Heather Stanford - Contract and Business Lawyer
When I signed into Val’s new social media group for entrepreneurs…. I did so with a little bit of trepidation, not sure whether it was right for me and whether I was right for it. My connection was Val – someone I’ve known professionally for over 25 years. But did I really appreciate what she now does in her coaching business and all the other fantastic networks that she also contributes to. To be fair, the answer to that is a big fat no. I had no clue. And a feel a little bad about that – as another lawyer who has tried to reinvent herself – I really should have paid some more attention – cos she’s really good!
I’ve just completed my two complimentary sessions of coaching with Val, the prize for winning (with massive over excitement on my part) a challenge on the group’s Facebook page to stream LIVE what goals I wanted help to achieve. They have been so helpful in clarifying and setting me to action on things that had been twirling and whirling around in my head for a while. Chatting to Val about the goals I had set, what the challenges to achieving them were, and some very practical steps to take to get there, was hugely useful – a proper kick up the proverbial - to actually apply one’s mind and do things – to a plan and to a deadline – with someone to whom you have to be accountable for your actions or inactions.
Generally I’m not one for prevarication. Once I can see what needs to be done I tend to crack on (undoubtedly a woman who GSD) but my problem was in seeing the strategic wood for the trees. We looked at my business and its offering - What to do? How to do it? Who to do it with? Those were the challenges – once Val helped me see the tasks and the objectives - the rest was pretty easy.
If you are thinking about a project or a goal for your business and maybe it needs more shape, more structure, more thinking and certainly more doing, I recommend a session or two with Val. Her clarity and practical application are second to none. Her knowledge of the industries she has been part of – corporate worlds, the third sector and entrepreneur circles - is hugely rich and she is a generous sharer.
I thoroughly recommend her services for coaching small businesses and entrepreneurs and hope you all have as much successful output and activity as I did. Thank you Val – this isn’t the end, just the beginning…