Occasionally I seek out Guest Contributors who have interesting career stories.
While these stories were collected PRE-COVID19, in light of what that is changing in Healthcare, their experiences are even more timely for ALL who may be re-evaluating aspects of their career.
As always, I have not worked directly with many of the Guest I feature.
I simply share Business stories with this one hope :
That you will reach out to the Guest Contributor, learn more about how they help people, and then go from there!
#ThatsIT!
About our Guest Contributor
Beth Gordon is a former Administrator in Corporate America, turned Work-at-Home mom of two sweet kids. She cares a great deal about being present with her family and worked hard to contribute to their family budget, working in the POCKETS of life.
Beth shares that its wonderful to have created something you love, where she can serve others, AND not miss the important stuff in her family members’ lives.
Tell us about you and how you help people beyond the bedside:
The primary pain my company solves is helping Busy Moms find the freedom of staying home with their kids while also working a flexible gig they love. I do this by providing numerous resources for setting up an online business, a tool to optimize your Facebook profile to generate leads for your business, as well as an excellent business opportunity for those who don’t have that piece figured out yet.
When did you first see this problem as one that needed to be solved?
This is a problem I experienced myself. After many years of working in Corporate America (including nine years at a large medical center), things changed when my son was born. I still needed to bring in income, but I no longer wanted to work out of the house, leaving my baby with someone else. I spent COUNTLESS hours over several years, trying to figure things out. I want to save Busy Moms time and help them find what they are looking for much sooner.
Did the problem ever seem like it was bigger than you?
My experience with this was that I didn’t know where to look or what information to trust. That is why my research was so extensive. I wound up spinning my wheelsfor a long time, until I created what I needed. Now I can share with others!
What makes YOU stand out from others who may solve similar problems?
The fact that I completely understand the struggle! I enjoyed my time in corporate life, for the most part. But life circumstances changed and I needed a solution. I know what it is like to desperately want to focus on my kids, while also helping the family budget AND have something of my own. I want other Busy Moms to realize they CAN have the solution they seek. And I can help!
Some say, "It's not what you know, it's about who you know." In terms of developing business relationships, do you agree with that statement? Please explain your rationale.
I do agree that relationships matter a great deal. But a second layer to that is, building relationships with the right people matter. What I mean by that is… with people who you trust, who have integrity, who have a servant’s heart (even while striving to reach their own business goals)… Getting to know people and then determining if your time should be invested [with them is important as well]. And if the answer is Yes, provide value TO THEM, don’t just seek for it to be the other way around.
Tell us about your transition. What was the process of moving away from the clinical role into a business role? What mindset shifts, if any, did you need to make?
As I mentioned in previous answers, the catalyst for change for me was having my first child. I simply did NOT want to ever work outside the home again. I had to make SOMETHING work. But here is something great… I began to grow immensely as a person and then as a professional, I decided that personal development had to be a priority. Part of this certainly included Mindset work and coming to realize that, if others could do it and be successful, so could I. With that, I’ve now developed a No.Matter.What Mindset, when it comes to building my business. Things take time, and the only way to truly fail is to quit. And for me, part of not quitting is to tweak the tactics, as needed, but not the goal.
What has been the hardest thing in starting in your specific type of business or job role?
Being patient. Of course, I would have loved overnight, out-of-nowhere success. But I was determined to create a strong foundation for my business and build on that. Also, related to my previous answer, I have realized that keeping things simple is a much better way to set yourself up for success than is biting off more than you can chew. I have a list of ideas that I have on the back burner that I intend to explore in the future. But prioritizing 1-2 things at a time is so smart! Then work hard to nail those things before adding on more.
What has been the most rewarding thing about being in your business or job role?
I love the thought of the impact I can make on so many families, as Busy Moms find their way to freedom! Freedom of more time & flexibility, and/or freedom of more income. I think of the kids who have a mom who can be more present with them and who is less stressed about the family budget. I think of the moms who feel so accomplished and proud of what they have created for themselves! How wonderful!
What would you say are the five important resources (books, conferences, associations) for a nurse who wants to explore innovation and design?
My specific recommendations would depend on the industry you seek to join. But there are some authors/speakers who I greatly respect and I know you’d learn a lot from – some business, some mindset... Here are several: Brendon Burchard, Eric Worre, Lewis Howes, Rachel Hollis. (Some links are on my website’s resources page.)
Who supported you during this transition? Did you have paid mentorship or coaching? If so, what made you make that investment in paid support?
I did not pay for a coach or mentor. However, whenever I was eager to LEARN everything I could, I bought a number of courses from people who have turned into my ‘unofficial’ mentors.
I realized that I needed to learn from experts who were doing things in a way that resonated with me. I have learned so much from these several people and continue to follow everything they are doing. I also made sure to be engaged with them and not just watching from the sidelines. (Goes back to relationship-building). ** I truly think that investing in yourself and your business is crucial to success. Sometimes that means investing time, and sometimes it’s money. But it’s important to be discerning or ask for input from others who have gone before you. That way you aren’t wasting time and/or throwing money away. I will admit… I got myself into a bit of an information overload phase (because I was so eager to learn) but then became overwhelmed. Creating a real strategy for your business and then taking focused action is far better! That is how I now operate.
Is there any way to give our readers a small taste of working with you?
1) Think hard about what you really want. Are you trying to supplement your current income, to save for a big vacation? Or are you trying to retire yourself or your spouse? What level are you after?
2) Ask yourself what type of work excites you (besides nursing). What environment would light you up?
3) Don’t just jump into any opportunity. [For more tips on this, I have a Freebie for you to check out on my website.]
Is there anything else you would like readers to know?
I think that it is incredibly BRAVE to venture into a new career, even if part-time in some way. There is always so much to learn and it can be scary. But it is WORTH it! I commend you for exploring something different for yourself.
I LOVE to work with people who have a great attitude and work ethic, and who care about serving others with what they do. Those who are coachable and are willing to share ideas are fun business partners. If you are interested, check out my website and reach out to me.
Let’s keep the conversation going!
#TheBusinessofNursing
Amelia felt invisible in her role as a registered nurse and chose to learn how to use social media for something beyond watching cat videos.
Now alongside other hats, Amelia elevates the voice of nurses and helps her clients get booked as guest experts on live videos, podcasts and/or virtual conferences so that they can grow their audience without feeling the need to “overshare” or document their entire lives on social media.
When she is not slaying obscurity you can find her planning real and imagined food tours.
Feel free to connect with her on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ameliaroberts/