Featured Member – Rhoda Baty

Rhoda Baty

When did you start your business and how has it evolved since then?

I started “Life Coaching with Rhoda” in December 2006 after becoming a Certified Life Coach. Diane was/has always been the biggest cheerleader of my efforts and causes my brain to explode with ideas.  The lessons I have learned throughout my life have become my ‘niche’. With the help of a ‘ministry leader’ coach I changed my business name to “Hopeful Heart Coaching” in 2008. It seemed a natural progression as people I was coaching would tell me I gave them hope. I am limited on time I can spend on my business as I work fulltime. However, I see God’s hand in that as I work with at-risk kids and I have lived their life. Not only do the kids come to me for ‘coaching’, often the staff does too, especially my boss. I feel honored that they come to me and I get lots of practice! I love coaching groups of gals and recently wrote my first Bible study with the theme of ‘self-limiting’ thoughts. At present this is a face-to-face group but I hope to start a virtual study in 2011.

What do you love about being a female entrepreneur?

That I can make the decisions based on who I am…doing it the way that fits me and my giftedness. I can be ‘Christian’ in my business and don’t have to worry that someone will tell me I can’t talk about it. It is who I am and what I want to be. It lets me be, no one else can be me and no one else can offer what I have to offer the way I offer it.

How does your faith play out in your business?

With God all things are possible…without Him I’m toast! I want only to please Him. A quote I like from a girl who was in our youth group a couple years ago said, “Today is about making You famous Jesus, how would You like to proceed with that in me today?” Daily and early I need to be spending time with Him. One of the ways I do this is through my email devotional groups. I need accountability and they give it to me. None of them are jealous of what I do, they are confidential and they truly want my best. And they are a great resource for ‘testing’ ideas on! My values come from God’s Word and they direct me in what I will and will not do.  My gifts, strengths, and personality were given to me by God and I try to use them the way He would want me to. One of my clients told me that I give her great respect for God. That, I think, will be the best compliment I will ever get. If I am helping women know God better so they can love Him more I am a BIG SUCCESS!

What is your BIG DREAM for your business?

To have a building where women can come and get energized, get words of encouragement; get out of the guilt and victim trap. Now that I am older (senior citizen) people listen to me more…comes with gray hair the Bible says. Proverbs 20:29 – The glory of young men is their strength, and the beauty of old (wo)men is their gray head [suggesting wisdom and experience]. I am good at listening and encouraging and I would like to be available more to women in a setting designed for them. I am always looking around my city for empty buildings that I could buy one day…even looked into an abandoned funeral home.

What 3 tips would you share with a friend who is launching her own entrepreneurial adventure?

1. Don’t shortcut your daily time with God…those of us who work fulltime jobs (well everyone really) along with building our business need to have our focus early each day on getting instructions from God as to how He has our day planned. And be ready for U turns! None of us can do a good job without His help. Or without the help of others, especially without good coaches helping us navigate through the maze of possibilities.

2. Do what you love and be okay with whom you are and what you are doing. Play to your strengths, giftedness and personality.

3. Don’t worry about failure (well unless it costs you tons of money)…that’s how we find what works and what doesn’t work.

Rhoda Baty
www.lifecoachingwithrhoda.com