Episode 63: Being A Successful Entrepreneur

This podcast episode features Karen Gately interviewing Natasha Coughlan, a multiple award-winning entrepreneur, coach, and speaker. The focus of the conversation is on the challenges and rewards of being an entrepreneur.

Natasha discusses her entrepreneurial journey

• She never liked being an employee and craved the freedom and flexibility of being her own boss. 

• She initially started multiple businesses without a clear plan, resulting in many failures. 

• The crucial importance of finding a mentor who can guide you and help you avoid mistakes. 

Some of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs

• Self-doubt and negative voices: It's important to silence these voices and believe in yourself. 

• Lack of planning and research: Starting a business requires research and a well-defined plan. 

• The wrong people around you: Surround yourself with positive and supportive people. 

Strategies to maintain confidence when faced with challenges 

• Meditation: Meditation helps to calm the mind and improve focus. 

• Visualization: Visualizing success can boost confidence and motivation. 

• Affirmations: Positive affirmations can help to counter negative self-talk. 

Key Points

• Importance of self-belief: Having a clear vision of what you want to achieve and a strong belief in yourself is crucial for success as an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship is not for everyone so it's important to be self-aware and understand your motivations before starting a business. 

• Finding a mentor: Mentorship from someone who has achieved what you want to achieve can be invaluable. Look for someone you admire and whose experience aligns with your goals. 

• Learning from setbacks: Everyone experiences setbacks. The important thing is to learn from them and keep moving forward. 

• Building a supportive network: Surround yourself with positive and encouraging people who will believe in you and your dreams. This network can provide encouragement, advice, and help you to stay positive during challenging times. 

• Find a mentor: Having someone who has achieved what you want to achieve can be invaluable. Look for someone you admire and whose experience aligns with your goals. 

• Don't be afraid of hard work: Being a business owner requires dedication and hard work. There will be times when you have to put in long hours. 

• Believe in your business: It's important to have a strong sense of purpose and passion for your business. This will help you stay motivated during challenging times. 

• It's okay to have multiple businesses with different goals: Some businesses may be purely for cash flow, while others can fulfill a deeper purpose. Find a balance that works for you. 

Additional Points Discussed

• The importance of taking action and not waiting for everything to be perfect before starting a business. 

• The challenges of balancing work and life as an entrepreneur. 

• The different ways that people can be successful as entrepreneurs (e.g., building a business for cash flow or focusing on purpose and passion). 

Key Takeaways

• Entrepreneurship requires self-belief, resilience, and a supportive network. It is also a challenging but rewarding path. 

• Self-awareness, resilience, and a strong support network are essential for success. 

• Having a mentor and a clear plan can increase your chances of success. 

• Meditation, visualization, and affirmations can help you to maintain confidence. 

• Surround yourself with positive and encouraging people. 

• There is no one-size-fits-all approach to entrepreneurship. Find what works for you and your goals.

Natasha Coughlan helps Karen answer:

1. Starting the Journey: Discuss the initial steps of becoming an entrepreneur. Motivations behind choosing entrepreneurship, the challenges faced during the early stages, and how you navigated the transition from idea to execution. 

2. Navigating Failures and Setbacks: Delve into the reality of failures and setbacks in the entrepreneurial journey. How has Natasha dealt with such experiences, and what lessons has she learned about resilience, adaptation, and pivoting strategies? 

3. Vision and Legacy: Discuss the long-term vision for your empire.? How do you plan to leave a legacy through your entrepreneurial endeavors? 

Listen to the full podcast here.

Connect with Natasha Coughlan on Linked In now!