We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Joanna Zbroniec a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Joanna, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.

My coaching practice, currently operating under Mind Mastery but soon expanding, developed gradually. My journey began back when I was a bachelor’s Psychology student, intrigued by the personality psychology and Carl Jung’s theories. I launched a YouTube channel to share my ideas about MBTI typing and philosophy.

While aspiring to become a therapist, I accidentally discovered coaching. I instantly knew this was it. Coaching aligned perfectly with my dynamic personality and my desire to witness and contribute to others’ growth in a more direct and impactful way.

I never wanted to be just another unqualified “coach” on the internet. That’s why I went above and beyond to obtain the necessary credentials—an MSc in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology, and ICF-accredited training in Gestalt Coaching.

The main challenge was finding my niche and creating my brand. This ongoing process involves aligning my expertise with the needs of my clients, ensuring that my services remain relevant and effective.

If I could go back in time, I would invest in business and marketing courses much earlier. Automating my business with a booking platform, newsletter subscription, and synchronized calendar and meetings have been a game-changer – I wish I knew about these tools sooner. These tools have freed up my time, allowing me to focus more on what I love: coaching and fostering relationships.

For those who are not inclined to work on the business side of a coaching practise, hiring an assistant could be a more effective option. Personally, I love all aspects of my work—the coaching, the relationship-building, the marketing, and all the nitty-gritty of running an online business.

My advice for young professionals considering starting their own practice is to embrace both the art and science of coaching. Invest in your education, understand your market, and leverage technology to streamline operations. Most importantly, stay connected to your coaching philosophy. Keep refining your mission as you evolve, because your coaching skills and practice will evolve with you. Remember, your coaching practice is ultimately a reflection of who you are as a coach.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m an integrative coach providing 1-on-1 coaching sessions online, strongly grounded in coaching psychology. While the term “coach” might be a simple descriptor, what sets coaching psychology apart is its foundation in evidence-based practice and psychological models. In simple terms, as a coaching psychology practitioner, I focus on the underlying mechanisms and processes, drawing extensively from established psychological theories. However, at the core, it’s still about coaching—just with a slightly different, more scientifically grounded approach.

I started my journey as a life coach. Over time, obtaining a master’s degree in applied coaching psychology allowed me to elevate my practice to coaching psychology. I might be a bit more nerdy and academic than the average coach, but this approach enables me to offer in-depth coaching programs. These programs are designed to bring clients fresh insights and explorations of the deeper layers of their being.

Once these insights are uncovered, I support my clients in applying them to their daily lives. This dual focus—on both the internal and external aspects of change—is what makes my approach effective. I don’t just help clients achieve their goals; I aim to support the growth of the whole person, fostering long-lasting changes. My work encompasses the whole being—feelings, emotions, beliefs, behaviors, patterns, and relationships. You name it, we address it.

My clients are typically individuals seeking more than just traditional coaching or who find therapy lacking a goal-oriented approach. Therapy often misses the action-focused element that coaching provides, while coaching can sometimes overlook the deep, introspective work therapy emphasizes. I bridge this gap, offering a blend of both—but as a disclaimer, my services are not a substitute for therapy or clinical services.

The common challenges my clients face often relate to a disconnect from themselves—they struggle to know what they feel, what they want or need, or lack confidence in pursuing their goals. Many of my clients are high achievers in their professional lives, yet they feel something is missing in their personal lives. This disconnect between mind and body can lead to feelings of emptiness, flat affect, and a sense of meaninglessness. My goal is to help them reconnect with themselves and bring their whole being into harmony.

I often joke that my job is to drag my clients into the present moment. With a strong background in the Gestalt approach, my methods are centered on awareness and present-moment orientation. This creates a signature experience in my sessions, fostering a deep sense of presence and mindfulness.

My coaching approach isn’t for those seeking super-fast results. I place a higher value on the quality rather than the quantity of change and growth, as fast results are rarely long-lasting. I’m most proud of the profound, lasting transformations my clients achieve.

Ultimately, I want potential clients to know that my practice is about more than just reaching goals; it’s about nurturing a profound connection with oneself and fostering holistic growth. I’m currently working on expanding my brand, Mind Mastery, a project dedicated to helping people with schizoid personality and schizoid traits. I’d like to start a new project so that I can reach more people who can benefit from my approach.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Since the beginning of my practice, I’ve focused most of my energy on providing valuable content. Many of my clients found me through my YouTube channel, where I share insights and ideas.

I don’t think I would be where I am today without my willingness to put myself out there—authentically and often awkwardly. Most of my clients chose me as their coach because they resonated with my ideas and appreciated my authenticity. By watching my videos regularly, they get a sense of who I am and what they can expect during our coaching sessions.

In addition to my YouTube channel, I offer a free newsletter filled with tools and strategies, and I have a wealth of articles on my website that are relevant to my audience.

Going forward, I plan to continue expressing myself through various means—whether through writing or videos. In my experience, authentic self-expression is one of the most effective ways to build relationships with potential clients.

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

Two books have had a massive impact on my business. The first is “Evergreen Assets” by John Lamerton, which helped me view my business as a machine where every gear needs to work smoothly to keep everything spinning. This perspective was instrumental in creating a cohesive and efficient business structure.

The second book, “$100 Million Offers” by Alex Hormozi, was incredibly powerful in helping me understand my audience and refine my niche. This book provided valuable insights into improving the quality of my content and services by truly understanding what my clients need and want.

Before reading these books, my business and coaching practice lacked structure. I was simply doing what I felt like doing and hoping for the best. These books, along with other similar resources, helped me gain control over my business operations. As a result, I’ve been able to significantly enhance the quality of value I provide to my clients and audience.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mind-mastery.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joannazbroniec/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-zbroniec/
• Twitter: https://x.com/JoannaZbroniec
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/mindmastery