What you’ll learn in this interview:

1. The experts she hires to support her business
2. What books and courses she found most helpful
3. The best advice she ever received
4. Her fitness routine

How This Coach Runs Her Business Behind The Scenes

1. What do you do? Who do you help?

I coach high-potential individuals on how to use their influence strategically, collaborate effectively, and focus on innovation.

I also create training programs that focus on keeping employees resilient, engaged, and productive, and able to manage change and transition within the organization.

2. List your favorite business tools.

SOCIAL MEDIA

• LinkedIn – SmarterQueue
• Facebook – SmarterQueue
• Twitter – SmarterQueue

I use technology-based tools as appropriate but have developed my business by hiring individuals in areas that are not my strengths. This includes marketing, managing my social media, and all my website, graphic design, and training-material needs.

When I wrote my book, I hired a project manager and an editor to shepherd me through the writing process and a publicity agency post-publication. Not only do I have way more energy and more time for my family and personal activities by getting assistance in these areas, but my business income has increased.

3. What is a good course, website or book you would recommend and why?

COURSES

• Focus workshop by Franklin Covey – a two-day seminar on practicing the seven habits of highly effective people – I took it twenty-five years ago when I started my business and again fifteen years ago.
• Search Inside Yourself – two full days of mindfulness training that can be life-changing – it’s about having an inner calm and avoiding burnout.
• WriteSpeak by Barbara Sher – I used this to design the Career Recharge training class that is a keystone of my business – a full-year program that includes buddy coaching, a once-a-month call with Barbara, an online program, and lots of accountability.

WEBSITES

• Calm – mindfulness is a cornerstone of well-being and meditation is a useful tool. This is one of my favorite apps for meditation.
• TypeCoach – knowing your personality type helps you function more effectively and this website provides assessments and tools.
• 360°REACH – an excellent way to define your brand is to get feedback from colleagues, customers, and anyone else who sees you in action. The 360°REACH survey is an excellent online tool for doing this.

BOOK

• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey – this was the first business book I read over 25 years ago. It taught me that career and personal life need to be looked at together for happiness and fulfillment.
• Wishcraft: How to Get What You Really Want by Annie Gottlieb and Barbara Sher – this book provides effective strategies for making real change in your life.  I learned how to diagram a path to my goal of having a successful business.  I also had an opportunity to meet Barbara Sher at a live session in Boston and see first-hand how her strategies turn ideas into results.

4. What is the best piece of advice you have received?

• As an entrepreneur, it’s important to make sure you’re giving, even with people who do what you do. You never know when you can help each other out and karma is important.
• You cannot underestimate the importance of connecting with others. Every month, meet with someone who can inspire you or motivate you. Alternatively, find an organization you can develop a community with; you don’t want to isolate yourself.

5. What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs?

• Practice self-care and when circumstances are challenging, practice extreme self-care.
• Invest in yourself, whether it’s taking courses, attending professional conferences, or hiring a coach.
• Don’t be afraid to take time for your family and friends.
• Hire experts!

6. What is your beauty and/or fitness routine?

FITNESS ROUTINE

• Meditation daily.
• Boot camp exercise class twice a week.
• 30 minutes on my home elliptical three mornings a week.
• Yoga class once a week.

7. List the products or items that are indispensable in your life.

• My iPhone with Spotify.
• My laptop.
• My Guatemalan coffee latte with vanilla soy milk froth every morning!

8. Which female entrepreneur(s) do you look up to and why?

• Ariana Huffington – she developed Thrive Global to have a presence in the lives of people killing themselves with work after her experience of collapsing with exhaustion.
• Oprah – she’s not afraid to talk about the soft side of being successful. She talks about how meditation and mindfulness practice have added to her success and she’s professional about it.

9. List your social media platforms.

• LinkedIn @bethkennedycoaching
• Facebook @BenattiTrainingDevelopment
• Twitter @coachbkennedy
• Website www.bethkennedy.com