We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jen Roberts. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jen below.

Jen, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

Starting any business is a risk.

It was risky starting to sell my watercolor art–maybe no one would like them, I’d waste my time and money, and look like a complete idiot. But the desire to know if anyone liked my art was bigger than my fear of looking stupid, so I took the chance anyway.

I’ve now been selling my art for over 2 years and I make enough money to cover my supply & show expenses for the year. It’s never going to be enough to retire on, but that’s not the point anyway.

My decision to hire a business coach was a risk–an expensive one!

But in the fall of 2021, as I was half heartedly looking through job postings, I realized I didn’t want to get to my deathbed and wonder if I could have started my own full time business. Again, the desire to know if I had the skills, drive, and persistence to build a business won over my fear of failure.

It cost me $10,000 to hire my coach for a year, but I made more progress on my new business in 10 months with her than I had in 10 years of self-led courses, research, & wishing.

My coach helped me discover a passion I didn’t know could become a business by asking me 1 simple question: If there was only 1 thing you could tell every one in the world, what would it be?

My response? “Your time is valuable, so stop wasting it. You only get this one life to live.”

And thus my journey as a time creation coach began. Now I teach people how to make time in their life for the things that actually matter to them. For most of us, it’s time with loved ones, or hobbies, or for ourselves. Time to take a vacation without work interrupting. Being able to completely unplug in the evening. Having eye contact during conversations instead of keeping half of your attention on your phone.

Some times I kick myself for not starting sooner. How much farther along could I be if I had started 5 years ago, or 10? But one of my favorite sayings about time is: “The best time to plant an apple tree is 10 years ago. The second best time is NOW.”

Taking a risk isn’t always risky. Remember that nothing is permanent. You can always change your mind. It’s better to know you truly gave it your all that to wonder “what if…?” in your final moments.

You are stronger than you know. You are enough right now. You got this.

Jen, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a Time Creation Coach. Time is the most valuable thing we have, so be intentional with it. It doesn’t matter what you do, so long as you choose it, and didn’t let the endless feed of social media or the video autoplay feature take your time from you.

I work with folks one on one to get clear about what they really want from life, then teach individualized strategies to create the time to achieve it. We focus on 3 pillars: understanding yourself, valuing yourself & your time, and protecting your time.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to unlearn the idea that a safe, steady job was the most important thing in life.

I had been with the same software company for 7 years and was very unhappy. Any time I spoke to my family about it though, I was met with disbelief that I would leave the cushy, high paying, easy job I had. Never mind it was killing my soul and making me miserable.

I hired a coach, and told her the one thing I wanted to get out of coaching was the ability to trust myself. I didn’t want my decisions to be made only out of fear. So we started with daily meditation, visualization, and affirmations to change the negative self talk & doubt.

Between working with my coach & my therapist, I made a ton of progress and started taking risks I never would have imagined doing a few years ago. I took my first solo trip. I started a coaching business & left my software job after 8 years. I started networking and am now the person who can connect others.

Now I can say with certainty that fear no longer rules my decisions.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I read about entrepreneurship for nearly 10 years before I started my coaching business. I knew all the theory. I had all the grand plans. Of course being in my own business has been very different and has given me more compassion for people who struggle with all the pieces and responsibility of owning a business.

Some folks that I have followed for a long time include Ash Ambirge of The Middle Finger Project & Rachel Rodgers of Hello 7 Co. Ladies Get Paid has great resources for closing the income gap, dealing with imposter syndrome, and just generally the struggles women face in the workplace.

Recently I have been following Stacy Boehman who coaches on coaching. She’s helped me with my selling & scarcity mindsets.

For painting, I was very lucky to start my journey with the local library. The online instructor I use the most is Angela Fehr, whose message is “become your own favorite artist” and “enjoy the process.” She keeps me painting my bringing me back to what really matters–joy & fun–when I get too caught up (and discouraged) by results.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://timehonoredcoach.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/late_blooming_art/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latebloomingwatercolors
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-roberts-09213521/
• Other: art website: https://lateblooming.art/