Hey there, fabulous folks!
We’re about to take a trip down memory lane to a time when my business was boomin’, but I was on the brink of burnout. When, out of the mist glides the mystical, magical, financial fairy-godmother — Dana Corey. My business coach!
I joined forces with Dana two years ago, and if you want me to quantify how she helped my business, I won’t give you any hard numbers.
What I will tell you is how I finally built a team.
How I successfully took a sabbatical.
How I learned when to say no in business.
How I’m calmer, more at peace than ever.
When I emerged on the other side, I gained financial confidence, built personal boundaries, and built a lifelong friendship with Dana Corey!
But hey, look. If you still want some numbers, here you go: 87% of her clients double their revenue within a year while working ⅓ of their weekly hours. Yup, no joke.
Dana joined me for her very first Instagram Live — and damn, I was honored to be the one to pop that cherry for her. You can catch the full IG Live here, but for now, I’ve distilled 7 raw, unfiltered truths about letting go, setting rock-solid boundaries, and mastering the art of delegation.
We’re diving deep, my friends. But hold up, there’s more — stick around to hear Dana’s top 3 tips for finding the perfect business coach for your badass self.
Let’s get started!
If you’re new here, I’m Lauren Goché — a Portland realtor with a decade of experience backing me up. This means I’ve weathered more than a few market shifts over the course of my career, and specialize in making sure you can make the most of the market for your goals. Read more about me here.
Meet Dana Corey
Let me introduce you to the incredible Dana Corey, business strategist and coach. She works with people who are already established in business and are rockin’ it, but crave more.
In Dana’s words, “what I do is get people to the next level – from self-employed to a true CEO.”
Want to learn more about her transformative work? Head over to danacorey.com and make sure to follow her on Instagram @danacoreycoaching.
1. How to go on vacation
Let’s be real, as business owners, we suck at taking a vacation. Even when we get talked into one, we still end up spending our time working and answering phone calls. Part of the work that Dana does with almost all of her clients is teaching them how to take an ACTUAL vacation,
“What our business actually really needs from us is for us to replenish ourselves, to let go of the routine, so that our brain can be kind of sparked again as creative visionaries.”
I remember when I was about to embark on my sabbatical. Holy shit, I was a bundle of nerves. I was convinced it wouldn’t work, that I didn’t need it, and actually called her the week before I was supposed to leave to tell her I was canceling it. But Dana is a no-bullshit kind of woman and gave me the kick in the ass I needed. She said, “Dammnit Lauren, I swear to god I’m going to come over there and pack your suitcase for you.”
And she was right. I took the plunge! I had people taking care of what I needed, and I took care of myself. When I returned, I was fully rested, rejuvenated, and ready to conquer the world.
2. Delegating with impact
I’ve always had a knack for delegation – probably because I’m a bossy gal – but Dana helped me elevate my delegation skills to new heights. As Dana puts it,
“Delegation is about how to make sure that the people and the team that you’re building really understand what the result is that you’re looking for. But on top of that, they feel trusted and empowered to do the job so that everybody in the business is almost on an equal basis where they’re lifting their load as you lift yours.”
3. Boundaries: Saying “No” with kindness
I had to ask Dana about handling controlling clients who disregard boundaries. Her response was eye-opening:
“Here’s the basic truth about boundaries. They’re yours. And the only way anybody is going to learn to keep your boundaries is if you keep your boundaries. If you’re strict with yourself, or strict with the line that you’ve drawn, and be kind. I’m not saying don’t be kind. Oftentimes people think that when you draw a boundary that you have to be a bitch, right, but that’s not what I’m saying at all. You can hold your boundary and be kind until people around you get clear about the boundary.”
Dana’s quote perfectly encapsulates this idea: “The respect comes when you say, ‘No, this is actually the way it is. And we’re gonna do it my way.’ That’s when real amazing relationships in business happen.”
4. Two things can’t take up the same space at the same time
One of the biggest hurdles we self-employed-folk face is the fear of scarcity. That nagging voice in our heads that tells us to hold on tightly to every client, every opportunity, and every connection, for fear that if we let go, we’ll be left with nothing.
I must admit, when I face the prospect of ending a client relationship, it feels like I’m being handed a shiny pink slip. My ego gets bruised every time. But one thing Dana taught me is letting go of something that isn’t working out always makes space for something better.
Always.
“There’s a law in physics, that two things can’t take up the same space at the same time. And when you are working with someone in any capacity and it’s not gelling, and it’s frustrating to both of you. Then when you let it go, it’s like a breath of fresh air. And then what you really want can come and fill the space but nothing can fill that space if something else of taking it up.”
5. Growing a business isn’t just about taking action
As business owners, we are a capable bunch. We know how to hustle, how to take action, and get things done. But guess what? In Dana’s experience, growing a business isn’t as much about taking action as it is dealing with the psychological stuff — the stuff that’s lurking in our brains, holding us back from real growth.
“Growing a business is not as much about taking action as people think it is. Yes, of course you have to take action. But 90% of the time it’s getting your thoughts, your head out of the equation so that you can move forward. Your blinders are stopping you from taking advantage of opportunities that are sitting right there — but you can’t see them. Because there’s some other story happening in your head about it.”
6. We all have a money story
We all have one! It’s that little tale we carry around about wealth and what it means to us. I don’t know about you, but the biggest story I’m still struggling with myself is that anybody with money is evil — and I’m not even talking about the super-rich, but just people who aren’t poor (yes, myself included, how is that for a mind-fuck). That’s pretty much what I was taught growing up. Dana tells me that this is a significant issue for many of her clients, even those raking in seven figures year after year.
“The truth was that money itself is just a form of energy. It’s not evil or not evil. It’s the people behind the money. We all have beliefs around money. For some people. Those stories actually help them make more, and for others those stories really keep us small.”
She goes on to give an amazing analogy: our relationship with money is like a relationship with a person. If we cling too tightly, it slips away. If we ignore it, it runs off and hides. We’ve gotta find that sweet spot — we gotta have a secure attachment style to money.
7. Business ownership is all about personal growth
Even with all the valuable lessons I’ve learned from Dana, I openly admitted that I still grapple with some of it, and she dropped a truth bomb on me:
“People who own business decided, whether consciously or unconsciously, that their life was going to be a personal growth journey. Your business can only grow as big as you, yourself can hold the container that is your business. And that requires honestly looking at yourself in the mirror, really looking to see where you aren’t seeing things right, where you’re taking things personally, or if you’re blind to your own foibles — and it never stops”
Final Thoughts…
Dana Corey, my business coach, has seriously transformed my game. From priceless insights on boundaries, scarcity fears, money stories, and even the art of taking a damn vacation. She’s the real deal—a no-nonsense powerhouse with a heart of gold and a killer sense of humor. Thanks to her, I’ve grown both personally and professionally in ways I never thought possible.
Now, you might be wondering, “How do I find a business coach like Dana?” Well, fear not, my friends. I’ve got your back. Finding the right coach can be a game-changer for your entrepreneurial journey. Here are some tips from Dana to set you on the right path:
- Recognize where you are on your business growth journey. If you’re in the startup phase, then get someone with a lot of experience with startups. If you’re in the growth phase, find someone who specializes in that.
- Get a referral. Talk to past and current clients about what they did and didn’t like about the program. Ask to see specific stats and results.
- Chemistry matters, folks. Don’t coach with someone you don’t like or whose values don’t align with yours. There’s a perfect fit for everyone.
If you’re wondering whether you’re in the right place to start working with a business coach or what the next phase is for you, feel free to start a conversation and shoot Dana a DM on Instagram!
And if you’re looking to buy or sell a home, get the experienced support you need in Portland’s real estate market by working with me and my lovely team. Let’s get started — get in touch with us here.
