Positive reflection holds some powerful lessons
2020 is no exception. I didn’t really hit any of my business goals, especially those based around my face to face retreats, workshops and training. My income took a huge hit. But boy did I learn a lot.
I did plenty of things that weren’t on my plan
Zoom fitness classes, creating an online membership, creating 3 online courses, running 3 free Feel Good Factor challenges. Homeschooled my children. Lived (am living) through a global pandemic.
And some that were...
I finished my women’s health coaching certification, created an online version of my Feel Good Forties course and signed up for an NLP course, continued to grow my fitness classes...just not quite as I’d expected.
I am incredibly grateful.
For my members and clients who continue with their memberships even as I made the wobbly transition to Zoom classes. I loved seeing their faces even if I couldn’t see them in real life in Lockdown, and I think we all kept each other going!
For my family and friends who continued to support me and my business.
For that lovely long, sunny, warm Spring which brightened up lockdown.
To have a lovely home and access to the outdoors, to have a supportive school for the children to return to in September.
To be part of several amazing communities online and offline. In the health and wellbeing, business spaces as well as our local villages. A huge shout out to Faye Dicker and her Freelance Mum Community. She showed up every day in lockdown perking us all up with a daily chat. And continues to do so with a weekly coffee morning.
I’m grateful for the support of a great business coach (cheers Tammy) who’s helped me through as well as Rachel Smith’s awesome membership.
And super grateful walks with friends to connect and to braindump. Extra special thanks to those in similar industries who’ve kept me inspired and helped me create new solutions. Sarah from Fit2Drop, Leanne from Sona Pilates, Jessica Adams, Abi Rogers and Jane McDowell all deserve a special shout out here.
That’s a long list…and there’s plenty more!
Learning from the challenges of 2020
For reasons that are too long to go into I haven’t been eligible for any of the Self Employment Income Support funding.
That meant I had to trim my outgoings and really focus on how best I could keep going when I had to cancel/refund/postpone so many events. It forced me to look carefully at cashflow and stay on top of my finances in a really minute way. It also meant I was extra extra grateful for every penny that came in from my fitness class members and the one to one clients who transitioned to online coaching.
I’ve also started using the Profit First method, which helps me put aside money for both tax and profit and helped me save up to invest in the NLP course I wanted to do despite the craziness of this year. I changed my online accounting software to FreeAgent which is free with a Mettle Account - so I got one of those too. Tiny changes that make a big difference over time (just like I tell my clients!).
I also invested in some personal wellbeing coaching with the lovely Rosie Withey, when additional stressors of family illness and disruption showed me that I needed to ensure I had the mental and physical resilience to be able to support myself, my family, my clients as well as was possible. Adding her to my support matrix at that time was really valuable. Every coach needs a coach.
I’ve taken part in about 10 different online challenges this year - and have learnt a great deal from all of them. Supporting my business development and marketing by learning from those who’ve been there before. It was possibly a bit much to do so many though. I think my main learning is not to do any more in 2021 but to implement what is already in my toolkit.
I’ve learnt a lot about me too.
I really love the coaching process - I love supporting clients through blocks and empowering them to make choices that work for them long term.
I love a slower life and cherish time alone.
Stress really messes with my perimenopausal hormones, so staying on top of that has been important. Meditation with the Insight Timer and exercising in the right way, keeping my sugar consumption down all help. As does a good night’s sleep or 7!
I can no longer tolerate alcohol or cow’s milk. I keep thinking I can...and then live to regret it.
I am a really positive person and can maintain that ‘it will all work out in the end’ attitude in a crisis. But after a while I need to hide under a rock to recharge.
I really miss hugs.
What does this mean for 2021?
There is some change afoot - updated branding and a new website are in play, thanks to some ERDF funding and the awesome Christine Kavanagh of Tonic Bristol. https://www.tonicbristol.co.uk/. I am really excited about the process.
The online membership is here to stay and will be opening up to new members with a refreshed format from 4th January. You can find out more and join the waiting list here https://www.wildcountrywoman.com/wildlywellmentorship - the more I learn about behaviour change the more I think this model of community accountability, collaborative education and empowered lifestyle nudges are the way forward.
I’ll continue to run my free Feel Good Factor mini courses 3-4 times a year. The next one starts on 4th January and you can find out more/sign up here. https://www.wildcountrywoman.com/feelgood. It’s a great way to get your year off to a great start.
My one to one health coaching programme will be a big focus too. The 12 week programme focuses on creating supportive lifestyle change for women in their 40s and 50s experiencing the impact of hormone change in perimenopause. Women who know that they need to look after themselves but struggle to know where to start. Women who don’t like being told what to do, but want help in understanding what might work for them. Women who feel they are blocked and frustrated whenever they make an effort to do things for themselves. It’s really powerful and exciting stuff. You’ll know yourself and your hormones a whole lot better by the end.
I am no longer offering my beginner running courses, but there’s an online version which takes you step by step through some of the key things I think are important for runners starting out. You can sign up here. https://wildcountrywoman.teachable.com/p/beginner-running-course
I will continue to offering my Perimenopause workshop both publicly and to organisations. Next public one is on 4th February 2020.
I’ll complete my NLP training in March and am really looking forward to integrating that into my coaching process. The pre-learning is fantastic so far!
My Wildly Well retreat days will return in the latter half of 2021. I’ve found a great new outdoors venue and will be making some changes to the format, but I’m sure you’ll love it.
Watch out for my wellbeing article in the BBC Countryfile magazine in February 2021! I’m intending to do a lot more writing in the next year and have a book idea or two in development...watch this space!
Outdoor fitness classes will remain as a mix of online and zoom classes. You can find the details here - they will continue to be as accessible as possible to those who are just starting out on their fitness journey while continuing to challenge the strength and fitness of those long standing members.
I’m looking forward to it.
My word for the year: Thrive
How about you?
If you’d like some help with your 2020 reflection I’ve just run a session in my free Facebook group which might be helpful.
Or get in touch if you’d like some 1:1 support to help you thrive in 2021. Whatever life throws at you!