Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Amanda Craven, Founder of Not Just Coaching, located in Scarborough, UK.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I help my clients - mostly entrepreneurs - to create post-traumatic SUCCESS in their business and personal lives when they become stuck due to symptoms of childhood trauma. The symptoms are often not seen as being connected to adversity in early life, and many people even struggle to acknowledge that the abuse, neglect, and abandonment they experienced did actually constitute trauma.

When trauma lies unaddressed for many years, it influences behaviours (leading to self-destructive habits, self-sabotage, obsessions/compulsions, phobias, anxiety, depression, people-pleasing, confidence, trust...) and physical health (potentially leading to some types of cancers, auto-immune diseases, heart problems, digestive problems, migraines, unexplained pains...). I, therefore, feel an immense responsibility to find ways to educate adults about childhood trauma as well as use hypnotherapy to help them heal and create an exciting new chapter for themselves.

Tell us about yourself

I discovered hypnotherapy after being diagnosed with breast cancer 13 years ago. It helped me cope with the surgery and subsequent treatments. After my recovery, I decided to train as a clinical hypnotherapist and have since been blown away by the power of this often misunderstood therapy to transform lives in such a beautiful way. I then wanted to go deeper and study for a Master's degree in Psychology.

I was so passionate about the subjects that I achieved distinction grades in all these programs and really felt that I had 'come home' and that this was what I was meant to do. Everything made sense - all the personal challenges I'd faced (alongside cancer, there were my own childhood wounds, bereavement, divorce, pregnancy/birth trauma) plus my training gave me the gift of being able to relate to my client's difficulties and help them to heal.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I think it's been to create services that are accessible to anyone seeking help - alongside the high-ticket 1-on-1 post-traumatic SUCCESS programs, I run some free webinars on childhood trauma and C-PTSD (complex post-traumatic stress disorder) and have a low-ticket group offer where members can access useful resources, attend deep-dive webinars and participate in live Q&A sessions.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Life can be lonely as a solopreneur, so it's really important to create a 'team' around you - I see my accountant, graphic designer, publisher, and printer as members of my 'team,' as well as fellow business owners I connect with during networking events. I've also just invested in a 5-figure coaching/consultancy program to get peer support from other ambitious entrepreneurs in addition to guidance & resources from an amazing mentor.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Even if it feels counter-intuitive (most new businesses want to help EVERYONE), identify one niche market you will serve. You can always change your mind/add another niche later, but it definitely makes life a lot easier when you have a certain type of buyer in mind when you communicate about your business.
  2. Nurture your current clients/customers/email list - keep in touch and share valuable content with them on a regular basis. As well as feeling good, it keeps you top of their mind and makes them more likely to refer others to you.
  3. Believe in yourself and reach for the stars!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://notjustcoaching.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hypnocoachingGB
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traumarecoveryentrepreneurs/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hypnocoachingGB
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-craven-notjustcoaching/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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