How to Design a Highly Lucrative Business Plan
Andreea Birou (Netherlands)
When I first started my coaching business, I thought my passion—and the fact that I had found my life’s mission based on what I was good at—would be enough to carry me through. I had this sense that when you’re on the right path, things should just fall into place, right?
Perhaps, like many of us, I believed that if I just worked hard enough, the clients would come, and the revenue would follow. I called myself an entrepreneur, but the truth is, I still had the mindset of an employee. I wasn’t thinking like a business owner. My passion wasn’t translating into profit, and without a clear business plan, my business dream was on the edge of becoming…. just a hobby.
Looking back, there’s one thing I wish I had understood from the start: I needed to treat my business as a business. Not a side project. Not just a calling. A structured, strategic venture. And that realization did not come overnight.
If you are a coach or entrepreneur trying to make it, you have probably felt this too. The excitement is there, but so is the overwhelm—and that can quickly lead to burnout. Is not it ironic? You start your own business for freedom, yet somehow, you find yourself heading toward self-induced burnout.
Building a successful business requires more than just talent or drive. I needed a plan. And that’s where my entrepreneurial journey began—transforming my dream, my desire to contribute to the people into something that could not only fulfil me but also sustain me financially.
Finding My Niche: The Turning Point
I remember those early days when I was trying to appeal to everyone. As a coach, I knew I could tackle a wide range of topics, but I had to choose one to begin with. Don’t get me wrong, from the very start I had been advised by marketing experts and seasoned entrepreneurs alike to narrow my focus. But I still thought that casting a wide net would bring in more clients. The truth is, being too broad made it hard for people to to truly understand what I was offering. Because let’s be honest—you can’t help everybody, and chances are, you don’t even want to.
Defining my niche was a turning point. I started asking myself: Who do I really want to serve? What specific problem can I help them solve? What am I really good at?
It was not an easy process, I will admit. And honestly, I was not sure if I would stick with the same niche forever. But the breakthrough came when I realised I did not have to. I just needed to start with something. The key was being able to clearly answer two questions: ‘Why me?’ and ‘Why now?’ Once I did that, everything became a little more manageable.
Getting Financially Clear
I understand—many of us did not become coaches because we love spreadsheets. But if there’s one thing that will make or break our business, it’s understanding our finances.
Source: iCN Issue 48 (Career Coaching); page 30
About Andreea Birou
Andreea Birou’s journey with Positive Financial Intelligence has been a transformative experience, seamlessly blending her role as a Financial Well-Being Coach with her certified expertise in financial auditing. She utilizes a solution-focused approach to guide professionals and entrepreneurs toward healthier financial futures, addressing both the practical and emotional aspects of wealth and money management.
Her deep knowledge of financial auditing serves as the foundation for her coaching practice, enabling her to provide personalized, insightful strategies tailored to her clients’ unique financial narratives. Through her work, Andreea has fostered an environment where financial empowerment aligns with emotional intelligence, paving the way for lasting prosperity and well-being.
