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:
Can you share a little about your background & what led you to pursue a Project Manager career within the construction industry?
I was attracted to the Built Environment because I liked the idea of being able to point to a skyline and say ‘I was a small part of that’. Over the past decade I climbed the Project Management ladder from graduate to Project Director before taking the jump to establish my own business, BuiltWell Project Management last year.
What inspired your passion for integrating well-being into the construction sector, and why do you believe it is so important?
Construction can be a very stressful industry to work in and as a result we have problems with burnout, retention, skills gap and most concerningly, suicide.
I realised through my own experience that the construction industry is not currently teaching people how to look after themselves or set themselves up for long term career success. Instead we treat well-being as a tag-on or a tick box and act surprised when people get burnt out.
The principle of BuiltWell Project Management is that well being is integrated in everything we teach. So when teaching the principles of how to set a project up for success, we also teach how to set yourself up for success. When discovering how to have difficult conversations, we also discover techniques to help manage the impact of those conversations on yourself. Neuroscience shows us that our brains are associative so by teaching in this way we are able to make these skills more applicable & relevant to people’s jobs and lives.
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.
Being recognized in the press, becoming a Trustee for a leading construction organisation & being invited to speak at events are significant accomplishments. How have these roles contributed to your mission in the construction industry?
It has been less than a year since BuiltWell launched but I am already seeing the impact that these courses, and my signature program in particular, are having in people’s lives.
I am really lucky to have had some amazing profile raising opportunities where I have been able to reach a wider audience with my mission of improving the industry. Having been in the industry for so long, I understand a lot of the pain points and address these in my teaching material.
How has your signature program impacted the construction industry, particularly in the realm of well-being?
On an individual level, it has helped equip my alumni with the wider leadership development, well-being and project management tools that they need to thrive in the industry. This has led to reports of better work-life balance, more confidence at work, more efficiency and productivity.
On a collective level, it is helping to bring the topic of well-being and long-term career success into every day conversations, using the neuroscience of how the brain works to support those in the industry better and accelerate success.
Looking back on your journey from the idea for a signature program or unique offer, to where you are now with your business, what are some of the valuable lessons you've learned?
Passion, consistency and a clear vision are absolutely key. Being an entrepreneur can be a little lonely at times so it is really important that you invest in creating circles where you can share your experience and learn from the experience of others.
This is another area that Jill and her team excels in. With the Office Hours initiative, I have been able to connect with other visionary entrepreneurs, from all around the world, which has been incredibly valuable.
What advice would you give to other professionals who are looking to make a similar impact in their industries?
Take time to set a clear vision and mission for your business as these will serve as navigational tools that get you through the tough times – FYI Jill and her team can help you establish these! Connect with other entrepreneurs so that you can learn from each other. Patience is key (I am still working on this..!)
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.
Process of a Unique Offer
At this point in the newsletter we normally share Margarita's Thinking Vitamins mantra for success but since, we also teach clients how to discover and reprogram any self-conscious limitations they have, we asked Rachael to share one of the mantra's she created using our system.
"I have a successful & impactful business packed with wisdom,
love & kindness that my clientele adore."
To speed up the adoption of this mantra, save this image (or take a screenshot) and set it as your phone home screen.
We hope Rachael's story, of going from idea to having a business that is making a difference in her industry, has inspired you and shown that it is possible to go from employee to business owner in just one year, when you have a system and support.
Next Week
March is when we turn our minds to Finances. After all tax season is coming up for many of us so next week we'll start by focusing on Money Mindset.
Thanks for reading!
Here's to every small step towards a big dream,
Jill McAbe and the Midweek Momentum Team
PS: If you haven't already created your own signature program (also known as unique offer) you can download our free one-page template here: Create a Unique Offer That Sells!
PPS: We are now in week two of transitioning our website to our new online provider Systeme. If you haven't checked it out yet we'd love to get your feedback on it! www.jillmcabe.com
Have a Joyful Rest of Your Week!
A special thank you for supporting Midweek Momentum by reading right down to the bottom! We are grateful for your attention. If you have any ideas or comments about this issue or suggestions for upcoming ones, we'd love to hear from you. You can reach out directly at mm@true2brand.com.
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The blog where vision-driven entrepreneurs and organizations find easy and joyful marketing ideas that energetically attract their ideal clients.
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CATEGORIES
SALES AND MARKETING
MARKETING STRATEGY
PREDICTABLE SALES
By the True2Brand™ Accelerator Team
The blog where vision-driven entrepreneurs and organizations find easy and joyful marketing ideas that energetically attract their ideal clientelle.
Executive Director
Founder and CEO
Specialist at True2Brand in vision and strategy facilitation, business model design and leadership development. All about joyful productivity training, and making positive change fun. Not a fan of false dichotomies, Jill loves both dogs and cats, mountains and beaches. She also adores hiking with her two mini-aussie poos.
Joel Baum
AI Director
and Strategic Advisor
Specialist at True2Brand in strategic communications and developing AI Tools and GPTs. Professor of Strategic Management at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. Co-Author of "Epinets: The Epistemic Structure and Dynamics of Social Networks." Joel has a fondness for trees.
Margarita Angelatos
Marketing Director
and Energy Healer
Specialist at True2Brand in energy healing, product design, production, and merchandising. Creator of "One Year of Divine Healing". Former Head Designer and Production Manager for Hard Goods and Accessories at Lululemon. Margarita is a caring animal healer and rescuer and has a passion for travel.
Trina Brooks
Client Success Director
and Implementation Coach
Specialist at True2Brand in Storytelling, Interviewing, Self-Publishing, SEO, and Web Building. Accomplished Playwright and Novelist, Author of the Historical Mystery, "The Barron Hills of Creighton," a novel that will keep you guessing until the last page.
The blog where vision-driven entrepreneurs and organizations find easy and joyful marketing ideas that energetically attract their ideal clients.
Get True2Brand marketing insights delivered to your inbox every other Wednesday.
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