BUSINESS REVIEW - Going into Business for Yourself
by Amanda Antcliff
One thing I know in my heart is that we are in a time when God is calling women to rise in the business and professional world. God needs strong Christian women to be an influence in every sphere of society and in particular to have a voice in the marketplace. This year I have launched my own business called Your Café Coach. I provide empowering life coaching programs for women. We meet in cafes around a cup of coffee either one-on-one or in groups.
Today it is my delight to share with you some of the significant steps I have taken in this exciting, and sometimes arduous, journey of establishing a business. I do this knowing that many women have a seed for a business burning inside them. My desire is that my story will encourage you to keep dreaming and stepping out to see that seed grow into a prosperous business.
It all began in 1998 when God placed a vision in my heart about my future and challenged me to enlarge. He clearly and strongly spoke these words to me: “Amanda, you prepare yourself and I will prepare your way!” He showed me many things I personally needed to change in my life and one of these was to seek out mentors. From that day on, I chose the Proverbs 31 woman to be my spiritual and biblical role model. I set out to be everything she is; a wife, a mother, a household manager, an elder in the community, a lover of God, a helper of the poor, and an amazing business woman. Her passion was sewing and spinning and with these talents she became a successful clothes merchant. The money she earned was then wisely invested in property and a vineyard. In the words of author Elizabeth George, “She made something professional from something personal.” This was my inspiration!
Over the last few years God little by little birthed the vision in my heart and mind for Your Café Coach. One night I was kept up for hours when I received a ‘download from heaven’ of how I was to set up my business and the coaching programs I was to offer. With the excitement of vision came the fear of stepping out and the stretch of enlargement. I held onto the scripture, “ …that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.” 2 Thess 1:11b (NIV)
So began the action steps. I registered my business name; opened my bank account; wrote my coaching programs; dreamt about my “look”; commissioned people to design my logo, website, and brochures; wrote newspaper editorials; advertised in the Manly Daily and of course conducted my first coaching sessions!
I believe one of the most significant events in my journey was God giving me a revelation of the mission of my business. He said to me “My purpose and plans on this earth are hindered because the call I have placed in people is imprisoned inside their hearts.” He showed me that many women’s hearts are locked with unrealized potential and unfulfilled dreams. I then saw in my hand an array of old-fashioned keys and each key was to unlock the hearts of different women.
Life coaching is very different to counselling, where the focus is on healing pain from the past. Coaching on the other hand looks at where you are now, where you want to be, how you are going to get there and what’s stopping you. Put simply, coaching is future focused and forward moving. It is about clarifying a person’s vision, establishing goals and overcoming obstacles so you can live a more satisfying and successful life.
Since starting my business I have met and helped some wonderful women. I have had new opportunities that I would not have even imagined or dreamed of. Last week I spoke to 50 women from the Pittwater Probus club, a group of retired women from the ages of 60-85. In the president’s words “I geed them up” to never stop dreaming, achieving and changing. Even yesterday I received a call from a TV show to be interviewed on their program about my life coaching business. How exciting! You just don’t know what is on the other side of your vision, obedience and faith.
If you have a dream to start a business…..go for it!
