Freedom and Joy - Spark Collaborative

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in coaching but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Linsi Brownson, Founder of Spark Collaborative, LLC., located in Austin, TX, USA.

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

I am a life and business coach who helps creative business owners have more joy, freedom, and ease in their daily lives. Being an entrepreneur takes a lot of time and energy, and it's easy to fall into the habit of being so busy that we forget to have fun -and sometimes we forget HOW to have fun with it! I help creatives get things back into alignment.

Tell us about yourself

I have been an entrepreneur since 2008, and my career and businesses have evolved a lot over the years. I've always been in creative fields, starting as an interior designer and then transitioning into an e-commerce home decor and styling company that I ran for a few years with my husband. In that business, I learned how to build websites and do online marketing, as well as a whole lot of other product-based business knowledge that is still really useful to my clients today! I went through a burnout/health crisis with that business and ultimately decided to close it down.

What happened next shocked me...former customers and vendors started reaching out and asking me to help them with marketing their small businesses. They had loved my writing, graphics, and heart-centered approach to business and wanted to do the same. I started freelance consulting, which quickly turned into a full-fledged creative agency, which I ran for nine years. Over the years, my consulting services developed into more of a coaching approach, and I realized that coaching was my favorite part of the job! In 2019 I decided to go full-time in coaching small business owners.

I'm endlessly inspired by my clients' creativity and resourcefulness, along with the cool work they are doing. It's so fun to be part of their business success! I love the variety of work we get to do together sometimes it's the mindset; other times, it's brainstorming new ideas; other times, it's working on systems and organization.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

What I am most proud of is my ability to continually evolve myself and my business so that I am living my dream life. It's scary to pivot or change, especially when things are going pretty well, and you've worked so hard to get traction and success in something. Each time I shifted my business, I focused on who I wanted to become rather than what I was potentially leaving behind. I was willing to trust that I would be happier taking the risk and growing into the next version of myself.

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

Making decisions! We are constantly making decisions, and often we are the only person who can (or should) be making them for our business. It can feel overwhelming, lonely, frustrating, and exhausting. Even the daily decisions of "what to focus on" can really zap our time and energy. This is one of the many ways that having a coach helps you be more productive and focused.

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

Design your business to fit your lifestyle - the one you have today and the one you want to have. Most people think that time and money freedom is a result of success, but it's not. You'll never have it until you plan for it. If you want or need to work certain days or hours because it's a better fit for your personality, family needs, health issues, etc., build your business around that. It's totally fine (contrary to popular belief, there are no "rules"), and your business will be more successful if you stay energized and motivated.
As early as possible, define and set clear boundaries and expectations. This requires some trial and error because you usually learn what's not okay (i.e., clients texting you at 2 AM) by having some bad experiences. But once you know, don't be afraid to tell people how you want to be treated - this goes for clients, vendors, team members, family members, and yourself too. Especially with clients and hiring a team, the clearer you are in your contracts, the better.
Personal Development is the investment that will earn you the most money and happiness in the long term. Read books, take a few personality tests, and find practices you enjoy that help you better understand your thoughts and motivations. Cultivate business friendships, and hire a coach when you can afford one. How you think determines everything from your prices to your systems, your marketing, management style, daily habits, everything. All your business growth will stem from your personal growth, so it's really important to do it intentionally.

I want people to know that you don't have to be busy to be productive and profitable. You can have ease and flow in your business, a schedule that you enjoy working, and fulfilling life outside of work (guilt-free!). I think we've been taught it's either-or (career or life success), and I want to encourage people to insist on having both! It's totally possible, and it's totally worth it.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.linsibrownson.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Linsibrownson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/linsibrownson/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linsibrownson/

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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