Are you an empathic entrepreneur on the cusp of launching your dream business? Congratulations on taking this courageous step towards realising your vision of making a positive impact in the world! As you embark on this exciting journey, it’s important to address a crucial issue that many empathic entrepreneurs encounter – navigating boundaries.
Empathic entrepreneurs possess a natural inclination towards compassion, understanding, and support. While these qualities are invaluable in building meaningful connections and delivering exceptional service, they can also present challenges when it comes to setting and maintaining boundaries. Without clear boundaries, you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed, drained, or unable to fully focus on your business goals.
Fortunately, by recognising the importance of boundaries and taking proactive steps to establish them, you can create a solid foundation for your business and pave the way for long-term success. Here are some essential steps to help you navigate boundaries effectively as you embark on your entrepreneurial journey:
1. Clarify Your Values and Priorities
Before diving into the details of your business, take some time to reflect on your core values and priorities. What do you stand for? What are your non-negotiables? By clarifying your values, you can gain clarity on what matters most to you and use this as a guiding compass when setting boundaries.
2. Define Your Boundaries
Once you have a clear understanding of your values, it’s time to define your boundaries. Identify areas where you may need to set limits, whether it’s in terms of time, energy, or resources. For example, you may need to establish boundaries around your work hours, client expectations, or personal time.
3. Communicate Effectively
Communication is key when it comes to setting and maintaining boundaries. Be open and honest with yourself and others about your needs, limitations, and expectations. Clearly communicate your boundaries to clients, colleagues, and stakeholders from the outset, and don’t be afraid to assert yourself when necessary.
4. Practice Self-Care
As an empathic entrepreneur, it is essential to prioritise self-care and well-being. Take regular breaks, engage in activities that recharge your batteries, and set aside time for relaxation and reflection. Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup, so make self-care a non-negotiable part of your routine.
5. Seek Support
Don’t be afraid to reach out for support when you need it. Whether it’s from friends, family, or a trusted advisor or business coach, having a support system in place can provide invaluable guidance, encouragement, and accountability as you navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.
6. Learn to Say No
Saying no can be challenging, especially for empathic entrepreneurs who want to help everyone. However, learning to set boundaries and say no when necessary is essential for preserving your time, energy, and sanity. Remember, saying no to one thing means saying yes to something else – often, your own well-being.
7. Monitor and Adjust
Boundaries are not set in stone – they may need to be adjusted as you and your business grows and evolves. Regularly monitor your boundaries and assess whether they are still serving you effectively. Be willing to adjust and adapt as needed to ensure they continue to support your overall well-being and success.
By taking these steps to navigate boundaries effectively, you can create a solid foundation for your business and empower yourself to thrive as an empathic entrepreneur. Remember, setting boundaries is not about shutting people out – it’s about creating space for yourself to show up fully, authentically, and compassionately in your business and beyond. Embrace this journey with openness, courage, and self-compassion, and watch as your business flourishes in alignment with your values and vision.
Alison Callan is an international award-winning business clarity and success coach, renowned author, and a thought leader in the realm of entrepreneurial coaching. With a steadfast dedication to empowering entrepreneurs, Alison employs her expertise in clarity and mindfulness to help clients unlock their full potential and lead fulfilling, purpose-driven lives.
As a certified coach with the International Coach Federation and a member of the NLP Association, Alison leverages her extensive training in Neuro-Linguistic Programming to deliver transformative coaching experiences. Her mission is to support aspiring business owners in discovering their confidence, amplifying their visibility, and elevating their brands to thought leadership status. Through her unique approach, Alison ensures that her clients’ work transcends into an inspiring legacy that motivates others to reach their highest potential.
Ready to transform your business and achieve unparalleled success? Schedule a Discovery callwith Alison today and embark on a journey towards clarity, confidence, and lasting impact.
Discover more about Alison Callan and connect with her on Website, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Your journey to business excellence begins with a single step—make that step a Discovery call with Alison.
Juggling, it’s a never ending cycle. Juggling roles, of being a parent, a partner, an employee, leader or business owner, a child, a friend, the list literally goes on and on. And although I thoroughly rely on a well planned out routine, sometimes I feel overwhelmed and I drop the ball. My issue with juggling is that the lines between my tasks and roles start to blur sometimes and I loose focus to actually move forward with anything purposeful and then my emotions get in the mix and I don’t remember to Pause and Plan, so then my actions and behaviours as a result are less than my best self. I find this is so often the case with busy people, they don’t have a solid routine and conscious transition trigger between roles, they try and do too much at once and other than possible burn out occurring they drop the ball either by way of snapping and getting angry, getting ill or forgetting to action something important.
Today I woke up and decided that in order to enjoy the plans I had made with my family I would have to set aside my thoughts around what I wanted to achieve in my business for the moment until I could come back to it, otherwise I wouldn’t fully enjoy the day I was living, and be present with my loved ones. But even with this realisation, I still felt torn, I wanted to do both and if I’m honest more. I realised I was out of sync, mentally and emotionally. You see I have set working days, set days where I’m with my kids and then weekends which is family time – and that’s the bit I long for all week. Yet if I haven’t achieved what I set out to during my work days I have a habit of telling myself ‘that’s ok, I’ll fit it in on the weekend‘ so I still feel there’s a possibility of achieving my goals which minimises my panic mode. Then come the weekend I feel guilty for squeezing in work. And juggling starts to feel like a no win situation…
I’m not ready to accept that though. I want to win, or at least feel like I’ve made my time count with no overspilling of roles or emotions.
First step is always realisation, gaining clarity, bringing your awareness to the fact a change is needed. In this instance my challenge is pretty obvious.
Next step is realising my responsibility in assessing the options, being conscious to the here and now and my part in making the change, knowing I have ultimate control. And it comes back to my not being in sync with the moment and myself.
Now I need to take action, make the change take place. Create. So using my example, In order to manoeuvre with ease between my days, jobs and all my roles I need to get in sync. I need to take a breath in between phases during my day to finish up what I’m doing in a particular moment to label it and let it go until I can come back to it or indeed choose to stay in that space mentally, emotionally and physically until it’s complete. I need to make sure I’m not cross contaminating one aspect of my life with another without conscious thought and awareness. So I take on anew and fresh light response to each phase in my day.
There’s totally another few areas for discussion here, ‘how to choose your priorities‘ and ‘letting go‘ etc etc.(and maybe I will feel called to write up some blogs around those topics later) but ultimately I need to consciously be aware of my role transitions and be purposeful and intentionally about what I’m there to be and do in that moment, wearing that predominant hat of mother or wife or coach in order to be my best self and get the results I want. And continue to keep Juggling!
Here’s the practical bit, for me in order to transition I need to be aware of what I’m moving from and to and what I need to mentally finish up with and check my emotions in on before I move forward so I don’t have momentary longing to be somewhere else doing something else, which means I’m not committed to my present or the people I’m sharing it with. For me a moment to breath and assess then take an action to close down what I was doing is enough. Even if it’s writing down my thoughts of where I want to pick up from when I return.
If it’s a bigger shift I can visualise, while I’m breathing, a box to hold my position and emotions and literally put a lid on them until I return. It’s a mind map if you will of managing daily transitions and role juggling.
Alison Callan is The Clarity and Success Coach for Aspiring Entrepreneurs, as well as an Internationally Accredited Coach and Mindfulness Consultant, Facilitator and Speaker.
Committed to helping You mindfully align with your mission to create Conscious Business with Purpose, Confidence and Ease. So that you live a life you love and deserve with Clarity through Conscious Creation.
When you are sick, you do not self diagnose, you go see a Doctor. Who is an expert at getting you well again.
When your car is faulty you do not tinker with it to try and figure it out, you go to an expert a Mechanic to do what they do best and get your vehicle road worthy again.
When you have an issue with your plumbing, heating or electrics, you go seek out a professional to get the job done right the first time and well, so you are safe, compliant and covered.
So why is it when you start out in Business you think that you do not need an expert to help you establish yourself?
This is the normal behaviour and thinking of what I see, to go it alone and struggle. So, I would like to tell you why you are making a vital mistake with this logic.
Your business is an expression of you. You are the most important person in your life and this soul business you are establishing is not only being created to bring you an income to support all your material needs, it is bringing vitality to your life force too.
When you are designing a purposeful Business why would you put yourself on hold, or in the practise arena. When you can seek out an expert to build you and your business in a shorter, more efficient and effective time. So that you can start reaping the benefits of this new found freedom?
I used to be safe with my money, I used to make sure I didn’t over extend myself. Until one day I realised I couldn’t keep putting myself last in the priorities, or waiting to make money before spending it.
When you are designing a purposeful Business why would you put yourself on hold, or in the practise arena. When you can seek out an expert to build you and your business in a shorter, more efficient and effective time. So that you can start reaping the benefits of this new found freedom?
I invested in a Coach to be the expert in business to support me to get my brand, my life and my expertise crafted quickly, efficiently and practically.
This was not only an investment in a coach but in myself and my future.
I can tell you that I never regretted this investment because quite simply I am the very best investment I can ever make, because I’m a sure thing. Counting on myself and working on myself will always be critical to my success, and learning from experts as I go is fundamental.
When you invest like this and show the world you are stepping up, the world steps up to meet you where you are at, it is expansive and extraordinary. This is quite simply what you’ve been willing into existence, but you have to show your commitment to be able to receive your match.
So tell me….
• Do you believe you are a sure thing?
• Are you worth investing in?
• Is there anyone else out there that’s an expert you could learn from?
• Are you terrified to back yourself?
Whether you say yes or no to any or all of those questions it doesn’t matter because I can tell you right now, You are a sure thing, you are worthy of investing in and there is always someone ahead of you in the game that you can learn from and of course you’re always a little terrified to back yourself because failing is scary and so is succeeding, believe it or not!
If you have a desire to be in a purposeful business but are lost as to what that looks like, then I am the expert to help you. I can see intuitively what you bring to the world and the potential and possibilities to create something magical. Just check out my testimonials.
And, if you have a conscious business that you are looking to begin, design, build, develop or scale then I am the expert to support you to bring even more of yourself to the world successfully with immense clarity. Just check out my Conscious Creation Business Accelerator, or book in to discuss working with me…
The only decision you really have to make is, are you ready to step into who you are becoming?
Yes or no? Find your expert to help you – simple as that!
So, tell me because I am so curious to know, what do you currently need an expert for in your Business or Life?
With Gratitude always,
Alison Callan is The Clarity and Success Coach for Aspiring Entrepreneurs, as well as an Internationally Accredited Coach and Mindfulness Consultant, Facilitator, Speaker and #1 Best Selling Co-Author of the book ‘You Are Meant For More’.
Alison is committed to helping You mindfully align with your mission to create Conscious Business with Purpose, Confidence and Ease. So that you live a life you love and deserve with Clarity through Conscious Creation.
The entrepreneurial journey has taught me a lot. Most of all, the lesson that ‘if I desire to help, then I must first do!’
During this journey I haven’t only chosen my path to walk in business intuitively, I have also made sure I experienced (at least once) some of the things I preferred to naturally stay away from.
Why on earth would I do this, I hear you ask.
Well, although my instincts would say I don’t need to adopt certain tactics, structures or narratives, I still felt called to explore them. To better understand them, the approach and appreciate why they weren’t for me, apart from the head, heart and gut instinct.
It would be fair to say then that I have done a lot of things in business that I knew wouldn’t be my path or my way forward. Rather than be deterred naturally by my intuition, I made conscious choices to experience a bit of what I was repelled by, so I had the experience under my belt and I wasn’t solely guided by instincts.
To me this is a prime example of marrying my logical thinking side with the intuitive to explore and understand my real comfort and discomfort zones.
What happened though when I stepped into this space of experimentation was magical, because I had no attachment to the outcome. I went into business situations with the pure intention of experiencing them. That was it!
I feel that this makes me a much more well-rounded and receptive individual, experimental, not too ‘woo- woo’ but plenty at the same time, because I know I’m always looked out for.
It’s not that I am going against the grain to be difficult or challenging or testing my intuition. It’s more that through challenges, for me, there is always growth. So, when I know I do not want to do something I do not do it, unless it’s something I am speculating about, something I could learn from, something that makes me feel uncomfortable yet I know could teach me something and make me a better version of myself. For example, applying for awards, submitting articles, speaking on stage, hosting events and going through rigorous training!
This approach has made me a better Coach and Mentor to my clients as I can guide them on real life experiences through variables. Not just what I specifically do and believe works for me. I can see the pros and the cons to a multitude of ways to build a business and develop a career. I encourage them to experiment and try things out as well. It’s the best way to know what you like and don’t like in business and life for that matter. Instead of making hypothetical choices, that may limit your opportunities outside of that comfort zone, of what you know.
Now there are obviously limits to this thinking, but here’s some of the things I tested out, against the judgement I knew to be true, and the results:
I knew I wanted to be an organic marketer, building my business through referrals and success stories. Yet I played around with facebook ads in the past to give me exposure to knowing how they work and how to use them if needed. Honestly it did nothing for me in regards reaching people but I feel really confident talking about them now and the power of social media on that specific platform so my clients can weigh up if they want to use that strategy or not.
I knew I didn’t want to limit my clients to joining my programs during my launch times, I felt that if someone was ready they were ready and my schedule of programs and launch timetable was irrelevant. So, I allowed people to jump into my group programs when they felt called to, and this worked, until this year when it no longer felt aligned. Yes, it felt scary to launch something, especially a new membership and close the doors, but I had tried the other way and in this case it felt messy and disrespectful of those building the community. Goes to show things can and do change.
I have used the phrase ‘I only have 2 more 1:1 coaching places, and 4 more calls this week so if you want a spot please can you let me know within 24hrs.’ I knew it was a douche move, regardless that it was true. I don’t really roll like this, but I had to try it on and see the response and whether I could pull it off. Needless to say, if felt yuck, did nothing for me – thankfully I said it to someone I knew wasn’t really committed – and it did nothing for them. Experiment experienced, never to be repeated I proved myself right on that one.
I agreed to payment plans with people I knew had no intention of actually paying, but I so wanted to help them, so I stayed, committed and supported them. Lesson here was they weren’t that committed as they weren’t invested so no change occurred, even though I put my heart and soul into their transformation. Expensive exercise in time, money and emotion. This is no longer repeated. I value me, money and my client’s perceptions of those things too!
I went for coffee with an acquaintance and thought she was batty, never imagined she would be interested in working with me, but I wanted to be nice. Turned out she was the most serious and amazing client ever! To this day, she blows me away.
These are just the tip of the iceberg, there are so many more!
But what all of these experiences taught me, were:
to trust in my own intuition and calling,
to be less judgemental and assuming when making choices what to do and not do.
to release the attachment I place on the outcomes and learn, value the experience and know that as long as my intention is to grow and expand I will always win!
I encourage you to weigh up the ‘pro’s’ and ‘con’s’ of going ahead with options and opportunities on alignment alone. Value the lesson in the rejected or repellent idea, as what you may choose to dislike today, may well surprise you tomorrow.
Think more, what could this provide me in growth and experience, and less of whether you’re likely to succeed and I assure you that you will develop and grow though the experience every time with that mindset!
With Gratitude always,
Alison Callan is The Clarity and Success Coach for Aspiring Entrepreneurs, as well as an International Award Winner in Business, and Internationally Accredited Coach and Certified Neuro-Linguistic Practitioner, Mindfulness Consultant, Facilitator, Speaker and #1 Best Selling Co-Author of the book ‘You Are Meant For More‘.
Alison is committed to helping you mindfully align with your mission to create Conscious Business with Purpose, Confidence and Ease. So that you live a life you love and deserve with Clarity through Conscious Creation.
When you are sick, you do not self diagnose, you go see a Doctor. Who is an expert at getting you well again.
When your car is faulty you do not tinker with it to try and figure it out, you go to an expert a Mechanic to do what they do best and get your vehicle road worthy again.
When you have an issue with your plumbing, heating or electrics, you go seek out a professional to get the job done right the first time and well, so you are safe, compliant and covered.
So why is it when you start out in Business you think that you do not need an expert to help you establish yourself?
This is the normal behaviour and thinking of what I see, to go it alone and struggle. So, I would like to tell you why you are making a vital mistake with this logic.
Your business is an expression of you. You are the most important person in your life and this soul business you are establishing is not only being created to bring you an income to support all your material needs, it is bringing vitality to your life force too.
When you are designing a purposeful Business why would you put yourself on hold, or in the practise arena. When you can seek out an expert to build you and your business in a shorter, more efficient and effective time. So that you can start reaping the benefits of this new found freedom?
I used to be safe with my money, I used to make sure I didn’t over extend myself. Until one day I realised I couldn’t keep putting myself last in the priorities, or waiting to make money before spending it.
When you are designing a purposeful Business why would you put yourself on hold, or in the practise arena. When you can seek out an expert to build you and your business in a shorter, more efficient and effective time. So that you can start reaping the benefits of this new found freedom?
I invested in a Coach to be the expert in business to support me to get my brand, my life and my expertise crafted quickly, efficiently and practically.
This was not only an investment in a coach but in myself and my future.
I can tell you that I never regretted this investment because quite simply I am the very best investment I can ever make, because I’m a sure thing. Counting on myself and working on myself will always be critical to my success, and learning from experts as I go is fundamental.
When you invest like this and show the world you are stepping up, the world steps up to meet you where you are at, it is expansive and extraordinary. This is quite simply what you’ve been willing into existence, but you have to show your commitment to be able to receive your match.
So tell me….
• Do you believe you are a sure thing?
• Are you worth investing in?
• Is there anyone else out there that’s an expert you could learn from?
• Are you terrified to back yourself?
Whether you say yes or no to any or all of those questions it doesn’t matter because I can tell you right now, You are a sure thing, you are worthy of investing in and there is always someone ahead of you in the game that you can learn from and of course you’re always a little terrified to back yourself because failing is scary and so is succeeding, believe it or not!
If you have a desire to be in a purposeful business but are lost as to what that looks like, then I am the expert to help you. I can see intuitively what you bring to the world and the potential and possibilities to create something magical. Just check out my testimonials.
And, if you have a conscious business that you are looking to begin, design, build, develop or scale then I am the expert to support you to bring even more of yourself to the world successfully with immense clarity. Just check out my Conscious Creation Business Accelerator, or book in to discuss working with me…
The only decision you really have to make is, are you ready to step into who you are becoming?
Yes or no? Find your expert to help you – simple as that!
So, tell me because I am so curious to know, what do you currently need an expert for in your Business or Life?
With Gratitude always,
Alison Callan is The Clarity and Success Coach for Aspiring Entrepreneurs, as well as an Internationally Accredited Coach and Mindfulness Consultant, Facilitator, Speaker and #1 Best Selling Co-Author of the book ‘You Are Meant For More’.
Alison is committed to helping You mindfully align with your mission to create Conscious Business with Purpose, Confidence and Ease. So that you live a life you love and deserve with Clarity through Conscious Creation.
I used to cringe at the title ‘Life Coach’, in fact I actively tried everything to avoid using it.
I even got accredited to stand out as a governed and regulated coach in the field to be with the best coaching regulatory body, the International Coach Federation.
I used to see all over social media Coaches popping up offering their value, their unique funnels, systems and programs to get you virtually anything you wanted.
Now let’s be honest, how many of those free sign ups hooked you in because their words and content were just so appealing and you couldn’t resist giving it a try?
I know I bought into the freebies, webinars and challenges in my early days. Yet I never opened any of their genius optins or workbooks and I rarely ever made the webinars live.
Because honestly, I knew the outcome was going to be an upsell, a way to try and get me into a program or something.
Not that there is anything wrong with this, these systems work, and I’ve experienced enough and learnt about them that I honestly know that they can and do. Just not all of them.
Now this process became synonymous to me with the word ‘Coach’ and for me, it didn’t feel right.
Coaching in my book is exploring the depths of a person’s soul and beliefs and experiences to support them to find their own strength and system to manage their way to success. This begins with clarity of what their version of success looks like. And I do not believe there is a system or funnel that can work exactly the same way for everyone. Especially not empaths and intuitives.
There are programs that can share knowledge and teach you to grow and expand your perceptions and thinking, but they cannot speak directly to the soul of each person uniquely without a measure of 1:1 connection with a personal Coach.
Now there are some amazing Coaches, and I know a lot of them, so this is in no way negative to those in the profession, or those who use systems and funnels, everyone has to work in their own unique way. Now, that is what I advocate for.
However my experience has been that for me there was always a disconnect, and I know for a lot of other people too with the over used and confused term of ‘Coach’.
The way in which I ‘Coach’ was always very different, that I honestly didn’t want to conform to a term that seems diluted.
I decided to go out to my clients at the time of starting my business and I asked them what they thought I stood for and what results they got through my unique ways of Coaching.
Each one of them came back with the terms of receiving great Clarity & Success. And that is how I coined the term and title of ‘The Global Clarity & Success Coach.’ It was delivered to me by my Clients.
Why am I telling you all this?
It’s because I have had some discovery calls recently with some sensitive and empathic souls who are here to make a difference in the world. But, they have been burnt. They have been burnt through buying into the funnels, programs and systems or promises from ‘Coaches’ who they thought would care and help them get their Clarity and Success and they were let down.
This has honestly broken my heart.
Yet, having spoken to me about what is different with my group coaching and 1:1 programs they have opened up to trusting me to get them the results they need, personally and professionally.
So, what was the difference that I made to them?
They all said that they felt I cared, that I could see the soul and purpose in their mission and they believed I’d have their back. Because let’s face it, designing your life or business or career is a holistic process.
To me, they felt heard, understood and supported, which is how everyone deserves to feel when they invest in me and themselves.
They are not another acquisition to me, they are not a number. They are souls with purpose, pain, experience and challenges and I sure as hell see them, feel them and support them.
I see their potential, their light and dark and I see the connection. I feel it.
If you have been burnt by other Coaches, Coaching Programs or unfulfilled promises, or courses with no substance and you have been on the fence about trusting someone else to guide you I can honestly say please do not lose hope or sight of your vision.
You just haven’t found your Coach yet.
Finding the Right Coach for you!
We are not all the same and you need to do your research. Here are some questions to ask before jumping in with a Coach. Because I want you to feel empowered and worthy, so ask some or all of these:
• Who is this coach, what do they believe in and stand for?
• Do your values align?
• What promises or guarantees do they make to look after you?
• What is their experience, in life and business?
• How much time will they spend directly with you?
• What is their coaching style?
• How will they check in with you if you’re not showing up or following through?
• What advice do they give, versus coaching & mentoring? (It’s not all the same!)
• What will they do if you’re not satisfied?
You are entitled to understand them, to connect with them and feel into their genuineness, this is ok. If they are the right coach for you they will want you to care and be able to confidently respond, and they will answer their truth.
I am not the Coach for everyone and I appreciate that. Regardless I want you to feel empowered to find the right Coach for you as I believe everyone benefits from a Coach. Specifically the right Coach for them.
I got called ‘The Coach Who Cares’ the other day as a gorgeous soul was in tears, because she felt finally heard, safe and supported.
Now that is the connection you need to make with your Coach.
In my group program you get personalised time, you get your chance to be coached every single week by a coach who cares, by a coach who gets to know you and is invested in you as much as you are. I want to see and feel my clients get success, feel clarity and drive their own results because they have the beliefs and tools to do so, their way.
Yes, I can teach you the funnels, the systems and programs yet I’ll encourage you to do it your way, to break the rules to follow your intuition and inner guidance to get you your version of success. I’ll cry with you, laugh with you and lovingly kick your butt if you need it. But I won’t leave you alone when you need me the most even if you think you want me to. I’ve got your back and business.
So if you want to interview me, to check out my vibes and energy then book in to have a chat, let me show you how different I am from every other ‘Coach’.
I’d love the opportunity to support you to Consciously Create your vision, your way!
With Gratitude always,
Alison Callan is The Clarity and Success Coach for Aspiring Entrepreneurs, as well as an Internationally Accredited Coach and Mindfulness Consultant, Facilitator, Speaker and #1 Best Selling Co-Author of the book ‘You Are Meant For More’.
Alison is committed to helping You mindfully align with your mission to create Conscious Business with Purpose, Confidence and Ease. So that you live a life you love and deserve with Clarity through Conscious Creation.
Alison Callan is The Clarity and Success Coach for Aspiring Entrepreneurs, as well as an Internationally Accredited Coach and Mindfulness Consultant, Facilitator, Speaker and #1 Best Selling Co-Author of the book ‘You Are Meant For More’.
