Meet Stephanie Hayes | Business Strategist and Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Stephanie Hayes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephanie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I have always been wired as an entrepreneur. I can remember, even as a young kid, not even thinking about having a job, but always about being the business owner. I wanted the freedom to be able to own my time, and make decisions about my priorities. I wanted to be able to pick my kids up from school and be present with them. I wanted to be location independent as I lived out of the city, and spent half my day commuting. I wanted the challenge and the stimulation of solving problems about everything, not just one thing. I finally started my first business in 2007 (a month before my first child was born), and soon learned how little I knew, even with a masters’ degree in business. I think we all need a “starter business” to get all of the mistakes out of our system, and then the next one you make huge leaps forward. In fact, my current business is my fourth business, and it evolved from a growing desire to build a personal brand and evolve my own ideas and thoughts about disruption and giving small business owners permission to think differently. I wanted my own brand of consulting that wasn’t “allowed” or accepted elsewhere, and wanted to be able to make the impacts I envisioned without constraints or boundaries. This has truly been a sandbox for allowing my creative ideas to evolve, and it feels limitless and unbridled. I strongly value innovation and disruption, and needed a container in which to allow those things to happen.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am a business strategist and I work with women entrepreneurs over 45 who are thinking about what their business means in terms of their legacy. They have lived past the insecurities, the learning, the hardships, the experiences, and are smart, capable, and have created a business with a strong foundation and growth. But they know that this pace can’t hold on forever, and are wondering what their business means for the next 10-20 years of their life. We build strategies for exits, either while retaiing ownership or not. I am so excited to be serving this demographic because we are so underserved in the business world. We are not young, up and coming influencers. Nor are we greying, distinguished men who are revered for their experience and prowess. We sit in a world where we are still valued by appearance and youthfulness, yet these women are strong, incredibly talented, successful and seasoned, and no one is talking to them, asking them what they need. I want to empower them financially and with the legacy they want to make, and to recognize that they are valued, important and wise.

Being an entrepreneur is never easy, but it’s not the tactics that are particularly hard. It’s the belief in yourself, and the destruction of all the stories that you have told yourself as to why you shouldn’t/can’t/are afraid. Women carry such tremendous responsibilities, not just financially, and so risk is especially difficult to take on. We risk not just the money, but the judgment, time, domestic roles, etc. Building a strong and resilient foundation for mental health and emotional hygiene at every stage you arrive at is the most important tool for any business owner.

I was the breadwinner and started up my business a month before giving birth to my first child. By the time my second was born, my business was in full swing and I couldn’t stop the moving train. I sacrificed far too much and knew myself very little, so ended up in a very difficult position, mentally, emotionally and financially.

What I know today is that anything is possible, but only those things you absolutely desire are worth pursuing. If it doesn’t light sparks in your body, don’t invest your time in it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in one of the most beautiful places on Earth – Squamish, BC. It’s an outdoor playground with grandiose views of the ocean, and nestled in the mountains. While the foodie scene is still evolving here, if you’re up for outdoor activities, a week won’t even be enough. We would ride the Sea-to-Sky Gondola for breathtaking views of Howe Sound, and maybe stay for the music on the mountain. We would have brunch at Fergie’s, a charismatic and wonderful gem buried in the middle of Paradise Valley, beside a glacial river and nestled in the trees. I would hike with you on the Four Lakes Trail, and take you on a flight up to Lake Lovelywater, on the top of the Tantalus Range. And maybe we’d go cheer on our local roller derby team (of which I was once an active member) while drinking local craft beer from plastic cups in the rec centre arena. We would visit the local art gallery with a large, unexplained unicorn out front, and travel a few minutes down the highway to the mining museum. Wherever we go, you won’t be able to keep your eyes off the land. Our home is a treasure.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shoutout needs to go to my business peer and colleague, Natalie Taylor. For five years, she has been my absolute rock, offering her insight, advice, support and care. I believe in business and life we just need to be known, and that takes a lot of time and commitment to each other. The time, love, attention and care I have received from Natalie has been next to none.

Website: www.stephaniehayes.biz

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephaniehayes.biz/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniehayescoach/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/stephaniehayes

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephaniehayescoach/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3WnIYgtMeLsTMXa0GxuinQ

Other: podcast.stephaniehayes.biz