In this episode of the Thoughtful Entrepreneur, your host Josh Elledge speaks with the Owner of Geoff Welch Consulting, Geoff Welch. Geoff Welch specializes in assisting midlife small business owners, recognizing that while their businesses may appear successful on the surface, the owners often feel overwhelmed by their responsibilities, feeling more like employees than proprietors. Welch advocates for a philosophy where the business should function as an employee, serving the owner's needs and goals rather than dominating their life. He identifies a common cycle among entrepreneurs: starting with passion, they build their businesses from scratch, but as the businesses expand, so do their demands, transforming passion into a burdensome obligation. To counteract this, Welch emphasizes the importance of shifting focus from expansion to systematization. Geoff also addresses the challenges faced by high achievers, who often set lofty standards for themselves, potentially leading to self-criticism. He underscores the value of mentorship and peer support to provide perspective and guidance, helping mitigate the pressures of high expectations. Geoff offers individual phone coaching to support business owners and help them clarify their business goals, develop systems, document processes, and improve delegation skills. Additionally, he is developing a mastermind group to foster a communal learning environment for mutual growth.

Key Points from the Episode:

• Geoff Welch's expertise in working with overwhelmed small business owners
• The importance of treating a business like an employee and ensuring it serves the owner's needs and goals
• The typical cycle of how a founder or visionary starts a business and the challenges they face
• The challenge of high performers and visionaries having high expectations for themselves
• Geoff's coaching services, including one-on-one phone coaching and a mastermind group
• Geoff's podcast "Your Business Is Not Your Boss" and its focus on communication challenges between business owners and their teams
• The difficulties of effectively communicating vision and expectations to a team
• Geoff's anti-overwhelm playbook and its role in changing one's relationship with their business

About Geoff Welch:

Geoff Welch is a pivotal figure in the entrepreneurial landscape, known for his dedication to helping profitable small business owners navigate overwhelming challenges. With nearly two decades of experience at the forefront of his business, his expertise is encapsulated in the 5D Framework, a cornerstone of his one-on-one coaching. This innovative approach is designed to help business owners across the United States reclaim control over their enterprises, transforming them into operations that serve rather than consume their lives. Welch's contributions to the small business community have garnered recognition and accolades from local and national organizations, highlighting his impact. His insights have not only been shared on the TEDx stage but have also caught the attention of bestselling author Simon Sinek. Beyond his professional endeavors, Geoff is a passionate Yankee fan, a drummer, and a proud Alaskan, where he enjoys life with his wife, teenage daughter, and a three-legged Boston Terrier, adding a personal touch to his accomplished career.

About Geoff Welch Consulting:

Geoff Welch Consulting emerged from Geoff's journey through the trials and tribulations of owning a small business. Having taken the reins of Date Line Digital Printing in 2005, Geoff initially saw it as merely securing his job, only to be met with the complex realities of entrepreneurship. This experience, spanning over two decades, became a rich source of learning about leadership, resilience, and innovation, particularly in navigating the overwhelming demands of small business management.  His informal interactions with fellow business owners highlighted a common struggle: transitioning from being consumed by one's business to mastering it. Geoff transformed these insights into a consulting service by recognizing a shared need for guidance in systematizing operations, documentation, and delegation.  A decade into this endeavor, Geoff Welch Consulting now focuses on empowering business owners to regain control, reduce overwhelm, and make their businesses serve their purposes. Geoff's approach offers solutions and a transformative perspective on owners' relationships with their businesses, promising hope and a new direction.

Tweetable Moments:

06:03 - "Your relationship with the pain and suffering of that work totally changes when you know what it's doing for you, when you know what that outcome for you is."

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

Want to learn more? Check out Geoff Welch Consulting website at https://geoffwelch.com/ Check out Geoff Welch Consulting on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/geoffwelch Check out Geoff Welch on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffwelch/ Check out Geoff Welch on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/geoffwelchisaperson/ Check out Geoff Welch on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/geoffwelch/?hl=en Check out Geoff Welch’s free PDF, “The Anti-Overwhelm Playbook for Profitable Small Business Owners” at http://geoffwelch.com/playbook

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