How to Be the Change You Want to See (Featured Mompreneur Interview)

Share this:

Collette Merritt runs a coaching practice called Be the Change Coaching.

Here are Collette’s 5 awesome tips you can apply instantly to change your life today.

How to Be the Change You Want to See

1. Be of Service

It doesn’t have to be your profession but it can be as simple as helping a little old lady across the road. What we’re seeing in the  #ImStaying movement here in South Africa, is people selflessly helping others.

2. Be Teachable

We’re not always right. We have to leave wiggle room for continuous growth, continuous learning, the perception of “Oh my gosh, I got it wrong. What can I learn from this?”.

3. Gratitude

Sometimes circumstances can be incredibly difficult but there’s always something that’s providing light in the darkness. And the more you focus on gratitude, the better you get at seeing it and the more it plays out in your life.

4. Kindness

Kindness cannot be under-rated. Is it more important to be right or to be kind?  Sometimes we need to hold people accountable but we can do it in a kind matter.

Sometimes being kind is telling them the truth, the real truth, rather than letting them wander into the wilderness thinking they are the best thing since sliced bread. They may well be in a blindspot and would never know unless someone tells them.

5. Take Action

What do you want to see that has to change in your life, work, family, health or creativity and then lovingly take action, bringing the change into your own world.  Creating change.

Collette is our featured Mompreneur this month. Here’s her interview.

Meet Collette Merritt, ChangeTrix

Lauren:  Was your business name, Be the Change Coaching, inspired by Gandhi’s quoteBe the Change You Want to See in the World“?

Collette: Yes, although I discovered after doing some research that Gandhi is actually misquoted as saying that. What Mahatma Gandhi actually said was.

“If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him… We need not wait to see what others do.”

Lauren:  In your own words, what do you do for a living?   

Collette:  I coach people, focusing on behaviours and goals, from a place of understanding themselves.  Working with them to move them forward!

Lauren: If you wear many hats in business, which of these do you love most, which takes most of your time and which brings in the most income? 

Collette: I secretly or not-so-secretly LOVE the creative, social media side of my business.  Finances take most of my time.  Workshops bring in the most income – so far!

Meet Collette Merritt, the ChangeTrix who runs Be the Change Coaching. In this exclusive interview, Collette shares 5 fab tips to be the change you want to see. #HowtoBetheChangeYouWanttoSee #EmpowermentLifeCoach # BetheChange #Coaching #FeaturedMompreneur #InspiringMompreneursEntrepreneurship

Lauren: When did you make the decision to become an Entrepreneur? 

Collette: I left corporate at the end of 2017, stepped into my Entrepreneurial Journey in 2018 – radically changing careers when I was 45-years old.

Lauren: Why did you make the decision to become an Entrepreneur?  

Collette: I was efficient at my “day job” but it was literally killing me and more importantly it was eating my soul.  Things had to change.  I had been being nudged out of my comfort zone for about 5 years and then there was a very specific catalyst that forced the now or never step.

Lauren: What prompted you to start this business?

Collette: I knew I wanted to do something more with people about 10 years ago I started the Coaching journey and that was it.

Lauren: How did you come up with the idea?  

Collette: It came to me!

Lauren: Who did you have in mind?  Who do you serve?  

Collette: I serve people who want to learn and or bring about radical change in their lives – I like to think of myself as a ChangeTrix.  To support folks through Change.

Lauren:  Is this your first entrepreneurial pursuit?  

Collette:  Yes

Lauren: Would you like to share any highs or lows in your career as an Entrepreneur?

Collette: It can be a daunting journey.  But I have learned there are many wonderful people on the journey with you.  And many are prepared to share and help.

Lauren: What has been the number one highlight of your career? 

Collette: My radio interviews, creating the diaries, running my workshops!

Lauren:  What has been the greatest challenge for you to overcome in your career?  

Collette: I’m still having to do a lot of things myself, I’m still in the working 7 days a week phase – that gets to me sometimes.  My family is high on my priority list but my exercise and my writing gets put on a back-burner and that frustrates me.

Lauren: Is there anything you know now, that you wish you knew when you started out as an Entrepreneur? 

Collette:  I didn’t think it would be THIS difficult!

Lauren: Is there anything you feel you missed out on by becoming an Entrepreneur?  

Collette: Sick Leave

Lauren: Is there anything you feel you gained by becoming an Entrepreneur?   

Collette: Flexibility, you are the boss!

Lauren:  Do you feel you chose an easy path or a difficult one? 

Collette: Such a good question!  In some ways easy in some difficult. 

Difficult because the next deal and the next sale hustle is VERY REAL!

Easy because you no longer have to explain why you are picking your sick kid up again!

Motherhood

Lauren:  What has been the number one highlight of Motherhood for you?  

Collette:  Watching them develop into their own decision-makers – my girls are older – so we are in that stage now.  And I am very proud of the decisions they have made so far.  It is really important for me to create STRONG, HEALTHY, WHOLE, INDEPENDENT, LOVING, Humans!

Lauren: What has been the greatest challenge for you to overcome as a Mother?  

Collette: My way is not the only way.   And owning up to making mistakes.

Lauren: Is there anything you know now, that you wish you knew when you first became a Mom?  

Collette:  It’s ALL TRUE!

Meet Collette Merritt, the ChangeTrix who runs Be the Change Coaching. In this exclusive interview, Collette shares 5 fab tips to be the change you want to see. #HowtoBetheChangeYouWanttoSee #EmpowermentLifeCoach # BetheChange #Coaching #FeaturedMompreneur #InspiringMompreneursWork-Life Balance as a Mom Entrepreneur

Lauren: Has it been tricky balancing work and home life? 

Collette: Now that I am working for myself – Family & Work are my priorities, but before when I was in corporate there was very little balance.

Lauren: What do you love most about being a Mom Entrepreneur? 

Collette: The freedom and flexibility to work around my girl’s needs – even now in Matric and Grade 8.

Lauren:  All things considered, do you feel it was a good decision to become an Entrepreneur?

Collette: It was the right decision for me and my family at the time and now, but I would like to find a collaboration team going forward.

Lauren: Where do you work most days?

Collette: My home office, sometimes from a wonderful bustling coffee shop and sometimes from a Coachees home or office.  I really enjoy the variety.

Lauren:  How many days per week do you work, on average? 

Collette: It feels like 8 days a week at the moment but probably 6 days a week in total.

Lauren: How many hours do you estimate you work per day, on average?

Collette: Some days can be 12 or 14 and then some are 5 or 6 – it depends if I am running a workshop or in Coaching mode.

Lauren:  Do you have any daily rituals to maintain a work-life balance?

Collette: It completely varies from day to day due to Coaching commitments – some people I coach early early early in the morning and then some at night. 

But in a perfect world, I get up with the family, pack them off to work & school, then I do a quick tidy up, shower, meditate and then start my working day.

Choosing to Live a Life of Passion

Lauren: Do you feel you are living your passion?  

Collette: ABSOLUTELY – I TRULY LOVE my work.  Particularly when Coachees see positive results and when they make the connection.

Lauren: Do you feel you have already created your best work?

Collette: The best is yet to come!

Lauren: If you were to die tomorrow, would you be at peace knowing you had lived a full, happy and meaningful life?

Collette: There is still A LOT I want to create and have happen – so I’ve chatted to the guy upstairs – he knows not yet – BUT if it does happen, I make sure the people whom I love, KNOW that.

Lauren: Or would you feel you were dying with your song unsung? 

Collette: There is A LOT more music in me.

Meet Collette Merritt, the ChangeTrix who runs Be the Change Coaching. In this exclusive interview, Collette shares 5 fab tips to be the change you want to see. #HowtoBetheChangeYouWanttoSee #EmpowermentLifeCoach # BetheChange #Coaching #FeaturedMompreneur #InspiringMompreneursMessage to the World

Lauren: Do you have a message you would like the world to hear? 

Collette: We rise by lifting others!

Inspiration, Support, Training

Lauren:  Is there a book or a song or a movie that has had huge significance or meaning in your life?   

Collette: Book:  Eat, Pray, Love – HUGE!  Movie & Music:  Yentle

Lauren:                 Who has been enormously helpful to you? Do you have mentors in business?

Collette: Definitely my family ie hubby, kids, sister & mum and I have a Business Mentor, Diane Boorman – who has been great – making me step outside of and thinking outside of the box.

Lauren: Are there any courses or studies you feel have been essential to your success? 

Collette: Definitely my Coaching Training.  ABSOLUTELY my E-Colours Work.

Advice for Other Entrepreneurs

Lauren: What advice would you give someone just starting out as an Entrepreneur?  

Collette: Make sure you have 5 years of money in the bank as your “salary” – because YES it does indeed take that long!  Never Give Up!  The flexibility is WORTH IT!

Hopes and Fears for 2020

Lauren: What are your hopes for the last of 2019 and the first year of the new decade?

Collette: 2019 – That the seeds I have sown will germinate into future business. 

2020 – That it be a breakthrough year for me financially.

Lauren: What are your fears?   

Collette: I don’t talk about them because then I attract them.

Lauren:  Which tools of the trade have been enormously helpful for you?

Collette:  Smartphone, I-pad, laptop.  I love me my tech.  I could print money from my phone.

What Support Do You Need?

Lauren:  If there was anything I could help you with, what it would it be?  

Collette: Exposure/Advertising/Referrals

Lauren:  If I were to give you a referral, who would I be looking for? 

Collette: People who want to bring about REAL change in their lives.  People who want to understand themselves and their people\team around them.  People who are prepared to do the hard work to seek clarity.

Be the Change Coaching Logo (Collette Merritt)Visit Collette’s Website

Be The Change Coaching

Email Collette on

info@btccoaching.co.za

Find Collette on:

Facebook Collette MerrittLinkedIn Collette MerrittInstagram Collette Merritt

 

 

Share this:

About Lauren Kinghorn

Visionary Digital Entrepreneur ► Heart-Centred Influencer | Plant-Based Enthusiast | Speaker | Writer | Course Creator | YouTuber | Podcaster * Come join me at Wealthy Affiliate * inspiringmompreneurs.com/WA

15 Replies to “How to Be the Change You Want to See (Featured Mompreneur Interview)”

  1. Shilpa Gupte

    This is such an inspirational post! With women turning towards entrepreneurship now more than before, such guidelines from an experienced woman entrepreneur will only help them in making the right decisions for themselves, their business and their life. Giving equal attention to everything can be a tight rope walk, but if one knows how to balance it all well, life as a Mompreneur can be quite a joyous journey!

    Reply
  2. Leana Lourens

    Hi there! Collette really has the right mindset. I love it when people chase their dreams and then believe in themselves. For me, positivity helps me to get where I want to be and what I want.

    Reply
  3. Vidya Sury

    Amazing how Collette chose her passion. The five tips are excellent and spot on for anyone seeking to be the change. I know how challenging it can be sometimes to work from home and juggle various responsibilities. It is lovely to see how much Collette enjoys her work! Thank you for this inspiring interview, Lauren!

    Reply
  4. Rajlakshmi

    Very inspiring interview with Collette. I love her attitude from the answers. Also the suggestion that one needs to have a good saving before following the heart to start a business. Love her message about lifting others. More power to Collette.

    Reply
    • Lauren Kinghorn Post author

      Thanks so much for your lovely comment, Rajlakshmi.

      Oh yes, so true about the saving. I also discovered it takes a while to get a business off the ground and start earning. Thanks for picking up on that point.

      And interestingly, the message about lifting others may just be the key – as we help others, we help ourselves. Or as Zig Ziglar put it, “You will get everything you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want.”

      Reply
  5. Amrita

    I love how empowering women entrepreneurs make me feel.Gratitude is always a great attitude to help grow personally and professionally.As a mompreneur I understand why work life balance is crucial from day one.It takes its toll on the mind and body otherwise.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *