HOME BASED BUSINESS ACTION PLAN: CASE STUDY

BUSINESS PLANNING

Sally Swain, Art and Soul

Before Sally Swain of Art and Soul attended the Home Based Business Action Program, she hadn't really considered her creativity and career coaching programs to be a business.

With her background as an artist, author, therapist and coach, Sally had always found the business world quite foreign. Attending the course in business planning has now given her a fresh perspective that has allowed her to expand the horizons of her business.

"This course opened my eyes to a business approach or orientation, as well as to some of the tools and terminology. I still feel like a traveller in a new land, yet this course has provided a 'phrase book' and some 'maps' of the territory," laughs Sally.

Combining these newly acquired business tools with her own creative approach has revealed several areas of potential growth in Sally's business. With some of her clients being existing or aspiring small business owners themselves, she can now incorporate her business skills knowledge into her coaching.

Sally also identified further opportunities to help business owners and organisations develop their own visions and action plans. 

"I am particularly excited that I have become clearer about wanting to take creative applications to small business people and teams within organisations," she says. "I am prompted by the course to develop relevant programs, continue dialogue with relevant people and to firm up a marketing strategy."

During the course Sally deepened her understanding of strategic alliances and has since followed up on various opportunities for collaborative work. She also gained an increased awareness of what might attract people to her business, as well as the potential obstacles.

"For example, I see in many people a strong desire to expand their creativity and to nourish their souls. Yet, often they get 'caught up' in other involvements, commitments and activities to which they give priority. Creativity can be seen as an indulgence or a luxury that comes much lower in list of priorities than work, family, and so on."

Armed with this realisation, Sally has shifted her marketing approach to include making phone calls to clients. "I recognise that a client or would-be client may feel more special and valued with a one-to-one conversation than with an individual or group email," she observes.

Sally particularly enjoyed the support of the group and the opportunities for shared creative brainstorming about each participant's business. She also greatly valued the expertise and approachability of the group facilitator.

"I thoroughly enjoyed David McLeod's facilitation of the group," smiles Sally. "David was very knowledgeable about the field, highly skilled as a group leader and very personable in manner. He was highly competent in presenting an enormous volume of material in manageable, palatable ways. Thank you!"

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