This interview is with Ronald Osborne, Founder at Ronald Osborne Business Coach.

Ronald Osborne, Founder, Ronald Osborne Business Coach

Ronald, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your journey to becoming a successful business coach?

I was injured while serving in the Australian Army. That injury, unfortunately, meant I would have to be discharged. I loved serving my country, and I was heartbroken. However, the army had given me a particular set of skills that made me a nightmare for telecommunications equipment… If you’re a fan of the movie ‘Taken,’ you might appreciate that line. I grew my own telecom company to 30 employees, and when it took off, several friends asked me, ‘Ronald, how did you grow your business?’ That’s the path that led me to business coaching.

What key experiences or insights have shaped your coaching philosophy and approach?

I learned very quickly that everyone and every business is different. I have helped several roofing companies grow successfully, and no two are the same. Early in my coaching years, I tried to apply a ‘one-solution-fits-all’ approach, and that led to a lot of failings on my end. Even if it is two identical companies, in the same niche, with the same revenue, with the same number of staff, the problems and opportunities will be completely different.

You mentioned helping an executive reinvent her self-image to achieve success. What are some common self-limiting beliefs you encounter among your clients, and how do you help them overcome these beliefs to reach their full potential?

I often find that most business owners are afraid to commit to the end objective. This can be due to fear of failure or negative self-belief. Once I identify what is holding the business owner back, I try to adjust their mental images and self-talk. Those negative voices in our heads can profoundly impact our business goals. I try to help my clients understand that if they want to overcome these negative beliefs, they must question them with logic when they arise.

Many aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders struggle with imposter syndrome.  How can individuals identify and address these feelings of self-doubt, and what role does a business coach play in this process?

I personally see nothing wrong with feeling this way. The important thing is that the entrepreneurs themselves catch these thoughts and don’t let them get out of hand. As an example, I give to all my business coaching clients that face imposter syndrome, I ask, ‘Would you feel nervous and like you didn’t belong at a skydiving center?’ 99.9% of clients say ‘Yes.’ I then follow up with, ‘Now imagine you’ve skydived 150 times before, that you are an award-winner, the best in the sky; in fact, you own the business. Do you feel more calm?’ Most people respond with ‘Yes.’ I believe that imposter syndrome comes from a place of fear. Once we accept that we are newbies, learning as it approaches us, I see that fear wash away.

You’ve emphasized the importance of aligning personal and professional goals. Can you elaborate on how you guide your clients in defining their vision and setting realistic yet ambitious targets?

I put them into a relaxed state, eyes closed, and deep breaths. I then ask them to look one year forward, five years forward, and 15 years forward. At each stage, I ask them to explain their perfect day. What they did, who they saw, and what important tasks they overcame. I listen. If I hear a man who told me he wants to grow a billion-dollar company before these questions, answer with, ‘I came home early to see my wife and five kids,’ I know that the objective isn’t a billion-dollar company. It is about making enough money to support a happy and large family. So, his 23-hour workday will literally tear him away from his mission.

In your experience, what are some of the biggest obstacles businesses face when trying to implement change or adopt new strategies, and how can a business coach help navigate these challenges?

Employees are by far the biggest obstacles when implementing new strategies. That is because, for years, they have been used to doing things one way, and now the business must change its path. To help get employees on board, it is important to involve them in the decision-making process. You might think that rolling out this new strategy is great, but it will force employees to stay overtime and go against efficiency. How could anyone adopt such a change? Creation of solutions that will fit the original vision of the company and align with recommendations from your team.

You’ve highlighted the value of investing in expert advice. How can businesses determine when it’s the right time to seek external support, and what factors should they consider when choosing a business coach?

I think you should invest in a business coach when you are starting to face too many problems that you can’t seem to overcome. At this stage, they seem to pile up and get out of hand very quickly.

With the rise of technology and remote work, how has the business coaching landscape evolved, and what adjustments have you made to your approach to better serve clients in this changing environment?

I have been able to connect with more and more businesses around the world. The rise of technology has been an enormous blessing for my business coaching because we utilize AI to help dive deeper into the data.

Looking ahead, what emerging trends or challenges do you anticipate in the business coaching industry, and how do you plan to stay ahead of the curve?

From everything I am seeing, we are moving into a big-business era. Small businesses will need to compete more and more. The cost of advertising is becoming increasingly expensive. To help overcome this, I think business coaches will need to become proven experts in all manner of fields, like marketing and AI.