Building a coaching business rarely happens as quickly as social media makes it look. In this conversation, Louise Thompson shares what really happened after leaving a successful corporate career - from starting again at 44 to building a community of 94,000 people, attracting corporate clients, and creating a business that genuinely reflects who she is. It’s an honest reminder that consistency compounds, even when it feels like nothing is happening.

Timestamps

00:00 - Leaving Corporate at 44

03:00 - Starting From Scratch

05:00 - Why TikTok Changed Everything

07:55 - Turning Content Into Clients

12:00 - Winning Corporate Work

18:30 - Visibility Isn’t Selfish

24:45 - Advice for New Coaches

“Believe that you are worthy of actually being seen.” – Louise Thompson

This episode is for qualified coaches who are building their business and wondering whether all the consistent effort is really worth it. Louise’s story is proof that showing up, refining your message, and trusting the process creates opportunities you could never predict.

Check out Louise's website

Connect with Louise on LinkedIn

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If you’re kind enough to leave a review, please do let Jo know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: [email protected]

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Today I am joined by Louise Thompson, a leadership coach, keynote

2

speaker, and former board director

of communications with over 20

3

years experience in the NHS, private

sector, and Silicone Valley startups.

4

She joined the business of coaching three

years ago, and I thought it would be super

5

interesting to catch up with someone a

few years into starting their business.

6

She has since built up a community of

94,000 people on TikTok, and she coaches

7

senior women at organizations like

Google, the NHS, and Charlotte Tilbury,

8

and she's just brilliant, and I've

really noticed in the last year or so

9

her entire presence like just massively

burst open for want of a better words.

10

Do take us back to your time at

director of communications, and what

11

made you finally decide to leave?

12

'Cause that must have been a

very scary moment at the time.

13

Louise: So I'm 50 this year, so I'm 49

now, and I decided to pivot my career, so

14

move away from corporate communications

into coaching at the age of 44, which

15

I found out after the fact is a very

significant age, in terms of aging.

16

So I think it's 44 and 60 are what they

call the two age cliffs, terrifying,

17

where your aging accelerates, but

it also is kind of a reckoning.

18

So for a lot of women, that also

coincides with things like perimenopause.

19

So I was working as a director of

communications in an organization at

20

that time that was supporting the NHS.

21

It was actually in the pandemic as well.

22

So I had perimenopause symptoms appear

out of nowhere, like overnight, and

23

I was working really, really hard,

and I was very proud of the work

24

that I had done during this time.

25

But I did get to that stage

where I was like, "Okay, is it

26

time now to do something else?"

27

And at the age of 44, I also realized

that I actually had another 20 years

28

of work ahead of me, which, you

know, in your 40s when you've worked

29

for 20 years, you're like, "Surely

this must be it, but it's not.

30

It's actually the middle, not the end.

31

So that was quite a liberating thought.

32

I've got time to build up a new career-

To the same level, to the same standard,

33

same fulfillment as I did my first career.

34

So that was all of those things combined,

also with a bit of burnout, I have

35

to say, after 20 years in corporate,

to make me, arrive at that decision.

36

Jo: I remember that exact same

moment when I kept thinking, "I

37

must be at nearly retirement age."

38

And then you're like, "Oh my

God, I've actually got the

39

same, if not more, to go."

40

Louise: 'Cause we could

be working till we're 70.

41

So then it's like, oh, hang on, a

whole second career act that could

42

take you even beyond your first.

43

Speaker: So thinking back to those early

days of your coaching business, do you

44

remember what it felt like you, did your

qualification, came out the other side?

45

Tell us more.

46

Louise: So I actually did my

coaching qualification whilst

47

I was still working corporate.

48

So I was a director of communications.

49

I had had some brilliant coaching, as

a leader, and I was really interested

50

in it, so I did the qualification

and kind of parked it for a couple

51

of years because I was still working.

52

And then it came time for me to think,

"Well, I actually want to do this."

53

So it was really scary, l- for lots of

reasons, financial a- and other reasons.

54

And I remember thinking, it's pretty

naive of me, which is why I found

55

you, by the way, so thank you.

56

I remember thinking,

"Oh, well, it'll be easy.

57

And of course that- that's not how

it typically goes for most of us.

58

You'll get some clients that way, but

not enough to sustain an actual business.

59

So I remember thinking, "Oh, okay.

60

I'm actually going to have to figure

out how to market my services as a

61

coach," and I, embarrassingly, because

I was a director of communications,

62

had never really thought about that.

63

Didn't really know how to go about

it and that was when I found you

64

and, the Business of Coaching course.

65

Speaker: I remember on our first case

study call- Yeah … so you can listen

66

back to when Louise had left the Business

of Coaching, and I remember you saying you

67

had no idea, and they just don't teach you

anything- No … about this business side-

68

No … when you're training as a coach.

69

Louise: No clue.

70

Yeah.

71

It's a … I mean, it is a big

gap, which is why, obviously, your

72

program is so valuable, because Yes,

you can be qualified as a coach.

73

You can be an amazing coach.

74

But without clients- You

know, it, it's difficult.

75

It's difficult to make

a business out of it It

76

Speaker: So I know you use LinkedIn,

and you still do use LinkedIn.

77

Yeah.

78

But I know you also then

moved over to TikTok.

79

Yeah.

80

So tell us why you made that

decision- … and tell us more.

81

Louise: I'm like one of the

oldest creators on TikTok.

82

I, I'm not, but I joke

about that all the time.

83

So I remember thinking, and this

was about three years ago, so it

84

was when, I was doing your program.

85

And I remember thinking, well,

I'm actually fairly w- I am fairly

86

well-established on LinkedIn.

87

That works for me, but

it's still not enough.

88

I need something else.

89

And to be honest, as a 40-something woman

I was on TikTok, so I, I like using it.

90

There's no shame in it.

91

I, I like, you know, I get skincare tips

and fitness and all that kind of stuff

92

off women like me in their mid-40s.

93

So then I kind of had this light

bulb moment of, like, well, if I'm

94

on TikTok, and I'm a professional

woman in her mid-40s, there must

95

be other women like me on there.

96

So maybe that's a channel I could use.

97

So that was kind of how I

arrived at it, to be honest.

98

I was thinking, well, I'm on

here scrolling probably far too

99

much, so maybe there are other

women like me who I could help.

100

Speaker: Yeah, exactly.

101

And so you went from zero to

now 94,000- Yeah … followers.

102

What did you learn along the way?

103

Louise: I mean, if I look back at my

first video, I don't mind because it was

104

the first video, so it is a little bit

embarrassing because, it's not fantastic.

105

I've got all these big pauses in there.

106

But you start and you learn.

107

So I think what I've learned,

a couple of things, and I have

108

to say, they are really boring.

109

They'll probably sound

really dull, but it's key.

110

Repetition, practice, and consistency is

what has helped me grow my TikTok channel.

111

So there's the whole theory from Malcolm

Gladwell about you need 10,000 hours of

112

practice at something in order to become

really skilled at it, to become expert.

113

And I reckon, I don't know if

I've done 10,000 hours, but I have

114

definitely put the hours in on TikTok.

115

And that probably sounds a bit boring

because it's not an overnight thing.

116

You've got to commit.

117

I now do one a day, Monday to

Friday, so five videos a week.

118

But it's a lot.

119

But I was like, "No, I need to do this

because I'm not fully booked with clients,

120

so I need to spend my time marketing."

121

And it was just repetition, commitment,

consistency, and then of course you

122

get better and better over time.

123

Speaker: Yeah.

124

Exactly.

125

And I promise I didn't pay

Louise to say those boring words-

126

Louise: But it's true, and I think it's,

it's, you know, you don't want to say them

127

because people don't want to hear that.

128

And it's like, no, of

course it wasn't like that.

129

You know, t- it takes time and

consistency and commitment.

130

Yeah.

131

Speaker: So tell us about finding

a client on TikTok from these

132

60-second videos, pretty much.

133

Like, is…

134

Tell us how it works.

135

Louise: So I have had a lot of coaching

clients through TikTok, and also clients

136

that book me for workshops and speaking.

137

So usually what will happen is…

138

I think of TikTok, and actually any

social media channel and podcasts, and

139

all of this stuff, as a short- shortcut.

140

It's not a shortcut in terms of

your time, but a shortcut in the

141

customer's mind to establishing trust.

142

Because, you know coaching, y- you

need high levels of trust in order

143

to go on that journey with somebody.

144

Somebody that shows up consistently,

podcasts, videos, whatever it is,

145

and shows you who they are, is a

really effective way to actually

146

shortcut that trust with a new

prospect, with a new client.

147

So what I often find is that when

prospects come to me through something

148

like TikTok, they will usually say

something like, "Oh, I've actually

149

followed you for quite a while.

150

I watch your videos and

I just think, that's me.

151

She's talking about me, so I had to meet

you because I need help with that thing."

152

So that's what usually happens and,

that's really gratifying because it

153

means hopefully I'm tapping into the

things that my clients need help with.

154

Speaker: And I think you share your

beliefs, a- and strong beliefs, that

155

could be, nerve-wracking for some

people to share quite often, which

156

I do think you need to do, and I

think we often start- Trying to be

157

really nice and maybe just bland.

158

Yes.

159

And then I think what I've noticed is

you've really upleveled who you are in

160

terms of your content and your presence.

161

Louise: Yeah.

162

And I think, you know, your brand identity

or your personal brand, again, sounds a

163

bit uncomfortable I think for some people

to kind of come to terms with, but if

164

you're running your own business, and I'm

a one-person business still at this stage,

165

that is everything because people are

buying you, and people buy from people.

166

So that was a real journey I think I had

to go on through TikTok and other means.

167

What do I stand for, and actually,

what can people expect if they work

168

with me, and I want them to experience

me on TikTok the same way they

169

would experience me in real life.

170

So I am who I am, I like

to have a bit of fun.

171

I was on a TikTok live

last night, brilliant.

172

I like to do them every month,

and we were talking about

173

executive presence for women.

174

But, you know, I was telling some

stories from my career, and I said, "I

175

take what I do really seriously, but

I don't always take myself seriously."

176

And I did in my corporate career.

177

I was very self-serious.

178

But I actually think that

entrepreneurship, getting older, going

179

through menopause, so you gain some

confidence and lose some of those

180

people-pleasing tendencies, has really

helped me kind of establish who I

181

really am, on camera and off it as well.

182

Speaker: Yeah.

183

Totally.

184

So your core message is, it's not a

confidence problem, it's positioning,

185

which is very relevant to us as

coaches as well as your people maybe

186

that are working in the workplace.

187

Louise: So I have actually gone

on a real journey with confidence.

188

When I started out as a coach, I

actually had a group program, very

189

successful, group program, called

The Confident Leader, was all

190

about confidence for women at work.

191

And it was great, and I still stand

by that, but I have gone on such a

192

journey since then through talking to

so many women and going into a lot of

193

workplaces to actually now arrive at

the fact that, I think for a lot of

194

women, brilliant women, we think that

lack of confidence is like a design flaw

195

that is just inherent in being a woman.

196

Actually, what I see most of

the time, these women don't

197

lack confidence in what they do.

198

They know they're good at what they do.

199

Their lack of confidence is a-

Quite understandable response to

200

situations they find themselves

in or corporate environments

201

that were built by men for men.

202

And actually, that's a lot of what I'm now

seeing and talking about is, it's not you.

203

You don't need fixing,

you're not a problem.

204

You are responding to your environment

as a woman at work, and that's

205

challenging, so let's work on that.

206

So that is now kind of where I am

with the whole confidence thing.

207

Jo: Oh, love it so much.

208

you have had corporate clients recently.

209

Tell us more about how

you've gained those.

210

Louise: So I've actually kind of branched

out, I would say, in the last 18 months.

211

So I do, I still do a lot

of one-to-one coaching.

212

That, that's the core of my business.

213

But I now do, corporate workshops

and corporate speaking as well.

214

And to be honest, TikTok has

been, the vehicle through which

215

these clients have found me.

216

So, I did quite a bit of work

last year for Charlotte Tilbury,

217

the global beauty brand.

218

They found me on TikTok because

one of their directors was like,

219

"Oh, I love your TikToks, Louise.

220

We, we need to get Louise

in for a workshop."

221

Other clients kind of do the same.

222

So they will often find

me in the same way.

223

It's often someone in the organization

who follows me and knows me and likes

224

me, then makes the argument internally

like, "Oh, at our next workshop offsite,

225

can we talk about getting Louise in?

226

Because I think she's talking about

some of the things we need to tackle."

227

Jo: That's so amazing, and I'm sure

so many people will be surprised

228

that you gain- from TikTok.

229

Louise: Yes.

230

I, a lot of people are genuinely

very surprised by that.

231

But I always think, again, I go

back to myself, if I'm on TikTok as

232

a professional, experienced woman,

why aren't there other experienced

233

professional women on there?

234

Of course, they are.

235

So if they are in leadership positions

in these corporates, that's usually

236

where it starts, is they will find

me, they will go and make the case

237

internally, and then we'll go from there.

238

Jo: Yeah.

239

Another thing you've done recently

is really up your speaking presence.

240

It's been so noticeable in

everything that I see you're doing.

241

So take us back to your decision to

make that a core part of your business,

242

and how did you go about doing it?

243

Louise: Oh, yes.

244

So my journey on TikTok

has given me so much.

245

One of the things it actually gave

me, talking about confidence, was

246

a lot more confidence in how I

show up and how I speak, and people

247

would often give me feedback, you

know, "You're really engaging."

248

So I thought, actually, could I now

translate that to public speaking?

249

Because the irony was, as a director of

communications, I was often behind the

250

scenes, so I wasn't often to be found on

stages talking about my work, because I

251

was the one preparing the execs to do it.

252

But TikTok made me think, oh, maybe

I could do this, and it's another

253

revenue stream to be frank, And I

think income diversification, it is

254

important if you are someone like me.

255

And it just gave me another thing

where I could channel my ideas, my

256

thoughts, and hopefully be helpful.

257

So I decided to do it seriously

probably about 12 months ago..

258

I found another community, 'cause I

like to work with my trusted people.

259

So you are one of them,

and, Alex Merry is another.

260

So he runs this community called Mic Drop,

and it's all about people who want to make

261

public speaking a part of their business.

262

So it's a great community,

like yours, really engaged

263

community, and it's been great.

264

And I've started to slowly work up my

offer, start to do more speaking, and then

265

of course it kind of snowballs from there.

266

Jo: And how do you get the gigs?

267

Do you- … pitch them?

268

Where, how do you research?

269

How do you do that type of thing?

270

Louise: Yeah.

271

It's a mix.

272

So I do get, I get people off

my social channels, so it could

273

be LinkedIn, it could be TikTok.

274

Actually, Instagram is growing for me.

275

I've…

276

that's where I've got

one, opportunity lately.

277

So they will just come to me.

278

I have a speaker page now on my website.

279

They can submit all the details.

280

We'll have a chat.

281

But I also do pitch myself and my

services, so I am now using LinkedIn a

282

lot more, as you've seen, to do that.

283

And, it's for networking, isn't it?

284

I mean, that's the other thing, is I

do speak at certain events, and then

285

I always try and think, "Okay, well,

who else is here, and how else could

286

I potentially talk to these people

about doing something else for them?"

287

And all that kind of thing.

288

So it's a real blend, but

again, it's like anything.

289

It takes effort and work and

consistency to kind of get the results.

290

And certainly in corporate some of

those timescales are quite long, so

291

you have to have patience as, as well,

292

Sometimes it can be a quick turnaround.

293

Often it's like, "Well, we

wanna plan this for next year."

294

Jo: Yeah.

295

Exactly.

296

It's probably just why I've

started noticing now, 12 months

297

on- Yes, yes … oh wow, she's

actually doing this now a lot.

298

Louise: So- Because there's a lot, similar

to marketing yourself as a coach, which

299

obviously is what you cover so well,

there is a lot of work you do have to

300

do in terms of your foundations, your

positioning, your message, understanding

301

what people are looking for in a speaker.

302

You've got to kind of do the work on

that first, and then you can kind of

303

feel confident about going out there.

304

Jo: Yeah.

305

Exactly.

306

So I know menopause has been a huge

part of your business journey, and

307

something you talk about really openly.

308

So tell us more about how that

has impacted on your business.

309

Louise: Well, I, 44 when I started,

noticing, it kind of hit me like a

310

truck, these perimenopausal symptoms,

and that was part of my decision to

311

do something different in my career.

312

I'm now 49 and a half, and

I am now post-menopausal.

313

So I went through, I think I hit

menopause, which is the 12-month point,

314

about probably eight months ago, actually.

315

So I'm firmly post-menopausal, and

it has been a real, revelation to me,

316

actually, in really surprising ways

that I don't think we talk about enough.

317

So I now feel much more confident

in myself having gone through

318

menopause than I think I ever did

in my late 30s, early to mid-40s.

319

And I think partly because when

your estrogen drops, that's,

320

estrogen is responsible for a

lot of those people-pleasing

321

instincts, you know, hormones.

322

So when those kind of start to ebb away,

you're like, "Oh, hang on a minute.

323

Who am I?

324

What do I want to do?

325

What do I deserve?"

326

And let me think about myself for a bit.

327

Maybe in a bit of a selfish way,

but to be honest, I haven't done

328

that for 20 years, so it is time.

329

So that has given me so much in terms

of my business, because it's meant

330

that I just feel a lot more confident

in terms of putting myself out there

331

and being more visible, and I just, I

don't think we talk about that enough.

332

I think we talk a lot, which we

should do, about perimenopause and

333

awareness of that, and what we can do

in workplaces, but there are benefits

334

to being on the other side as well.

335

Speaker: Ah, great to hear.

336

Jo: I look forward to it, Louise.

337

Tell us more then about the identity

from being behind the scenes in your

338

previous career and now being the brand

and having to show up so publicly.

339

Louise: Yes.

340

It's been … I mean, that has been a

real journey, and I think, you know,

341

the irony for a lot of communications

leaders is, yes, that's your specialist

342

subject, but you are behind the scenes.

343

Very different kettle of fish when

you're talking about promoting yourself.

344

And that was the issue that I had, that

I brought to you, is I should know this

345

stuff, I should be doing it, but, but I'm

not because it's for me, and that feels

346

different and scary and challenging.

347

So I think what I've learnt is

self-promotion and visibility as women,

348

it's not bragging and it's not selfish.

349

And I think you've said

this actually, Jo, before.

350

When you put yourself out there,

that is an unselfish act because you

351

are helping other people who might

need you to find you, and therefore

352

benefit from what you have to offer.

353

If they don't feel they can benefit,

they don't have to work with you.

354

Yeah.

355

So nothing's lost, but actually you

might find the woman, in my case,

356

who really needs to hear what I have

to say, and if I wasn't showing up,

357

she wouldn't hear that, and maybe

she wouldn't do anything about it.

358

And I think you have a

similar philosophy, don't you?

359

Jo: Yeah, totally.

360

Yeah.

361

And I do think people keep

thinking it's all about them.

362

It's not about you.

363

It's about your ideal client.

364

And I think that's so key to remember

in this world where people think

365

marketing is some shady thing.

366

Speaker: Yeah.

367

Yeah.

368

Jo: And like I've changed people's

lives through my marketing.

369

They don't even need to work with me,

370

Louise: and I think when you know

that and you can stand in that and

371

be grounded in that confidently

because you know who you are as well,

372

I think that, that really helps.

373

One big thing that happened for me

this year, which, never in a million

374

years would I have thought would

happen, I was actually on the center

375

spread, massive photo of me, of the

Mail on Sunday recently in a big

376

feature on midlife entrepreneurship.

377

And I was like, actually, that's

brilliant because women can see me and

378

read about my journey, and maybe they

will be inspired to do something as well.

379

So again, things like that are,

I think, really important when

380

you have your own business.

381

You've got to think about the impact

you want to have for other people.

382

Jo: Oh, I love that.

383

And like you say, it feels so cringey

sometimes- Yeah … when you get

384

into that position, but actually, you

really need people to inspire you.

385

And I think, like I hate, for

example, shouting about my income

386

in school hours, term time only.

387

But actually, if I hadn't seen somebody

else that was brave enough to share

388

that, I would not have this business,

because I didn't know it was possible.

389

Louise: Exactly.

390

Jo: And so we need to show

people that it is possible.

391

Louise: Yeah.

392

Yes, it's a burden on women to be role

models, but it's actually a responsibility

393

that I'm kind of very happy to have, and I

think you are as well, is we all need role

394

models to look at and think, "Okay, well,

if that person can do that and they had

395

their challenges, maybe I can do it, too."

396

Jo: So it leads me perfectly on to

talking about the compound effect,

397

which I'm really big on, because people

just underestimate just keep doing it.

398

That's the secret.

399

So tell us more about what's compounded

over the last three years that you could

400

never have predicted when you started.

401

Louise: So the compound

effect is a real thing.

402

So I could have got discouraged

at any point early on in my TikTok

403

journey when I wasn't getting

many views or many followers and

404

thought, "No, this isn't working.

405

But I kept going, and that has compounded

over three years to now being, you

406

know- approaching 100,000 followers

and I have an engaged community.

407

And again, I did a live

session last night.

408

So I do these every month on TikTok for

90 minutes and pick a different topic

409

that's related to women in leadership,

and it's amazing because people have lots

410

of questions, they talk to each other in

the comments, and it just feels great,

411

and none of that would've been possible

if I hadn't decided three years ago that

412

I was gonna go on and do my first kind

of little video and then keep going.

413

So I do think that's really important,

and I think it's easy to get discouraged

414

because we all, I mean, we all

do, you know, I love the dopamine.

415

I love to get instant gratification

from something working, but

416

it's not always like that.

417

Sometimes it is a journey, and

frankly, sometimes a bit of a

418

slog, but the compound effect

makes it worth it in your business.

419

Jo: And then tell us more

about The Mail on Sunday.

420

Yeah.

421

How did you get that gig?

422

Louise: I must have seen them on LinkedIn,

freelance journalist, she put a case study

423

request out on LinkedIn for, a woman, I

can't remember what she was looking for

424

exactly, but I thought I, I fit the bill.

425

So I messaged her on LinkedIn and

we- We're gonna do this thing.

426

I think it was for The Independent,

actually, and then that actually

427

fell through, so I didn't do that

interview and she didn't need me.

428

But we'd established a good rapport,

and she was like, "Oh, I'll bear

429

your story in mind if I'm doing

something for another newspaper."

430

And it was probably about four months

went by, didn't hear anything, and then

431

she did come back to me, which just

goes to show, you know, you've got to

432

get out there 'cause you never know

how these things are gonna turn out.

433

She came back to me after four

months and said, "Oh, I'm now

434

doing a piece for the Mail on

Sunday about midlife entrepreneurs.

435

Like, what made you, you know,

pivot from corporate into this?"

436

And I was like, "Brilliant,"

"Let's do this."

437

So that, that was how that came

about, actually, just, a freelance

438

journalist contact on LinkedIn.

439

Yeah.

440

'Cause I don't have a PR agency and

the irony is I, I'm pretty terrible

441

about having a process to remember to

do my own PR, but I do try and look

442

for these types of opportunities.

443

Because again, people want to hear

your story because you're the brand.

444

So if you are comfortable, and I do

have boundaries, we all do, but if you

445

are comfortable sharing your story,

to the extent that you want to, then

446

I think that can be quite powerful.

447

Jo: Love it, and especially that it

wasn't the instant gratification-

448

but it comes later- It did … because

I suppose people who listen to this

449

podcast are at all different stages of

their coaching journey, but many are

450

starting out, so I suppose they're in that

really disheartened phase- Yeah … where

451

you're trying all these things, you're

feeling depressed at that discovery

452

call said no or whatever it might be.

453

So thinking back to those early days,

maybe your first six months or so in

454

business, what advice would you give now

to your former self or to that listener

455

maybe that might be listening today?

456

Louise: Immediately think about how

you are going to market your business,

457

which is why your program is it fills

a need that is not being fulfilled

458

in your coaching qualifications.

459

They just don't touch on it.

460

That is as important as your coaching

qualification genuinely, because

461

again, without it you could be the

most qualified, brilliant coach in

462

the world, you've got no clients.

463

You need to find your clients.

464

So I think the first thing is think about

marketing as a business-critical part

465

of you being successful, and then think

about how you can make it work for you.

466

So not everybody wants

to go on social media.

467

That's fine.

468

I, know a brilliant woman who

is not about social media.

469

She's fantastic at in-person networking,

far better than I am but that's where

470

she gets her clients from because

she thrives in that situation.

471

That works for her.

472

So you've got to find something

that you want to do because you

473

are going to have to keep doing it.

474

So I do know some people who- hate

the idea of being on social media,

475

but they kinda do it 'cause they feel

they have to, and then they don't

476

stick at it 'cause they hate doing it.

477

So in that case, do something else.

478

It could be a newsletter,

podcast, networking events.

479

There will be something

that you want to do.

480

Find that thing and kind of double

down on it would be my advice.

481

Jo: Yeah, exactly, and it's something

I notice with you, that you obviously

482

enjoy what you're doing marketing-wise.

483

You enjoy the impact you're having.

484

You enjoy knowing yourself so much

more- Yeah … through having to

485

communicate- Thanks … all of the time.

486

Louise: Yeah.

487

Speaker: Tell us more about

how you found that joy.

488

Like, was it always there?

489

Did you go through these stages, you're

like, "Oh, God, do I have to do this?"

490

Tell us more about like realizing- Oh,

491

Louise: I still do sometimes,

but I definitely did.

492

But, I think for me, it was a process

and you've kind of nailed it, of

493

revealing something about myself as

I was in the process of doing it.

494

So would I have said three years ago that

I was a natural person to show up on video

495

and make jokes and do all this stuff?

496

Absolutely not, 'cause I

am actually an introvert.

497

I'm pretty confident introvert,

but I am an introvert.

498

But actually doing it revealed to me

that I liked doing it, and I did get

499

fulfillment and joy and connection

from it, and it was telling me

500

things, exactly as you've said, about

myself, that, oh, I am actually…

501

I'm quite funny.

502

Like, I didn't think of myself as

a, as humorous, like funny person,

503

'cause I definitely wasn't in my

corporate job, because I was often

504

very stressed, and sense of humor

is not the thing that you would've

505

associated with me in my corporate days.

506

Now, it is actually a part of my brand.

507

I mean, I'm not out there cracking

jokes all the time, but I, I like

508

to think I have a lightness of touch

and I don't always take things so

509

seriously, but that was never the case.

510

So that's an example of something that

has been revealed to me that's been

511

quite joyful, so I'm like, "Oh, okay.

512

I do have a sense of humor.

513

That's great."

514

It got buried for so many years in

my corporate career that I forgot.

515

Jo: It's such a gift, learning

about ourselves in the process- Yeah

516

because I'm exactly the same.

517

I like marketing 'cause I get to

think about what I believe in-

518

Yeah … which otherwise you just don't.

519

You just carry on with life, don't you?

520

Louise: The- it's a real forcing

factor, isn't it, to actually

521

go through and process what do I

believe, why is that important?

522

'Cause o- otherwise, you often

don't think about these things.

523

And it's actually the same

now with my speaker work.

524

That's the work I've been forced to

do, which has been incredibly valuable.

525

Why would anyone listen to

you, and what's your thesis?

526

What's your core argument, and how

are you going to articulate that?

527

It's a really, really good

process to go through.

528

Jo: Totally good process.

529

So what's next for you, Louise?

530

Louise: Summer holidays, thank goodness.

531

Because it has been intense, and I

think that's the other thing, isn't it?

532

We don't talk about that as much,

and I'm very careful what I say here

533

because I am somebody that has…

534

I have had a period of proper

burnout in the past, so I would never

535

advocate working to that level again.

536

However, I'm a woman building a business,

so the past year has felt pretty

537

intense, and I have given it a lot, but

that's because I recognize I'm in this

538

phase of really building something.

539

It's not always gonna feel as intense.

540

But yes, in the immediate term, a bit

like you, I'm taking most of August off,

541

so I'm just like, "Okay that's good."

542

More coaching, hopefully

a lot more speaking.

543

So I've got a couple of really exciting

things that I'm doing in September.

544

I'm starting to kind of talk

about doing more of that.

545

I keep saying it to hold myself

accountable publicly, I will be launching

546

a community for women who want to get into

leadership, hopefully later this year.

547

It's going to be called Take Your

Seat, and I'm really excited about it.

548

Is it ready?

549

No, of course it's not.

550

But that is something that I'm looking

forward to because that for me is

551

a natural extension of my TikTok

community, where we can take those

552

conversations, into a community

with coaching circles and, training

553

and all that kind of good stuff.

554

Jo: Love it, and I love that you've

been patient enough to wait for that

555

membership because I have clients all

the time that are brand new, never had

556

one client, yet they want to launch a

membership or a group- Oh, yeah … and

557

you just don't realize that actually you

need to build the audience before you

558

Louise: Exactly this, and I am now,

after three years on TikTok, now in a

559

position where I feel I can do that.

560

Y- but you're absolutely correct

because I now know I have an engaged

561

community over there, which hopefully

I can now bring into my community

562

where they'll get extra things from me.

563

Three years ago, why would anyone

have joined me in this journey?

564

They didn't know me.

565

They didn't trust me.

566

So yeah, very important.

567

Jo: Wonderful.

568

So where can people find you

if they want to follow you on

569

LinkedIn, TikTok, et cetera?

570

Louise: So on TikTok and Instagram, people

can find me at leadwithlouise, so same

571

handle for both, TikTok and Instagram.

572

You can find me on LinkedIn,

Louise Thompson, Leadership Coach.

573

Not the Louise Thompson

that was in Made in Chelsea.

574

That mistake happens a lot.

575

I do get some very exciting emails

that are meant for her- Oh … about

576

luxury holidays and stuff, and

I always have to go back to them

577

and say, "Sorry to disappoint you,

I am not that Louise Thompson."

578

And my website, is

louisetompsoncoaching.com.

579

Jo: Brilliant.

580

Thank you so much, Louise.

581

Any parting words for the listener

thinking, "How did she do this?"

582

Louise: I think trust yourself, believe

in yourself, commit to the process,

583

which sounds very dull, but is the

cornerstone of everything, as you and

584

I have talked about, and, believe that

you are worthy of actually being seen.

585

'Cause I think that is a massive

message for anyone starting their

586

business, particularly women.

587

You do deserve to be seen,

and you have a lot to offer.

588

So whatever channel it is that works

for you, find that thing and lean into

589

it, because there will be people out

there that need to hear it from you.

590

Yeah.

591

Jo: Oh, perfect words.

592

And I always end these episodes

with trust yourself, believe in

593

yourself, and be the wise gardener

who keeps on watering the seed.

594

In other words, keep going.

595

Louise: We're so in sync.

596

Speaker: You nailed it.

597

Thank you so, so much, Louise, for your

time and sharing your amazing story.

598

Louise: Thank you, Jo.

599

Microphone (Samson Q2U Microphone):

Thank you so much for listening to this

600

episode of Women in the Coaching Arena.

601

I have a mess of free resources on

my website joannalottcoaching.com.

602

That's Joanna with an A

and Lott with two T's.

603

joannalottcoaching.com.

604

And I'll also put links in the show notes.

605

Let me know if you found

this episode useful.

606

Share it with a friend and

leave me a review, and I will

607

personally thank you for that.

608

Remember to trust yourself, believe

in yourself and be the wise Gardner

609

who keeps on watering the seed.

610

Get into the arena dare, greatly and try.