Louise H Reid is a mom, wife, entrepreneur, empowerment coach and radio host/podcaster. Louise’s mission is to empower girls and women to rise up, break out and push boundaries; to create a life of freedom, fulfillment, and passion.
She does this by empowering moms who have lost their identity in the busyness of motherhood and equip them with the clarity, confidence, and roadmap to find it.
What motivated and inspired you to start your own business?
I experienced my own life-changing personal and professional journey that led to a life of fulfillment, joy, and freedom. Through my pain came my purpose – to help others do the same.
In addition, my style, values, and definition of success were not aligned with working as an employee in the corporate world.
Tell us about your business.
I’m the Founder & CEO (Chief Empowerment Coach) of Louise H Reid. In my business I wear a few hats:
- Coaching: I help high-achieving moms redefine motherhood. I see far too many women who lose themselves as they nobly race through life caring for kids, their partner, friends, parents, bosses, employees, communities. It’s no wonder so many moms are unfulfilled and sleepwalking through life. It strikes me to the core because it doesn’t have to be this way. I help moms “wake up” in their lives and choose a life of fulfillment, freedom, and joy. I have a self-paced group and one-on-one coaching.
- Speaking: I love the opportunity to share my passion, experience, and strategies to help women live their best life. The best way to expedite where you are now to where you want to be? Learn from others! A few of my favorite topics include: Be Your Own Boss – The 2 Things You Have to Master; Building Personal Resilience – Thriving in a 24/7 World; Stop Holding Yourself Back – 4 Steps to Getting Everything You Want.
- Hosting: I’m the host of a global radio show/podcast (The Louise H Reid Show) on Contact Talk Radio Network. Each week I interview guests from around the world whose stories and journeys serve to inspire and motivate listeners to take brave bold action in pursuit of their own dreams and goals. My mission is to inspire others to be fearless in the pursuit of what sets their soul on fire!
Are you currently running any promos/contests/giveaways that you would like our readers to know about?
For moms who are ready to redefine motherhood and re-connect with the woman within, I have 2 freebies.
- 1-hour FREE webinar – you can contact me for details about when the next live one is.
- If you’re ready to get into the work and understand how I can help you, you can book a FREE 50-minute discovery call with me.
List awards/certifications/accomplishments.
- Certification in Coaching
- Degree in Biology, minor Psychology
- Certified in a variety of assessment tools (e.g. personality testing, emotional intelligence)
- Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL)
- Wellness & Lifestyle Management Diploma
Where is your business based?
My business is based online so I work with women around the globe. I intentionally created a “laptop lifestyle” so I’m anywhere in the world there is good internet. That said, on weeks where my boys are with me (and not their dad), I’m working from “home-base” which is Ottawa, Canada.
What were the first few steps you took to get your business up and running?
Getting my business up and running was the easy part because the excitement and energy was there. It’s kind of like the honeymoon period. Sustainment, evaluating, and then pivoting business after the “feeling” of wanting to has passed is the challenge! That said, you have to start, and this is how I did:
- I made the decision. It really all starts here. I made the decision to “burn the boat” as Tony Robbins put it. I had no plan B.
- I hired a coach. I found someone who had done what I wanted to and I learned from her.
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness of your business and getting new customers?
I always apply the KISS principle (Keep It Simple Silly) in my business. While referrals and word of mouth are humbling and serve me well, it is not a way to build a consistent client pipeline nor is it a sustainable business model with a global, online business.
Facebook ads have been my primary vehicle for raising awareness and targeting my audience. Next year I will be evaluating other social media options like IG and LinkedIn.
What have been your biggest challenges so far?
My biggest challenge so far has been ME! Yes, ME! I believe mindset is everything and that we can achieve whatever we set our minds to. The thing is something called FEAR creeps in all the time to keep us safe.
It’s disguised as “reasons” (e.g. I don’t have enough time, I don’t have enough money, I don’t think the timing is right). If I listened to these fears and self-sabotaging thoughts I never would have taken the leap into entrepreneurship.
As we continue to grow in our business and take steps into the unknown, this voice reappears, so mindset is something that I continue to work on. It’s what sets the “good” apart from the “great”.
How did you overcome these challenges?
The thing about fear is that it doesn’t matter how successful you are, fear is always there. The inner critic that questions you and your abilities pops out of nowhere. I’ve learned how to move forward in the face of fear and this inner critic. How?
- Having clarity on my WHY. This allows me to remain super connected with what motivated me to establish my own business in the first place. I am very specific and clear. I have them written down in a journal and I read them about 1/month. I use this clarity along with strong visualization (love my vision board!), to help me harness the power and meaning of what I do, the choices I’ve made, and the freedom and fulfillment it has given me.
- These are the thoughts I allow myself to have and the things I tell myself (yes, we all have that voice inside our heads!). This takes awareness and self-discipline. I read a lot of business books – on mindset and the power of the mind, of how to stop self-doubt and self-sabotage. I listen to podcasts that keep me in the right mindset (and make me laugh!). I pay attention to the energy of the people around me – are they on average bringing me up or tearing me down? I also meditate and exercise daily. This daily commitment is a must if I’m going to stay in the right mindset to serve my clients.
- I have a coach. Having experienced the benefits of a coach and the impact it’s had on me as a person and in my business, I will never be coach-less again!
How do you keep motivated through difficult times?
I think motivation is garbage. If I only worked on the days that I felt motivated, I probably would be working only half the time I do!
Success comes from doing the work long after the feeling of wanting to have passed. I use a lot of tools and strategies to stay focused on where I’m going, to maintain my belief, and to take intentional action each day towards my goals.
One thing I have learned along the way that has been CRITICAL is to remain open to opportunities that I didn’t expect while taking action. Sometimes– actually often – the “how” isn’t what I expected. In fact, it was better!
How do you distinguish yourself from your competitors?
There are a few things that come to mind that make me different:
- My specific niche distinguishes me from other life coaches. I work with corporate moms who are ready to redefine motherhood and find the woman within; who are ready to leave behind the shackles of guilt, self-doubt, feelings of “not enough”, and the mundane and replace it with a life of joy, confidence, and fulfillment. Why is this important? I have become an expert in this area and can serve my clients better as a result. I become known as the coach for moms who are ready to find themselves again.
- My style further distinguishes me from the other awesome coaches out there. It is direct and kind (and littered with love, laughter, and fun).
What is the best advice you have received recently?
My best advice is: stay in your own lane! It’s easy to get distracted by shiny objects which take you away from either your area of expertise or off track in some way. The shiny objects may be things that interest you, other peoples’ successes, what others are telling you, etc.
The shiny object comes in many forms! I’m not suggesting you go about business with your head in the sand – that will likely lead to failure. Instead, stay the course, remain grounded in your “why” and your personal values, have a clear vision of where you’re going, and be tenacious in executing your (flexible) plan. That to me is staying in your own lane.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs?
I have 3 pieces of advice:
- Let your passion fuel your purpose (in my case it was passion+pain=purpose). The result is that you’ll never “work” another day in your life.
- Be you! Know your values and don’t ever stray from them. You will be tempted at times, but don’t give in. It’s not worth the short-term success which may come with it. You’re the one who personally suffers and in the long run, your business will suffer too.
- While the mechanics of your business are crucial to master, it’s your strong, resilient mindset what will set you apart from the rest. It will allow you to weather the storms, the different “seasons” that strike all businesses, to deal with economic challenges, and to also attain personal fulfillment through it all.
What are your favorite business tools/resources and why?
I have an online business and am forever thankful for the business systems and tools that exist which allow me to automate much of my work (e.g. email marketing tools, online calendar tools, etc.) This means I have more time to do what I love– connecting with and changing women’s lives through my coaching and my radio show/podcast. These tools allow me to work smarter and make a bigger impact.
What is a good article or book you have read recently?
Oh, there are so many. Most recently “That’s What She Said. What Women Need to Know (and Women Need to Tell Them) About Working Together” by Joanne Lipman and “You are a Badass at Making Money” by Jen Sincero.
What are you currently learning about for your business or looking for help with?
I’m forever wrestling with FaceBook ads. It’s a love-hate relationship!
What are your goals for the next few months and how are you striving to achieve them?
Within the next 3 months I will be:
- Scaling my business and helping so many women that I will need to hire a small team, specifically a sales pro and a VA (virtual assistant). (Thank you Facebook ads and automation tools!)
- Monetize my radio show/podcast – I’m starting this by massively increasing my listenership and then seeking out connections and businesses who want to “speak” to my audience.
- Launching a podcast with my amazing partner: “Inspiration over Coffee with L&J”. More details coming soon, but it will be recorded at a new, small, independent coffee shop each week with sneak peeks into the production on our FB page and website.
What social media outlets do you use? List them below.
Instagram @louise_h_reid
Twitter @louisehreid
Facebook www.facebook.com/louisehreid
Private Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/womenachievingmore
Website www.louisehreid.com
Email louise@louisehreid.com
Podcast The Louise H Reid Show on Spotify, iheart radio, and iTunes
Hashtags #BeBraveBeBoldBeHappy