What’s the best thing about doing business in Middle Tennessee?
I have been to 46 states in the U.S. and lived in seven, but I have never encountered so many friendly and genuinely helpful people in one place. As someone who naturally enjoys getting to know new people, it has never been so easy as since I relocated here. I have also enjoyed the upbeat, optimistic vibe. There is an entrepreneurial ambition in the air that goes hand-in-hand with a down-to-earth emphasis on the fact that people come first. It is not success for the sake of success. It’s more like having good relationships with people, and we will all succeed together.
What has been the most valuable aspect of your Chamber membership?
Being (or becoming) a member of the Chamber has introduced me to a number of amazing people who I have instantly looked up to and who are in the same situation of starting new careers in midlife. These relationships have been encouraging. I have found them to be willing to support, encourage, motivate and mentor me, and I hope I am being the same for them.
Who is Lyons Coaching and Consulting, and what should we know about you?
The biggest blessings of my life have been the people I have known and the mentoring I have received. My background has been in both education as both a teacher and a school leader, and in ministry and missionary life. I am also a close personal friend, understudy to, and former staff of Patrick Lencioni, who has written 12 books about leadership, organizational health, strategy, and teamwork. I have a strong desire to give and help others. I am very relationship-oriented, mission-driven, and have a lot of empathy. I love coaching individuals and helping teams ‚”figure out their stuff.” When it comes to business relationships, I strive to maintain a balance that is both very personal and very professional.
What is unique about your business that makes you stand out?
People tell me that I am very empathetic and very well trained, and so I think my uniqueness is a good combination of head and heart. I realize that there are many consultants and coaches who have tremendous gifts and knowledge. If I stand out, I think it is because I am naturally both very interested in others and their success, and I have had a wide variety of experiences and educational background to allow me to know how to help them.
What’s your biggest goal for your company this year?
This year, I want to be of value to everyone I coach and consult, regardless of how much they pay or if they pay me at all. I would rather consult and coach than sell. My goal is not so much financial as it is personal, and I am confident that financial success will follow.
What best business practices did you learn in 2020 during the pandemic, and what did you do to be creative?
During the pandemic, I learned to surround myself with people who are different from me. I learned that I have certain gifts that others do not have, but that others have gifts that I do not have. I became more open to the necessity of teamwork.
What’s your best piece of advice for other business owners?
I think it is important that a business be clearly defined. I try especially to help business owners have clarity about why they exist in the market, how they behave, and what is most important right now for them to do in order to succeed. I think that clarity of focus is so essential, and what are their specific and unique differentiators. I think that business owners can make a mistake in establishing goals for themselves that are not really the right goals, but instead only goals that they think they need to achieve or want.
How do you stay involved in the community?
Since my background is in educational administration, I am volunteering to coach and consult at a couple of local area schools on their organizational health goals while also substitute teaching children.
What differentiates my business from the competition?
The models, methods, and training I received from Patrick Lencioni have been proven over 30 years to be extraordinarily simple and effective for teams in companies of all sizes. I know of no better source of inspiration in the world of business coaching and consulting than his tools and models. I know of other consultants and coaches and feel very lucky to have my time and experience with The Table Group because they are so effective and plug-and-play in a company that wants a strong and healthy internal culture.
