Christine Collins, MS is a Certified Neurolinguistic Coach and Consultant with over 15 years of experience in counseling, coaching and business. In addition to two Masters degrees in the studies of Psychology and Business Management, she is certified in Neurolinguistic Programming and Motivational Interviewing techniques, as well as is a Certified Addiction Counselor, allowing her to offer a powerfully effective approach to facilitate transformational life change. Read our interview with the lovely Christine below…
What motivated and inspired you to start your own business?
I began my career in the counseling field, working with adolescents and later adult clients, while earning both my master’s in Psychology and becoming a certified as an addiction counselor. I had the opportunity to be mentored by some truly incredible minds in various approaches and techniques. After several years, I moved into the education world and began teaching college classes as well as coaching in a corporate environment, while also completing my master’s in Business Management. My coaching business is the perfect marriage of my many years of experience doing one-on-one and group counseling and my business background supporting in staff to be effective and enhancing outcomes by concentrating on specific and measurable goals. I love watching people reach a moment of revelation or transformation. The moment when they impress themselves with how far they’ve come and can truly see the impact of our work together. With NLP coaching, that transformation begins to happen quickly, and it’s very exciting.
Tell us about your business.
Transform Create, LLC is a small business providing innovative and personalized coaching services. Coaching is provided to clients over the phone in the comfort of their homes. Each coaching session is customized to the needs of the client, and the techniques are employed for maximum personal gain in a short amount of time. The NLP Coaching style utilizes a keen understanding of how the human brain facilitates emotional and behavioral change to foster proven success.
Are you currently running any promos/contests/giveaways that you would like our readers to know about?
Book online to receive a complimentary 20-minute consult, allowing you the opportunity to learn more about the powerfully effective approach of NLP Coaching, and how it can help you transform your life! In addition, right now Transform Create is also offering three sessions for the cost of two.
List awards/certifications/accomplishments.
- Certified Neurolinguistic Coach /Consultant
- Masters in Psychology
- Masters in Business Management
- Certified Addiction Counselor
- Published Author
Where is your business based?
Transform Create is based in Chandler, Arizona, but services clients all over the country! You can truly live anywhere and participate in coaching with me, as long as you have access to a phone, and ideally can be in a quiet, private location for our sessions.
What were the first few steps you took to get your business up and running?
- Becoming certified in NLP and completing required practicum hours to be a professional coach
- Becoming an “official” business, recognized by the state of Arizona and the City of Chandler
- Getting a tax license for the business
- Getting the word out to network, friends and family!
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness of your business and getting new customers?
The best results have come from everyday conversations and talking face to face with people about my business. I have done some social media marketing as well, and have asked people in my network for referrals and recommendations. I’ve also talked to other local businesses about allowing me to leave my business cards and marketing brochures in their front lobby or studio areas.
What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Deciphering the marketing realm, and learning how to balance my skills and creativity in transformational coaching with the added necessities of networking and advertising.
How did you overcome these challenges?
Being creative and being technical happen in opposite regions of the brain, but both are needed. I’ve overcome this by scheduling “business days” for myself, where I am not meeting with clients but instead am going over the more technical aspects of being an entrepreneur such as accounting, strategic marketing, and even editing on my marketing materials. I’ve designed all of my own materials, including business cards, brochures, and my Facebook sites, and have found these tasks are best uninterrupted. The same is true for getting into “coaching service mode.” When I am working with a client, I do not allow any “business” distractions to interfere with fully attending to my clients’ needs, so that focus is totally separate.
How do you keep motivated through difficult times?
I keep a folder of my “wins.” Emails from clients I have helped, or aspects of a project I am very proud of. I also subscribe to multiple positive and uplifting newsfeeds, and try to stay “fed” with ongoing articles, new information and hopeful focuses. In addition, the magnificent program I graduated from with my NLP certification (Bennett Stellar), offers a weekly conference call to support its graduate coaches. We are able to talk with mentors about challenging client issues or concerns with managing our business and get expert advice and feedback on a weekly basis.
How do you distinguish yourself from your competitors?
My approach is innovative and unique. I am a practicing certified NLP coach, and NLP itself is radically different from any other counseling or coaching technique available. In addition, I have a diverse background and have worked in a variety of settings ranging from a prison pod to a corporate cubicle. I’ve counseled inmates and I have coached CEO’s, so I have an incredibly broad spectrum of experience from which to draw. I’m also specially trained in Motivational Enhancement, and that combined with my NLP training gives me a unique and powerful approach.
What is the best advice you have received recently?
Don’t undervalue yourself and what you offer. It’s tempting when you are first starting out to charge less than you know your services are worth, but you know what you can do, and you know you have something valuable to provide, so don’t expect less than you deserve. Also, wake up each day thinking about how you want to feel that day, and focus on staying in that positive feeling. Remind yourself that the worries and failures of yesterday are already washed away as you slept, and today is a new day!
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs?
Believe in YOU. Don’t spend too much time giving ear to the critics. Sometimes it can be helpful to accept hard feedback, but I find that most women are so attuned to their own perceived flaws, and are well aware of weaknesses and challenges, that letting in too much additional criticism can be self-defeating. Trust constructive feedback from people who care, but remember that everyone “out there” is only capable of viewing you and what you can do from their own limited perspective and the world is much bigger than that. When you get that warm little feeling inside about a skill you have, or a service you provide, or something you can accomplish or create, that right there is your map. Follow it!!
What is your favorite business tool or resource?
I have come to really appreciate apps that help with photo and video editing. I’ve become pretty familiar with Videoshop, and with BeFunky, and am more recently acquainted with Pixotale and Hootsuite. I also highly recommend a good old fashioned thesaurus when writing anything. It’s easy enough to open a new email in Outlook, type in a word, and look it up. My absolute favorite new find though has been Visibook, an app that allows you to have clients book their appointments just by sharing a link with them. You can set up your “available slots” and they can book them, and when they do, you both get an email and text about the appointment. It’s wonderful!! By the way, every app mentioned (except Videoshop is $1.99) is FREE!
What social media outlets do you use? List them below.
Facebook www.facebook.com/transformcreate
Twitter @transformcreate
Email transformcreate@outlook.com
Booking Site https://visibook.com/eciewj5bud55mqhyc
What is a good article or book you have read recently?
I read a lot of articles each week! They range from articles about small business to uplifting articles about raising your vibration and positive energy, to health and fitness, to political articles. I also usually have at least one or two books I am reading at a time! Right now I am finishing a fiction series called “The Magicians” and simultaneously reading Tony Robbins “Money, Master the Game.” I have a wide variety of interests!
What are you currently learning about for your business or looking for help with?
I am developing my understanding of web design and using various tools for marketing and outreach. I am also beginning to understand the value and importance of social networking groups both in person and online. I’d love help with reaching a wider audience and marketing specifically to the “avatar” or ideal client.
What are your goals for the next few months and how are you striving to achieve them?
My goals are to quadruple my business over the next six months. I’m implementing a lot of great advice from mentors as well as feedback from other entrepreneurs I trust and following a specific schedule to manage specific aspects of my business at certain times.