From London to Singapore, Jean Balfour brings her wealth of knowledge and decades of experience as a business coach to individuals and organisations.
We love entrepreneurs and small business owners at Honeycombers, which is why we’ve created Launchpad, a comprehensive digital networking platform (with IRL benefits, too) that encourages connection, business support and community. It’s a privilege and pleasure to learn from so many talented and inspiring folks, so we’ve decided to share the love by interviewing some of the lovely Launchpad members. Looking for inspiration? Check out how Jean Balfour, the founder of Bailey Balfour, gets it done like a boss.
What is your backstory and why did you decide to launch your business?
I started my coaching and consulting business in the UK in 2001 and moved to Singapore in 2015 to set up the APAC business. I’ve completed a lot of coach training on my journey to being a master certified coach, as I’m passionate about leadership and personal growth. I initially trained as a teacher, then a trainer, moving to senior leadership before starting my business.
I saw a gap in the market for high-quality, virtual, accredited coach training. When a friend introduced me to Zoom in 2016, we were off. Zoom changed the landscape for experiential training learning. We were very early adopters moving into the realm of Zoom-based coach training. It’s been five years since our accreditation with the International Coaching Federation. Our short and long-term programmes run in Zoom and are supported by digital learning management tools.
What has been your biggest challenge so far and how did you overcome it?
Moving to Singapore to set the business up was hard. I was working in London for a long time and had an established network and client base. Starting from scratch in Singapore meant going back to networking in unfamiliar settings and learning how business happens here – which is different from Europe. Some days I had to bribe myself to take action and keep my energy going! It took about 18 months before I saw strong forward momentum.
I’m a relationship-oriented person so I went back to core principles and got to know people in the market in Singapore and Hong Kong. This reinforced my view that all business is relational. While marketing matters, we also need to make sure we connect with buyers personally.
How do you stay motivated and energised?
We receive amazing feedback from our alumni. They’re now coaching people either in their role as a leader, or they’ve built a coaching business. Receiving messages from them about how training as a coach has changed them professionally and impacted them personally is a real motivator. They describe how they’ve become better listeners and are more empathic. This is the ultimate motivator for someone passionate about helping people grow. So on the days when admin and business pressures are getting me down, I go back to remembering why I do this work.
I also love to coach; the individual work I do energises me enormously. And I have the support of a coach and great colleagues in the team. I don’t work weekends and take regular breaks, too.
How do you deal with self-doubt or criticism?
This has been a real issue for me. I struggled with confidence for many years and have worked hard on becoming more resilient emotionally and in responding to criticism. It’s a big personal project but I’ve learnt a lot about how our minds work and the triggers for my own struggles. I’m in a good place now, as the strategies work well. I know what to do when imposter syndrome shows up or when I receive feedback I don’t like.
I recommend to everyone I meet the book The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris (second edition). It’s so practical. I use the methods he teaches to focus on managing the ups and downs of entrepreneurship! I now teach this in our programmes and share these approaches with coaching clients.
Favourite place to work?
I’ve just returned from a week working in a remote part of Bali which was incredibly productive and inspiring. I’m very lucky to have a home office with fabulous views of Singapore and I’m happy there. I also love to be surrounded by flowers and plants!
Favourite business tool or work mantra?
I’ve read Deep Work by Cal Newport many times. I’m focusing on how to “time box” and improve my focus. I make time every day without distractions to progress a current project. Like any muscle, the more I use it, the better I am at deep-focused work.
One thing you can keep talking about for hours?
I’m passionate about personal growth and the idea that we can continually evolve to become better versions of ourselves. If you can’t find me, I’ll be reading a personal development book or in Kinokuniya at the psychology or self-help section.
Your go-to self-care activity?
Swimming. One of the best things about living in Singapore is its easy access to swimming. If I’m struggling with an idea or stuck on something, swimming laps will help me sort it out. I also read extensively and my Kindle is never far from my side!
One piece of advice to your younger self?
Make working on your mindset and emotional well-being a priority. Running a business is challenging emotionally and psychologically. Learning some of the tools and tricks to manage yourself makes all the difference to resilience and the success of your business.
Get in touch with Jean Balfour online.
Launchpad is a comprehensive digital networking platform (with IRL benefits, too) that encourages connection, business support and community. It is designed to make the entrepreneurial journey not only easier, and more successful, but also a whole lot more fun. We offer almost daily activities for members to connect, along with weekly masterclasses, member networking roulette, small-business mentoring and media profiles on Honeycombers. Check it out and join us!
