Val Nelson

I’ve been a self-employed career/business/purpose coach since 2009. I help introverts and HSPs (like me) who want to make a difference — in a way that fits our energy and our practical needs too. ~ Val Nelson
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Nature sand designs at the ocean - Allowing
Confidence, Fear, Stuckness, Introverts and HSPs, Marketing Heart-to-Heart

Truth: There is nothing to fix about you. It’s just about allowing.

I find myself saying this truth to myself and others a lot. It’s been a good guidepost for choosing what to do. It means I’m not broken. I don’t have to squash myself to do things someone else’s way.

For instance I don’t need an extrovert mask to be successful as an introvert. I can do things my way including marketing my business in ways that fit who I am, that actually feel good to me. And so much more. I feel so free when I remember and live by this one message.

woman at laptop feeling confused
Marketing Heart-to-Heart, Self-Employment

“I don’t know anything about business.”

I hear this so often and used to say it myself: “But I don’t know anything about business or marketing.” I hear it especially from introverts and highly sensitive people who often (mistakenly) think business and marketing are for other people.

I even hear this from people who are well into having their business. It’s a very ingrained thought that you should know more. And I believe this chronic thought is a big distraction from what actually matters for success.

I’ve got a simple list of 6 things that are more important for success than just knowing about business.

bright orange flower
Career and Purpose, Highly Sensitive (HSP)

Career Guide for HSP Extroverts (HSE)

If you are a highly sensitive person (HSP) and an extrovert, a lot of general career guidance doesn’t quite fit. You might feel pulled (or pushed toward) more extrovert-oriented career roles, but the sensitive soul part of you needs more calming and spaciousness. It can feel confusing until you learn a few simple things and where to look for bringing it all together.

restoring in nature
Career and Purpose, Confidence, Fear, Stuckness

That big bout of low confidence about work 😓

When your job, your career, or your business isn’t going the way you’d like, low self-confidence can get kicked up, and that’s normal for anyone. But so hard too! Like a gut punch.

Recovering your confidence can be faster than you think, even before the work situation changes.

That negative feedback loop of low self-worth can really hang on, but a little shifting can start a positive feedback loop.

I’ve got some simple starting places for you, especially geared for highly sensitive souls who might have built up a lot of pressure inside.

resisting
Self-Employment

Can I grow my business without doing things I hate?

Sometimes I have avoided growing my business because I equated growth (unconsciously) with having to do things I didn’t want to do — like pushy marketing, learning new (scary) technology, getting more disciplined, or working longer hours. My thinking today: growth without the yuck is possible.

Val Nelson - career and business coach
Career and Purpose, Self-Employment

Celebrating 15 Years as a Coach

After 15 years in business as a coach, perhaps it’s a coaching business success story. I share some key moments, essential ingredients of making it work, and how this journey has felt.

I still remember how happy I felt during and after that first paid coaching session. It was a life-changing moment of feeling like I could actually get paid to do something I love. That’s huge. It became real. I want that for you too.

Turtle
Balance and Flow, Confidence, Fear, Stuckness, Self-Employment

My progress feels too slow.

So often I hear people struggling with progress taking longer than their brains think it should take. It can eat away at your self-worth.

I experience the “too slow” worries too, like how long it takes to write a new post or how long it takes to get a new program from idea to action. Humbling.

Then there’s how *loooooong* it takes to get a business to a livable income, or how long to find your ideal work situation.

It’s not just you. Change does take time.

I’ve got a simple perspective shift to share with you that is helping me deal with that discouraged feeling. I’m including a simple writing prompt that I think will help you feel the shift too.

Monica Parker HSP extrovert multi-passionate solopreneur
Career and Purpose, Highly Sensitive (HSP), Self-Employment

HSP Career Story: Multi-Passionate + Professional Organizer – Monica

I interviewed Monica Parker because I thought you might benefit from hearing about a highly sensitive extrovert who is also a multi-passionate woman. I want you to hear how she’s making it all come together in her current career as a solopreneur.

She’s also a former coaching client who came to me to support her through a career transition.

She is now a professional organizer and has long had a portfolio career, combining different kinds of work for variety and income. We got into how does this really work?

Curious if coaching will work for you?

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