain something to someone else, it strengthens your knowledge of the subject and it shows you where there are gaps in your understanding,” he said.

“Mentoring also keeps me inspired. I’ve never mentored anyone that didn’t inspire me somehow, and Fiona is no different. From her I have learned that if you put in the work, you will get the results. She doesn’t let her setbacks define her, but instead uses them to teach her lessons. This has really been key to her success.”

Fiona offers, “Mentoring is completely rewarding and so empowering. It is important to have someone in your corner who is a sounding board. This experience has been invaluable.”

If you are thinking about getting a mentor, Fiona recommends:

“Take the leap of faith. Back yourself. It’s all about growth, professional and personal, so invest in yourself and have confidence to.”

Or, if you are thinking of being a mentor, PJ wants you to know that with the right experience, you can be! “If you have had success on the journey, even if you aren’t where you want to be yet, you still have something to give. It is not about knowing everything or being the expert, but rather supporting someone else.”

Learn more about Fiona and Style Liberation here.

Learn all about the HerBusiness Mentoring program here.

This article was co-authored by Mary Klepzig. She is currently completing a journalism internship at HerBusiness. She is pursuing a degree in Communication Studies at the University of Tennessee in the United States.