Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Steluta Leu, CEO, and Founder of 8 Glasses of Water, located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business is all about helping women overcome fear and self-doubt, develop self-confidence, and build a life they love. I work with female leaders from both the corporate and entrepreneurial spaces.
Tell us about yourself
What first got me started working on my business was my inner desire to help other women succeed. I was fortunate enough to be raised by a mother who believed in me. My mom constantly nurtured and helped me develop my self-confidence. She was always telling me that she believed that I can achieve whatever I set my mind to, regardless of the circumstances. Still, to this day, she does that. But I know that not all women were fortunate to be brought up like me in a very supportive environment. Many women come from cultural upbringings that don't favor nor encourage female leadership.
All of us experience failures and setbacks at one point or another on our journeys, whether we're talking about love life, career, marriages, entrepreneurial pursuits, you name it. Many of us have experienced trauma in the early stages of our lives. And, as our society doesn't teach us how to deal with failure, how to heal and recover from traumatic events, we internalize the message that we are not good. That we are failures.
We lose confidence in who we really are and what we can do with our lives. We stop trying new things. Seeing how my clients fire up when they're truly seen, grow more confident when they're supported, get out of their comfort zone and push past their assumed limits is what motivates me.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I think my biggest accomplishments are seeing my clients thrive and my peers recognizing my work. As of this month, I am sitting on the International Coach Federation - Vancouver Chapter Board of Directors, getting to work alongside some of the most talented professional coaches in our community.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
I think one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner is prioritizing your physical and mental health. When you’re very passionate about your work, you tend to forget about anything else: properly feeding and moving your body, taking breaks, spending quality time with friends and family, allowing yourself time to sit in silence and meditate, or just letting your mind wander, playing, all the good things that keep you well.
I think all high achievers, regardless of the space they’re in, are burning themselves out like that. I’m fortunate to have built a skillset and a toolset that I draw upon to keep my life in quite a good balance. And this is something that I also teach my clients to achieve through one of my coaching programs.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
The top 3 tips I’d give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today would be:
- To make sure that their “why” is strong, their business is aligned with their values, and their business model is sustainable.
- To surround themselves with like-minded people and people who are further down the path they’re starting on. There’s nothing stronger than the power of community and multiple brains and experiences coming together to build new things.
- To hire a coach. When you’re starting a business, you’re highly pumped and motivated. At the same time, you have no idea what you’re up against.
A lot of times, things don’t go the way you expect them to go. Contracts fall through the cracks. Negotiations take months instead of weeks. Employees and collaborators find other opportunities and leave you in the middle of an ongoing project.
All these things, plus many others, can throw people off. They take them personally as failures. They start to doubt themselves and their dreams. When you work with a coach, you have someone on your side to help you see through all that and beyond. To support you to find opportunities where you’d otherwise see setbacks and failures. To help take you and your business to a whole other level.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
The high levels of stress, anxiety, and excitement that entrepreneurs are experiencing every day keep them up at night and give them trouble falling asleep.
As sleep is essential for a healthy brain and a healthy life, I created a meditation combined with breath-work to help with falling asleep, having proper rest, and waking up refreshed and energized to work on building their dreams. They can access it at http://8glassesofwater.com/sleep/
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://8glassesofwater.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/viatainechilibru.ro
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/8_glasses_of_water/
Podcast: https://anchor.fm/steluta-leu
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.
