Interview with Megan Yelaney, Life and Business Coach

Could you tell us about your role and journey as an entrepreneur? What inspired you to start as a Wellness coach?

My journey as an entrepreneur began back in 2011 when I signed up to be a distributor for the Network Marketing company that helped me focus on my health. I was so inspired to become a wellness coach because prioritizing my health changed the game for me in every area of my life and I was already coaching (but for free!). I knew I had to pay it forward and being able to have an income on top of that was just icing on the cake!

As a woman in male-dominated tech industry, what’s the biggest challenge you face from within the organization and outside? What message do you have for other female professionals in the community?

The biggest challenge I’d say I face within my organization when it comes to a tech-dominated industry within the organization was fully understanding everything, and realizing I could actually get HELP, which leads me to the outside. My systems are in place now, at this point in my business, and my landing pages look amazing, and all the tech flows, and that all came because I recognized the tech isn’t my zone of genius and got help in those areas. It was the best decision and I’ll never stop investing in making these systems work better!

What drives the current competition in the ‘Genderless Economy’? What lessons did you learn from coaching young women professionals?

I’d like to think (and I can say this stand for my clients and me), that the current drive is to continually improve ourselves and the people we serve. We want to help people believe they can truly do ANYTHING they set their minds to, no matter what gender they were born with. We are all meant for more, and this industry has allowed us to reach people and help them realize and actually LIVE that. Coaching young women professionals has been the biggest joy of my last few years. Seeing them step into their power, up-level in their beliefs in themselves, and truly go after goals and dreams they never thought possible is the most rewarding feeling as a coach. It’s truly what keeps me going everyday.

What is the link between self-care and productivity? Why do women professionals often find themselves failing with understanding this key link?

As women, we want to put everyone else first, naturally. We are caregivers and nurturers, and it’s just part of our DNA. But the thing is, if we don’t put our self-care first, everyone else in our lives is getting just a fraction of us. The link between self-care and productivity is SO STRONG. If I don’t take care of myself, specifically do my morning routine and workout, I feel OFF and can barely focus during the day. I’m a better coach, wife, daughter, sister, and friend when I prioritize ME first.

How placing self-care first helped you to have the most successful income months?

My biggest month to date (BY FAR) was in August and I worked the LEAST amount of hours. I really FOCUSED when I was working and was so productive that I didn’t HAVE to work overtime, and that all came down to self-care. Again, I prioritize my morning routine, my exercise, water, and mostly healthy eating (gotta have some fun in there!) even when traveling out of the country for 10 days! Prioritizing my mindset, and taking time for me was the main thing that let me step fully into my work sessions as productive as possible, resulting in my biggest cash month yet.

Could you tell us something that fascinates you the most in building and working in an open workplace that bubbles with inclusion and diversity? How are such inclusive workplaces perceived by your customers and partners?

It’s incredible. It allows for such diverse conversations to happen and for us to really question the “norm” and what came before. It allows us to open our eyes and really talk about things that matter. My customers perceive them as just that: inclusive, which lets them truly feel like they can be more themselves when trying to attract clients-which at the end of the day, is what it’s all about–making people feel heard and seen no matter where they come from.

If there was one thing you would want to change in the way modern tech companies try to bridge ‘gender gap’ – what would be it?

Having more women public speak and as heads of companies, especially in companies that really promote gender equality. It’s so much better than it used to be, but I feel like we still have a long way to go.

How do you inspire your people to work with technology?

I help them focus on one thing at a time as to not get overwhelmed. I also encourage them to outsource anything that they believe isn’t in their wheelhouse so they can focus on their zone of genius while still crushing the technology side and providing a job for someone else!

One word that best describes how you work.

Intentionally.

What apps/software/tools can’t you live without?

Social media (Instagram and Facebook specifically), Plann app, WhenToPost, Google Photos, Asana, Evernote, PayPal

Which superhero character/ movie do you most profoundly relate to:

WONDER WOMAN! I absolutely love her (and the movie), and how strong she is.

What’s your smartest work-related shortcut or productivity hack?

Asana all the way as well as airplane mode. Asana has helped me become so much more productive and not sit down going, “wait…what was I supposed to do now?!” I have my task list set for the day the night before and can get right to it the next day.  Airplane mode always helps me stay focused when writing (like right now!), and not get distracted by my phone notifications.

What are you currently reading?

I am actually currently reading Harry Potter! I am a big personal development junkie and love it all, but felt the need to have a little fun and get into more of a creative/imaginative mood again. And there’s no one better than J.K. Rowling. Another book I read earlier this year that I LOVED was “Earth is Hiring” by Peta Jean, which I highly recommend.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

What is for me shall not pass me. To not stress over what I can’t control, because the clients that are supposed to work with me, will, and I can’t stress over things in life that are truly out of my control.

Something you do better than others – the secret of your success?

Planning and focus. I have a really good tendency to focus hardcore and get a lot of very productive work done in a short amount of time. I credit it to my years at college and always being a study nerd!

Tag the one person (or more) in the industry whose answers to these questions you would love to read

@sabrinamphilipp, @isabella.guava, @coach_court

Thank you, Megan! That was fun and hope to see you back on MarTech Series soon.