This episode is about Annette's journey from being a corporate trainer to establishing her own business in facilitation and training during the pandemic. We talk about the challenges and opportunities presented by the pandemic, the importance of networking, and the personal growth that comes from stepping out of one's comfort zone.

Annette is a trainer facilitator, lover of Insights Discovery, wearing bright colours and working from her Green Shed.

Annette shares her insights on persistence, the value of providing more than expected, and the lessons learned from her experiences in the training industry. We discuss the challenges of self-promotion, the importance of authenticity, and the impact of inner work on personal and professional growth. Annette reflects on her experiences with interim roles, the transition from associate work to direct clients, and the significance of investing in both personal development and business branding. The conversation emphasises the value of persistence and being true to oneself in the journey of building a successful career.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene

02:59 The Journey to Becoming a Trainer

05:59 Navigating the Transition to Self-Employment

08:55 Overcoming Age-Related Doubts

11:46 The Impact of 2020 on Business

14:49 Learning and Growth During Lockdown

17:52 Building Persistence and Networking

20:59 The Importance of Providing Value

23:49 Final Thoughts and Reflections

26:17 The Impact of Sales Background on Training

28:04 Challenges of Self-Promotion

30:20 Disassociating Self from Service

32:31 The Importance of Inner Work

34:58 Rebranding and Authenticity

36:57 Navigating Interim Roles

40:47 Transitioning from Associate to Direct Clients

45:00 Investing in Personal and Business Growth

I invite you to grab a cuppa, join me on the pink seat, and tune in your ears.

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A Facilitator's Journey is the podcast that looks at how you run your business as a facilitator or trainer.

You started this work because you have a passion that you want to share with organisations. However, there is the small detail that you are now running a business and this requires a whole other set of skills and knowledge.

Join me, Kirsty Lewis, Founder of School of Facilitation, as I interview trainers and facilitators about how they manage their businesses. I will explore how people run their finances, price their work, scale up, scale down, decide to retire, market themselves, manage clients, and much much more.

Key Links:

Visit Annette's website HERE

Connect with Annette on Linkedin HERE

Visit the School of Facilitation website HERE

Connect with me on Instagram HERE

Connect with me on Linkedin HERE

[email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode covers a multitude of topics from being self-employed to doing business in America, highlighting the importance of setting clear expectations and boundaries with clients.

Zita Tulyahikayo is a hypnotherapist, Systemic Constellator, coach, and facilitator. She has always been self-employed which I found fascinating as so many of us start in an organisation. Zita openly talks about her experiences of working in America, the UK, the different ways of working within the world of business.

We dive into the topic of identity and the impact ancestry has on how we view the world, our personal and professional development. Zita mentions her upcoming book on migration and immigration and her plans to make a documentary in Barbados.

Dive into:

The cultural differences in business approaches

Managing expectations and unseen costs

The power of referrals and recommendations

The importance of investing in oneself

I invite you to grab a cuppa, join me on the pink seat, and tune in your ears.

____

A Facilitator's Journey is the podcast that looks at how you run your business as a facilitator or trainer.

You started this work because you have a passion that you want to share with organisations. However, there is the small detail that you are now running a business and this requires a whole other set of skills and knowledge.

Join me, Kirsty Lewis, Founder of School of Facilitation, as I interview trainers and facilitators about how they manage their businesses. I will explore how people run their finances, price their work, scale up, scale down, decide to retire, market themselves, manage clients, and much much more.

Key Links:

Connect with Zita on Instagram HERE

Visit Life Therapy with Zita website HERE

Visit the School of Facilitation website HERE

Connect with me on Instagram HERE

Connect with me on Linkedin HERE

[email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to this short episode of A facilitator's Journey. Today is a SOFest update covering how the early bird launch went, some thank yous, and future plans.

Let us know if you are coming to SOFest, I can't wait to meet you in the field

____

A Facilitator's Journey is the podcast that looks at how you run your business as a facilitator or trainer.

You started this work because you have a passion that you want to share with organisations. However, there is the small detail that you are now running a business and this requires a whole other set of skills and knowledge.

Join me, Kirsty Lewis, Founder of School of Facilitation, as I interview trainers and facilitators about how they manage their businesses. I will explore how people run their finances, price their work, scale up, scale down, decide to retire, market themselves, manage clients, and much much more.

Key Links:

Visit the School of Facilitation website HERE

Connect with me on Instagram HERE

Connect with me on Linkedin HERE

[email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is about the importance of our network as we develop and grow our businesses, finding people who we connect with in an authentic way and who we want to spend time with talking about our business, our deepest thoughts and ideas.

Lisa Partridge is a communication skills specialist with a passion for walking. Based in Singapore she is a facilitator, podcast host and is building a thriving walk and talk community,

Kirsty and Lisa talk about the challenges of business development, finding your niche, the importance of building relationships and making in-person connections.

Lisa talks about her unique approach to networking by inviting people to go for walks instead of traditional coffee meetings. These are her antidote to the traditional networking events that were stiff and uncomfortable. Lisa started a walking and talking community that has grown to over 100 members and has become an integral part of her business. Lisa emphasizes the importance of being intentional and consistent in business development, building brand awareness, and being patient for connections to develop into opportunities.

1. Starting Six Communications
2. The Challenges of Business Development and Finding Your Niche
3. The Importance of Building Relationships and Making In-Person Connections
4. A Unique Approach to Networking: Inviting People for Walks
5. Challenges of Traditional Networking Events
6. Creating Memorable Impressions in Networking
7. Building a Community for Business Development
8. Using Walking and Talking as an Opener
9. Consistency and Brand Awareness in Business Development
10. The Importance of Patience in Business Development

I invite you to grab a cuppa, join me on the pink seat, and tune in your ears.

____

A Facilitator's Journey is the podcast that looks at how you run your business as a facilitator or trainer.

You started this work because you have a passion that you want to share with organisations. However, there is the small detail that you are now running a business and this requires a whole other set of skills and knowledge.

Join me, Kirsty Lewis, Founder of School of Facilitation, as I interview trainers and facilitators about how they manage their businesses. I will explore how people run their finances, price their work, scale up, scale down, decide to retire, market themselves, manage clients, and much much more.

Key Links:

Visit Six Comms website HERE

Connect with Lisa on Instagram HERE

Connect with Lisa on Linkedin HERE

Visit the School of Facilitation website HERE

Connect with me on Instagram HERE

Connect with me on Linkedin HERE

[email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is about running our own businesses, redefining success, being a solo mum, asking for help and what IS the difference between a B2C and B2B business model??

Carla Miller is a women's leadership coach, creator of the podcast Influence & Impact for female leaders, author, and trainer. 

Kirsty talks to Carla about her journey of leaving the charity sector and starting her own business as a solo parent. The themes that come up include the challenges of balancing parenting with entrepreneurship, why asking for help is hard, and the need to stop comparing ourselves to others on Linkedin. 

We talk about how we both balance B2C and B2B models within our businesses and why we choose to operate both models when it is evident that we find one harder than the other to navigate.

1. The decision to leave the Charity Sector and Start the Business
2. The Financial Realities of Coaching and Building a Business
3. Marketing Strategies and Challenges
4. Carla's Experience as a Solo Parent
5. Balancing Parenting and Entrepreneurship
6. Redefining Success and Making Choices
7. Asking for Help and Being Realistic
8. Reflecting on the Meaning and Purpose of Life and Business
9. Balancing B2C and B2B
10. Finding Joy and Fulfillment
11. Quick-fire questions

My invitation to you is to grab a cuppa, join me on the pink seat, and tune in your ears.

____

A Facilitator's Journey is a podcast that looks at how you run your business as a facilitator or trainer.

You started this work because you have a passion that you want to share with organisations. However, there is the small detail that you are now running a business and this requires a whole other set of skills and knowledge.

Join me, Kirsty Lewis, Founder of School of Facilitation, as I interview trainers and facilitators about how they manage their businesses. I will explore how people run their finances, price their work, scale up, scale down, decide to retire, market themselves, manage clients, and much much more.

Key Links:

Visit Carla's website HERE

Connect with Carla on Linkedin HERE

Follow Carla on Instagram HERE

Visit the School of Facilitation website HERE

Connect with me on Instagram HERE

Connect with me on Linkedin HERE

[email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is about how to work in partnership, creating clear ways of working from the start and aligning on values and work ethics.

Chris Locke and Alex O'Rourke are the founders of Locksmith. They help marketeers improve their marketing skills, capabilities, and leadership abilities. The partnership started in 2019 after a conversation at a friend's birthday party. They initially planned to start a consultancy business but found success in training and development.

We talk about the need for regular check-ins, open communication being the foundation for a good working relationship, and why clear boundaries are so important. As Locksmith started in early 2020 the conversation turned to how we all navigated the covid years and what happened next. Alex and Chris share their strategies for marketing themselves, including using LinkedIn and personalized videos.

1. Locksmith's Mission and Services
2. Forming a Partnership and the Qualities Desired in a Business Partner
3. The Importance of Values and Purpose in the Partnership
4. Regular Check-ins and Communication
5. Deal Breakers and Boundaries
6. Outsourcing and Networking
7. Marketing Yourself and Your Business
8. Building a Strong Brand

I invite you to grab a cuppa, join me on the pink seat, and tune in your ears.

____

A Facilitator's Journey is the podcast that looks at how you run your business as a facilitator or trainer.

You started this work because you have a passion that you want to share with organisations. However, there is the small detail that you are now running a business and this requires a whole other set of skills and knowledge.

Join me, Kirsty Lewis, Founder of School of Facilitation, as I interview trainers and facilitators about how they manage their businesses. I will explore how people run their finances, price their work, scale up, scale down, decide to retire, market themselves, manage clients, and much much more.

Key Links:

Visit the Locksmith website HERE

Connect with Chris on Linkedin HERE

Connect with Alex on Linkedin HERE

Visit the School of Facilitation website HERE

Connect with me on Instagram HERE

Connect with me on Linkedin HERE

[email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is a story about discovering your passion for learning, working out how you can leave the organisation you work for, become a freelancer and work as an associate delivering workshops for others and then testing the idea of finding your own clients.

Karen Sargent is an occupational psychologist who is passionate about helping leaders and employees create results and not burn out.

Join Kirsty and Karen as they talk about what it is really like being a freelance trainer, the benefits of associate life vs managing direct client relationships, how easy it is to think life is greener on the other side of the fence. They explore topics such as consistency, defining success, financial planning, building a network, overcoming limiting beliefs, and investing in personal development. Karen generously shares her experiences and insights, offering valuable advice for those considering a career as a freelancer.

1. Inspiration and Journey into Learning and Development
2. Transition from Corporate Life to Freelancing
3. Exploring Different Approaches to selling and Lessons Learned
4. Navigating Challenges During COVID
5. Lessons from Outsourcing Sales Leads
6. Importance of Consistency and Authenticity
7. The Pitfalls of Creating without Action
8. Financial Planning for Freelancers
9. The benefits of Building a Network

My invitation to you is to grab a cuppa, join me on the pink seat, and tune in your ears.

____

A Facilitator's Journey is a podcast that looks at how you run your business as a facilitator or trainer.

You started this work because you have a passion that you want to share with organisations. However, there is the small detail that you are now running a business and this requires a whole other set of skills and knowledge.

Join me, Kirsty Lewis, Founder of School of Facilitation, as I interview trainers and facilitators about how they manage their businesses. I will explore how people run their finances, price their work, scale up, scale down, decide to retire, market themselves, manage clients, and much much more.

Key Links:

Connect with Karen on Linkedin HERE

Visit the Work Joyful website HERE

Visit the School of Facilitation website HERE

Connect with me on Instagram HERE

Connect with me on Linkedin HERE

[email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is about what it is like to be a facilitator who travels the world, who works and has lived in multiple countries, experienced the nonprofit and education sectors through to corporate organizations.

Romy Alexandra is a learning experience designer and facilitator. She has been in the world of facilitation for over 19 years and has visited over 80 countries.

Kirsty and Romy explore what it is like to work and live in different countries, the trials and tribulations of travel and local authority paperwork to set up a business, and the need to pivot during lockdown having moved to a new country.

Romy generously shares insights into her life as a facilitator, how she balances the work with self-care, and the importance of staying true to your values.

1. How it all began
2. Working Internationally and Traveling - It's not all glamour
3. Our go-to Self-Care Activities
4. Navigating the Challenges of Starting a Business in a New Country
5. Continuous Learning and Personal Growth
6. Building a Successful Business Based on Values and Impact

My invitation to you is to grab a cuppa, join me on the pink seat, and tune in your ears.

____

A Facilitator's Journey is the podcast that looks at how you run your business as a facilitator or trainer.

You started this work because you have a passion that you want to share with organisations. However, there is the small detail that you are now running a business and this requires a whole other set of skills and knowledge.

Join me, Kirsty Lewis, Founder of School of Facilitation, as I interview trainers and facilitators about how they manage their businesses. I will explore how people run their finances, price their work, scale up, scale down, decide to retire, market themselves, manage clients, and much much more.

Key Links:

Connect with Romy on Linkedin HERE

Visit Romy's website HERE

Visit the School of Facilitation website HERE

Connect with me on Instagram HERE

Connect with me on Linkedin HERE

[email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

____

A Facilitator's Journey is the podcast that looks at how you run your business as a facilitator or trainer.

You started this work because you have a passion that you want to share with organisations. However, there is the small detail that you are now running a business and this requires a whole other set of skills and knowledge.

Join me, Kirsty Lewis, Founder of School of Facilitation, as I interview trainers and facilitators about how they manage their businesses. I will explore how people run their finances, price their work, scale up, scale down, decide to retire, market themselves, manage clients, and much much more.

Key Links:

Sign up to the SOFest newsletter HERE

Take our poll HERE

Connect with me on Instagram HERE

Connect with me on Linkedin HERE

[email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is about how we find our way into the world of facilitation and training, what it means to have a co-founder walk by your side, and how you build a brand people recognise.

Marcus is a facilitator and co-founder of a facilitation and training business, based in Australia. He has been in the industry for over 23 years, has grown and sold one learning business, and is building another thriving entity.

Kirsty and Marcus discuss how they became facilitators and the different paths that lead people to the industry. We chat about the concept of deliberate practice and the significance of feedback in achieving expertise. Marcus highlights the value of having a co-founder and the benefits of working with a business partner.

1. How Marcus became a facilitator by accident!
2. Why deliberate practice, working at the edge of one's competence and receiving feedback, is crucial for developing expertise
3. Humility, hard work, and gratitude are important values for facilitators to uphold
4. Having a co-founder or partner in a facilitation business provides support, different skills, and a shared vision
5. Professional loneliness is a common challenge, and having a professional pack to run with can help alleviate this feeling
6. Building a brand goes beyond personal reputation and involves curating a team of trusted professionals
7. Investing in an equity structure and creating a strong foundation for the business can provide long-term value and stability.
8. Having a co-founder can provide support and balance during challenging times.

Recommended book: 'Partnership Charter' by David Gage

My invitation to you is to grab a cuppa, join me on the pink seat, and tune in your ears.

____

A Facilitator's Journey is the podcast that looks at how you run your businesses as a facilitator or trainer.

You started this work because you have a passion that you want to share with organisations. However, there is the small detail that you are now running a business and this requires a whole other set of skills and knowledge.

Join me, Kirsty Lewis, Founder of School of Facilitation, as I interview trainers and facilitators about how they manage their businesses. I will explore how people run their finances, price their work, scale up, scale down, decide to retire, market themselves, manage clients, and much much more.

www.schooloffacilitation.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.