A professional and personal development coach who set up her business during the pandemic is now using a lifetime of personal experience to help her clients achieve their maximum potential.
Rachel Boulton, who has held several jobs including working in corporate sales for two pottery giants, established Freedom Coaching in the spring of 2020.
She has since been able to take her business forward with help from experts at Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce who provided financial advice and other support.
Rachel, from Baldwins Gate who qualified as a master practitioner in coaching and NLP (neuro linguistic programming) in 2020, said: “Back in 2017 a friend of mine told me that I would make a brilliant life coach, utilising all my personal experiences to help others.
“At the time I was pondering where my own life and career were heading having spent years in corporate sales for Royal Doulton and Wedgwood before taking redundancy to spend more time with my two sons and helping to run the family heating and plumbing business.
“I also worked as school bursar, project managed two separate house builds and gained Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from Staffordshire University back in 2000, just prior to starting on my self-employment journey.
“I know all about setbacks, both career and personal as like many people I have suffered job redundancies, personal loss, anxiety and limiting beliefs. Coaching has helped me clear away my own self-doubt and dramatically improved my close relationships especially the one I have with myself.
“I wish someone had told me, when I was in my twenties, about the power and impact of coaching. It would have saved me wasting my time on jobs and relationships that were unfulfilling and often destructive.”
Rachel undertook extensive research and talked to other coaches prior to her training. She has also more recently trained in AHA Belief Change and Havening (alternative therapy) techniques.
Rachel said: “A friend of mine suggested I contact Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, so I went along to the Chambers’ Let’s do Business event at Uttoxeter where I met start-up advisor Aly Davidson.
“Despite having already started my business, Aly met with me and helped me to reflect on where I was and where I wanted to be. I also spoke to Pete Ball when I started my business who gave me some sound financial advice. All this help and advice gave me the extra confidence and support network I needed to move my business forward.
“I now have some fabulous clients including Staffordshire Fire & Rescue and I know that I am making a difference to people’s lives.”
Aly Davidson added: “Rachel has a fabulous business, and her positivity is infectious. I’m sure it helps having all that life experience but being able to harness that and use it to help others is a real gift.”
If you are thinking of starting a business and would like to discuss your plans, contact [email protected] or call 01782 202222.
