Business Coaching for Solopreneur Women

Especially for Introverts and Highly Sensitive People (HSPs)

Being your own boss can be great for bringing your full potential to the world, but you might be worried about sustainability, energy, marketing, and/or midstream pivots.

People come to me for these kinds of concerns:

  • Wondering if self-employment is even a fit for you.
  • Discovering the best business direction for you.
  • Finding relief when your business feels off or draining.

If you’re having tense shoulders, tight chest, pit in your stomach, your body is telling you something needs attention. 

I’ve been there. Now my self-employment journey is steady, fulfilling, and built for resilience in changing times. I love to share principles and tools that can make it much easier for you too.

I help service-based professionals at any stage of business.

Let’s get you some hope…

Business Coaching

Learn more below. Then take the quiz to see if it’s a fit.

Hiring Val as my coach brought me so much more than I expected. I hired Val to help me get a new business off the ground, only to realize (with her help) it wasn’t the right business for me. She helped me follow my heart to find what feels right – not what I “think” is right. My new business is doing great and I continue to work with Val! Don’t hesitate in hiring her – it’s so worth any investment!

~ Cindy S., entrepreneur

How I Help

Val Nelson business coach for introverts and HSPs

I can see the path even when you’re stuck in the fog.

If you’re like me, you want to talk to someone who understands your big heart and your quiet-loving soulful nature.

I can help you make the right decisions for you, from a calm place, before you waste time, energy, and money on the wrong path that you think you’re supposed to do.

I help you create the sustainable, meaningful, and calm life and livelihood you really want.

You might call me a business coach for female entrepreneurs, a business coach for introverts or HSPs, or a holistic business coach. I usually say heart-centered business coach for introverts and highly sensitive women.

I’ll let more of my clients help explain:

Being a solopreneur can be incredibly isolating and a good bit overwhelming at times. I was also planning a wedding while trying to grow my health & lifestyle coaching practice after a relocation from NYC. Working with Val helped me stay focused, grow, and move forward sustainably. I’m feeling ease accomplishing my business growth, instead of gross about marketing.

~ Kara Snyder, heart-centered solopreneur

I got immediate positive results working with Val. She helped me with marketing for my healing practice. The process was fun, and the results immediate and dramatic. She also helped me to envision what I optimally want my business to be like, and to take practical steps toward manifesting that vision. I highly recommend her!

~Health Care Professional, Northampton, MA

There seems to be a bit of magic to what you do. I try to explain it, but I can’t quite capture it when telling others. I know that this decision to leave my job, and the transition into this next phase has gone so much more smoothly than it would have otherwise. I am more confident moving forward, more aware of my abilities and what I have to offer. I’m staying brave even when fear kicks up.

~ Lauren, Western Mass., budding entrepreneur

Next Step: Let’s See If There's a Match

  1. Check out the quiz to see if there’s a match for coaching with Val
  2. After that, if it seems right, apply for a free initial consult with me. 
    (Info on that is at the end of the quiz).

Related options:

Want to learn more first?

You can get some answers below, and/or subscribe at the bottom so we can stay in touch.

If you resonate with these, it is most likely a fit:

  1. You want to enjoy a fulfilling sustainable self-employment experience. You may already have that sometimes, but you want to keep it strong… and with breathing room.
  2. Your business or business ideas revolve around providing a heart-centered service (not products).
  3. Your primary focus is close to your heart, or you want it to be even more.
  4. Quality of life and well-being is a key part of your definition of success. (Even if you’re not sure yet how that all adds up.)
  5. You want to include a sense of intuition, spirit, heart, or internal alignment in your work life. (That’s the SOULpreneur way.)
  6. You want to do business in a way that is ethical and socially responsible.
  7. You might sometimes feel reluctant or tongue-tied about the business and marketing side (e.g., what to charge, marketing plans, choosing a niche).
  8. You want to make noticeable progress in a smart way without reinventing the wheel.
  9. You think you might benefit from working with someone who understands introversion, high sensitivity, or sensitive extroverts.
  10. You are a woman, or a non-binary or trans person who is drawn to my work (because that’s who I’m best able to help).

To further clarify the fit with my coaching…
please use this quiz.

I have helped people with all of these common needs…

  • Defining your heartfelt business vision that energizes you and soothes your soul.
  • Reducing all the worries, such as about exposure, not-good-enough, and making a change. (Everyone has fear so this is just part of what we deal with.)
  • Clarifying or revising a niche that helps your business thrive, and makes your heart sing.
  • Deciding whether and how to take the self-employment leap.
  • Charging what you and your audience can feel great about (the dreaded pricing questions!).
  • Finding ease and success with client attraction.
  • Finding your confident voice to prevent those awful tongue-tied moments.
  • Developing authentic (non-icky) wording about your work.
  • Making good decisions about when and where to invest. (By the way, a website is NOT the first step.)
  • Preventing (or recovering from) burnout, and finding a sustainable work/life harmony.
  • Managing change.
  • Making friends with the business side of business.
  • Deciding when and how to hire help.
  • Needing a thinking partner along the way.

There’s a lot of moving parts to consider if you’re going to have a successful and enjoyable business. Don’t let the overwhelm make you think something is wrong with you or your ideas. It just means it’s time to let in an outside perspective and get realigned.

I’m so happy that I called you. Things don’t feel so hopeless anymore. Other things feel more manageable. My husband said he’s noticed a big difference in me since we started working together and is glad that I’m devoting the time and money to this.”

K, Western MA (after only 5 sessions)

I am NOT about changing introverts into extroverts or “fixing” anything about you. 

I’m about helping you align with who you are, including your unique strengths that feel like natural flow. That’s where the gold is!

Introverts and highly sensitive people have great strengths for business and marketing, and we can talk about how to tap those talents.

I’m not about business growth at any expense. That’s a losing battle in the long run.

Turns out, it’s a very practical thing to listen to your heart and your energy because your business won’t work without it.

It IS possible to feel calm and fulfilled at work and after work. Yes, you can even enjoy the marketing stuff and the money stuff too… IF your work and your marketing methods are aligned with your heart and your nature.

I’ve got a simple approach to business that is ideal for introverts and highly sensitive people. You’ll start understanding what I mean in our initial call.

I’m not about a pushy or “just do it” approach. It’s about uncovering the excitement that naturally drives progress.

We also deal with the practical real world in all its mess and beauty.

We start with discovering where you’re at now and what’s in the way. From there, we go step by step to find deep clarity, confidence, and momentum that works for you.

The fog that hid your path starts to lift and we can see what next steps make sense in a practical way. I can continue to support you as you take steps forward exploring your new goals, and realizing more and more of what you were longing for.

I help with both the practical stuff and the inner stuff. You know, that fear stuff that kicks up at all the wrong times, we deal with that.

Something unusual I offer is that I am a “connector” type, which means I often know someone you might need to know. You can tap into my large network which is a big shortcut.

If you’re considering it, it’s a sign that it might be a good time.

If you’re thinking you don’t know enough yet, consider that having spinning thoughts or confusion is a great time to check it out. I’ll help you sort it out and find some breathing room.

I will honestly tell you if I think it’s a good investment for you or not. I have told people “no” plenty of times. I simply can’t encourage you to do something that won’t be a fit.

I have helped those who are new to exploring self-employment, all the way to people who have been in business for many years.

Maybe you’re thinking you should just take another webinar or read another book or push yourself harder. But those are not enough to get a business and work/life balance into the shape you really want.

All successful business owners have support in the background. It takes more than ideas, cheerleading friends, and New Year’s resolutions. It’s not your lack of willpower or something broken in you.

Don’t keep waiting for the fear to magically go away. (Psst, fear doesn’t go away but it can be managed.)

Coaching is a proven method for getting unstuck and living your full potential, despite the fear.

Val has a way of creating a comfortable space, and at the same time, really taking you to the limit to unleash your fullest potential. Working with Val is playful, exciting and very productive. After our coaching sessions, I always feel invigorated…and the thing is…it’s not the kind of electricity that fades…. I have found ways to unleash what’s already inside me to be much more productive and creative with her help. I always look forward to our sessions and meetings and I’m so glad I started consulting with Val!!! You really must experience what I’m talking about to truly understand..!! Thanks Val, you are a God-send!!

~D.O., New Haven, CT

These terms are sometimes confused. I combine coaching and consulting and find it is an excellent combination to get you moving forward fast.

All the practical advice in the world doesn’t help if you’re trapped in swirling thoughts, limiting beliefs, burnout, or a heartache from ignoring your heart. Coaching is a great way to get those blocks out of the way.

Then, with internal barriers addressed, I can help you make practical and heart-aligned decisions and take concrete steps in a productive order.

In other words, I bring both coaching and consulting, as needed. We combine head and heart wisdom for the highest good.

However, I can’t possibly teach you everything you need to know about business and marketing. For instance, I don’t help with accounting or legal help. So you’ll need to plan for accessing other support too. I’m a generalist and can help you find the specialists you might need. 

I find I am most able to do my best work and get the best results with women. So, for the most efficiency and happiness for everyone, that’s who I coach. I am also open to non-binary and trans people who are drawn to my work.

The click with a coach is very important for it to be effective. My being a female coach could be why this focus works best.

I believe strongly in the power of community with kindred spirits, especially for solopreneurs who too often feel alone with it all. That’s why I offer small groups for you too.

I offer groups for heart-centered solopreneurs.

When we talk, we can discuss the best options for you in terms of individual coaching, group coaching, and a combination.

People tell me they appreciate my balanced approach to keeping both the heart and the practical stuff on the table, in a way that feels soothing and doable.

One client told me her practical-minded spouse could finally relax when she showed him what we were working on. And she was happy because it all fit with her heart-centered nature.

The most important thing about choosing a coach is that it should feel like a good fit. We can figure that out when we talk, but here’s a little background about me and my focus.

I specialize in helping introverted and/or HSP women who want to bring something meaningful to the world. They often don’t relate to the typical cookie-cutter business tips, which happen to be geared mainly for extroverts, men, and larger businesses. I help both those who are already self-employed, and those considering it.

Before completing professional coach training and starting my private practice, I gained valuable skills and experience in business management, marketing and communications, human services, education, and human resources.

One of my superpowers is to help people clarify and activate their unique superpowers so they can find their sweet spot for success. I can see the genius in you… even when you can’t.

Since working with Val my goals have become clearer and my action steps more focused. My business has feet now, in a very short time I can see immense possibilities where there were only questions. She keeps the focus, holds the keys of relevance, nourishes the psyche and instills the spirit with a sense of willingness, no, passion for the next step. And if the next step isn’t clear, she will change that!

~Pam White, Artist/Photographer, CT

Val’s coaching has more than paid for itself. Her encouragement to believe in my own worth, to charge appropriately for my services and not to undercut myself when negotiating contracts has been invaluable.

~G, Northampton, MA

After an initial session to try things on, most people sign up for a month-to-month coaching engagement so we can make meaningful sustained progress. You can stop at anytime or switch to different frequency of meetings. I encourage a minimum of 3 months in order to build on the insights. Most people choose to do more.

Consider the return on investment if your client attraction starts to flow, and that’s just the financial side. Often, getting one new steady client can pay for coaching.

Think beyond money. How much is it worth to you to go from frazzled and drained to fulfilled and energized? Please don’t wait for the burnout melt-down.

Small changes can make a huge difference. You’ll feel better fairly quickly, then we start moving ahead with more ease.

Usually, I work with my clients on both short-term and long-term needs so that you can get some relief sooner than later with your income and/or stress concerns, while we also move gradually towards something with more long-term fulfillment and sustainability.

Three months is a typical minimum for getting some momentum, but people stay as long as it feels right to them, so they can reach higher and higher goals. The length is up to you.

Here are some scenarios where change happened quickly because they were so ready:

One client (an experienced solopreneur) was feeling stuck about publishing a new website, but she got past her worries after one session, launched a site she felt good about. Then we made sure it could be found in Google by her ideal clients, and she started booking twice as many clients after only three sessions with me. She was booked up with her ideal clients after another three months. She’s doing more of the work she loves and feeling fulfilled on many levels. In her case, she was ready, but stuck in one big area – visibility.

Another client went from intense anxiety in business meetings to feeling noticeably more calm and confident after a few sessions with me.

That kind of shift can happen for you too, if you’re hungry for a change, willing to let in guidance and willing to try on new ways that are more calming and more effective.

For others, something like a transition to self-employment can take a while, but when you feel the progress starting, the stress relief can come quickly.

In a free initial call, we can talk about one-to-one options, small group options, and a combination. 

Don’t let concerns about price stop you from getting help. Being in business means you have to invest something, strategically. Especially in the beginning. That’s the nature of it.

In many cases, business coaching is a business expense that can reduce your taxes. That’s between you and your tax accountant.

If you’re new to self-employment, you can get some answers in my on-demand, budget-friendly course, Can I Leave My 9-5? Self-employment Intro Course. It includes Q&A and camaraderie.

You can read more about coaching fees and budget-friendly options here.

Can I Leave My 9-5? How introverts and HSPs make self‑employment work.

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