Celebrating 10 Years in Business
It’s hard to believe, but this month marks 10 years since I started my business. Looking back, I can confidently say it was one of the best decisions of my life.
I want to take you on a little journey—how I got here, what inspired me, and an exciting initiative that has been years in the making!
My journey with CliftonStrengths started long before I became a coach. Back when I worked in sales at Verizon, I was introduced to StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Brian Bailey, who later became a mentor and huge inspiration in my career. That’s when I discovered my Top 5 Strengths which came out then as Woo, Positivity, Activator, Responsibility and Significance.
At the time, I resonated with these strengths, but I didn’t do much with them. Sound familiar?
The Career Shift That Changed Everything
Fast forward to 2012, when I was at a crossroads, exploring what I wanted next in my career. I discovered my full 34, back then, it was only available by taking the assessment again. My results didn’t change much, Activator, Woo, Command, Arranger and Positivity and even today, I still refer this 2012 report.
Around this time, I was deeply influenced by Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. His work challenged me to think about the legacy I wanted to leave. Did I want to be known as just an IT Salesperson for the rest of my career?
Absolutely not.
What I loved most about my job wasn’t selling—it was helping people, then as I found out more about coaching and strengths it was about helping people see their own potential and take action.
Sometimes we need a push to make a big life change. For me, that push came in the form of what I call a “Shitty Boss” (I’m sure many of you can relate, more in my book Career Unstuck). This person made me miserable at work, and rather than stay stuck, I saw it as a catalyst for change.
That was the moment I committed to a career shift to facilitation and coaching.
And I have never looked back.
Today, the structure of the business looks very different to 10 years ago with my business split into three core areas:
✅ The Strengths Partners – Working with corporate clients to unlock the power of CliftonStrengths.
✅ Charlotte Blair – Supporting other coaches on their journey through coaching and mentoring.
✅ Connect, Learn & Share – A growing community (both online and in-person) to foster connection, learning, and collaboration.
Note there is only one month left to get your ticket for Connect, Learn & Share Event coming up in June.
I sometimes wonder—what if I had taken the leap sooner? But at the same time, I don’t regret a single day. Even on the rare bad days, I remind myself:
I get to do work that lights me up.
I get to help others find clarity, confidence, and purpose.
I get to make an impact.
I design the life a choose.
I set my own targets.
My performance reviews are now great instead of pointless.
Helping Young Coaches Get Started
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I had a conversation with a young person passionate about becoming a coach. Their enthusiasm sparked something in me—my Activator kicked in, and I quickly set up a GoFundMe campaign.
Through a series of online workshops, we raised over $2,500 AUD to support aspiring coaches. But then… life got busy, and the initiative stalled. Four years later, I’m finally bringing it to life.
If you know a young person (aged 19-25) anywhere in the world who is interested in becoming a Gallup Accredited Strengths Coach, please encourage them to apply.
Applications close on April 15th.
