When Claire first came to me, she was exhausted. She told me about the late nights spent catching up on admin, sitting at her kitchen table with her laptop open and her head in her hands. Her diary was full, but she felt empty. Clients were attending, bills were paid, but she couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt excited about her business. Was it all really worth it?
As we talked, it became clear what had happened. When Claire first started her Pilates business, her WHY was clear: she wanted to help women in their 40s and 50s feel strong, flexible, and confident in their bodies.
But over time, she’d said yes to clients who weren’t the right fit. She kept her prices low to avoid rocking the boat. She filled her timetable to the brim just to keep everything afloat.
Little by little, she drifted away from her why.
One of the things Claire shared with me was a powerful moment she’d had recently. A long-standing client had spoken to her after class and said:
“Claire, thank you. Because of your classes, I can run around with my grandkids again. I feel like I’ve got my life back.”
That reminder of impact had brought Claire to tears. It reminded her that she wasn’t running her business for admin, social media likes, or even just to pay the bills, but because of the transformation she could create in people’s lives. It was at this point she knew she needed to get help.
That moment was the spark. It reignited something within Claire again.
Through our coaching sessions, Claire took time to slow down and reflect.
She journaled. She revisited her original purpose. She reconnected with her love of working with women in midlife. She thought about why money mattered for her family, and why growth was important. We fanned the metaphorical flames within.
Together we did the work so Claire could map out her own version of Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle:
- Why: To help midlife women feel strong, flexible and confident in their bodies.
- How: By teaching Pilates with care and humour.
- What: Group classes and 1:1 sessions.
With that clarity, the fog lifted. Claire felt re-energised.
From this point Claire started making changes:
- She raised her prices, knowing her WHY justified it.
- She let go of a 1:1 client who was draining her energy.
- She rewrote her marketing so it spoke directly to her ideal women.
For the first time in months, she felt aligned and inevitably the ripple effect began.
Her clients noticed. The energy in classes shifted. She began attracting new people who resonated with her WHY. Claire was excited about her future again.
She hadn’t changed her business overnight – what changed was her mindset. By reconnecting with her WHY, she found clarity, confidence, and courage.
It’s easy to drift away from your WHY but when you reconnect with it, everything changes; your mindset, your energy, and your success.
If you’ve lost sight of your why and would like support in rediscovering it, email me philippa@holdmyhandcoaching.com and let’s talk about how we can work on this together.
Until next time,
Best wishes
Philippa x