Meet Lauren Najar... Business Coach
Dec 10, 2020
Interview with Lauran Najar
Please provide a short bio
Lauren Najar is a business coach who works with female online coaches and service providers to grow their businesses and sign consistent clients. Lauren is located in Chicago, IL and believes in hard work but also having fun and being authentically you while building your business!
What kind of work do you do?
I work with female online coaches and service providers specifically with getting more sales for their businesses. You have to love sales and love talking to people and those things can look differently for a lot of people. How I like to work with my clients is I bring out their "special sauce" and how they like to interact with people and we capitalize on those aspects. I believe that your sales process can look however you want and however it fits your own business.
What inspired you to get started as an entrepreneur?
I don't have a solid answer to that! I know that when I hit my freshman year in college, I immediately wanted to become a day trader (trading stocks at home from your computer and working for myself). I don't have a specific event that clicked for me that I wanted to work for myself. I've always had that bug.
What was your biggest struggle to get things going for your online business?
My biggest struggle was ME. I was (still am sometimes!) my worst enemy. It is something I have struggled with my whole life; no matter what I did. I work hard and have always been a good worker; but I've never had to "work hard" at being good at something if that makes sense. I was always a great employee, a great boss and a good friend. Those things came to me naturally and I strived to be those things. I was always a good student too and gave little effort. I think when it comes to creating your own business, it's a different playing field and you have to learn how to be self-motivated and answer to yourself. For me, that took a little time to get started.
Was there a time you thought about giving up? What kept you from quitting?
I don't think I have ever wanted to quit. I've been on this entrepreneurial journey for over 10 years and haven't stopped trying to look for something that made me fulfilled. About a year and a half ago, I stopped working in my business as hard as I was. It wasn't sustainable and I crashed and burned one day. I didn't think about quitting though; however I took a step back from doing all of the things I was doing. I concentrated on just showing up and creating content for a while, without really selling anything and I eased back into my business. I don't know what kept me from quitting; it's not a specific thing. It was simply the fact that this entrepreneurial life is destined for me and I'm happier doing this than working for anyone else ever again.
What have you learned since beginning?
It's a journey and to not let your foot off the gas. I remember signing my first four clients back to back and I hit $5000 in sales. I couldn't take on any more clients and I stopped showing up basically. I was so new; two months into my coaching business and I thought I already made it. I thought this was going to be easy and clients were going to be this easy to find. I learned quickly that is not the case, and that even though you sign clients and have early success, doesn't mean you should stop working!
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Mindset is 80% and strategy is 20%. Many people say this; and for a long time I thought this was BS. Going back to what I said earlier, I never had to work hard at being a good student, athlete and employee. Working for yourself is a different ballgame; and making sure you are 100% equipped to deal with all the doubts, the struggles, the hard decisions and the business itself every single day is something completely different. You need to make sure you are well and ready to show up every day if you want to succeed in business; so that means taking care of yourself mind, body and soul.
What advice would you give someone just starting out?
Don't focus on what you think you "should" be doing or what everyone else says you need to do. Find someone and/or listen to your gut on how you want to approach things. It's so easy to lose yourself in this space. We need more individuality so your way of doing things, your way of talking to people and your way of life is going to be different. Don't fade into the crowd!
What’s the professional win you’re most proud of?
It's easy to talk about a sales win here right? I'll start out with something different. I hired A LOT of people this year to help me with my business; lawyer, virtual assistant, web designer, photographer and an accountant on top of hiring 3 different coaches. Starting to outsource things is truly getting things official. I finally created my official LLC this year too. Then my sales win; I have quadrupled my sales in 2020 versus what I had in sales in the first 14 months of my entire business.
Is there a book you’d recommend to help with success and personal development?
YES! So glad you asked this question. The 12 Week Year. Done and done. It's my bible and my way of life now. I recommend it to everyone.
Do you have a routine that you attest to your success? If yes, what is it?
I think I can finally answer this question and it's something I fully embrace now more than ever. I'm always myself. For a while, I wasn't myself and I felt certain things in my business needed to look a certain way because I was new. It's okay to believe in what you believe. It's okay to say what you have to say. You will repel people and that's not something you should worry about. When you start showing up as yourself, you start to attract MORE people who know what you are all about.
How has social media played a factor in your success?
I'd like to say my content on social media; but I don't think that is always the case. It has always been about building relationships for me. It has always been about connecting through direct messages and actually talking to people without any motive. Getting to know people is the easiest thing you can do on social media and having conversations leads to sales.
What are the biggest social media mistakes you see commonly made?
Unfortunately people abused direct messaging and it gives people like me and my methods a bad name. When I message someone, from time to time they are immediately turned off because they assume I am a business coach and I will sell to them quickly. It's so sad; because people don't know how to network. Before social media and online businesses, people went to in person networking events (still do before COVID!). Direct messaging is a way to get to know someone and reach out for a connection and it's the only version of going up to someone at an in person networking event and introducing yourself. It may not be a client but it may be someone you can collaborate with. Too many people abuse these DMs and it's so disappointing. When I get these messages, I simply move on now because I don't want to waste my time correcting them. For me, it just fuels me up even more to get the message out there on how to effectively use DMs to build relationships and get to know people!
What is the business tool that’s been most helpful?
Asana! Life changer. I keep all my tasks and assign my virtual assistant tasks in here also. I even put personal tasks in here to keep myself in check.
Is there something you wish everyone knew?
Stop abusing direct messaging! There are humans on the other side of the computer!
What’s coming up for you in the next few months?
Right now, I'm taking applications for my Sales Accelerator Mastermind in April 2021. We have a couple of spots taken already; so that's exciting! I'll be launching one more thing before the end of the year which will continue after the holidays (secret!) and then I'll be bringing back some guest experts inside my Facebook Group Slaying With Success!
What has being successful taught you?
You have the most success when you feel your best; meaning mindset and health and all areas of life. You aren't necessarily successful if you work 24/7; and you can be successful with working less than you think. Success also can mean whatever you want; it's not always about the sales and the clients you sign. No matter how many clients I sign or how much money I have brought in; I'm thankful still for the one person who signs up for my freebie. Everything adds up to your success. Celebrate it all.
What are some fun facts about you?
I'm obsessed with the TV show Friends and Zac Efron. I'm a bit of everything. I'll geek out over Star Wars and I love Disney things. I love getting dressed up and going out for a night in Chicago; makeup and dressing fancy with wine and champagne and expensive food but I am equally, if not more happy, when I am in sweats ordering chicken wings and drinking my favorite lite beer in my house. If I could go to a Chicago Cubs baseball game every home game every year; I would be in heaven. Sports bars are probably where I feel most comfortable!
Connect with Lauren:
www.facebook.com/groups/slayingwithsuccess
lonajar.com
www.instagram.com/laurennajar
*Some clickable media, usually the book recommendations, are affiliate links, and should you choose to buy through using those links then The Infinite Power of You Inc. may earn an affiliate payout commission. This is at no additional expense to you, and helps keep this blog going.
Stay connected with news and updates!
Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.
Don't worry, your information will not be shared.
We hate SPAM. We will never sell your information, for any reason.
