As facilitators, trainers, and business owners, we often find ourselves saying “yes” too much, overworking, and stretching our own boundaries—sometimes to the point of burnout. In this episode, I sit down with Beth Cougler Blom, learning designer, facilitator, and podcast host, to have an honest conversation about what it means to run a business without running ourselves into the ground.

We discuss the epiphanies that come with decades in business, how turning 50 shifts your perspective, and the ongoing challenge of setting and maintaining boundaries. From pricing our work with confidence to learning when to say no (even to past clients), this episode is full of insights for anyone navigating the world of facilitation and training.

In this conversation, we cover:

1. The hidden challenges of growing a facilitation business
2. Why boundaries matter—and how to hold them firm
3. Recognizing the early signs of burnout (and what to do about it)
4. How to shape your business your way, at any stage of life

Whether you’re just starting out or decades into your facilitation journey, this conversation will leave you reflecting on what truly matters in your work and life.

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

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Beth Cougler Blom brings over 25 years of experience in the field of education, spanning roles in non-profit organizations, post-secondary institutions, municipal government, and as an entrepreneur. She began designing online learning in 2005 with the Canadian Red Cross and further honed her facilitation expertise during her years with Volunteer Victoria. In 2011, Beth founded her company, originally called Beth Cougler Blom Facilitation, which has since evolved into BCB Learning Inc. When she’s not facilitating, designing learning, or podcasting, you can find her spending time with family and friends, walking in nature, reading, doing yoga, or dreaming up new ideas.

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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 the School of Facilitation website HERE

Discover SOFest HERE

Connect with me on Instagram HERE

Connect with me on Linkedin HERE

Connect with Beth on Instagram HERE

Connect with Beth on Linkedin HERE

Listen to Facilitating on Purpose HERE

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

This episode is a live getting to know you session. Faris and I didn't meet until I hit record and this is very much a raw conversation as we talk about our businesses, the challenges of loneliness in facilitation, the impact of social media, and the importance of emotional intelligence in business.

Faris Aranki is a consultant, a facilitator, a strategist, an economist and the founder of Shiatego.

The conversation highlights the significance of building connections and the evolving nature of the facilitation and consulting industry. In this engaging conversation, Kirsty and Faris delve into the intricacies of managing finances, acquiring clients, and the importance of networking in business. They discuss the emotional challenges that come with financial management and the strategies for building a client base through consistent outreach. Faris shares his unique approach to networking, emphasising the significance of maintaining relationships and the three A's of selling: activate, advocate, and approachability.

1. Introduction and Background
2. The Journey of Entrepreneurship
3. Navigating Loneliness in Facilitation
4. The Impact of Social Media
5. The Importance of Emotional Intelligence
6. Strategic Insights from Consulting Experience
7. Current Business Landscape and Adaptation
8. The Future of Facilitation and Consulting
9. Navigating Financial Challenges
10. Client Acquisition Strategies
11. The Power of Networking
12. Scaling Up Your Business
13. Defining Your Goals and Aspirations

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:

Connect with Faris on Linkedin HERE

Connect on Medium HERE

Follow Faris 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 all about money and pricing. Listen if you want to stretch your thinking!

Laura Payne-Stanley is a Success Management Consultant and a Coach. She works with private individuals as well as corporates and small businesses to enable them to create and live the life they want.

In this conversation, Kirsty and Laura delve into the intricacies of business success management, focusing on the importance of pricing strategies, the value of personal branding, and the inner work required for entrepreneurs to confidently present their worth. They discuss how to define success, the significance of naming a business, and the realities of financial management, emphasising that pricing should reflect the outcomes delivered rather than just time spent.

Laura shares insights on constructing a desired lifestyle through pricing and the necessity of believing in one's value to communicate it to clients effectively.

Kirsty's Key Takeaways

1. Pricing is the difference between a successful business and a hobby.
2. Construct your life parameters before setting prices.
3. Understanding your value is crucial for pricing confidence.
4. Raising rates is a choice that should be made with confidence.
5. B2E is a new model that combines elements of B2B and B2C.
6. Understanding client needs is crucial for effective pricing strategies.

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 Laura's website HERE

Connect with Laura on Instagram HERE

Connect with Laura 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 the pro's and con's of being an associate/sub-contractor vs having your own clients, pricing, and the power of niching.

Murray Cowell is a man on a mission to support facilitators, trainers, and coaches in developing themselves and their businesses. He has years of real-life experience of running training and facilitation businesses, accidentally created an email marketing business that ran for 10 years and now hosts monthly free learning sessions, coaches and has a membership.

In this conversation, Kirsty and Murray explore the intricacies of running a business as a facilitator and trainer. They discuss the challenges of pricing, the dynamics between associate and direct client work, and the importance of demonstrating value in training programs. The conversation delves into personal experiences, insights on marketing, and strategies for enhancing learning outcomes through blended learning approaches. They discuss the concept of viewing training as an investment rather than a cost, and the significance of niching in the coaching and training industry. Murray shares practical advice for new facilitators, highlighting the importance of leveraging personal networks and building long-term connections.

Navigating the Business of Facilitation

The Associate vs. Direct Client Dilemma - it depends on what you want out of life!

Understanding Pricing Strategies

Demonstrating Value in Training Programs - talk investment vs price or cost

Aligning Training with Strategic Priorities - help clients connect the learning to the bigger organisational picture

The Importance of Niching - what is your unique value that you bring to clients?

Advice for New Facilitators

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 the Accelerando website HERE

Connect with Murray on Linkedin HERE

Sign up for the FREE ClientFind membership 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.

Chris Taylor is a serial entrepreneur, who in his own words, is not known as a facilitator or a trainer, yet finds himself working with this community time and again.

He is the founder of Actionable.co which supports training companies with the tools to prove their impact on behaviour change and stand out in a crowded market.

In this conversation, Kirsty and Chris delve into the intricacies of habit formation, they explore the nuances of language in consulting versus facilitation, the challenges faced in client interactions, and the common hurdles in growing a service-based business.

WARNING: The recording of this episode was fraught with technical gremlins.....we chose to leave some of the moments of 'urgh' on the recording. Go with me on this one team.

takeaways

1. Understanding Triggers and building new habits
2. New habits should be laughably small to ensure consistency.
3. Defining your 'why' enhances intrinsic motivation.
4. Consultant vs. Facilitator: Language and Perception
5. Navigating Client Conversations and Proposals
6. Connecting learner goals to organizational priorities aids in securing budgets.
7. Client conversations should focus on both participant and organizational benefits.
8. Understanding the dynamics of buying committees is vital for proposals.
9. Challenges in Growing a Service-Based Business
10. Saying no to bad clients can lead to better opportunities.
11. Investing in high-caliber mastermind groups can foster growth.
12. Imposter syndrome can indicate you're in the right environment.

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:

[email protected]

Connect with Chris on Linkedin HERE

Follow Chris on X 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 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

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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 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.

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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.