26. 💼 Case Study: From Employee to Business Owner in One Year

Going from an employee to a business owner with clients, media exposure and having each day feel like a privilege, not work, is the dream for anyone with a business idea.

Rachael Keeble, the founder of Builtwell, and a client who worked with us to create her business, has done all this, in just a year. She also built her business in the Construction industry where women make up only 9-10% of the workforce.

As next week is Women in Construction Week we wanted to celebrate Rachael by sharing how she navigated from career burnout to business owner. If you're on a similar journey we hope the steps she shares here will motivate, inspire and englighten you.

Her story includes:

When you had the idea for your business and signature program (also know as unique offer) what were some of the biggest challenges you faced & how did you overcome them?

I struggled to think about how I would be able to bring this idea to the market and turn it into a viable business. It was a skillset that I had not yet developed and so I knew that I needed help to navigate the unknowns and embrace the entrepreneurial journey.

This is what led me to Jill McAbe’s program which I still hold to be the best investment that I have made in my business to date. It’s been affirming, transformative and instrumental in helping me build BuiltWell into what it is today.

How did you discover the program and what made you decide to work with us to develop your signature program?

I discovered Jill completely accidently through a mutual connection on LinkedIn. I immediately resonated with their mission of working with visionary entrepreneurs who wanted to make a positive change in the world. I also loved that they not only focused on developing businesses, but also on developing the individuals behind those businesses through coaching and mindset techniques.

[Their work] is unique in that it focuses on helping individuals create business’ that fit their life and serve their calling in life, rather than just building something for the sake of endless growth.

Can you highlight some key milestones or achievements you’ve reached since starting your journey with Jill and her team?

I remember doing a series of structured exercises where I suddenly realised how small my original aspirations had been. I had been limiting the possibility of success, because of fear of failure.

The construction industry can be very old fashioned and not very open to change, which was making me feel nervous about taking something brand new and innovative to the market. Their framework gave me permission to think big again and this has been fundamental in the strategic partnerships I have created, how quickly my business has grown and how many exciting developments I have in the pipeline.

What’s next for you and BuiltWell? Are there any upcoming projects or goals you’re particularly excited about?

I am currently working on building a community offering for BuiltWell alumni where Project Managers can come together to share their tips and experiences for thriving in the construction industry. This will include access to some really exciting new masterclasses, articles & knowledge sharing sessions for those who want to be the best of the best.

How do you see your work contributing to long-term changes in the construction industry?

I hope my work equips construction Project Managers with the skills and training currently missing in the industry that links hard skills, soft skills and well-being in a practical and easily applicable way. I hope that each Project Manager is then able to take these lessons learnt to their projects and project teams to create a ripple effect that decreases stress, overwhelm and burn out, and ultimately improves the construction industry and the lives of those working in the built environment.

What does Women in Construction week mean to you and how do you hope to inspire other women in the industry through your work?

Women currently represent only about 9-10% of the global construction workforce and on-site that drops to around 2%. Considering that the construction industry employs about 7% of the global workforce, this presents an enormous opportunity to get more women into the industry and create a more equal, diverse and representative workforce.

Women in Construction week is all about celebrating those women that are already doing amazing work so that we can showcase to others what a great industry it can be to work in.

Can you share a personal story of experience that encapsulated your mission to bring about positive change in the construction industry?

One of my students had been struggling with stress, work-life balance and was unable to own client relationships and be assertive at work.

After completing my signature program she found that she was able to be more productive and efficient at work and step in to manage her client relationships with autonomy, even handling difficult conversations with confidence.

She told me that her husband had noticed a difference in her stress levels when she was at home and that she was able to sleep better at night which left her more refreshed, driven and happy. Her employer noticed a step up in her work ethic and discussions for promotion were in the pipeline. She also gained the confidence she needed to join a prominent industry roundtable where she is now doing her bit to improve the industry and growing as a subject matter expert. Hearing feedback like this made everything that I have done with BuiltWell worth it!

For those interested in following your journey or learning more about your signature program where can they find more information?

You can find more information at www.builtwellpm.com or reach out to me on LinkedIn to set up a free strategy call where we can discuss your specific learning and development needs and talk about collaboration opportunities.

Lastly, what message would you like to leave with our readers who might be considering embarking on their own journey to create a signature program or unique offer?

Founding BuiltWell Project Management has been an absolute dream come true for me. I have never before felt so passionate about my work and so connected to my purpose. Most of the time work doesn’t even feel like work anymore! It is a privilege to be collaborating with such talented individuals and forward thinking organisations who are doing their bit to be innovative change makers in the construction industry.

Collaborating with experts, like Jill's team, has been invaluable, and my business has grown so successfully due to their guidance, kindness and generosity. If you are looking to embark on a entrepreneurial journey that places positive change at the heart of what you want to achieve, then the first thing you should do is [connect with Jill and her team]!

We really appreciate Rachael sharing her story with us and we are proud to have been a part of her success, and recognize her as a role-model in the upcoming Women in Construction week.

If you'd like to find out more about the solutions we offer to grow your business, we're sharing our simple one-page template we use with out clients. It will show you how to create a unique offer that attracts clients so you can transform from employee to business owner.

Download The One-Page Template Here