In celebration of National Small Business Week, (Apr 30th -May 6th) we sat down with four members to hear about their story, passions, impact, and businesses. The third featured member in our interview series is Joanne Chen, owner of Joanne Chen Coaching. Joanne started her business one year ago and she is a new Hera Hub member.

After deciding that I didn’t want to be a doctor (I come from a traditional Asian American family), I spent years, through lots of trial and error, exploring my interests and figuring out how to live the best life that I could while doing my part to make the world a better place. Luckily, many self-help books and tools, teachers, and coaches helped me along the way. Throughout my career journey, I found myself gravitating toward roles involving teaching/training, mentoring, speaking, and, of course, coaching. I love supporting people in their professional and personal development, to help them discover and embrace their life purpose and gifts. After entering my 40s, I decided that it was time for me to come out of my own shell, step into my purpose fully as a professional coach and speaker, and spread my message about living fearlessly and on purpose.

Honestly, I feel that every role that I’ve had – whether a job or a volunteer role – has prepared me to be an entrepreneur. My filing project as an HR assistant eons ago (seriously, two weeks of straight filing, eight hours a day) taught me to be very detailed, organized, and paperless in my business as much as possible. My experience in creating and training with educational technology has given me the ability to learn and adapt to new technology (and the inevitable hiccups) with more ease and patience. With my comedy improv skills, I bring spontaneity and lightness to networking events, my presentations, videos that I create, and written pieces, such as this one.

The most rewarding part has been the connections that I’ve made. Unlike working in a corporate job and being in contact with the same group of co-workers day after day, I meet new people every week from different professions and communities. Everyone has an interesting story. Since I am naturally curious, I love asking questions and making genuine connections with people, to find out what lights them up, what’s holding them back, and how I can serve or collaborate with them. I know that the idea of “getting out there,” or meeting people, can feel scary, but nowadays I try to make it fun. Laughing and joking with the people you just met will help keep Fear at bay. Trust me.

The greatest challenge for me is to pace myself and let myself take time off. I’m so passionate (or rather, impatient and stubborn) about fulfilling my mission that I can work (and have done so) seven days a week – until my body gives off the “Warning! System Overload!” signals. Self-care, I’ve learned, is part of my work to be the best coach to the people whom I serve and want to serve. So, I gotta get myself to a yoga class or jump on the treadmill – tonight! Would you like to join me?

I am here to help people let go of convention, perfection, and overwhelm and step fully into the greatest versions of themselves. Personally, I know what it’s like to try to fit in and be perfect, and keep your dreams and true self a secret for years, thus not living fully, if at all. My greatest passion/purpose is to light people up so that they can powerfully impact the world with their Divine purpose and gifts. I currently express my purpose in my business through one-on-one coaching, speaking, and multimedia training materials.

I am proud of the fact that my business is making an immediate impact in the lives of people whom I coach or interact with. I strive to provide a safe, open space for my clients to voice and give birth to their visions, challenge their own fears and perceived self-limitations, explore possibilities, and stoke the fire of experimentation and risk-taking, ultimately leading to them taking bold actions in the world. It’s been my privilege to facilitate my clients’ breakthroughs and witness their creativity, resourcefulness, courage, and power – truly amazing!

First, I see myself continuing to serve – whether in one-on-one or group coaching relationships – entrepreneurs, leaders and emerging leaders, healers, coaches, and other change agents who have bold, creative visions for our world.

Second, I would like to develop a yearlong “career-making” course in collaboration with colleges/universities and companies. I envision that this hands-on course will help young people pinpoint their talents and explore career paths that are available besides going to medical school, law school, or business school. When I was a lost nineteen-year-old, I needed such a course and also caring people to tell me that it was okay – no, more than okay – to be different, to be me. I look forward to supporting the blossoming of our younger generations.

Connect with Joanne online:

Website – JoanneTChen.com
Facebook – JoanneChenCoaching