Get to Know Heather

Hi! My name is Heather Agnew and I’m the biz person behind A Little Biz Help.

I’m a Canadian/Australian, originally from Beeton, Ontario, and I’ve been running my own business since 1995. I was exposed to entrepreneurship from a very young age, as my parents ran their own business. I knew from seeing their experiences - the challenges, the benefits, and the lifestyle - that I wanted to run my own business one day, so that’s just what I did!

I started out as a personal trainer and health coach, and that business quickly grew to a full-service wellness center offering health, fitness, and wellness care, as well as providing design and facilitation services for corporate and resort fitness programs. I had a policy in those years to ‘say yes to everything’, and as a result I had some amazing opportunities to stretch myself as a businessperson and educator (along with quite a few bumps along the way!)

In 2002 I made the move to Australia with my husband and spent a few years in the sun travelling, teaching yoga, and studying. In 2006 I settled down and began teaching yoga teacher training programs around Australia and Canada. I think back to how I started that business with just a website and a mobile phone (which didn’t even take pictures!), and eventually developed it into a thriving business.

Take a moment to just think of all the changes we’ve experienced since the early 00’s. We’ve had a near constant stream of new technology in the last 20 years, and as a business owner I’ve had to learn a lot about web design and management, self-publishing, digital marketing, coordinating a hectic travel schedule, maintaining business operations while teaching on the road, and continuing to adapt to new technologies, new opportunities, and new challenges.

Speaking of challenges...

In 2019 me, my husband, and our dog Bob returned to Canada to be closer to my family, with plans to keep returning to Australia to teach each year but…well a few things happened right after we arrived that ended those plans! Like so many I had to quickly adapt, and I shifted my yoga teacher training school online, transitioned to virtual coaching, and now I contract other (amazing!) trainers to teach courses.

So, what do I do now? I still commit time to educating and coaching yoga teachers, but I have too much time on my hands, and I like to be useful. So, these days I’m keen to take all the skills and knowledge I’ve developed over a few decades of entrepreneurship and turn my attention to supporting others in their businesses.

I’ve coached yoga, fitness, wellness, and education professionals for a number of years in building and managing their businesses, and I am now broadening my services to support other micro and small business owners.

How do I translate my skills from yoga teachers to plumbers, accountants, bakeries, mechanics, and artists?

Good question! So many of the skills I’ve developed in running my own business translate easily to any other business. Whether its building and managing a website to organizing a schedule and communicating with clients, to writing newsletters and researching new projects, the skills remain the same across any business.

I know how tough it is to be doing ‘the work’ all day, and not having the time or energy to manage the business at end of day. After a long day of teaching, plumbing, accounting, or baking, turning your attention to emails, returning calls, updating a website, or writing a new blog post can be a struggle. My goal is to lighten the workload by taking on some of these responsibilities, allowing you to concentrate on your core strengths and expertise.

I also know that running a business can sometimes be lonely. I’ve been a solopreneur for a long time and know that you sometimes need a sounding board, a helping hand, or some strategic support. My role is to provide you with a collaborative space to explore ideas, develop practical strategies, and support your work in building, managing, and growing your business.

Whew, that’s a lot about me! As you can see, I like to write. I’ve written a lot about me and my business, and I’ve love to write about you and your business.

So, if you are looking for help for your small business, I’d love to get to know you and hear about your business story; your challenges and successes, needs, and goals, and see how I can help.

I hope we can work together to make your business the best it can be!

Heather,

A Little Biz Help