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As business owners, we often focus on the tangible aspects of our operations—our products, services, and processes. However, one crucial element that is frequently overlooked during the foundational stages of growing a business is the vision and mission. Many of us start our businesses because we see a need that hasn't been fulfilled or believe we can offer something better. While these motivations are valid and powerful, it's essential to remember that our vision and mission should not only reflect our own views and processes but also resonate deeply with those we aim to serve. We've all used a map of some kind before; a vision and mission is just that. There are four elements to consider when reviewing this map for your business: Empower yourself to take responsibility and action to achieve what you want in your life and business. Identify what pieces of the puzzle to focus on and structure time to work on your growth. Every client or potential client views things through a different lens. Businesses excel when they understand this diversity of perspectives and integrate it into their processes. How does your mission fulfil their needs, demonstrating that the value you offer is worth more than the price of your services? Create intentions specific to your needs. If you want to make changes in your business in the year ahead, ones that will actually land, it's up to you to prioritize your growth your way. Your vision allows you to tailor your business to meet your needs and aspirations. It can be a powerful vehicle to create the life you crave, while also ensuring that your business remains relevant and valuable to your clients. What tweaks need to be made to your vision so it truly serves you? GROW, SUCCEED, INSPIRE By following these steps, you can step into the light you're meant to shine. Redefining your vision and mission will help you build a more resilient and further enhance your business's success. Subscribe here to sign up to my email list where people in my community take time to consider what is right for their business, and how to implement changes in their business that will work for them. Remember, prioritizing your growth and focusing on what works for both yourself and your clients will help you achieve the success you desire.

As a business owner, how good are you at taking time off? I mean proper time off, away from the business, which includes not really thinking about your business, all that much. Of course, there will still be thoughts in your head about your business, that’s only natural. I’ve found that business owners often need to be reminded of the benefits of taking time off, both for their personal health and well-being, but also for the success of their businesses. These benefits include: · Increased productivity · Improved decision-making · Reduced stress · Increased creativity · Improved relationships with employees, customers, and family According to a survey by Aldermore SME Future Attitudes, only 48% of small business owners in the UK take more than five days off a year. The report also says that a fifth (21%) take zero holiday days. This is significantly lower than the average for corporate employees, who take 20 days of holiday per year. So, business owner, I’ll get straight to it, for those that do take time away, you’re supporting you, well done, you will not only feel the benefits, but see them as well. To the business owners that don’t take time away, what’s your reason? · Some fear of losing control. Small business owners often feel like they can't afford to take time off, because they're afraid that their businesses will suffer in their absence. · Some lack the ability to delegate. Many small business owners are reluctant to delegate tasks to their employees, which can make it difficult to take time off. · Some suffer from workaholism. Some small business owners are simply workaholics, and they find it difficult to step away from their businesses, even for a short period of time. If any of these resonate with you, what do you want to change, for you first of all, and then your business? So, who here wants: · More productivity in their business? · Improved decision making? · Reduced stress? · Increased creativity? · Improved relationships? Only you can truly make the decision, and prioritise you, for you and your business. Sadly, changes usually occur when things have reached their worst. I’ve seen it many times, marriages breaking down or a person’s health is in tatters, physically or mentally. What’s the solution? Helping you to plan your time off. To begin with this could be small steps, such as an early finish or a late start, what’s a couple of hours in the grand scheme of things? Within this cover should be found, tasks need delegated and most importantly setting realistic expectations for your return. List out your concerns, and suggestions for what could help you to overcome them. Who do you need to get involved? Family, employees? It’s important for business owners to have the support of both. Perhaps talk to other business owners, who take time off, find out their experiences? Don’t get me wrong, taking time out can be challenging, but it's important to remember that it's not only good for you, but it's also good for your business. By following these tips, you can recharge and come back to your business refreshed and ready to succeed. How would you feel if you took the step to creating some time out for you? What benefits are you ready to receive? Imagine what you could do if you carved out some time to explore what this could look like for you and your business? If you had a sounding board to explore the ins and outs of your business, in a safe space, where the other person was really listening to what’s important to you and your business. I offer a 45 min discovery call, where my primary focus this August is on helping business owners find ways to take time away from their business for their well-being, as well as their businesses. To book this session email me on

How much attention do you give to your business, here being the type of intention that will create change. Many business owners love what they do, and some get wrapped up in the doing of the business quite frequently. Of course, there is always stuff that needs to be done, that goes without saying, time and time again. How is your business run, like your car it gets you where you want to go in life? Or has it turned into a job, that you must turn up to and do a bunch of things? Even if you still love doing that bunch of things. Take yourself back to the reason you started your business, and how far along are you at achieving that? Creating your own hours? Time with the family? Living comfortably? Taking time to separate yourself from your business is the first step to treating your business like a car. Perhaps you’re unsure on where you would find the time, or question the impact this would have on cash flow. Both are valid thoughts, but the question you really need to ask yourself, is how much do you want to change your current circumstances. Business owners work with me when they want to prioritise and prosper, to find time, independence, and the space to create their own freedom. My client Bill is working on his work life balance, and in a very short space of time Bill has found ways to reorganise his day, as well as elements of his business to allow him to generate more cash but also to be away from his business, with worrying about it. I offer a 45 min discovery call, to book this session email me on info@coachingwithkellietannahill.com If you have found this blog post useful subscribe here to sign up to my email list where people in my community take time to consider what is right for their business, and how to implement changes in their business that will work for them, https://fierce-creator-381.ck.page/4f9fed55bb, unsubscribe at any time.

Perhaps the price you pay is constantly in the forefront of your mind, or maybe you’re moving along in absolute bliss. There is a fine line between focusing on what you need to do to ensure you have a healthy attitude towards your business and the way it makes you feel, verses the way you as the business owner allows the weight of the business to impact you, your life and your businesses performance. The age of the business and the experience of the business owner is also a key factor to consider, statistics show that very few small businesses are profitable in the first couple of years of business. A year is a long time for a business owner to shoulder the weight of the business, provide for their family or lifestyle whilst constantly adjusting their offering to get their business’s services out into the world, never mind two or more. The support network around the business owner is also key for its future. Research by Fundsquire in the UK demonstrates that 60% of businesses fail before year three. Business owners that I have connected with have experienced numerous issues connected to the price they pay as a business owner. Popular themes identified were time, sanity, health, stress and cash. These themes can be all interlinked and working through each one can help business owners to find more cash. Not only that, owners have found that by reviewing the activities of a business and establishing the impact they are having on the owner has strong links to the productivity of the business? So what could you do to assess the price you pay as a business owner? Firstly, identify the physical and mental impact the business has on you. As the driving force of the business everything comes from you and the buck stops with you. Take some time over the course of a couple of weeks to monitor how you physically and mentally feel when working in or on your business. Please note that also includes thinking about your business when you’re not working. Remember how we physically or mentally feel can be positive or negative, look out for both. Look out for any themes or reoccurring patterns. Then look at whether these are connected to any particular activities or systems in your business. As business owners we all have parts of the business we’d really prefer not to do given the choice, however someone’s got to do it if you can’t delegate it to anyone else. Conversely, we all have parts we love to do, that someone else could do for us. As business owners we have the power to amend our ways of working too. The hours you invest in your business come from your decisions to do so. Therefore now is the time to establish what works and what doesn’t? Do you have a better day when you’ve been able to carry out your routines with minimal distraction? Was it getting the kids to school smoothly or getting out walking the dog before you switched on work mode. Once you have identified any themes or patterns, what can you do to take action to change these? Remember to look at your positive patterns, how can you replicate these more in your business. Undoubtedly there will be negative ones also, what can you do to lessen the impact of these activities? Ask yourself are they really necessary? What benefits do they bring your business? Business owners connect with me when they want the tools to prioritise and prosper, so that they can focus on what will bring their business profit giving them back time, independence, and the space to create their freedom. Book in for a chat online to see how my coaching services can help you or your business.

How do you view yourself and the role that you play in your business? What tone does that inner voice in your head hold, is it a positive one, the cheerleader? Or does it go to town on you, picking you up on every possible mistake or issue, the critic? Psychology professor Russell Hurlburt estimates 30 to 50 percent of people have an inner monologue narrating their thoughts throughout the day. In my experience I was driven by an inner critic, but in recent years have worked on transforming Edna, the name I give to my ego. Now Edna works very hard to be a critic but it’s down to me to whether I listen to her. A 2018 study found that self-talk can contribute to self-motivation, behaviour, performance, judgment, and criticism. Not only that but it can support problem-solving, self-reflection, productivity, and critical thinking skills, along with increased resilience against setbacks and lower stress levels. All these qualities could be useful to business owners if they are harnessed in the correct way. However, critical inner voices negatively affect self-esteem and confidence. So how can business owners convert their critic into a cheer leader? For me it was firstly recognising what I was listening to. I spend a lot of time inside my own head with my thoughts, and I discovered that the type of thoughts I had influenced how I felt, physically. For example, a client complaint would linger in my head for an age, even after a response and a resolution. I would go over the what ifs? Imagine if that happened, what reaction would that create? And on and on it would go. Edna could create multiple dire situations in my head, and I’d be left feeling terrible about a situation that I had entirely concocted myself. My feelings would be mental and physical, I carry my tension in my back and neck and I started to realise that they were connected. Moving forward I began to recognise that Edna is providing data, and that it is my choice as to whether I should respond to the data or not. The ego’s primary function is survival, and back in cave times this was very useful, however how a business chooses to respond to a client complaint is rarely life or death. Now I feel Edna pops up to remind me of things that have happened in the past that I have gotten through, or ways in which those situations could have happened, but didn’t. She provides me with my choices. It's her function to keep me safe. It’s my responsibility to make my choice, and of course stick with it, because sometimes Edna comes to me and says, “Are you sure?” So if you are poised with an inner critic moment try out the following: 1. Recognize the thought, is it positive or negative 2. How is it making you feel, mentally and physically? 3. What evidence do you have that the thought is true? 4. What evidence do you have that the thought isn’t true? 5. Review your evidence and decide what next steps should be? 6. Establish your reasons for your decision 7. Review your reasons when self-doubt steps in, and remember it's only Edna checking in with you? In the spirit of honesty, the concept of naming my ego Edna came from a coach I worked with, so I must credit her, Jo Gray Chartered MCIPD. If you’d like to find out how my one to one coaching session can help you with prioritising within your business so you can prosper, book in for a discovery session where you can find out more.

Procrastination, boredom and distraction are all ways in which we can put off doing what we need to do in our businesses. Sometimes it’s not any of these things it’s simply being overwhelmed with all the things that need to be done, the list just keeps getting longer and longer. We live in a busy world where few take their time, everyone is in a rush to get to somewhere. We are so easily obtainable, it can be hard to get a few moments peace, never mind time to do some actual work that requires concentrating. As the world keeps turning, the orders still need fulfilled, clients need responded to, invoices need sent, bills need paid, health and safety checks need monitored… never mind what needs to be done at home. However, all the stuff still needs to be done, or so you tell yourself. I’ll bet some of it needs to be done, of course, but I also make an assumption there are things on that list that don’t actually add value to your business. Sometimes things are on our list because they used to get us results. Sometimes things are on our list because we are told that they are important things to do in business. Also, sometimes things are on our list because we feel we should do them. Have I mentioned that if you’re using the word “should” for a reason that it needs to be done, it is usually the words of someone else in your belief system. As a business owner I encourage you to look down your list and see what is currently on there, and truly review how it serves you and your business. Yes, there will be items on the list that you don’t want to do but that will be integral to the running of your business. So these items should stay on your list, but there’s that word should again, so it should only stay on the list if you see value in it being on your list. For each item consider: 1. Does carrying out this task help with achieving my business goals? 2. When I carry out this task what will the benefit be? 3. When does this task really need to be carried out, now, in 2 days, next week or next month? 4. How long will this task take me? 5. What do I need to put in place, or what needs to happen to get this task done? Finally give yourself permission to cross off anything on the list that you know you won’t do, having something on the list that you have no intention of doing will rarely boost your morale in achieving your actions, most of the time it will just make you feel crappy that it is still there and you haven’t done anything about it yet? If you’d like to find out how my one to one coaching session can help you with prioritising within your business so you can prosper, book in for a discovery session where you can find out more.

How could prioritising help you and your business? Of all the things that need to be done in your business, how do you choose which needs to be done when? Do you focus on the person or the task that shouts the loudest? Do you write out a to do list? Do you follow the urgent/important matrix? Naturally it can be easy to get caught up in an issue that has arisen and is demanding your attention, but the question here is how do you deal with it. Which leads me to, how often has this focus been at your expense or your business’s. I’ll keep this short, you’ve probably got a lot to do. Some, can completely ignore it, and crack on as they were? Others could allow it to knock them off track, and deal with it until it's done. Imagine, if you found a way to make the issue or person know that they have been heard and manage expectations for when you will be able to resolve the issue? What space could that give you or your business? What else would you then have the time to focus on? Take a look back over the last month or so, and consider where the bulk of your time in your work has been spent? Consider the following: Was it where you wanted it to be spent? How successful were you with achieving your to do list? What went well? What didn’t? What got in the way? How did you deal with the curve ball? Looking back now what could you do differently this time? Now, it’s easy to berate ourselves over what didn’t go to plan, and carry that around with us and let it slow us down. But in reality, what didn’t go well, is done, it’s now a moment of your business’s history. So, in the spirit of letting go, recognise it didn’t go well, and decide what you could do next time should that situation arise? Then, let's look at what went well? Have a think about: Why it went well? How can you replicate that going forward? Did you make a mental note that you achieved that, instead of just ticking it off your to do list and moving onto the next thing? Some people plan their weeks ahead, others set up their day each morning, others take the day as it comes? What approach do you take, and what could be more beneficial for you and your business? Ps if you’d like to find out more about my coaching services book in for a chat online to see how my coaching services can help you or your business prioritise and prosper.

Must everything be a 10 out of 10 for you, or can you deliver on a 7? My 7 over 10 approach meant there was still more to do, but of course that was the case, I don't believe you can ever be one hundred percent ready, having all the i's dotted and t's crossed. Perhaps that’s just me though? During the first week, I had to make some tweaks to my website, spelling and grammar have never been my strength, and given I've got this far, I never really put much weight behind it. I also needed to double check that my website linked to the platforms I was using to run my email list. A recent acquaintance took some time to run through my website and check that everything worked correctly, feeding back on some kinks that needed smoothing out. The most challenging part for me was installing all the new software on my new laptop and remembering all the sodding passwords that were now a part of my life. No joke, it took me approximately four days to get all the software sorted. No granted, it wasn't four solid days, it was four days of working my other job, making sure all was going to plan in my family, and you know those life basics of eating and sleeping. On the fourth day of my new business launching my husband was involved in a serious road traffic collision, which meant my priorities had to immediately switch to my family. Thankfully he didn't receive any life limiting injuries and we are now on a steady road to recovery. Do you know what I was glad of, that I had twenty days’ worth of social media posts already scheduled, so I could grow my audience whilst I was tending to the urgent matters within my family. At the time when I was scheduling, it was, let's be honest, boring, I'm not a fan of admin tasks, but because you never really do know what's going to happen it meant posting on social media wasn’t something that I had to think about among all the other things there were to think about. So reflecting on my first week in business, what activities do you have to prioritise to make sure things are still running smoothly if you have to take time away from your business, should the unexpected happen. Ps if you’d like to find out more about my coaching services book in for a chat online to see how my coaching services can help you or your business prioritise and prosper.

How valuable would a conversation with someone be, who was skilled at listening to the current challenge you are facing, and then filtering through what has been said to assist you to get to where you want to be? Coaching allows you to detangle your ideas, and hear them in a new way, most of the time, the spoken word can really transform your perspective on a situation. As some of you may already know, I found coaching during 2020, close to the start of Lockdown one. I had a conversation with my boss regarding my own personal development and he had suggested I look for a taster course on Open university. My working career found me in roles where there was always something to learn, and I really enjoyed this about my career. Variety is the spice of life, so they say, and I never found myself bored, as there was always something else to learn about or discover. Amidst that time where we were all house bound, bar one outing for exercise I found a course looking at the differences between coaching and mentoring. After all I was a netball coach in my youth, it had been a while, perhaps a refresher would be good in these circumstances? Oh, how I was wrong. Imagine finding a whole new way to communicate with practically everyone in your life, a way that with some practice can transform everyday conversations, and really get someone to open up. You see I have found that coaching is the art of moving muddled minds to one of focus and precision. With coaching, you must have consent, however, through my studies, and further studies at the Coaching Academy, where I gained a Distinction for my Personal Performance Diploma, it turns out, being curious, and listening really changes how people interact with you day to day. Just last week I was having a conversation with someone regarding how they were, they mentioned that they were struggling to manage their work, life, and their studies. I listened and waited, then I asked, what could you do to reduce your overwhelm? At the moment, they stopped dead, looked at me and said that’s a really good question. During my corporate life I was taught to use that line, if I was asked something that I didn’t know the answer too, but here, it was an indicator to me that one simple question had changed this person’s thought processes about their situation and now they were capable of considering their next steps. In coaching, some call it a lightbulb moment, whereby things start to fall into place. Whilst coaching, is about truly listening, and asking questions, it is also about finding solutions that work for the client, solutions that they are motivated and committed to carrying out, to take them to where it is they want to be. What is stopping you from mulling over in your head, what coaching could do for you over your next cup of coffee? My coaching ambition is to become a trusted companion for those that I support where no judgements or opinions are formed. I aim to create an open dialog where you can truly be yourself to explore where you are now and ultimately where you wish to be in the future. My coaching environment aims to create space and time to explore your needs how you can excel in the environment or situation you find yourself in. Ps if you’d like to find out more about my coaching services book in for a chat online to see how my coaching services can help you or your business prioritise and prosper.

Do you feel that your thoughts run at a thousand miles per hour, that your to do list is always the length of your arm, or perhaps people are always wanting a piece of you and you rarely get to the work you want to focus on? Running your own business can be incredibly rewarding however it can be very easy to work IN your business and not find time to work ON your business? Running a small business at times can make owners feel very isolated. Owners know their business inside out, for most the business is like a child that they have invested a lot of blood, sweat and tears into. Those around small business owners may sympathise with the pressures small business owners face, however until they have walked a mile in the shoes of a business owner they will never truly know how it feels to carry the weight of the business on their shoulders, or in their mind. Never mind showing up as a member of the family or as a friend, or as a boss, if you employ people in day to day life. In my employed life as a consultant to small businesses I’ve seen the untold situations that small business owners can get themselves caught up in, that takes them away from working on their business. Imagine what you could do if you carved out some time to explore your thoughts and ideas for your business. Coaching offers you a sounding board to explore these concepts, in a safe space, where the coach is really listening to what’s important to you and your business. Imagine a space where you can discover your strengths and your business’s, where you can be challenged on where these ideas could take you and your business, and ultimately what that could mean for you and your future. Coaching is an investment, that creates time for you to consider what is most important to work on for your business. Coaching allows you to detangle your ideas, and hear them in a new way, it could bring you a new perspective or plan on what your business needs from you right now. Coaching helps you to find solutions that work for you and your business, solutions that you are motivated and committed to carrying out, to take you to where you want your business to be. If your keen to see how coaching could work for you and your business and want to find out more about my coaching services book in for a chat online to see how I could help you or your business prioritise and prosper.