About the Company

Sarah Stewart's business focuses on time management coaching and project management consulting. She offers one-to-one coaching, workshops, training sessions, and a signature program called "Project Manage Your Life." Her clientele includes small business owners and busy professionals who struggle with managing their time effectively. The business aims to help clients find balance and prioritize tasks to achieve a more organized and fulfilling life.

Sarah's vision is to empower people to use their time intentionally, creating a life filled with simplicity, ease, and joy. She emphasizes the importance of flexibility, especially given her personal experiences as a single mother with a chronic illness. This personal approach resonates with her clients, allowing her to build a loyal customer base and maintain a flexible work schedule that suits her lifestyle.

Despite not having a long runway of savings or running the business as a side hustle, Sarah successfully transitioned from her corporate role to self-employment. Her business's initial success was driven by her expertise, passion, and the strong need for effective time management solutions among her clients.

Idea Behind Company

The inspiration for Sarah's coaching business stemmed from her personal experiences and challenges. At 16, her mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, passing away when Sarah was 19. This experience taught her the importance of appreciating the present and managing time wisely. Her father's decision to hire a life coach for her during this difficult period significantly influenced her understanding of prioritizing tasks and balancing work and personal life.

Sarah's corporate career as a single parent further solidified her time management skills. Flexible working arrangements allowed her to balance her professional and personal responsibilities. These experiences, combined with her diagnosis of Crohn's Disease, highlighted the necessity of managing her schedule according to her natural energy cycles and health needs.

Leaving her corporate job during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sarah initially pursued a career in transformational life coaching and art. However, she quickly realized the difficulty of establishing two businesses simultaneously. Pivoting to focus solely on coaching, she leveraged her strengths and experiences, eventually niching into time management coaching.

Creating the Company

Sarah's coaching business began with one-to-one coaching, quickly expanding to group coaching and workshops. She developed the "Project Manage Your Life" program, combining traditional time management principles with holistic mindfulness practices. The program has been successfully launched multiple times, improving with each iteration based on participant feedback and Sarah's growing expertise.

The initial version of the program was launched with minimal resources, primarily through Instagram posts and emails to her subscriber list. Hosting the program in a private Facebook group, Sarah kept costs low, using tools like Canva for design and Flodesk for email marketing. The positive feedback from participants encouraged her to refine and expand the program.

Over time, the program evolved into a three-month course delivered live over Zoom to small groups. It includes a members' area on her website with learning materials, video resources, and a mindfulness meditation library. This structure provides a comprehensive and supportive learning environment, enhancing the program's effectiveness and appeal.

Launching the Business

Launching her business without a substantial financial safety net, Sarah secured a consulting opportunity with a pharmaceutical company to ensure financial stability. This early success provided the confidence to transition fully into coaching. She built her website using Squarespace and leveraged her existing network by updating her LinkedIn profile to announce her new venture.

Sarah initially offered free coaching sessions as part of her qualification, gradually transitioning to paid clients. She created a basic coaching contract and established a payment method, then began actively promoting her services. Her first paying client marked a significant milestone, validating her decision to pursue coaching full-time.

One of Sarah's key strategies was to focus on activities that aligned with her interests, avoiding the trap of following the crowd. She prioritized making her business enjoyable and adapted her approach whenever it started feeling like hard work. This philosophy helped her maintain passion and enthusiasm for her work, contributing to her long-term success.

Sarah adopted a long-term approach to marketing, emphasizing blogging and email marketing. Most of her clients come from her mailing list, where she provides valuable weekly content through her newsletter, "It’s about time…". She also offers free resources like masterclasses and e-books to attract and engage potential clients.

Organic search has become a significant driver of new opportunities, including PR features in Stylist magazine and collaborations with other professionals. Networking events and hosting her own local events, "Connect for a Cause," have also helped increase her visibility and attract new clients. Sarah's active presence on Instagram and participation in relevant events further bolster her marketing efforts.

Sarah has refrained from heavily investing in paid ads, preferring to grow her business organically through valuable content and personal connections. This approach has proven effective, leading to steady growth and a strong, engaged community of clients. Her success in attracting and retaining customers is a testament to the value and impact of her services.

Earnings

Sarah's business generates approximately $4,500 per month, with a diverse revenue stream from coaching, consulting, workshops, and events. To date, she has served 121 customers, with lifetime revenue reaching $150K. Her flexible business model allows her to balance multiple clients and programs, maintaining a manageable workload while maximizing income.

Looking ahead, Sarah plans to relaunch her "Project Manage Your Life" program and expand it into the corporate sector. She also envisions public speaking engagements to share her time management strategies with larger audiences. Her marketing strategy focuses on long-form content, including blogging, weekly email tips, and an upcoming podcast, "Own Your Time."

Sarah's journey emphasizes the importance of following personal interests, maintaining a supportive network, and leveraging effective time management skills. Her success story highlights how passion, resilience, and strategic planning can lead to a profitable and fulfilling business.