Why Hiring A Coach Is Your Next Best Move As A Solopreneur

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We always say that going solo in business doesn’t mean you’re alone. And we can’t stress this point enough. You do not, and should not, carry the weight of an entire business on your shoulders. That’s a lot. 

However, it can be hard for people to not want to take everything on themselves, which can leave them feeling trapped and stagnant in their businesses. So how can you overcome this?

Well, one of the ways is by hiring a coach and if you clicked on this episode, chances are we’ve already piqued your interest with this topic, so we’re glad you’re tuning in.

Today, we're diving deep into the world of personal growth and transformation with insights straight from a highly recommended professional and personal coach, Kari Boatner. 

Kari's proven methods are all about helping you shift from overwhelmed and overworked to focused, fulfilled, and flourishing. 

We invited her on to discuss things like:

• Common challenges solopreneurs face that a coach can assist with

• Misconceptions about coaching

• Red flags to look out for when hiring a coach

• Examples of how coaching has transformed the businesses of some of her clients

• Advice she would give to solopreneurs who are hesitant about investing in coaching

Like the show? We'd love it if you'd leave a 5-star review!

Connect with Kari Boatner

• Visit www.kariboatnercoaching.com
• Follow Kari on Instagram
• Connect on LinkedIn

Favorite Quote About Success:

“Success and happiness are not matters of chance, but choice. They are things not to be waited for, but sought after." - Hellen Keller

Being a solopreneur is awesome but it’s not easy. It's hard to get noticed. Most business advice is for bigger companies, and you're all alone...until now. LifeStarr's SoloSuite Intro gives you free education, community, and tools to build a thriving one-person business. 

So, if you are lacking direction, having a hard time generating leads, or are having trouble keeping up with everything you have to do, or even just lonely running a company of one, click here to check out SoloSuite Intro!

About Kari Boatner

As Professional and Personal Coach, Kari provides a safe space for clients to explore their dreams, overcome obstacles and bring forward their absolute best life. Whether looking to enhance their performance at work, discover what's next after retirement, improve their relationships or tap into what makes them truly happy, Kari is there and excited to coach them to achieve their goals and get exactly what they want.

Like this show? Click on over and give us a review on Apple Podcasts Thanks!

Episode Transcript

Carly Ries: 00:00

We always say that going solo in business doesn't mean you're alone, and we can't stress this point enough. You do not and should not carry the weight of an entire business on your shoulders. That's a lot. However, it can be hard for people to not wanna take everything on themselves, which can leave them feeling trapped and stagnant in their businesses. So how can you overcome this?

Carly Ries: 00:21

Well, one of the ways is by hiring a coach. And if you clicked on this episode, chances are we've already peaked your interest with this topic. So we're glad you're tuning in. Today, we're diving deep into the world of personal growth and transformation with insights straight from a highly recommend professional and personal coach, Carrie Boatner. Carrie's proven methods are all about helping you shift from overwhelmed and overworked to focused, fulfilled, and flourishing.

Carly Ries: 00:47

Sounds lovely. We invited her on to discuss things like common challenges solopreneurs space that a coach can assist with, misconceptions about coaching, because I think we all have some of those and they are not true, at least not most of them. We talk about red flags that you should look for when hiring a coach, examples of how coaching has transformed the businesses of some of her clients, as well as advice that Carrie would give to solopreneurs who are hesitant about investing in coaching. This was such an insightful episode. I'm so glad we did this.

Carly Ries: 01:16

I hope you enjoy it. We discuss all of this plus so much more, so be sure to tune in. You're listening to the aspiring solopreneur, the podcast for those just taking the bold step or even just thinking about taking that step into the world of solo entrepreneurship. My name is Carly Rees, and my co host Joe Rando and I are your guides to navigating this crazy, but awesome journey as a company of 1. We take pride in being part of Lifestar, a digital hub dedicated to all aspects of solopreneurship that has empowered and educated countless solopreneurs looking to build a business that resonates with their life's ambitions.

Carly Ries: 01:54

We help people work to live, not live to work. And if you're looking for a get rich quick scheme, this is not the show for you. So if you're eager to gain valuable insights from industry experts on running a business the right way the first time around, or want to learn from the missteps of solopreneurs who've paved the way before you, then stick around. We've got your back because flying solo in business doesn't mean you're alone. Okay.

Carly Ries: 02:17

So before we jump into this episode, I just have to share this new free offer we have called the solo suite starter. Being a solopreneur is awesome, but it's not easy. It's hard to get noticed, and most business advice is for bigger companies, and you're all alone until now. LifeStar's solo suite gives you free education, community, and tools to build a thriving one person business. So if you're lacking direction, having a hard time generating leads, having trouble keeping up with everything you have to do, or even if you're just lonely running a company of 1, be sure to check out solo suite starter at life star with 2 r's.com and click on products and pricing at the top menu.

Carly Ries: 02:55

It's the first one in the drop down. Again, it's totally free, so check it out at lifestar with 2 r's.com. Click on products and pricing, and it's the first one in the menu. Hope to see you there. So, Joe, obviously, we like all of our guests.

Carly Ries: 03:09

I think we've have been really lucky in the people that we interview, but it isn't often that we get to interview somebody that we know, and that we like so much, and that is the case for today. So I I feel like we're having like a little family interview, like a family chat, the interwebs right now. Everybody, we have Carrie Boatner on the show today. She is one of our Lifestar members. She attends all of our weekly office hours.

Carly Ries: 03:38

We genuinely like, Carrie, I've never met you face to face, and I feel like if I saw you outside right now, I would just, like, tackle you and give you the biggest hug.

Joe Rando: 03:46

Oh, yeah.

Carly Ries: 03:47

We've been vulnerable with each other, and we've shared things in there. Like, biggest entrepreneur is a vulnerable vulnerable, excuse me, process. And so I'm I'm just super giddy about today. I don't know about you guys. Me too.

Joe Rando: 04:00

Well, I you know, it reminds me of the early days of the podcast, Carly, when the only people that would get on the show with us were people that we were close to. Remember back in those days? And it's like, yes. So it but, yeah, it was a lot of fun talking to people that you felt like you knew really well.

Carly Ries: 04:13

So Mom wanna be able to podcast at point. But I know it's kind of nostalgic, but rest assured people listening, we would've just have Carrie on because we like her because then, she'd be on every week. But we're we're having her on because she's actually we're we're gonna be talking about coaching today and the value of coaching for solopreneurs. And Carrie is a phenomenal coach. And she there is nobody else I'd want to talk to with about this topic.

Carly Ries: 04:46

So if you are kind of struggling in your business or need direction or you're isolated, coaching is just a really good avenue to look into. And so, Carrie, just off the bat, what are some common challenges that solar solopreneurs face that a coach can assist with?

Kari Boatner: 05:05

Great question. Well, you hit a number of them just with what you just said. So, you know, what we experienced as solopreneurs, especially if we're new to this, is overwhelm. What do I do? Right?

Kari Boatner: 05:19

There are so many things to do. What's the right direction to go? I feel isolated. This is sort of a lonely experience. Maybe I worked with a team or a company before and now I'm by myself.

Kari Boatner: 05:31

Right? So there's a lot of different things. Self confidence is a big one. Do I really believe that this is possible? Right?

Kari Boatner: 05:38

So there are many there are many things that solarpreneur struggle with and coaches are great for this because coaches not only are we a cheerleader, not only we do do we already believe in you, but we help you believe in yourself. Right? We really dive into some of those belief systems that you have and sort of dispel this and, yeah, and move forward and really help you with all the things like stress management, work life balance, etcetera. Million things.

Carly Ries: 06:06

Yeah. Okay. So I I wanted to hold that for a second because I wanna dive to a few more of those in a bit. But a lot of successful solopreneurs attribute a lot of their success to their coach and to their business coach and their personal coach and everything. However, there are some people that have a stigma with coaching and don't fully understand the purpose.

Carly Ries: 06:28

What are what are some misconceptions you often hear about coaching and debunk that? Oh, yeah.

Kari Boatner: 06:35

So well, interestingly enough, I I had many of these misconceptions before I hired a coach. So now that I've been through this whole cycle and I realize that these misconceptions are completely false. For instance, I thought it's too much money. It's not worth the investment. Right?

Kari Boatner: 06:54

And what I learned through that process and what I work with my clients on is this is investment in yourself. And when you do the work, right, it's not just about the sessions, it's about what you do during the sessions as well. When you do the work, it is far and above worth your investment, right, because you get so much from it, from this experience. The other thing I thought is, well, it's it's just like therapy. Right?

Kari Boatner: 07:18

It's just why wouldn't they just go to a therapist? It is different than than therapy for sure. Therapy and I love therapy. Absolutely huge proponent of therapy. But therapy tends to go back in time a bit to heal some old wounds.

Kari Boatner: 07:32

Right? Coaching is really more future focused. It's really about meeting you where you are today. What what do you want today and how are we gonna get you there? What's stopping you from what you want?

Kari Boatner: 07:42

Right? So it's very future focused. The other thing I thought is, oh great, I'm going to meet with someone and they're going to fix it all. They have all the answers. And I remember, asking my coach, well do you just have like a list of things like jobs I'm going to get or could get?

Kari Boatner: 08:00

And he's like, oh, no. That's not how this works. He said how this works is I don't have the answers. You have the answers. Our job as a coach is to pull the answers out of you, ask the right questions to get you to understand and uncover what's already within you.

Kari Boatner: 08:19

So some of those are some of the big, misconceptions. And also, I think the other one that is big is that anyone can be a coach. Because it is it is a different it's not a regulated field in the way that therapy is, meaning we don't have to be licensed per se. People think anyone can do it. The reality is is a really good coach has gone through a lot of training, has been certified, has practiced many, many hours, has gone through that whole experience of really sharpening their skills and and being able to see and hear what your client isn't saying or doing and really get at that.

Kari Boatner: 08:57

Right? Because that's the underneath stuff. That's the subconscious stuff that the client needs to surface to get to where they wanna be.

Carly Ries: 09:05

Yeah. Those are great points of differentiation. I'm glad you touched on the therapist part because I I hear that and I just the past versus the present and future, like

Kari Boatner: 09:15

Yeah.

Carly Ries: 09:16

So thanks for doing that.

Kari Boatner: 09:17

Of course.

Carly Ries: 09:18

Well, so my where that leads me is solopreneur is like they I'm gonna just go out on our limb and say at some point every solopreneur has imposter syndrome unless you have the best confidence in the world and huge ego. I don't I think a lot of people get in their heads. People battle isolation, they have all these business challenges, but sometimes it's like they can figure it out. Like, you like, every little point of your business, you don't need to be like, I need to call my coach. I need to call my coach.

Carly Ries: 09:46

They're gonna hit those points of adversity. When what are some signs that it's time for a coach?

Kari Boatner: 09:52

I think when you're really stuck. Right? And you're spinning and you feel almost paralyzed with indecision. What direction do I go? Feeling, like I said before, feeling alone and like you're you're sort of on an island and you have no one to talk to.

Kari Boatner: 10:07

And you you aren't able to hold yourself accountable to growing your own business. Right? Many of us who have worked in, a more traditional setting had the boss. Right? We had somebody saying, you need to do this by this time and get this result.

Kari Boatner: 10:23

It's now up to us. And some of us don't know what to do, aren't used to that. So if you're feeling that way or you're feeling less confident or you're feeling like you have impostor syndrome, like you're not good enough in some way, that's a perfect time to hire a coach. Because what a coach can do is highlight and bring forth all of the great things that you do and everything you've accomplished can be your cheerleader, can celebrate, can really help you strategize those next steps. Break apart what's overwhelming you and do really pragmatic strategic steps to get you to where you wanna be.

Kari Boatner: 10:58

And then loop back week after week and say, how's your progress? Well, you didn't do that thing. Why didn't you do that thing? What's in your way? So it's really that partnership and I I say this to every client that I work with.

Kari Boatner: 11:11

I am your partner. I am all in. I'm gonna meet you shoulder to shoulder along the way the entire time, and you're not alone in this.

Carly Ries: 11:21

Yeah. That that's really helpful and and a great point. But let's say let's say listeners are hearing you and they're like, okay. I am stuck. It is time

Kari Boatner: 11:30

Yeah.

Carly Ries: 11:31

For me to hire a coach and they're getting on Google right now and they're like, I like, professional coach aside from hiring you, obviously, since you do help people nationwide. And for True. Intent. If they're on the hunt for a coach, how how do they find the right fit for them? Because they there are likely quite, like, a few in their area at least.

Carly Ries: 11:55

What kind of questions should they ask? What red flags should they look for? What's your advice for vetting these people?

Joe Rando: 12:00

Yeah. I'm really interested in the red flags. What are some things to watch out for? Because, obviously, a bad coach is probably worse than no coach.

Kari Boatner: 12:08

Yeah. I, 100%. I could not agree more, Joe. That is exactly right. So the things to look out for when you are vetting coaches, I think number 1, one one good strategy to find a good fit is to talk to people in your life that you trust that you've seen them have results because they worked for a coach.

Kari Boatner: 12:27

And then the referral business with coaching is really important. So if you trust someone and they had results, that's a good indication that you're on the right path. But let's say you didn't. Right? Let's say you're just googling, and you're and you're and you're starting to have different meetings with different coaches.

Kari Boatner: 12:42

I would also say, don't just pick the first one you talk to. Unless it feels like a super aligned fit, interview a few people. Right? Because what you wanna look out for, you wanna look out for, coaches who aren't at the outset listening to you. They're not asking questions.

Kari Boatner: 13:02

They're driving their own agenda. Right? They're overly sales y. They're trying to rest rush you to make a decision. That's a big red flag for me.

Kari Boatner: 13:11

That means they don't have your interest in mind. They really have their business and getting money and getting stuff out of you. That's exactly the opposite of what you want a good coach to be. You want a coach to have a proven track record. Right?

Kari Boatner: 13:24

So if they are unwilling to, give you testimonials, some other references, that's a red flag as well. I would say not being willing to be flexible with you. Right? There are a lot of coaches out there who who are, very specific in their programs. Right?

Kari Boatner: 13:46

So this is the program I do. You fit into the program or you don't. That works for some people. For me, it feels like a red flag because you want you want a coach who is able to adapt and be able to say, oh, this is your issue. We're gonna be flexible and we're gonna work on a way to get you to where you wanna be.

Kari Boatner: 14:04

Those are some of the big highlights.

Carly Ries: 14:07

Okay. So let's say they find a person, kinda pull back the curtain on what that the evolution of a coaching relationship looks like because, Abby, did you might not be able to go to maintenance mode, but in theory, the a successful relationship is what they don't need to anymore.

Kari Boatner: 14:25

Exactly. Oh, and that's the other thing. That's the difference I wanna say between therapy and coaching is that I when I was in therapy, which I I actually deeply miss, I love therapy, I I would go for years. I would go for 10 years at a time and see the same therapist. It was a it was a maintenance thing for me every week.

Kari Boatner: 14:43

With coaching, my my ideal approach is let's figure out how long we're gonna work together at the outset. Rather, okay, let's try 3 months or let's try 6 months based on what you're looking for or a year. And then as that engagement wraps up, the conversation is how are you feeling? Do you wanna continue? Is there more you wanna do?

Kari Boatner: 15:03

Or are you good? Right? You good. And I can say, good luck. I'll check-in with you in a month or 2 months.

Kari Boatner: 15:09

Right? And we'll always be in each other's lives. That's the goal is for me. And I think for many coaches, is to get people on with their lives in a joyful, productive way.

Carly Ries: 15:19

Would that be another red flag if a coach was like, you need me forever? Just so just so that they get their paycheck.

Kari Boatner: 15:26

I mean, for me it would be a red flag. If there's a coach that is promising something, that's a huge red flag. If they are saying, if you work with me for a year, this thing that you're dealing with will be absolutely solved. I can guarantee it. Right?

Kari Boatner: 15:42

Promising a fix? Mm-mm. Because the coach isn't the one in control of that. The coach can facilitate and foster it, but if the person's not willing to do the work, it's never gonna happen.

Carly Ries: 15:55

I deal with that in marketing all the time. It's like how many leads can you guarantee me with this camp? And people say, yeah. It's like 10,000 leads. And it's like, what?

Carly Ries: 16:04

Like, it yeah. So bad. Okay. So let's go back to that that previous question to pull back the curtain.

Joe Rando: 16:10

Oh, yeah. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Carly Ries: 16:11

Like, are you guys talking every day? And I know it differs from coach to coach.

Kari Boatner: 16:14

It does.

Carly Ries: 16:15

Just in your experience, what does the actual coaching process look like?

Kari Boatner: 16:20

Yeah. So typically for me and my clients, it is, you know, there's an initial session. We figure out if it's a fit. Right? Really looking for a coach that is aligned with who you are.

Kari Boatner: 16:30

Right? So we do that. It's like a deep dive session is what I call it. If we are aligned and we're like, we're we know we're both excited. We know it's a partnership.

Kari Boatner: 16:39

We move forward. And then it is typically a weekly session. Right? In the beginning, for sure. Let's say it's a 3 month long engagement.

Kari Boatner: 16:47

In the beginning, the 1st month, 1st month and a half, maybe even the 1st 2 months, it's weekly. Because we you need to set that foundation. Right? You need to pull apart all those belief systems, start building confidence, being accountable. And then as the session as the engagement progresses, the client tends to get more independent, tends to get more confident, tends to be able to hold themselves accountable.

Kari Boatner: 17:10

So it sort of changes into more of a supportive, sustainable role for the coach and the client. And then at the conclusion of the engagement, it's it's that reevaluation. It's saying, where are we at? How are you feeling about the work? What do you need?

Kari Boatner: 17:25

Let's keep going or, you know, good on you. Great job.

Carly Ries: 17:30

From your standpoint, how can peep like, should people come prepared with a certain mindset? Because you can only coach somebody if they're coachable. So what should people do people just need to, like, go in with an open mind or what do you recommend people do to get the most out of coaching?

Kari Boatner: 17:47

Absolutely. I mean, you know, mindset is a huge thing that I work on with people because oftentimes when people come to me, they are they're deflated. They're feeling negative. They're feeling like they can't do it. They've lost their confidence.

Kari Boatner: 18:01

So their mindset we need to work on mindset, and I do a lot of work around that with people. So if they're coming in feeling like they can't and they're not open, I would say immediately, like, hey. Before we do this together, I will recommend some things for you to do around mindset outside of our sessions and our engagement so that when you come back to me, maybe you still need some work on that and we will do that, but you need to be open. Right? You need to be willing to do the hard stuff because it's not always easy.

Kari Boatner: 18:32

Right? You need to be willing to trust your coach that they have your best intentions in mind even if they might be a little, sometimes they might push you out of your comfort zone, that's part of this too, is that if we stay comfortable, work doesn't happen. Right? So we have to get uncomfortable And that's part of the coach's job is to really get people to push them beyond what feels good and, like, almost like homeostasis to get you into that place, that little bit of a pain point to get you to to to do what you need to do.

Carly Ries: 19:05

So if people are listening and they're like, this all sounds great. I think I'm in the right spot, but I'm still a little hesitant. What what piece of advice would you say for people that are, like, oh, like, right on the fence?

Kari Boatner: 19:17

Yeah. I would say, don't let your fears, your old stories, your old beliefs get in the way from you investing in something that ultimately is gonna get you to the place that you wanna be if you do the work. I'm gonna keep saying that you gotta do the work. Right? Because you can spend the money on a coach, show up once a week, be in conversation, and then just forget about it, and that's not gonna work.

Kari Boatner: 19:45

Right? So don't let your your stuff, whatever's holding you back right now, get in the way of you actually doing the work that's gonna get you all the stuff, all the incredible stuff that you want in life.

Carly Ries: 19:59

Yeah. Well and I asked

Joe Rando: 20:01

a question. Yeah. Yeah. You Because you you said I think you used the phrase old tapes.

Kari Boatner: 20:05

Yeah. The old stories.

Joe Rando: 20:06

And old stories. Yeah. And, that to to me, that seems to be from the people that I've seen in my life. One of the things that really comes down to holding people back the most are the things that they were told about themselves by their parents, their peers, when they were kids. And I'm wondering, when you do coaching, how much of what you do that involves changing people, helping people become what they want to become is erasing those old tapes?

Kari Boatner: 20:39

Yeah. Thanks for that, joe. A lot of what I do was around that. So the other thing, a really good coach will do is we what I said earlier, we're listening for what you're not saying. We're watching body language.

Kari Boatner: 20:51

Right? So a lot of we get a lot of information from what people are how they're making excuses for what they're not doing. Right? And excuses often comes from those old stories. Right?

Kari Boatner: 21:04

So for example, money. Right? For solopreneurs, the fear of not having money is big. Not getting paid is big. Right?

Kari Boatner: 21:14

So then we investigate. Hey. What's your story around? What is your relationship to money? Where did that come from?

Kari Boatner: 21:20

And is it true? Right? Even though you saw it maybe when you were growing up and you had your parents tell you to hold on to the money, never get into debt, do all of these things that feel very constrictive. Is that how you wanna live? Is that actually your belief system?

Kari Boatner: 21:35

Right? So we sort of we dive into what they were taught, their life experiences and then oftentimes if it's not serving them, the challenge I give to all of them is just because it was doesn't mean it is and it doesn't mean it has to be. Right? So being able to let go of things that no longer serve you, belief system, habits, patterns, all of it.

Joe Rando: 21:59

So a

Kari Boatner: 22:00

lot of work is done around that.

Carly Ries: 22:01

That makes sense. Carrie, just listening to you talk of, like, oh, people you have to work with are like you're just I I love sharing your approach to all of this. So for people that like hearing kind of success stories or if they if they need that to really dive into coaching, Could you share like 1 or 2? You don't have to share your clients names or their business. Right?

Carly Ries: 22:22

Sure. Yeah. Like like kinda success stories as it relates to their solopreneurship and how working with you has helped them found a new area of success?

Kari Boatner: 22:31

Absolutely. Yeah. Solrepreneurs are some of my favorite people to work with because I am one. I completely understand. It's a very relatable feeling that many of them have.

Kari Boatner: 22:41

One in particular, I'm actually working with her right now. She is she I will say this, the relevance is gonna make sense in a second, but she is part of the Karuk nation, and she was working for her tribe for many years as a fight like an accountant in finance. Her degree is in finance. She still lives, on the reservation, and she decided what she wanted to do is leave working for the tribe and start her own consultant business teaching the youth in the tribe how to manage money, which is so amazing. And it's just been so I get the chills.

Kari Boatner: 23:20

It's so inspiring because her vision is changing changing the way, the kids growing up in that community and culture feel about money. Right? Feel about how if if they can earn it, if they have the ability to earn it, which absolutely they do. Right? So she's she's been really developing this program to really reach out to teenagers before they go off to college or their next thing to invest in and figure out how to not only make the money, but also keep the money and grow the money and feel really good about it.

Kari Boatner: 23:58

It's been awesome. It's been awesome.

Carly Ries: 23:59

What was your role as a coach in that process?

Kari Boatner: 24:02

Yeah. Really. Well, when she came to me, she said, I have this idea. Right? I don't know where to go with it.

Kari Boatner: 24:07

I don't even know where to start. Right? So I helped her get super clear on her focus. Right? Write her mission statement.

Kari Boatner: 24:15

Write what she wants to do. Build a a business plan around it. Right? And then now we're at the stage where she's starting to talk to different people within the community and and get feedback about how everyone else feels about it, and people are just raving about this, and they're so excited. It hasn't been done before in that community.

Kari Boatner: 24:36

So so really just, you know, it was visioning, clarity. She doesn't have a lot of stuff around mindset. She's pretty sure that she's confident enough to do it. Right? And now it's it's vetting the community so that she's setting herself up for success when she actually does launch.

Kari Boatner: 24:53

So it's working with her on all of that and then holding her accountable to it. Right? There are times that we'll get on calls and she's like, I just went camping. I didn't do anything else. And I said, hang on.

Kari Boatner: 25:05

Your work life balance is huge. This is a big part of who you are as a person and what you can bring to this. So let's celebrate the fact that you went camping. It's summertime. It's beautiful.

Kari Boatner: 25:15

It's relax. Right? And we can just start from today and you can keep going. So that's one. And then the other one I love is I worked with a solopreneur, a very successful solopreneur.

Kari Boatner: 25:27

He'd been in business for over 20 years. Wanted to retire. Right? And he reached out because he was feeling really he was not feeling great about his identity. Who am I once I sell this business?

Kari Boatner: 25:46

Right? I've been a solopreneur my whole life. Do I still get to be 1? Do I still get to call myself that? What am I gonna do next?

Kari Boatner: 25:54

And is the new owner gonna destroy what I've built for 20 years? So his was really fear based. Right? This is who I've always been. This is how I this is who I project myself to be in the world.

Kari Boatner: 26:06

Do I have to change that? And if I do, who do I change it to? Right? So we worked on celebrating again what the this incredible accomplishment he made in his life, not only for himself and for the people that business serves, but also for his family. Right?

Kari Boatner: 26:25

So we celebrated that, and then we talked about, well, what is it that you want? Why do you feel like you have to let go of this identity? Right? And let's say you do, what identity do you want over here? Right?

Kari Boatner: 26:36

What's next for you? So he got to a point of saying, I'm so happy. I'm letting go, letting go of the identity. Whatever will be will be for the new owner. I've done everything I can do to set them up for success.

Kari Boatner: 26:50

And now I'm gonna go and be a consultant because I love working. So now he's a consultant helping other small business owners. Yeah. It's cool. It's really I mean, the the greatest thing, and again, I'm getting chills, the greatest thing about coaching from my perspective, not that it's about me at all, but, oh my god, this is a great job.

Kari Boatner: 27:09

Because I get to see people really rise and really start, not only getting to know themselves better and in confidence in themselves, but really make awesome change in the world and impact in the world.

Carly Ries: 27:23

It's one of those, like, you think you're helping them, but they ended up helping you in return. And, I mean, I'll we had an office hours last week, and I won't go into any of the details, but it resulted in me crying because I was so happy. And it's like like for for the people in this office hours with us, and, you just do you also just get invested, and I think that's the mark of a good coach too. Like, you obviously for your personal well-being, you don't wanna get too involved, but you also, like, if you care and you have that empathetic side, I think that is the mark of a good coach, which you for sure have. So yeah.

Carly Ries: 28:01

So I I I I can totally can't relate fully because I'm not a coach, but I get that feeling. Yeah.

Kari Boatner: 28:09

It's it's a it's a I was, I was in a discovery call with a potential client yesterday, and she said, do you like your job? And they said, I don't, actually. She's like, what? I said, I love my job. I said, it's not a job.

Kari Boatner: 28:24

This is not I mean, it is, but it's not it never feels that way. In in the days that I'm not coaching people, I miss it. Right? Because that human connection really, really giving to somebody else and helping them uncover and discover who they are. Right?

Kari Boatner: 28:42

It's magical.

Carly Ries: 28:43

I feel like good coaches are innately coached. Like, they it's like some for some things it's not a skill you can acquire. It's just who you are. I mean, Carrie, you did did we didn't have a coaching session, but you told a story about this this water rafting trip. And I've told so many people this story, and if if you hire Carrie, you could hear this.

Carly Ries: 29:03

That'll be a little carrot that I think. But it would you like I took a lot from this story and just I talking to you. You just have a way of framing things in a new way. So, I appreciate that about you, and I think that that's something also good coach is just, that just part of who they are to the core. But here you help people find success that they did in in various areas of their lives.

Carly Ries: 29:31

So we always ask ask our guests this question, what is your favorite quote about success?

Kari Boatner: 29:36

Well, I think my favorite quote, and I have it written so I don't get it wrong, it's by Helen Keller. She said success and happiness are not matters of chance but choice. They are things not to be waited for but sought after. So doing the work, committing, going getting through the humps and those bad days and realizing that your vision, what you want out of this life, it's not by mistake.

Carly Ries: 30:03

Of all people, Helen Keller knows, like, do you have to put in the hard work?

Kari Boatner: 30:08

Yeah. I mean, look at people like Helen Keller and what they have overcome. So I think I think about that all the time that when I'm feeling like I can't do something, I'm like, oh, there are some inspiring people out there who have done a lot. I can do it.

Carly Ries: 30:24

Great quote. Well, Carrie, if people wanna learn more about you or coaching in general and just get some information, where can they find you?

Kari Boatner: 30:31

Well, I am all over. I'm on all the socials, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, all under Kari Boettner Coaching, and my website is exactly the same. It's kari boettner coaching.com.

Carly Ries: 30:42

Like I said, personally, I was very excited for this interview, but I just think you've cleared up a lot of questions that people have around coaching. And for people on the fence, I think you've, you've solved the misconceptions. You've addressed a lot of questions that we hear about. We are not coaches, so we are not qualified to answer those questions. A lot of the questions we have heard you answered.

Carly Ries: 31:00

So we just can't thank you enough for coming on the show today.

Kari Boatner: 31:03

Oh, it's my pleasure. And the the I would I would say one other thing when trying to pick a coach. If the coach is not still doing their own self growth, that's a red flag for me. We all we are we are evolving human beings. Right?

Kari Boatner: 31:20

So if coach is like, no. I'm good. I've I've figured everything out. Nope. I'm still doing actively doing my own work and my own growth, and that just informs how I coach people as well.

Kari Boatner: 31:31

So that's another one.

Carly Ries: 31:33

It's a great, great point. Well, thank you so much, Kim, for coming on today. Thank you, guys. So fun. So fun.

Carly Ries: 31:41

And listeners, hopefully, you had all of your questions answered there as well. You know, I have to ask this at the end of every interview. We love putting on this type of, show for you, all these great interviews. In order to continue doing that, we would love those 5 star reviews. We'd like you to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Carly Ries: 31:59

Wherever you listen to your podcast, we're there. We just so so so appreciate because we love doing this.

Joe Rando: 32:04

I just wanna point out, we got kicked up to top 3% of all podcasts globally recently.

Kari Boatner: 32:09

Seriously?

Joe Rando: 32:10

3%. Yeah. We were at 5 and, I don't know, something happened and went up to top 3. So we want that top one. So help us out.

Carly Ries: 32:18

Incredible. So appreciate it. Otherwise, enjoy your your week, and we will see you next time on the aspiring solopreneur.

Joe Rando: 32:28

Bye.

Carly Ries: 32:31

You may be going solo in business, but that doesn't mean you're alone. In fact, millions of people are in your shoes, running a one person business and figuring it out as they go. So why not connect with them and learn from each other's successes and failures? At Lifestar, we're creating a one person business community where you can go to meet and get advice from other solopreneurs. Be sure to join in on the conversations at community.lifestar.com.

Carly Ries: 32:54

That's community.lifestar with 2 r's.com.