Meet Innovative Woman Minette Riordan, Ph.D., business coach for creative entrepreneurs!
1. How/why did you begin your business?
I started my current business as the business coach for creative entrepreneurs with big dreams in summer of 2012. That was a big year for me. Prior to my current business, I owned a successful publishing company for 11 years and sold that company in 2012. I also relocated my family from Plano, TX to Santa Barbara, CA. During my time as a publisher, editor and advertising executive, I learned what I was good at and what my biggest challenges were as a creative entrepreneur. I wore every hat in my business at one time or another. I feel fortunate that I was able to sell that business, to launch a second business that allows me to leverage my knowledge as an award-winning woman entrepreneur and to help other women avoid the many mistakes I made as a business owner. I am passionate about helping creative women entrepreneurs understand how to build a profitable business that supports their lifestyle.
2. What has been your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?
My biggest challenge when I started my coaching practice was thinking that I could build it the same way I built my first business. I found it was so different selling “myself” than it had been selling advertising for my magazine. It required more confidence and belief that I was worth the investment.
3. How do you define SUCCESS?
I define SUCCESS as having the freedom, flexibility and financial independence to set my own schedule, to spend quality time with family and friends, to travel, to make art and to be saving for early retirement. I love my life! I have two teens and my husband and I are here everyday when they come home from school. I love that we both work from home and have more time to spend together. I live near the beach and can pop out anytime for a walk. I don’t work weekends and I spend summers working from beautiful places like Nova Scotia and Colorado. Freedom is one of my highest values so in a nutshell SUCCESS equals freedom.
4. If there was one thing you wish you knew before you began your business, what would that be?
How important it is to have a clear business plan in place to keep you on track and heading in the right direction. Having a plan took away all my overwhelm and frustration!
5. What makes you an innovative woman?
What makes me an innovative woman is my unique ability to help creative entrepreneurs design visual systems that work for their right-brained minds. I love combining business strategy with creative tools like journaling, SoulCollage®, vision boards and visual mapping. As a creative entrepreneur myself, I struggled to create a traditional business plan. So boring and not particularly useful! I created a one page visual business planning system that creates results and it’s colorful, playful and fun.
To learn more visit www.minetteriordan.com or connect with Minette on Facebook or Twitter.