You are where you're meant to be, right here, right now - why Maja doesn’t just tell coaches how to set up their business
Maja is a qualified midwife and fertility coach, and lately she’s been using her experience and knowledge to support new coaches to set up their own businesses.
Maja talks to us about how She Owns It supported her own business journey and how she reminds new coaches to follow their own heart and intuition in the world of business.
What’s your biz?
I primarily do fertility coaching for women and couples wanting to conceive alongside health education, but I also love mentoring new coaches to set up their own business.
Who do you work with?
My ideal client is someone who has recently graduated from their coach training and wants to build their own business.
While the training may have equipped them with coaching skills, their confidence and business skills may be lacking.
My ideal client wants to build their business with confidence and ease. They want to implement systems that will grow with them as they grow their business.
The difference mentoring with me is that I am less focussed on 'researching your target market', 'chasing the latest social media trend', or 'hitting 10k months from the get-go' but using simple systems that are affordable and building the confidence (one lipstick application at a time) to be putting yourself out there as a coach.
What sparked the idea behind your business?
Seeing other 'business coaching programs' I continuously saw that it was about 'who is your ideal client, where do you find them, etc' but the very practical basics of 'how do you actually set up your business (i.e. note taking, bank accounts, professional registrations, getting paid to coach) was lacking.
I decided to change that to help coaches build and run their business with confidence.
What does a typical day look like for you as a business owner?
My day starts at 7am, usually with a coffee and cold shower. I was a real sceptic when it came to cold water immersion and cold showers but have since been converted and find that cold showers in the morning help me get through the day with more ease. If they aren't up already, I wake the kids and we all get ready for the school day (breakfast, lunchboxes, consulting the calendar to see what's on that day).
After the school drop off I take a moment to breathe and set an intention for my day, then by 9.30am I go into my office at home.
My workday is filled with up to three client calls (usually a mix of fertility coaching and coach mentoring), admin work, and currently further postgraduate study. Our dog Gunther keeps me company and we frequently enjoy a walk together.
The afternoon is spent with my kids and filled with after school activities. One evening a week I teach antenatal class for a local organisation and another evening I attend Aerial Hoop Classes. The remainder of the evenings are focussed on rest, spending time with my husband, and finishing off anything I need from that day.
One thing you will never find in my day is a visit to the gym. Physical movement is an important part of my everyday life, but I have found that the gym simply isn't the right environment for me. Instead, I enjoy activities such as Barre Fitness, walking our dog, Pilates, and Aerial Hoop, as well as moving with my children.
What are some of the key milestones in your business journey so far?
My very first (unexpected) milestone was being the winner of the PREKURE Community Spirit Award in 2021.
This was swiftly followed by being announced a finalist for the HCANZA (Health Coaches Australia New Zealand Association) Emerging Health Coach of the Year Award in 2022.
Being recognised early on in my business journey for my achievements gave me a real boost in confidence and motivation to continue my growth.
In 2024 I was announced as a finalist of the HCANZA Health Coach Advocacy Award which further affirmed that my work matters and reminded me to keep going even when the going gets tough.
What have been some of the biggest challenges you've faced so far?
Toward the end of 2021 my health started to decline rapidly, just as my business was starting to gain momentum. It felt like a real balance act to continue growing by business while also ensuring that my health wouldn't decline any further.
After months of struggling, I received back surgery in mid-2022. The surgery in itself meant 2 months off work and a further 12-24months before full recovery.
While maintaining a business during this time (on very limited capacity) was hard, the mental load involved felt a lot harder. Working in the health space I felt like I had failed myself and imposter syndrome was huge. How could I support others to prioritise their health while I couldn't even get my own health under control?!
Fast forward a few years, I am seeing my biggest challenge as my biggest learning experience. I have learnt that as business owners we cannot afford to 'push through' and that prioritising yourself is of utmost importance.
I have also learned how valuable it is to have systems in place that automate a lot of tasks to save time and be able to take time off when needed.
Lastly, I have learned how crucial it is to have support. It was my business besties, contractors I was working with at the time, and close friends that carried me through this time and ensured that I was coming out the other end.
This is why I love SOI! I know that if the going ever gets tough again (and I have no doubt that there will be times), the support is there!
What are your future goals in your business?
My immediate goal is to continue growing brand awareness locally and expanding my services within my local community.
In terms of mentoring, I am planning on continuing to support new coaches 1:1. While I don't have any immediate plans to change things, I would love to develop a video series or course that new coaches can utilise to help them with the practical set up of their business and implementing systems that grow with them.
What’s worked best for you to build brand awareness and get customers?
Word of mouth has been huge for me as well as social media presence in the early days.
The biggest thing for me is to continuously have conversations whether online or offline, helping people to understand what it is I am doing and how I can support those in need of my services.
This isn't about delivering my sales pitch or enticing people to book a call with me but having genuine conversation with real people.
What is one of the important lessons you've learnt as a business owner? What advice would you share to someone starting out?
At the beginning of running my business I wanted to be everything for everyone and said yes a lot. I worked hours no-one else would, reduced my pricing to the bare minimum, and prioritised others need before my own.
I have learnt that to run my business sustainably means to do things that work for me, not do them the way it works for others.
I am very strict on working school hours now, weekends being for family, and working no more than 1-2 evenings per week.
I often get asked by new coaches "Maja, what would you do?". My answer almost always is: "It doesn't matter what I would do, what feels right for you?"
The advice I would give someone starting out is that 'yes, there will be times you have to work longer hours and adjust things to sign up clients BUT always remember that this is your business to do with as you please'.
How does being a part of She Owns It help you in your business journey?
Business certainly has its ups and downs. Being part of SOI helps me feel less alone and feel supported at all times.
I love the co-working sessions as they hold me accountable to get sh!t done and I am also able to bounce off ideas or ask others for advice.
The masterclasses and training suite are a bonus, and I always feel like I am learning something new to continue evolving my business. I wouldn't want to do business without SOI by my side.
⚡️ FAST 5:
1. One thing you’d tell your younger self starting out?
Feel the fear and do it anyway!
2. Your favourite biz or personal development books or podcasts?
I love Amanda Frances and Brene Brown
3. How many tabs do you have open right now?
6
4. What's your go-to power song?
I'm still standing
5. A quote you love?
You are where you're meant to be, right here, right now.
How can people connect with you and your business?
The best way to get in touch with me is via my website www.maiafertility.co.nz or via social media @maiafertilitynz (on FB and IG).
Anyone interested in exploring fertility coaching or mentoring is invited to book a complimentary Connection Call. Mention SOI for an additional session when signing up with me for coaching or mentoring.
Maja leads one of our Masterclasses on how to have those genuine conversations that support your biz - available in our Membership resource library!
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