Meet Alison Hartrum - CanvasRebel
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We were lucky to catch up with Alison Hartrum recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Alison thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about the best boss, mentor, or leader you’ve ever worked with.
My first introduction, right out of college, to the real world was my first corporate boss, Mike.
Mike was very straightforward as well as very successful. He was serious and no-nonsense; a driver who pushed me to my own success and without whom I might have never reached that level of achievement. I was intimidated by Mike, but it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. His challenging coaching and his demanding leadership — these were things I needed at that time in my life to reach my potential. He introduced me to the idea of “pain triggers”, things we would give up or penalties we would surrender if we didn’t reach our goals; and also the idea of prizes that we would reward ourselves with if we did reach them. I was motivated by these techniques, and I NEVER missed my goals.
I know that Mike’s methods may sound harsh and that they might not work for everyone, but everything that he demanded of us he also demanded of himself. For instance, he would tell us to write down our goals and carry them on our person at all times; and if you asked him to see HIS goals, he would always have them at the ready whether he was at work or not.
He also taught us to exercise and stay healthy, to take care of ourselves physically. He encouraged us to read, to always be learning. Mike’s leadership urged me to meet and surpass my expectations of myself, and I will always, always appreciate that. I harbor a great deal of respect and fondness for him so much to this day.
Alison, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’m Alison Hartrum, wife, business owner, and explorer. I’m where I want to be in my life, traveling with my husband and our two dogs, enjoying new places, and constantly learning and improving myself.
I’ve been winning sales awards since the first grade and was on a national sales competition team in college. I’ve had formal training in marketing and have trained other sales professionals who have gone on to win awards of their own. I have trained individuals in how to run their own businesses. I was successful and accomplished in my career but realized that what I truly wanted lay outside of that life. Leaving my corporate job was a matter of assessing my priorities and then deciding to grasp the vision of what my life could be. It was a good life, but I was ultimately unfulfilled by it. I went for it — packed up and headed south to see the world, and I’m so glad I decided to follow my dreams!
Helping other women succeed is my passion. I’m driven to share what I’ve learned about how to plan and manage a business, how to balance one’s business and personal lives, how to nurture yourself and your dreams. Abambyh Business Coaching found me; it was not a planned venture.
Moving into coaching occurred organically, starting with advising a few women on business matters. I was approached with a request for coaching services, and then got referrals from the person I was coaching. Marketing was accidental, referral-based, word-of-mouth, and remarkably effective!
Abambyh Business Coaching was born of their need for guidance and my own inner drive to encourage the success of hard-working, deserving women who were doggedly struggling to achieve their vision of where they wanted to be. I also wanted to be part of helping these women realize their value, their worthiness, their amazing potential.
Abambyh Business Coaching helps others to bring their dreams and plans to fruition. Often people have wonderful ideas and a solid work ethic, but they struggle with implementation. They don’t know how to organize their vision, how to prospect, how to ensure that they’re using their time productively. They need a business plan. They need time management skills. They need to understand the sales process and how to create a marketing strategy.
What I’m offering is simple, easy-to-understand business coaching. Concepts are explained clearly and concisely. I include exercises and prompts that will encourage good habits and practices and will help people to learn how to examine their businesses and themselves to better understand their strengths and their growing edges.
I think most business coaches don’t truly empathize with their clients. They approach coaching with a one-size-fits-all mentality, not understanding that a variety of personality types become entrepreneurs and business owners. Abambyh Business Coaching is not rigidly prescriptive. It allows flexibility, allows clients choices so they can find what works best for them.
Abambyh Business Coaching is my opportunity to share what I know, to help my clients acquire a skill set that will allow them to realize their vision and thrive. Their success is my success, and that’s what motivates and guides me in what I do.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
Professional groups and networking groups, which allow me to meet and affiliate myself with other like-minded professionals, are an important part of growing my clientele. These groups allow the establishment of professional alliances with trustworthy referral partners in parallel industries that work cohesively together. An example of such partners would be a realtor and a mortgage broker, who are not in competition but may have a large crossover in their client base. Each can recommend the other to clients who have a need for services the other provides.
If a potential client is working with someone, they must already have a level of trust with that person. So if that professional refers the potential client to you for work that is in an area related to their own, the client is likely to assume that you are worthy of the recommendation.
If a potential client is working with someone, they must already have a level of trust with that person. So if that professional refers the potential client to you for work that is in an area related to their own, the client is likely to assume that you are worthy of the recommendation.
A professional alliance allows for setting up specific expectations/guidelines for the referral partnership, and also for knowing the reputation of the other party so that you feel comfortable referring them.
These alliances are an excellent strategy. They are beneficial for both partners, as they provide solid referrals, as well as for the clients, who save time in finding a reputable provider for services they need.
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
I always urge my clients who are trying to determine their ideal clientele to consider not only demographics, but psychographics: common values and interests.
Some of the best opportunities to make connections based on psychographics occur at in-person events. Networking events, meetings of professional groups, etc. are chances to not only establish links to clients or build professional alliances, but also to meet potential business partners.
Amy and I, who both vegan, met at a networking group geared toward vegans. It was a casual, happy-hour setting with dinner and drinks. The two of us really clicked and we became friends. We’d met at a business networking group, but our friendship grew organically, allowing us to get to know each other on a personal level before we every became partners in any venture.
She and I complement each other well. We’re at opposite ends of the personality spectrum, our coaching styles are vastly different, and we bring different things to the table. Amy is a quiet listener, who thinks carefully before she speaks. She is excellent with conflict resolution and handling delicate situations. I’m a louder, more vocal presence, faster to act and very direct in my communication.
I believe our differences allow us to cover more ground and provide more value when coaching as partners than we would if we had similar personalities and the same approach. Our combined set of attributes is necessary to achieve the greatest positive effect in the retreats that we co-host, with me handling the business coaching and Amy covering emotional intelligence training. Our attendees find a great deal of value in what we’re able to offer between the two of us.
Someone who balances you, whose strengths serve to mitigate your weaknesses and vice versa, is wonderful in a business partner. As with any type of relationship, the key to a healthy business partnership is communication. Active listening, with open minds and no judgment, is crucial. It’s what will allow you and your business partner to learn from each other and grow.
Written by: CanvasRebel
Contact Info:
Website: www.abambyhbusiness.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/abambyhbusiness
Facebook: www.facebook.com/abambyhbusiness
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/abambyhbusiness
Image Credits
Susan Pacek