Carla Egan is a proud Aboriginal Wotjobaluk woman, a leadership coach, and at the start of 2021 began her own small business – The Coaching Directory – after identifying a gap in the market for services that connect people with qualified, credentialled coaches across areas of wellbeing, business and leadership.

Starting a new business

“When you start your first business, it’s really trial and error,” says Carla.

“My whole network are employees; my whole family have grown up as employees. They were supportive, but they didn’t have that understanding of what it takes to start your own small business.”

“There’s a lot of work and effort that you put in, but it rarely shows on the bottom line.”

Carla was experiencing feelings of overwhelm by the tasks ahead of her and the challenges of beginning a new business during COVID-19.

“You’re thinking ‘have I made the right decision?’, ‘Is this going to work?’ ‘Is it too much?’ – you can't see the forest for the trees, and it effects other areas of your life - the boundaries are very blurred.”

Reaching out

“When you've got big dreams, you have a lot of plans. Sometimes you need to take a step back and prioritise, but when you’re overwhelmed you think very emotionally – your logical brain doesn't kick in.”

Carla reached out to Kinnaway Chamber of Commerce, where a mental health clinician and consultant had been placed through Partners in Wellbeing to support small business wellbeing with free, confidential mental health support services. The sessions helped Carla with the stress and anxiety that comes with feeling overwhelmed, as well as the different challenges that arise within business, such as marketing and time management.

“The support that I got was over the phone, which allows you to just sit in a comfortable chair, close your eyes and connect to the challenge you’ve got in that moment.”

“Having someone to provide you with simple strategies that you can implement is very valuable. They’re things you can remember, and they help you move forward and continue to follow your dream.”

“I think too many people give up because they haven't got that type of support. That’s the type of support that I needed throughout that first year.”

The power of support

“In that first year I noticed that the more times I used the strategies, the less I felt overwhelmed.

“A year ago, I wouldn't have been able to do that. I would've been procrastinating.

“It has a ripple effect of how you show up in your life. I believe I'm a lot happier and calmer, and its improved things for myself, my clients and my relationships.”

Carla views wellbeing support as just as vital as support with other elements of a small business.

“I have support for many parts of my business. Experts in what they do to help me.

“However, as people, we tend not to look at ourselves in the same way. Why is that? I believe everyone benefits from having an expert in their lives that helps them with their thinking, their mindset, and their wellbeing.

“Anybody that works in that personal development, mental health space, resilience, all deserve a medal because they're helping people to become a better version of themselves, in order to make their own mark in the world, whatever that mark is.”