Meet Jess Thomson | Small Business Coach & Consultant
We had the good fortune of connecting with Jess Thomson and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Jess, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I used to be very risk-averse – always staying within my known limitations and sticking to areas where I knew I would be successful. Part of that was because I’m naturally strategic and observant, so school came fairly easy for me, I would easily get promoted at work, and overall, I looked successful from the outside.
It was only until recent years that I began to question what success meant for me and realized that I had been playing it safe by choosing options where I knew I would excel. Coaching has stretched me far beyond that comfort zone. It’s not something I had planned extensively, it was more about responding to a calling that just felt right. I did not have all the answers when I first started (I still don’t) and I’m still pretty new in the coaching space, so I am constantly learning. What I do find comfort in is the idea that there are no mistakes or failures because every decision opens 5 more doors to walk through.
Obviously, risk mitigation is all about critical thinking – brainstorming possible outcomes, weighing benefits and consequences, and coming up with potential alternative plans. However, there is a point in every single decision we make, where we have to take that leap of faith. That’s why it’s called risk, because we don’t know the future. We just have to trust that we are strong enough and bright enough to handle whatever comes our way. I consider that belief in myself to be one of my superpowers and I believe anyone can unlock that in themselves.
What should our readers know about your business?
I started doing sales and leadership training alongside my brother-in-law and business partner for start-ups and larger organizations. I loved aligning myself with people who were hungry for growth and providing valuable resources for them, because I was also growing my businesses simultaneously and could share the very tactics I was using. And while there was so much value in that, I realized that the challenges of a small business (with no or a small team) were dramatically different than those of an organization with entire departments dedicated to HR, Marketing, Sales, Service, etc.
A small business owner often has to be skilled in all those areas and wear multiple hats at once. Experiencing that struggle myself, and surrounding myself with a community of other entrepreneurs going through similar hurdles, made me realize that the solutions for these businesses had to be as unique as each business itself. From that, I created Complete Small Biz Academy, to provide support for entrepreneurs, especially women, who were looking for a way to build successful businesses, without the extensive resources of larger organizations and without compromising their own values or personal priorities. I firmly believe in creating intentional processes to align your business with your life, not the other way around. Every decision I make in my business (and the way I coach my clients) is always rooted to a few key questions:
– “Is this aligned with who I want to be?”
– “Is this aligned with the life I want to live?”
– “How does this support my long-term goals?”
Technology has made it difficult to separate our personal and professional lives, especially as entrepreneurs, so it’s incredibly important, now more than ever, to make sure that the two are aligned. My clients that are experiencing burnout or an overwhelming amount of stress, typically feel that way because something is out of alignment. I help them reconnect to what really matters, build a business to support that by making a few key decisions, creating SMART goals, and implementing processes and systems to support progress.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love my little town of Monument, so I would want to show off all our local gems as much as possible. Assuming the weather cooperates, I would take them on a hike to Monument Rock and a walk around Palmer Lake (maybe even some fishing or paddle boarding). Sometime throughout the week we would have to stop at Black Forest Foods, Lolley’s Ice Cream, and Rosie’s Diner. And we’d have to plan a day to walk around downtown to shop at local stores like Corina’s Salon & Boutique, Monument Mercantile, and Covered Treasures Bookstore.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to shoutout the ladies of Uplift, a local women’s networking group that I have been a part of for several years. Being a member of this group has empowered me to view vulnerability as a strength, prioritize connection, and incorporate different perspectives into my growth plans. The women of this group have been a huge support for my businesses and personal life. Because of them, I had opportunities to grow as a leader and expand into coaching, which I never would have even considered without their encouragement and feedback.
Of course, I also have to give credit to my family. Both my extended family, with whom I have partnered alongside for several business ventures, but also my husband and son who are unrelenting supporters of all my crazy ideas. Family is a core value for me, so it’s incredibly fulfilling to be able to build a business around that.
Website: https://completesmallbizacademy.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CompleteSmallBizAcademy
Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
