How a high performance coach empowers biz leaders to personal and professional success
Josie Askin from Spring Coaching knows what the wall of pushing until exhaustion feels like - as an endurance athlete, she understands drive, purpose, results. Now she helps driven business owners and leaders to perform their best consistently without burning out.
Below, Josie shares how her business journey has evolved and how she helps others to juggle allllllll the hats professionally and personally.
What’s your biz?
Spring Coaching - leadership performance, speaking and facilitation, and experience in every area of human development: mental, physical, nutritional, emotional, and spiritual.
Who do you work with? What sets you apart?
I work with the driven high performer who on the outside, everyone thinks has it all together - but on the inside, feels as though they're barely keeping their head above water.
My clients have common challenges - over commitment to others and under delivering to themselves - self-doubt and imposter syndrome, time management and delegating. They’re struggling to move from trying to do it all, to saying no to stuff and delegating. That’s where I come in.
My coaching approach is centered around small steps (healthy habits) and focusing on progress rather than perfection.
I bring a compassionate approach that helps my clients to be kinder to themselves, which in terms improves their performance.
I am evidence-focused using tools and techniques backed by science, and can speak to many aspects of human performance including psychology, behaviour change, training and development and nutrition.
What sparked the idea behind your business?
My business idea came from being an injured endurance athlete.
I thought I was doing everything right - training hard, eating healthy but I was missing the vital component of balance and ended up on crutches for several months not able to walk.
During my recovery I witnessed colleagues doing the same thing - pushing themselves to "do all the right things" but burning out.
What does a typical day look like for you as a business owner?
My day is very varied due to multiple hats that I wear but it always starts the same way. I like to wake up early and get out the door for some fresh air and exercise to start my day - this could be a run or strength training at the gym. This is my thinking time when I think about the day ahead and reflect on the previous.
Once dog has also been exercised and fed, and I've been fed, then I start my work day. Regardless of whether I'm working for myself, or in my part time job, I like to define what success would like like for me that day and set three priorities for the day ahead. As much as possible I schedule these at the start of my day.
I learnt the hard way - both as an athlete and as a new business owner that I need time to rest and recharge.
At the end of the work day I reflect on my list of success, and then shut down my laptop and close my office door leaving my work phone inside. I do the same thing over the weekends.
I've come to realise the best way I can help my clients is by taking care of myself and practising what I preach about the importance of rest and recovery for sustainable high performance.
What are some of the key milestones in your business journey so far?
So many to choose from! I think going for it and setting up my business to begin with is a massive achievement. I never ever imagined I would be the type of person who could run a business.
Coming to the realisation that all of the iterations that my business has been through is a strength rather than a failure - authentically living the values I coach.
Being invited to be on an international podcast and being asked to comment by a journalist on how business owners can boost productivity - a sign that I am getting closer to my goal of being a thought leader.
But the thing that really makes me most proud is when I have a client say to me that they no longer need me because they feel as though they are a more compassionate and confident leader both for their team and their self. They feel at peace and no longer feel the need to prove their worth because they are enough as they are. Hearing this makes my heart sing.
What have been some of the biggest challenges you've faced so far - and how have you overcome them?
Challenge: Marketing and getting my name out there in a crowded market - solution: working with specialists when needed, talking and learning from others who are further ahead than I am, and staying consistent with what I'm doing.
Challenge: Overcoming self-doubt and fear of putting myself out there - solutions: keeping on at it - bit by bit - stretching myself a little bit further.
Other ways I work to overcome these challenges are keeping a record of all my successes as evidence of what I can do, and making an intentional effort in areas that need development like public speaking.
What are you most excited about in your business right now?
I want to be seen as a thought leader in sustainable high performance and behaviour change. This looks like being called on to do more talks, writing books and articles for publications, being called on to contribute or provide comment.
More education and training through group coaching and e-resources to make business more scalable.
Becoming more of a global business!
What’s worked best for you to build brand awareness and get customers?
Meeting with people face-to-face, delivering workshops and presentations.
What is one of the important lessons you've learnt as a business owner? What advice would you share to someone starting out?
It will take time but you will get there. Don't try to do everything all at once, do it bit by bit.
Be as purposeful about your work time as you are about your down time.
How does being a part of She Owns It help you in your business journey?
I find the She Owns It Community so supportive and empowering. I like being with other like minded people to share challenges and wins with and usually find I learn from the other business owners in the process.
⚡️ FAST 5:
1. One thing you’d tell your younger self starting out?
It will be harder than you ever realise but it will be worth it
2. Your favourite biz or personal development books or podcasts?
So many - Books: Atomic Habits, Peak Performance, Mindset, Feel the fear and do it anyway, Win The Inside Game, Do Tough Things.
3. How many tabs do you have open right now?
7
4. What's your go-to power song?
“Fight Song”, "Roar", “On Top of the World”
5. A quote you love and why?
"Stress + Rest = Growth" and "Success is not a one-time event. It's a continuous journey"
How can people connect with you and your business?
Website: Spring Coaching
Instagram: Spring Coaching
LinkedIn: Spring Coaching
Facebook: Spring Coaching
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