Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing business coach Megan Wright on the Stumbling Forward Podcast about the unique challenges entrepreneurs face when building businesses that truly align with their values and authentic selves. Megan shared practical strategies for creating businesses that fit who you are, rather than forcing yourself into predetermined models and why this approach leads to more sustainable success and personal fulfillment.

Our conversation explored the importance of viewing business building as a personalized journey rather than a one-size-fits-all formula, the critical value of creating authentic connections with your audience, and why entrepreneurs who embrace their unique backgrounds and experiences will thrive, even when traditional business advice doesn't resonate with them.

We also examined the delicate balance between professional growth and personal wellbeing, the problematic nature of "10K month" marketing promises, and why comprehensive approaches to business development that start with self-knowledge ultimately lead to stronger client relationships.

Inspiring Quotes From Megan:

"I help people build businesses that fit who they are. Rather than feeling they have to squeeze themselves into a business strategy that doesn't align with them, I help them break free of that constraint, rewrite their rules, and build a business that they love."

"I felt like I was in a box in my nine-to-five, the last thing I want to do is put myself in a different box starting a business- like what would be the point?"

"You would never go into a clothes shop and expect that one dress would look great on everyone. So why are we thinking that one business strategy would work for everyone?"

"I'm not going to tell you, well, do this, do this, do this, because then I'd be exactly the same as all these other people. It's not about that. It's about figuring it out for you so that in 10 years time, you're just as in love with your business."

"The number of times I've seen coaches say something along the lines of, 'Well, if you put it on a credit card, that'll inspire you and you'll earn it back quicker.' Or 'If you don't invest large amounts in your business, then you're not committed.' And I'm like, that's so not true."

Key Takeaways From Our Conversation:

• Authenticity in business is not just a marketing strategy but the foundation for sustainable success.

• Being yourself attracts clients who align with your values and approach.

• The "10K month" marketing prevalent in coaching creates unrealistic expectations and lacks transparency.

• HYHO Coaching connects entrepreneurs with strategies that fit their unique personalities and values.

• Entrepreneurs who feel fulfilled are less likely to burn out or abandon their businesses.

• High-priced coaching programs create unnecessary financial barriers to entrepreneurship.

• Megan's "three Cs" approach—Care, Connect, Create—builds businesses that align with who you are.

• Social media metrics and follower counts are less important than genuine engagement.

• What works for one entrepreneur won't necessarily work for another, regardless of the "blueprint."

• Balance between business growth and personal wellbeing is crucial for entrepreneurial longevity.

From Teaching to Entrepreneurship: Megan's Journey

Me: Megan, hello, welcome. Would you like to tell us a little bit about yourself?

Megan Wright: My background's in wellbeing. I don't come from a business background, and that has really informed how I help people. I started as a primary school teacher, and I really loved working with the kids. But I found that I cared almost more about them as people than as learners. I just wanted to spend my whole time getting to know them as people. I quite quickly realized that with the kind of box I was being put in—in terms of the rules, the regulations, all of the expectations—I wasn't able to fully help them in the way that I wanted to. So I stepped away from that and started doing youth work, which was a lot more freeing. Within that role, I started to see more and more how wellbeing and mental health were so key to their opportunities. I retrained as a wellbeing practitioner and got to really experience how changing that had all these amazing knock-on effects. Over time, I realized I wanted to be able to do this in a way that was even more expansive, and for me, that was starting my own business. It was about six months ago that I took the big leap into entrepreneurship.

Finding Your Space in the Business World

Me: That's really fascinating. So when you decided to move on, how did you decide to do what you're doing now with businesses and helping new entrepreneurs versus your experience working mostly with children?

Megan Wright: When I started looking at the business space, I went into it wanting to learn everything. I don't come from a business background. I don't know what a funnel is. I needed to learn all this stuff. It was a massive learning curve. But the main thing I found was that it took me so long to find something that felt good to me because so many people teaching business had come from a corporate or business background. They were coming at it from such a different angle that I found it hard to relate to the terminology, some of the methods, the strategies—they just didn't feel like me. Some of them made me feel downright icky, if I'm honest. I got to the point where I realized this is such a common issue—there are so many people like me who want to start a business, who want to help others, but get stuck wondering if there's a space in business for them because no one else in the space reflects their values or how they want to work. So I decided maybe I need to be that person—the alternative for people who aren't motivated by "10K months" but instead by genuinely helping people, people who don't want to be flashy or talk on massive stages.

The Three Cs Approach: Care, Connect, Create

Me: What does your approach look like when working with clients? How do you help them build businesses that align with who they are?

Megan Wright: My approach is based on three Cs: Care, Connect, Create. The first thing you do is you have to care about stuff. So number one, care about yourself. Just like an efficient energy system regulates a building's climate, we examine how to optimize your personal energy output for your business—balancing your vision, work schedule, and delivery model to create an environment where you thrive. That's the first step. We look at boundaries, wellbeing, and self-care, and really start to dig into their story, their values, and what they're passionate about.

Then we get to the Connect stage, which is where you start joining the dots. This is your story, this is who you want to help, and then you find the overlap. What is it about your story that's going to resonate with the people you're helping? How has your journey impacted how you're going to support them? We figure out the messaging and storytelling.

Only at that point do we start Creating—that's when we determine what the offers can be and what frameworks will work based on all the pieces we've gathered. So often I see people start with creating offers without knowing who they're helping or what parts of business light them up. They end up with an offer that either no one wants or that they hate delivering.

The Problem with "10K Month" Marketing

Me: I've noticed a lot of business coaches focus heavily on income goals like "10K months." What are your thoughts on that approach?

Megan Wright: With that 10K month, no one ever talks about what that actually looks like. Is that 10K after taxes? Is that 10K excluding all of the business expenses you have? Does that mean you've had one launch that's made 10K, but actually now for the next six months, you're not launching anything? There's a real lack of transparency around what that means, and it's just become this buzzword or sales pitch. If people are earning that, that's incredible—massive congratulations to them. That obviously shows that what they're doing works for them, but it's no guarantee that what they're doing will work for somebody else.

I've got frameworks and strategies, but all of my frameworks are about figuring out what works for you. I'm not going to tell you, "Do this, do this, do this," because then I'd be exactly the same as all these other people. What works for a custom metal sign company won't necessarily work for your brand. Develop a strategy tailored to you—one that you'll still love in a decade and that allows for sustainable growth because it fits perfectly. 

Breaking Down Financial Barriers to Entrepreneurship

Me: What about the financial barriers many new entrepreneurs face when trying to get help with their businesses?

Megan Wright: When I was starting out, I'd see people saying, "I'll teach you how to run a business, but it's five grand." And I'm thinking, most people don't have five grand just sitting around—they might have just quit their job, or maybe their BMW broke down and now all of a sudden, they have BMW repairs to account for. It's terrifying that people are being asked to make these massive leaps of faith right at the beginning of their journey. I think there shouldn't be a financial barrier to learning how to start a business or be an entrepreneur. It should be something that is more accessible to everyone.

The number of times I've seen coaches say something along the lines of, "Well, if you put it on a credit card, that'll inspire you and you'll earn it back quicker," or "If you don't invest large amounts in your business, then you're not committed." That's so not true. You can be the most committed person in the world and not have the financial resources. I would never want someone to get themselves in a financially difficult position to work with me.

I think there's a real need in the business space for people to be able to invest in themselves, but in a way that's not this massive amount of money and for that not to reflect on their commitment, drive, or passion.

Final Thoughts

What struck me most about my conversation with Megan was her genuine commitment to helping entrepreneurs build businesses that feel authentic and sustainable. As someone who has also made the leap from corporate into entrepreneurship, I deeply resonated with her perspective on the importance of aligning your business with your values rather than forcing yourself into pre-existing models that don't fit.

If you're an entrepreneur feeling stuck between what you think you "should" be doing and what actually feels right for you, I highly recommend checking out Megan's work at HYHO Coaching or following her on Instagram @HYHO.Coaching.

I'm incredibly grateful to Megan for sharing her insights and wisdom on the podcast. Her refreshing approach to business coaching is exactly what many of us need in a space that can often feel overwhelming and inauthentic.

What part of our conversation resonated most with you? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!