Business Coaching comes with its ups and downs. You are in the spotlight to showcase your expertise and pass your valuable knowledge onto the next generation of business owners and entrepreneurs.

However many people only see the highlights of the business coach world. The followers miss the struggles and enduring hours that go into creating a thriving coaching business. Their unrelenting standards that they set upon themselves leaves them with an abundance of tasks that never seems to shrink.

At Hippo, we are fortunate enough to help these coaches upheave their current workload, so they can get back to what they do best – teaching the next generation of leaders and coaches.

Rebecca Neale, Business Coach, Podcast Host, Personal Branding and Social Media Expert, and all-round Bad-ass, is one of the many business coaches we are blessed to work with.

Starting her career in the fitness industry, Rebecca slowly transitioned and niched her focus to become the extraordinary coach she is today.

“Because then from the fitness industry I was a fitness model, competing and doing all sorts of things in that space,” says Rebecca.

“And there was no connection to mindset and mindfulness and mental health, so it was all very physical and very ego-driven.

“I wanted to help people on a physical level but I knew there was more to it than that, and that’s when I started to coach people on the mindset level.”

As she experienced life in the trenches of her industries, she learnt the nitty-gritty process that makes an entrepreneur a business superstar.

“What I found was that people were always coming to me about business, and wanting to know how I’d had so much success in all these different industries,” says Rebecca.

“So, that sort of created that whole business mentorship. Now I work with coaches one-on-one doing business mentoring for coaches that I used to be.

“Last five years, as well with an amazing program (and nutritional support products), so I coach a lot of networks.

“The greatest thing is being able to hand something to someone and (know) the world is being done for you’’

With both grassroots and mentor experience, Rebecca had what she needed to build her empire.

“I turned 30, and realised no one was coming to save me,” says Rebecca.

“I’m not looking for my knight in shining armour, I want to build my empire, and no matter what happens, no matter who I end up with and what I do, I can provide for myself.”

Every empire requires a team to build, whether you are starting out or established, having a team (no matter how big or small) will allow you to maximise success on a personal and professional scale.

As Rebecca has come from a digital background, she had no hesitation in hiring a virtual assistant (VA) to help her with her business goals. The relationship she held with her VA is no different to a relationship that someone may have with an inhouse employee.

“I’ve worked online for such a long time and working from home for over seven years, engaging in the online space is something I’m used to,” says Rebecca.

“It may be hard for people to do that when it’s something new and not in physical form.”

Rebecca explains that communication is key to maintaining a meaningful relationship online [with your followers, and your team].

“It’s just about having clear communication, and really being able to have – not quite a friendship – but something where there is a little bit more care taken,” says Rebecca.

“It’s not just sending tasks or demanding certain things, it’s about engaging and asking questions about who they are, and building that connection, that relationship.

“I think we underestimate relationship building in business, as well.”

Through hiring a virtual assistant that could help her with her digital tasks, Rebecca was able to take small breaks without feeling guilty of the work she could be doing.

“The greatest thing is being able to hand something to someone and the work being done for you,” says Rebecca.

“I had this moment where I took my dog for a walk and there was no guilt! Normally, I’m thinking, ‘I gotta get home, I gotta do this, I gotta do this.’”

“But I thought, wow it’s all being done for me.”

Small breaks throughout your work day can have outstanding effects on your business, and more importantly your wellbeing.

“It’s such an amazing feeling, because then you can have those little breaks in the afternoon, and you can have time to do things important to you because the work’s still being done, says Rebecca.

“That’s what’s probably been the most powerful thing for me. Having someone that’s actually doing what needs to get done, and you’re still able to enjoy some downtime.”

Although it may be difficult to let go of the brand you worked so hard on creating, remember that no one can do it all alone. Many hands make light work.

“As a solopreneur, the hardest thing is actually making some time away from your business. It’s like, constantly who you are. As a personal brand and coach, because you are your business. That’s been amazing, having that space,” says Rebecca.

If you have experienced the overwhelming feeling of not being able to take time for yourself in your business endeavours, book a discovery call today, and learn how to #findyourhippo