Mindset Coach for Scaling: Ambitious Mums Unlock Growth
- (Admin) The Thrivology Company
- Nov 9, 2024
- 9 min read
The Scaling Paradox: Why Your Proven Business Acumen Needs a Mindset Coach to Truly Soar (And How Ambitious Mums Can Make it Work)
Ever felt like you're pedalling furiously, doing all the “right” strategic things in your business – the marketing, the systems, the client delivery – yet somehow, you’ve hit an invisible wall? You’re a smart, accomplished entrepreneur. You’ve built something amazing, navigated the early hurdles, & have the business acumen to prove it. But now, as you try to scale, that momentum feels…stuck. Frustrating, isn’t it?
If this sounds familiar, you might be experiencing what I call the “Scaling Paradox.” It’s that perplexing place where your business strategies are sound, your ambition is burning bright, but your growth has plateaued, or the overwhelm is threatening to engulf you. & here’s the kicker, lovely: often, the barrier isn’t in your business plan; it’s in your mindset. The very drive & thinking that got you here might need a significant upgrade to get you there – to that next level of impact, income, & dare I say it, ease.
As a CEO, a mum to four, & someone deeply immersed in the world of female entrepreneurship (right down to my PhD research!), I’ve seen this paradox play out time & time again. & I’ve learned that for us ambitious women, especially those of us juggling the beautiful chaos of motherhood, acknowledging & addressing this "mindset ceiling" is not just important – it's fundamental to truly soaring.
The Invisible Wall: When Your Business Brain Says ‘Yes’ But Your Gut Screams ‘No!’
So, what is this mindset ceiling? It's that point where your proven business knowledge tells you one thing (e.g., "I need to hire a team," "I must raise my prices," "It’s time to step into bigger visibility"), but an internal governor, a collection of old beliefs, fears, or unresolved narratives, slams on the brakes.
I remember coaching a client, let’s call her Sarah. Sarah is an absolutely brilliant marketing strategist – her clients adored her, & her results spoke for themselves. Sarah, a brand strategist for ethical fashion brands, had a solid plan to double her revenue, which involved taking on associate consultants & positioning herself as a premium agency owner. On paper, it was flawless. She knew what to do. Yet, every time she tried to action the plan – to write the job descriptions, to announce her new premium packages – she’d freeze. She’d find herself lost in a whirlwind of “what ifs,” procrastinating with busywork, or suddenly feeling like a complete fraud despite her track record.
Sarah hadn’t run out of business know-how; she’d hit her current mindset capacity. The thought of leading a team, of charging significantly more (even though her value justified it), of being that much more visible, tapped into deep-seated fears of failure, judgment, & not being “good enough.” Her past success, built on her individual brilliance & hard work, had inadvertently masked these underlying limitations until the demands of scaling brought them to the surface.
More Than Just Strategy: Why Your Inner Game is Your Greatest Scaling Lever
Now, don’t get me wrong. Having exceptional marketing that truly speaks to your ideal client, & streamlined systems that allow your business to run smoothly (perhaps even leveraging smart AI tools to truly streamline your processes!) are absolutely vital for scaling. These are the kinds of practical strategies we dive deep into at Femmeprenista. But what I’ve seen, both in my own journey & with countless clients, is that these external strategies can only take you so far if your internal operating system isn’t equipped for the next level.
It’s about cultivating that robust & resilient inner game. It's about taking profound personal responsibility for how you manage the increased pressure that comes with growth, how you make those bolder, scarier decisions, & how you navigate the often-intense juggle of a thriving business & a demanding family life without succumbing to burnout.
This emphasis on inner game is a core component of our Femmeprenista Business Flourish Framework: Build a Thriving Biz, particularly because we know that focus, clarity, & resilience are essential to sustainable success. It's not just about the 'what' & 'how' but also the 'who' – you, the leader.
For ambitious mothers, this is especially critical. The mental load is already immense. Scaling a business adds another significant layer. Without a consciously cultivated mindset – one that champions your well-being, helps you set boundaries, & allows you to lead from a place of calm confidence rather than frazzled reactivity – the "beautiful chaos" can quickly tip into just plain chaos. While mindset is crucial at every stage, as we discuss in our broader approach to Femmeprenista Female Entrepreneur Support: Find Your Purpose, its role becomes uniquely pivotal during scaling when the stakes, & the pressures, are higher.
Unlocking Your Next Level: Common Mindset Hurdles for Scaling Leaders (And How a Coach Helps You Leap Them)
When you’re a Scaling Leader, the mindset gremlins that show up are often more sophisticated than the early-stage ones. They’re sneakier, because you’ve already achieved a certain level of success. Reflections informed by my ongoing PhD research often highlight that the more successful you become, the more creative your "inner critic" becomes! Here are a few I see regularly:
Imposter Syndrome’s Older Sibling: You’ve hit consistent five-figure months, maybe even six or seven figures annually. You have testimonials out the wazoo. & yet… that nagging voice whispers, "You’re just lucky," or "When are they going to find out you don’t really know what you’re doing?" It’s exhausting, isn’t it?
Actionable Strategy: Challenge the thought by creating a "success file" of positive feedback, testimonials, & achievements to review when self-doubt creeps in. Pro-Tip: Add a client win or rave review to it every Friday so it's always up to date!Pro-Tip: Add a client win or rave review to it every Friday so it's always up to date!
The Fear of Letting Go (aka Delegation Phobia): You know you can’t do it all. Your business brain screams, "Delegate!" But the thought of handing over tasks, trusting someone else with your "baby," or (whisper it) them not doing it exactly like you… it’s terrifying. This isn't just about control; it's often tied to self-worth & a fear of not being indispensable.
Actionable Strategy: Start small by delegating one repetitive task & create clear Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistency & clarity. For example, create a Loom video walking through exactly how you want a social media graphic made - it's a time investment that pays off!For example, create a Loom video walking through exactly how you want a social media graphic made - it's a time investment that pays off!
Premium Pricing Paralysis: You want to attract higher-level clients & create more spaciousness in your business, which means charging premium rates. But the fear of rejection, of not being "worth it," or of alienating your current audience can keep your prices stubbornly, unsustainably low.
Actionable Strategy: Reframe your pricing by focusing on the value you provide & the transformation you create for your clients, not just the hours you put in. Calculate the lifetime value of a happy client - that number can radically shift how you view your worth!Calculate the lifetime value of a happy client - that number can radically shift how you view your worth!
The Terror of the Bigger Stage: Scaling often means a bigger team, increased visibility, perhaps speaking engagements or a larger online presence. This can trigger anxieties about judgment, criticism, managing more people, or simply being "too much."
Actionable Strategy: Visualize yourself confidently navigating the "bigger stage," focusing on the positive impact you can make & the value you can bring to a wider audience. Before your next networking event, take 5 minutes to vividly imagine 3 amazing conversations you'll have!Before your next networking event, take 5 minutes to vividly imagine 3 amazing conversations you'll have!
A skilled mindset coach doesn't just offer you a few affirmations & send you on your way. They partner with you to dive deep, to uncover the roots of these fears & limiting beliefs. They help you to gently, compassionately, but firmly dismantle those old narratives & build new, empowering ones. It's about equipping you to step into your leadership with unshakeable conviction.
Investing in Your Most Valuable Asset: YOU, The CEO (Especially if You're a Juggling Mum!)
I want to be crystal clear: investing in mindset coaching when you’re scaling isn’t a remedial expense for when things are "broken." It is one of the most strategic investments you can make in the continued growth & sustainability of your business, because you are its most critical asset.
I remember, even with my MBA & corporate experience, when I started Femmeprenista, I felt a HUGE wave of imposter syndrome when it came to delegation. I was convinced that only I could do things "right," which led to massive overwhelm. It was only when I started working with my own mindset coach that I realized this belief was holding me back from true scale.
Think about it. You can have the best strategies, the most cutting-edge tools, but if the CEO (that’s you!) is operating from a place of fear, self-doubt, or overwhelm, the business will inevitably hit a ceiling. This is particularly true for us ambitious mothers. We navigate such unique pressures – the constant pull between our entrepreneurial dreams & our deep love & responsibility for our children. The juggle is real, often relentless, & sometimes, if I'm honest, it feels like I'm spinning plates while riding a unicycle during my PhD studies with a baby & a toddler! This past month, even, I felt that familiar "delegation phobia" creep in again as I prepped for my PhD proposal deadline. The solution? Stepping back, reminding myself why I built this business in the first place (the autonomy, the impact!), & yes, leaning on my own coach for a quick mindset reset. This helped me re-focus on the bigger picture.
To counter these feelings that lead to overwhelm, remember the Business Flourish Framework: Female Entrepreneurs' Blueprint for Success:
FOCUS: Identify your specific "Mindset Ceiling" What are the unique-to-you beliefs, fears, or patterns that are currently capping your growth?
FLAIR: Upgrade Your Internal Operating System. Create strategies, tools, & new perspectives to consciously replace outdated thinking with empowering beliefs that support your next level.
FLOW: Embody True Leadership Presence. Ensure you learn to lead yourself, your team & your clients from a place of authenticity, confidence, & vision.
Working with a mindset coach is an act of profound personal responsibility. It’s saying, "I am committed to becoming the leader my business & my family need me to be." It’s about equipping yourself with the internal fortitude to not only build a business that scales impressively but also one that deeply aligns with your vision for a fulfilling, joyful life – a life where your business energises you rather than drains you. It’s about learning to work smart, to lead from your strengths, & to build resilience that allows you to weather the inevitable storms of entrepreneurship & motherhood with grace & power.
So, How Does Mindset Coaching Actually *Work* for Scaling?
It’s not magic, but it can feel pretty magical when you start to see the shifts! In essence, working with a mindset coach focused on scaling involves:
Identifying Your Specific "Mindset Ceiling": What are the unique-to-you beliefs, fears, or patterns that are currently capping your growth?
Upgrading Your Internal Operating System: Co-creating practical strategies, tools, & new perspectives to consciously replace outdated thinking with empowering beliefs that support your next level. For example, we might replace "I have to do everything myself" with "I trust my team to deliver excellent results."
Building Unshakeable Resilience: Developing the capacity to handle the increased pressure, complexity, & uncertainty that comes with a scaling business.
Embodying True Leadership Presence: Learning to lead yourself, your team (if you have one), & your clients from a place of authenticity, confidence, & vision.
Cultivating Courage for Bolder Moves: Giving you the support & accountability to make those strategic leaps you know you need to make but have been too hesitant to attempt.
It’s about having a dedicated partner who holds the space for your growth, challenges you lovingly, & champions your highest potential, even when you can’t quite see it yourself.
The truth is, your business acumen has gotten you far, & that’s incredible. But to truly soar, to build a business that not only scales but also sustains you & brings you deep joy, that next leap often requires a profound shift from within. It requires you to become the next evolution of yourself as a leader.
Are you ready to stop hitting that invisible wall & start building the business & life you truly deserve? If you’re a Scaling Leader feeling this resonate, & you’re curious about how dedicated, 1:1 support could help you smash through your mindset ceiling, I invite you to learn more about our Momentum Coaching program. It’s designed specifically for ambitious women like you, ready to scale with confidence, clarity, & a whole lot more ease.
Carlene Nisbett
Founder & CEO, Femmeprenista (Coach, Mentor, Speaker)
Wife, Mother of four, Business Owner, PhD Researcher, Pet mom, Plant mom, 5'0" tall Passionate Multitasker & Wine Lover, You get the drift
P.S. This workbook is just the beginning!
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