Mikaela Pugh is the founder of She Almighty and is a dedicated champion of and Life Coach to women. Passionate about empowering women to achieve their potential, big dreams, big goals, best self and life. Mikaela spends most of her time coaching clients on a one-to-one basis through her high impact coaching programs, speaking at events and running workshops. Read our interview with the lovely Mikaela below…
What motivated and inspired you to start your own business?
It was my complete lack of career direction throughout my twenties that lead me to discover life coaching. At that point I was already pretty well travelled, I’d lived overseas in Melbourne for a few years (I’m originally from Wales in the UK), I’d had good jobs, earned good money but I wasn’t getting the fulfilment and contentment I yearned for in any aspect of my life. I knew I had to make some changes. Coaching took me through a personal and a professional transformation and almost instantly I knew it was going to be my career path from there onwards. I set myself a goal to have my own life coaching business by the time I was 30 and I achieved it. I am now living the dream, not only do I have a freedom and lifestyle business, I have the impactful and rewarding career which I’ve always wanted, working with women who inspire me every day. On the personal front, I met the man of my dreams, we bought our first home together and are engaged to be married this year 🙂
Tell us about your business.
She Almighty is a life coaching business empowering women to go after their big dreams and goals, to create success on their own terms and achieve their best self and life. I typically work with clients on a one-to-one basis through my 12-week high impact coaching program. I also speak at events and run workshops for individuals and companies. My goal is to create an ever-growing network of empowered and inspired women.
Are you currently running any promos/contests/giveaways that you would like our readers to know about?
I offer a free initial consultation and I am happy to give Ladybossblogger readers a 10% discount off my 12-week program if they book their initial consultation with me by the end of March.
List awards/certifications/accomplishments.
I studied my diploma in Personal Performance Coaching with the Coaching Academy, but my clients have really taught me how to be a powerful coach.
Where is your business based?
In Hertfordshire, just outside of London, but I work with clients all over the world.
What were the first few steps you took to get your business up and running?
The first step was committing to my diploma, a few years later I quit my job in cyber security to set up my business full time and She Almighty was born. I’m very much an all or nothing person so to be honest I didn’t really have a plan for my business when I left my job! The next thing I did was invest in a course especially for coaches to guide me through setting up my business online.
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness of your business and getting new customers?
To date it has been a combination of referrals, online marketing, speaking at events and running workshops.
What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Mindset and focus! Starting a new business is full of emotional peaks and troughs and keeping up that self-belief in the early days wasn’t easy. Particularly as I placed such high expectations on myself and my business. On top of that, knowing what to focus on to create results was a challenge, I was constantly being pushed out of my comfort zone and sometimes I felt completely overwhelmed by it all.
How did you overcome these challenges?
My fiancé has been my rock, he really has been my number 1 cheerleader and support on my entrepreneurial journey. Whenever I would let self-doubt creep in, he would remind me of how far I’d come, of what I’d achieved, to be proud and not so hard on myself – something I think particularly us ladies are often guilty of. Sometimes we just need some perspective and I love the expression ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’ because it reminds me to just keep plugging and building. My focus has come with better prioritizing and greater clarity around the vision of my business.
How do you keep motivated through difficult times?
I am 110 million% committed to my business! I absolutely love what I do, I love coaching and my clients motivate me. I have a mission to empower women all over the world and I strongly believe in what I’m trying to achieve and in what I’m doing every day. I love my life, I’m very much living in align with my values – I have freedom in my lifestyle, business and finances. Plus I have always been incredibly driven and ambitious and have wanted to be successful in my own right. I have no reason not to be motivated!
How do you distinguish yourself from your competitors?
I don’t really think that way. I try not to compare myself to others as I don’t think it’s healthy or helpful. Plus I don’t really feel like I have competitors, I’m not the same as anyone else and there is no one like me. So instead of distinguishing myself from competitors, I focus on being the best version of me and how I can become a more distinguished coach.
What is the best advice you have received recently?
Always be learning, connect with people and build meaningful relationships.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs?
Believe in yourself, because if you don’t believe in you or what you’re doing, then why should anyone else? Keep taking action, don’t be stifled by everything you could do – focus on the top 3 things that you think will have most impact at that point in time. Enjoy the journey – being an entrepreneur and building your business will be one of the most exciting and one of the most daunting things you will likely ever do. Celebrate the peaks, learn from the troughs and enjoy because no one can do that for you.
What is your favorite business tool or resource?
Books in every form! I do still like a hard copy when it’s an educational book – which is all I really read! I like to be able to flick back to a particular page or learning point. And an audible for a run or on the go in general, I am always learning! Of course, I couldn’t live without Google – for all that it gives us but particularly for researching and sense checking what I’m writing!
What social media outlets do you use? List them below.
Instagram @shealmight
Twitter @shealmight
Facebook www.facebook.com/shealmight
Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/shealmighty
Website www.shealmighty.com
Email Mikaela@shealmighty.com
Hashtags #shealmighty #lifecoach #lifecoachforwomen #empowered #womenempoweringwomen #bethebestversionofyou #lovelife
What is a good article or book you have read recently?
“The Prosperous Coach” by Rich Litvin and Steve Chandler. I actually listened to it on Amazon audible and Rich has a very soothing voice which added to the enjoyment! I will probably buy the hard copy too!
What are you currently learning about for your business or looking for help with?
The online stuff, namely marketing and social media. I’m actually thinking about taking on an intern to help me with that side of things so I can focus on what I love.
What are your goals for the next few months and how are you striving to achieve them?
I have two major goals that I will be working towards over the next few months…
- I am currently writing a book for ladies with big dreams who are prepared to take big action and want guidance in doing so – watch this space! I’m striving to achieve this by showing up to my laptop every day and putting in the hours. I have my deadlines and I know exactly what needs to be done by when.
- I am also in the process of developing a transformational workshop. I think it will be a great way to introduce my core offering, which is my one-to-one coaching program, to those that are serious about making a life change or going after a big goal and working with a coach to do so. But I want it to be highly impactful as a stand alone offering. Again input of my time and effort plus deadlines are key to keep momentum in this project. As I will be taking about a month out for my wedding and honeymoon in April/May, I plan to hold the first workshop June/July time. Also I will keep building my network of empowered and inspired women and continue to innovate on that ambition 🙂