Today we hear the inspiring story of Coach Wendy Wong, a Malaysian entrepreneur and leadership performance coach.
Coach Wendy, the Managing Partner of Petadiri Leadership, offers valuable insights for anyone considering starting a business, regardless of the industry.
Leaving the Corporate Nest
Coach Wendy, a corporate high flyer with extensive experience in finance and HR, decided to leave her stable career to pursue her passion for coaching after decades in the corporate world in the fields of finance and HR. She said she didn’t have a strategy except that she knew she would be a natural at it and that she enjoyed working with people.
Some people, Coach Wendy said, would prepare ahead of time before they started their business which meant learning or creating a business on the weekends while still actively working.
But this was not Coach Wendy’s style.
The week after she left her job, she embarked on her business with absolute gusto starting with signing up for a coaching training programme. She remembers creating a website as one of her first moves as she wanted to give prospects an idea of who she was and what she could offer.
Coach Wendy quickly learned that building a successful coaching business takes time despite her extensive corporate experience and initial confidence in achieving stability within six months. Her coach’s sage advice of a minimum three-year timeframe proved accurate.
Coach Wendy did highlight an important aspect of starting a business. She had looked at her resources and knew she could afford to take it easy even as she began training as a coach.
[Krista’s note: We call this the concept of a “runway.” This metaphor refers to the financial resources and support systems an entrepreneur has in place before launching their business. A longer runway allows for greater selectivity in choosing clients and provides a buffer during the inevitable ups and downs.]
While preparing her runway, Coach Wendy emphasizes the importance of taking calculated risks as evidenced by her strategic decision to hire not one but two financial advisors to assess her financial standing before quitting her corporate role.
Coach Wendy’s story is one of courage, resilience and self-belief. Her mantra, “Bet on yourself” resonates with anyone harbouring entrepreneurial dreams.
When it comes to inspiration, Coach Wendy draws strength from a diverse range of sources. Her current heroes include fashion icon Iris Apfel, the legendary poet Maya Angelou, and the rising star of fashion, Peggy Guo. She also finds inspiration in unexpected places, recently discovering a passion for the content of YouTuber Rajiv Surendra.
A Life Beyond Business
Coach Wendy’s love of learning extends beyond business strategy. She enjoys delving into research on happiness, appreciating artistic publications, and savouring books filled with witty quotes as she had earlier inclinations to be an interior designer.
Lately, she’s revisited classics like Alice in Wonderland and embarked on a literary adventure with Around the World in 80 Days. For a lighter touch, she enjoys the upbeat sounds of 80’s music. And to unwind, Wendy finds solace in the creative process of flower arranging.
Grateful To Be Living In This Time & Age
She says, “Every day I wake up and do my best. I am grateful to be in this time and age where I can have the opportunity to flourish in both the home front and at work.”
She expresses deep gratitude for the opportunity to thrive in both her personal and professional life as a coach who makes a deep-felt impact on her coachees who range from 14-year-olds to 70-year-olds!