Dear Fearless Females,
How is it December already?! 2023 has flown by like a whirlwind and I couldn't resist the urge to take a pause, look back, and share the lessons that this remarkable year has etched into my story.
This year I celebrated 6 years in business and it was the first year for Bold Voices Speaking Academy. The Bold Voices membership grew from 4 to sixteen members and we launched the Bold Moves Live events too! It’s been a year of growth not only for the business but personally too with a rollercoaster of emotions - celebrating success and, oh yes, a few failures along the way too!
Embracing Imperfections
You know I always say there’s no such thing as perfect - but still I don’t always feel comfortable admitting my imperfections. As a coach, there’s a real vulnerability in showing that we’re still a bit green in the business world, but I have learnt to share more with you this year and I think it’s helped me to feel more connected.
So, here's my humble confession—I've messed up, quite spectacularly at times. Whether it was the trials with technology on the website, recording masterclasses or facing unexpected hiccups at our live events, it was all far from perfect! I’m learning to remember that sh*t happens and to be more tolerant of myself and others.
Lessons from a Membership Newbie
Building a membership was most definitely a bold move and it’s been a journey of discovery (cliché I know!). I’ve learned that leading a community isn't just about sharing your wisdom; it's about being a student myself too - who knew!
The strength of our community lies in the diversity of your bold voices, every shared experience, and yes, even in the moments when I had to admit, "I don't have all the answers" It's okay not to have it all figured out; the real growth is in the way we collaborate, support each other and learn together.
Unexpected surprises
Launching Bold Moves Live events was an unexpected surprise that I hadn’t planned for this year. Bold Moves Academy was supposed to be an online community so how the hell did this come about? Well it came from the members and that was a real breakthrough moment for me when I realised I didn’t have to do this all alone.
After delivering an in person goal setting workshop in January to the first few members, the resounding feedback was “more live events please” How could I refuse? I had to do some juggling in my schedule to fit in three more events and yes I’ll admit I’ve over stretched myself at times - but it’s been worth it!
This is the first time I’ve organised live events myself and I had no idea how much work went into them. But after three years of totally online coaching I’ll admit I have bloody loved being in a room speaking again. From the electrifying energy of a live audience to the unexpected technical hiccups (I’ll never forget that vibrating projector! 😂) every single moment leaves a lasting memory for all of us and that’s pretty special don’t you think?
Failure is a stepping stone
At the recent Fearless Female Festival we learnt a lot about failure from our speakers. It's not something to be scared of, it’s not the opposite of success; it's the spring board that propels us forward. I've had a couple of projects that didn't take off as planned this year, not to mention some collaborations that were non starters (less said the better!) and they all helped free up time to focus on work I loved.
As entrepreneurs we are constantly coming up with ideas, some will take off and some will crumble under the weight of workload. Yet, every stumble is a stepping stone closer to your goal. Failure, I've come to realise, is part of the Bold Moves DNA.
The joy of outsourcing
My parents would tell you I’ve always wanted to do things myself - little miss independent or stubborn? Bit of both probably, if I’m honest I always felt that asking for help with my business was a sign of weakness - I should be able to do it myself surely?? Paying someone else to do my work really went against my northern upbringing!
However, this year I’ve completely changed my thinking and learnt the absolute joy of outsourcing! Full credit for this has to go to the amazing talent of my incredible VA turned OBM Michelle Farrell who has helped me keep my marketing consistent. I can honestly say there is no way I would have grown my business by 25% this year if I’d kept trying to do everything myself.
Especially the stuff we’re not good at that takes up our time and energy. The second area I outsourced was my book-keeping and I also made a bold move of changing accountants. That took quite some time as I’d built up a relationship with my current accountant but I realised I needed more support to help me grow and Shakeela Yakub has really helped me understand my finances this year.
Outsourcing has been a total game-changer to be honest. It’s not a sign of weakness but a strategic move to amplify your strengths. As women in business, let’s redefine self-sufficiency as knowing when to lean on the collective brilliance around us.
Surround yourself with the right people
Surrounding yourself with the right people is an unsung secret to success. The incredible support from the Bold Moves community has been my anchor to keep me grounded this year. The energy, encouragement, and collective wisdom of this community have been a source of inspiration beyond measure. In moments of doubt and despair, these inspirational women have served as a powerful reminder that I'm not alone on this journey. Being a leader in business doesn't have to feel lonely, having the right people around you can turn challenges into triumphs and setbacks into stepping stones.
Inspiring Transparency
So, here's to transparency, to embracing the messy middle of business growth. My hope is that by sharing both successes and failures, we cultivate a community where every woman feels inspired to share her learnings.
After all, it's the collective wisdom of fearless females that propels us all forward isn’t it?
As we bid farewell to 2023, let's carry forward the lessons, the laughter, and the courageous spirit of friendship.
Here's to the journey, the imperfections, the lessons, and the undying courage to make bold moves in the face of fear - safe in the knowledge we’ve got your back.
Wishing you all a restful break - you deserve it. See you in January for more bold moves in 2024.
Speak soon
Liz x
Founder, Bold Moves Academy