Stephanie Gill is the Founder of Focussed Fish, a Brisbane-based company that provides online and face-to-face coaching to professional women who are experiencing self-doubt and overwhelm. Since 2007, Stephanie has been reconnecting smart women with their mojo in a fast and fun way, so they can confidently move forward with clarity and be a positive influence in the world.
For more details, visit their website here.
Here we sit down with Stephanie, to know a bit more about her journey as an entrepreneur.
Q. Tell us a little more about your journey as an entrepreneur – how did you get started? What inspired you?
Stephanie: In a year I lovingly refer to it as “the year from hell”, I was managing chronic neck and shoulder pain, and I had two miscarriages and a painful shoulder reconstruction all in a six-month period.
During this time, I was a part-time manager in a job share arrangement in government when a major organisational restructure was implemented. Key people left including my job share partner, my director and the executive director. My workload tripled and I felt overwhelmed and unsupported. I felt stuck and had totally lost my mojo. I felt like I was working so hard, and keeping the business operations together while I was falling apart.
I was diagnosed with depression, put on anti-depressants and took leave while I reconsidered my life. During this time I was working with an Executive Coach and we were talking about what was next for me in my career. I remember having an “aha” moment where I sat bolt upright and proclaimed “I think I’d be good at what you do!”.
Four months later I had completed my first coach training course and had started my own business. So, I am an “accidental entrepreneur”.
Q. What’s one thing in your routine that you do consistently that has made a huge difference in your personal or business life?
Stephanie: Meditation. The one thing I do in my routine consistently is some form of meditation, whether it be breathing, sitting in silence, focusing my attention on something like a focus point or a sound, or a guided meditation.
This, along with listening to hypnosis tracks, helped me move through depression and find my way back to what was important to me. Meditation helps ground me and helps me be responsive rather than reactive.
It also helps me be present with my clients. It brings me back to the only point of power, which is the present moment. Meditation helps connect me to my own “inner guidance”, and enables me to connect with others more easily in an open and non-judgmental way.
Q. Who are your mentors and inspiration? and what knowledge or insight did they give to you that was valuable?
Stephanie: My first coach trainer, Satyam Chalmers was a mentor. I really admired how she was so calm and seemed to be comfortable in her own skin. She helped me see that I could be successful in “doing and being me”.
She spoke of the power of mindfulness, which I started to embrace and it was a big part of what helped me get out of my head and connect with what is really important. I also teach my clients about the power of mindfulness.
I did Neuro Linguistic Programming training with Chris Howard Training. I liked the way Chris weaved stories into his training. He used some great frameworks and I learned hypnotic language patterns amongst other things from him. He showed me what was possible as a coach and I still use many of the tools I learned from his training today with clients.
And, last but not least, Oprah Winfrey is an example of a strong woman with integrity who has overcome big challenges and did things her way and made an incredibly positive impact on the world. I love the way she opens herself to the world and wants to help people take responsibility for their lives. I think that is what I do – empower smart women to take back responsibility for their lives.
Q. What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Stephanie: To be honest, just getting started. I never saw myself as a business owner. I had been an employee most of my life, except for a short time when I ran my own drama classes for kids when I was a teacher.
Other than that, to claim the title of coach and business owner and start doing business was most satisfying. It was like I did something I never expected of myself.
Q. How do you market your business, and which tactics have been most successful?
Stephanie: I use free products, webinars and Facebook groups. Sharing a free offering or mini program in a Facebook group or via LinkedIn to give people a taster is effective.
I think it helps show people the experience they will have when they buy from you.
Q. What have been your biggest failures or challenges?
Stephanie: My biggest failures include not getting clear on my niche and not getting the right help early on in the right places.
Some of the key areas I required help with were the technical setup and marketing.
I would have saved myself a lot of pain by getting the right help when I started.
Q. How did this failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success?
Stephanie: Of course it built resilience. It sent me back to the drawing board multiple times. I was forced to make a decision on my niche which simplified things and made communication more targeted.
When you clearly know who you are talking to and what problem you are solving, it makes it much easier to market.
Q. If someone was to create a TV show about you, what would it be about and what would it be called?
Stephanie: I think it would be called “The Harmoniser”. I like to bring harmony to people’s lives. I think a show where I move people from chaos to calm would be educational, transformational and fun.
Each episode would show the journey of how I help people connect with their “inner guide” so they become excited about creating amazing lives and successful and happy being themselves.
To keep up to date with Stephanie and her journey, connect with her on Facebook, and LinkedIn.
