Running a successful business isn't just about passion and vision; it's cultivating a mindset of continuous growth and development, both professionally and personally. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, the journey of evolution is integral to the health and longevity of your enterprise.
Meet Nicolle Medina, co-founder and CEO of Aligned Being. Nicolle’s entrepreneurial path is a testament to the transformative power of introspection and resilience. As a second-generation entrepreneur, Nicolle has embodied the ethos of perpetual growth from her father, an influence that has shaped her approach to both business and life. Her story is a vivid illustration of how personal and professional development are two sides of the same coin.
From her early days in corporate roles to founding Aligned Being, Nicolle’s journey is filled with pivotal moments of self-discovery and bold decision-making. It was during a period of introspection that Nicolle realized her calling lay in entrepreneurship. A conversation with her father was the catalyst she needed to leap into the unknown, and she's never looked back since.
Nicolle's dedication to continuous learning doesn't just empower her; it shapes her business philosophy. As a lifestyle and personal development coach, she not only champions growth for her clients but personifies it through her relentless pursuit of knowledge and self-improvement.
Dive into Nicolle's inspiring journey from a corporate employee to a co-founder, highlighting the essential traits she believes are crucial for entrepreneurial success. Through her experiences and insights, explore the significance of embracing feedback, the integration of personal growth into business practices, and her Five Golden Rules of Entrepreneurship. Get ready to be inspired by Nicolle’s story and discover how personal development can be the cornerstone of your entrepreneurial journey.
Development and Implementation of a Growth Mindset: Creating Aligned Being
Like many entrepreneurs, Nicolle initially honed her expertise in the corporate world, embracing her passion for guiding others. This period allowed her to develop the skills necessary for her future coaching business. The critical turning point came when she left her corporate job, giving her the quiet time needed to reflect on her true aspirations.
In this rare opportunity for introspection, Nicolle asked herself the hard questions: What do I want? Where do I want to go next? The answer was clear—she wanted to follow her passion for helping.
While still exploring employment options, Nicolle found herself repeatedly drawn to the idea of running her own company. Recognizing this as her ideal path, she turned to her father, a seasoned businessman, for advice.
Founding Aligned Being
Buoyed by her father's confidence, Nicolle leapt into entrepreneurship. She began as a solopreneur, leveraging her extensive coaching experience to build her practice. As her business grew, she enlisted the help of her friend Micky Chorny on several projects. Their successful collaborations laid the foundation for a deeper business partnership. When Micky faced a similar career crossroads, Nicolle encouraged her to join in building a comprehensive coaching business, leading to the creation of Aligned Being.
The partnership between Nicolle and Micky thrives on their complementary skills and experiences. More than a year into their venture, Nicolle’s dad continues to play a supportive role.
Nicolle highlights the importance of support in her journey. Having her father’s guidance has been a positive and encouraging influence on the growth of Aligned Being.
Thanks for the Lessons, Dad
Nicolle's journey has been deeply influenced by the valuable lessons instilled by her father. Growing up in an entrepreneurial household, Nicolle learned early on the importance of key characteristics that are crucial for success in any business venture.
One of the most significant traits her father taught her is the willingness to experiment and remain open to feedback. Nicolle firmly believes that an open mind and the readiness to adapt are essential traits for any entrepreneur. This openness is often applied by inviting feedback, which she views as a vital tool for growth rather than criticism. Nicolle frequently seeks feedback from her clients and collaborators, including her business partner Micky, to refine her approach and enhance their services.
Feedback provides valuable insights into strengths and areas for improvement, enabling entrepreneurs to evolve their business strategies, keeping their eyes and ears open for opportunities in the marketplace.
Importance of Resilience and Adaptability
Resilience and adaptability are other critical characteristics Nicolle's father emphasized. The entrepreneurial journey is often filled with challenges and unexpected obstacles. Nicolle underscores the importance of resilience—the ability to bounce back from setbacks—and adaptability, the capacity to pivot when necessary.
This mindset helps entrepreneurs maintain their focus and determination even when facing difficulties. It helps in overcoming immediate challenges and also sets up entrepreneurs for long-term success.
Fostering a sense of resiliency and adaptability helps navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. These traits keep entrepreneurs committed to their vision while being flexible enough to adapt to new circumstances. Building a strong mental framework is the baseline to support the entrepreneurial endeavor.
Integrating Personal and Professional Growth
For Nicolle, there is a close-knit interconnectedness between personal and professional growth. The two are inseparable, and fostering one inevitably enhances the other. This holistic approach is a cornerstone of her coaching philosophy. As Nicolle articulated, business and personal development are not mutually exclusive.
This belief is reflected in her coaching sessions and workshops, where she emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and emotional intelligence. By encouraging clients to explore their personal values and align them with their professional goals, Nicolle helps create more authentic and sustainable business practices, as well as consistent and genuine decision-making. The alignment ensures business actions are true to the individual's core beliefs, fostering a more resilient and motivated entrepreneurial journey.
Cultivate an Environment for Growth
Creating an environment that supports both personal and professional growth is crucial for long-term success. Nicolle practices what she preaches by surrounding herself with growth-minded individuals. She regularly participates in workshops, seminars, and training sessions, which not only enhance her skills but place her in situations that push her outside her comfort zone, inherently promoting a space for her own growth. These situations also connect her with like-minded professionals who share her commitment to personal and professional growth.
This proactive approach helps her stay at the forefront of industry developments and maintain a high level of expertise, while simultaneously expanding her personal capabilities. By continuously engaging in learning opportunities, Nicolle ensures that she is always evolving, both personally and professionally, understanding that a commitment to lifelong learning is what sets successful entrepreneurs apart.
Creating a growth-oriented environment also involves integrating her values and purpose into every aspect of her work. Nicolle ensures that her organizational culture is conducive for continuous improvement and development. This alignment between personal values and professional actions not only motivates Nicolle but invites clients to strive for their best selves, too.
Coaches Also Have Coaches
As part of her dedication to continuous self-improvement, Nicolle expresses profound gratitude for the external resources that have helped her achieve success. In addition to her father’s insights, Nicolle attributes much of her growth and success to the coaches she has worked with over the years. She emphasizes the critical role coaches play in providing objective feedback and highlighting blind spots that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Nicolle understands that humans are creatures of habit, and it is often more comfortable to default to familiar strategies and ways of thinking. However, these habits can sometimes hinder progress. With the consistent guidance and realignment provided by her coaches, Nicolle has been able to change her mindset, adopt more productive behaviors, and grow both as a businessperson and as an individual.
Nicolle's Five Pieces of Advice for Entrepreneurs
Nicolle's journey is a testament to the power of personal growth, resilience, and continuous learning. Drawing from her extensive experience and insights, Nicolle offers invaluable advice to new and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Here are her top five pieces of advice to help navigate the entrepreneurial path.
Keep a Growth Mindset: Being open to learning and continuously evolving is vital for the longevity of any business venture. Cultivating a growth mindset helps entrepreneurs adapt to changes and overcome challenges, allowing them to stay resilient, innovate, and continually improve their business strategies. "Be open to learning and growing ongoingly."
Develop Strong Communication Skills: Effective communication is a cornerstone of successful entrepreneurship, especially in navigating personal and professional relationships and managing conflicts constructively. Strong communication skills build trust, foster collaboration, and ensure that all stakeholders are aligned with the business's vision and goals. “Get really good at navigating these various spaces of communication with other people."
Embrace Uncertainty and Risk: Entrepreneurship involves a significant amount of uncertainty and risk. Embracing these elements is crucial for growth and success. By developing the ability to navigate uncertainty, entrepreneurs can make informed decisions, seize opportunities, and stay adaptable in a constantly changing market. "Learn to manage and thrive in uncertain and risky situations."
Be Willing to Experiment: Openness to experimentation and refining approaches based on feedback is vital. Experimentation allows entrepreneurs to test new ideas, learn from failures, and discover innovative solutions that drive their business forward. "Don’t be afraid to try new things and refine your approach."
Get a Coach: A coach offers an outside perspective, providing objective insights, challenging assumptions, and suggesting strategies for personal and professional growth. Coaches contribute invaluable support and guidance, helping to identify and overcome blind spots. Nicolle credits much of her success to her coaches. "Having a coach is critical, someone in your corner who can help you see the blind spots.”
Nicolle’s story is a powerful reminder that entrepreneurship is as much about personal development as it is about building a business. Her dedication to continuous learning, openness to feedback, and support from her mentors has been instrumental in her success. By embracing these principles, aspiring entrepreneurs can not only navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship but also thrive in their personal and professional lives.
To learn more about Nicolle's counterpart and co-founder of Aligned Being, Micky Chorny, read her Entrepreneur Interview to discover the unique insights she gives entrepreneurs.
Discover more Entrepreneur Interviews and connect with seasoned experts and providers to come along side your journey. Have a question for our entrepreneur? Become a member (it's free!) and leave a comment on the blog post.
Meet Nicolle Medina, Co-Founder of Aligned Being
Nicolle Medina is the Co-founder and CEO of Aligned Being, she is a certified personal performance coach bringing nearly a decade of experience. Her approach is informed by her training in transformational leadership and teaching meditation, blending performance coaching with deep self-awareness practices. Nicolle has worked with clients from all walks of life, including busy individuals seeking self-care practices, professionals looking for leadership performance training, creative professionals, those navigating relationship challenges, and individuals in transition. She has also collaborated with teams at organizations such as Simon Sinek’s The Optimism Company and Lululemon. Her individualized coaching style is simple, organic, and effective, focusing on helping clients develop a deeper understanding of their habits and lifestyle choices to improve their relationships with themselves and others.
To learn more, visit the Aligned Being website or contact Nicolle via email at nicolle@alignedbeing.co.
About the Author:
Em is the co-founder of L2Business and Director of Communication. Her prior work as a reporter and editor sparked the idea to interview entrepreneurs and highlight their real-world entrepreneurial insights with new and aspiring business builders. When she's not busy with the business, you can find her yelling at the TV watching her alma mater Texas Tech or any hockey game she can find. Let's connect on Facebook!
コメント