Who/What is Shine Executive Coaching?
Hi, I’m Shannon Wilburn. If you’re reading this, you are either my friend or family member, a new client, curious about me, or looking for a coach. Thank you for stopping by my blog!
Just so you know – I’m transparent to a fault. Because my husband is a pastor – we live in somewhat of a glass house. My husband tells me to “use my filter”. I typically respond, “I AM using my filter!”
So, you are warned.
I’m also irrationally optimistic. I see the positive before the negative. I see the light before the dark. I see the gain before the gap. I see the glass half full – without fail, first.
Know that about me. You are warned again.
The concept of blogging is not new to me – I’m a seasoned business professional and know all the benefits of blogging. I just honestly don’t love to write. It takes me longer than most to get my thoughts together cohesively on paper. I would rather clean the toilet than write.
On the other hand, get me in a room one on one or one on many and give me the floor, and I can talk for hours – but there is just something about having a blank screen staring at me that gives me a feeling of “This is too hard”.
But I can do hard things (and so can you!)
Well, here we are, and you are reading this, so somehow, somewhere, this got published for all the world to see. Thank you for reading this far! I can now call you my friend! Thank you for coming along for the ride. If you were standing in front of me…I would hug you!
Something else you may need to know about me is that I love the use of exclamation points! The more, the better!!!!!! Expect them!
Now, let me tell you why we are here.
I started a new gig. It’s called Shine Executive Coaching.
As I stated earlier, I’m a seasoned business owner – some call me an “accidental entrepreneur”.
I’ve had the opportunity to successfully grow and scale businesses over the last 25+ years with the help of A LOT OF PEOPLE!
Trust me when I say that I needed a lot of help. I look back on the tactics, the lessons learned, the mistakes made, the opportunities found, the people I hurt, the people that succeeded under my leadership, the challenges and ALL. THE. THINGS. that I wish I would have known starting and growing my businesses.
It’s a lot.
Recently (December 29, 2022) – I successfully exited ($$) my biggest company, Just Between Friends Franchise… after growing and scaling for years. (150+ locations in 32 states and 42M in system wide sales) When my previous business partner, Daven Tackett, and I started Just Between Friends in 1997 (yes, I know you probably weren’t even born) – we were so green, and we stayed green for a really long time. The learning curve was HUGE…but we didn’t know it. We were two stay-at-home moms who wanted to help our families and wanted to fill a need in our community. Who knew that the Lord was going to take us on this learning journey and walk with us through challenge after challenge after challenge!? Oh wow, I wish I would have had a professional coach back then. I think about all of the mistakes that I could have/would have avoided!
The thing is…I’ve been in the trenches, am a seasoned problem solver, and gain great joy out of helping others find success.
As my exit from JBF was drawing closer, I realized that I wanted to find my next “gig”. I’m 52 and knew that I didn’t want to sit at home and twiddle my thumbs. Seriously, the achiever/builder in me would have gone cray-cray! Even though I’m contracted with the JBF Brand as Co-founder and Brand Ambassador for three years – that still left me with a LOT of time to fill.
I was doing a LOT of praying, asking the Lord for wisdom and discernment in this time of transition.
Was I going to go into corporate work? Was I going to go lead another brand? Was I going to go visit my grandkids? Was I going to buy another business? Was I going to double down on my Coal Creek Farm Jenks business that I started in 2018? So many amazing choices on where I would get to spend my time. What a blessing to have this choice.
I know that these questions are normal questions in the transition time. I received LOTS of advice from so many people that I love and adore who had been there, done that. I read the book Half-Time by Bob Buford. I did more praying.
Let me step back a bit and tell you that the two years prior to my exit – I was at a great point in my role as Co-founder and CEO. I had been able to delegate and elevate others into positions of leadership – and I was able to have some increasing margin in my day-to-day.
What that did for me was to allow me to say YES to things that I had needed to say NO to for a long time. One of those things was saying YES when I was approached by other business owners who wanted or needed to “pick my brain”. Sidenote here…if you ever want someone’s expertise, a better strategy to ask them is if you can “tap into their brilliance” instead of “pick their brain”. I have no idea where that saying came from, but it feels way more appealing and speaks to ego when you ask to tap into their brilliance!! #justsayin
As these conversations would start – it felt really good to finally be able to be in a position to give back to emerging franchise brands and budding entrepreneurs and small business owners, and colleagues who had challenges that needed solutions. I quickly found myself coaching five different businesses (and six people) on a consistent basis for free. And it was FUN! I love giving advice (just ask my kids).
As I prayed for the Lord to give me wisdom in my next steps – and I asked others to pray for me that I would find a way to serve others in a very purposeful way – Coaching was a consistent call on my heart – so much so that I didn’t think I could ignore it. The Lord was making it more and more obvious through multiple confirmations that I needed to at least dip my toe in the water of what coaching could look like for me – and specifically, WHO I could help.
But I was scared, nervous, anxious. Can I admit that openly?! Why do we listen to the negative self-talk? Maybe that’s my next blog!
I had five businesses that I was giving FREE coaching to consistently – and many that would just call when help was needed. Would they WANT to pay me or would they drop me like a hot potato when I asked for a fee?
Turns out that I had to hold myself accountable to find out the answer to that question – and friends…I’m here to tell you that 4 out of 5 wanted to continue working with me and one needed to wait and put it in next year’s budget (which I completely appreciate). Those YES’ gave me the confidence to move forward and were the final confirmation in the decision.
I did all the things, hired someone to do my website, got my LinkedIn set up, got my logo created, and thought through pricing and development and whether to use curriculum or not. I thought through strategy on my own professional development as a coach and accountability for myself as this new endeavor began. I interviewed business colleagues who coach or are coached to get feedback from them on what they like or don’t like about coaching. I thought about marketing and accounting and all those details. And the thing is…I knew it was just the beginning.
Starting and building a business is hard
Starting and building a business is lonely
Starting and building a business is expensive
Starting and building a business is risky
Starting and building a business FILL IN THE BLANK
BUT,
Starting and building a business is FUN
Starting and building a business is thrilling
Starting and building a business is life-changing
Starting and building a business allows you to create jobs for others
Starting and building a business allows you to have work-life balance
Starting and building a business gives you independence and autonomy
Starting and building a business gives you financial opportunities
Starting and building a business allows you to GIVE in a meaningful way to others
Starting and building a business allows you to grow professionally and learn new skills
Starting and building a business allows you to love and get to know your community!
Starting and building a business FILL IN THE BLANK
It’s exciting – and I’m here for it.
I’m thankful for those that trust me enough to let me help them.
I’m thankful that the Lord has guided me to this place. I don’t know how long I will get to give back in this way – but I am enjoying the ride.
I did what I call a “soft launch” in early May 2023 and have just finished up my second month of formal coaching. I’m equally grateful to my legacy clients (the five that I started with) and my new clients that have put their trust and finances forward to work with an “accidental entrepreneur” who sometimes uses her filter and is always in your corner and wants to help you SHINE.
1643 words later
I did it!
My first blog DONE…and it wasn’t that painful. I feel grown up!
Shine Lesson Learned: Do the hard things!
Blessings upon blessings, Shannon
