Mary Parrish is a Well-being coach, facilitator and author.
She tells us that, “Setting clear times when I am working for my business and clear family time. I work for myself so that I have the flexibility to be around for my children and make sure they are always supported. Most of the time I work whilst they are at school.”
When faced with unexpected hurdles in your business, how do you stay strong?
By surrounding myself with a positive support group of women mentors. This is important when you have your own business, so that you never feel alone. Having other people who are cheering you on and there when you need advice or help is invaluable.
How do you determine the success of your business beyond financial metrics, focusing on factors like customer satisfaction and community impact?
When someone writes me a positive review for one of my books or when I receive appreciation for having helped someone feel better or overcome anxiety, this to me is success and why I am a well-being coach. My goal is to align people with their inner well-being and when I receive feedback that I have done that – it makes me truly happy.
Can you recount a pivotal moment in your business journey where you saw remarkable growth or witnessed a transformative change, showcasing the impact of your products or services?
I’d been focusing my well-being business on helping women 30+ however I wasn’t receiving the volume of business and it didn’t seem to be resonating. I had a coaching session with someone who was recommended to me and he asked me a number of questions which I hadn’t been asked before. It got me thinking and questioning. I meditated for a week or two on this and then woke one night with a vision of me speaking to teenagers and young adults. I understood then that this was my niche and these are the people who I can help. Once I focused on teenagers and young people everything started to flow for my business. I wrote and published a journal for them all within 8 weeks and then set about researching what specific help they needed, which resulted in my online course – Thrive and Shine. I am excited for the future and helping this younger generation to believe in themselves and show them that they have everything they need inside them to succeed and achieve all their dreams.
In your view, how crucial is mentorship for the success of small businesses, and how have mentors influenced your own entrepreneurial path?
For me they are crucial. I moved to Switzerland 5 years ago and decided to set up my well-being business. It can be lonely and isolating especially in a new country where you are trying to establish a new life and ensure the family is settled. Working by myself is hard as I am a people person and love being around other people. So for me having mentors who I can turn to and who keep me accountable is key. I have two amazing mentors who are based in the UK who I speak to every 2-4 weeks and it is invaluable.
What is your business focused on, and how does it contribute to making a positive difference in the world?
I have a well-being business focused on aligning teenagers and young adults to their inner well-being. This includes helping them with their spiritual, mental and physical well-being.
What special ability do you wish you had to make your job easier?
Creating awareness of my courses and books ….. I’d love to be able to reach more people.
If you could invite three fictional characters to help you plan your next project, who would you choose, and why?
Mr Miyagi from The Karate Kid – he is a wise mentor who teaches life skills through hands-on activities. He could help me build a workshop on resilience, focus and personal growth.
Hermione Granger – Harry Potter – she is very resourceful and relates to teenagers and young people. She is a great leader and could help with workshops on mental health and personal growth.
Tony Stark / Iron Man (Marvel) – he could bring some technological solutions to my next project, something really whizzy and innovative which would engage this younger generation.
