Sarah Stewart, a Glasgow-based time management coach and project management consultant, has built a thriving coaching business focused on helping busy professionals and small business owners regain control of their schedules. With her unique approach to time management, Sarah has managed to grow her business to $150,000 in lifetime revenue, averaging $4,500 in monthly income. Her journey from a pharmaceutical corporate job to running a successful time management coaching business is a testament to her dedication and expertise.
Background: From Corporate Program Management to Time Management Coaching
Sarah Stewart’s background is rooted in pharmacy and program management. After working for 14 years in corporate program management within the pharmaceutical industry, she decided to transition into time management coaching in May 2021. Her move into entrepreneurship was fueled by her personal experiences—balancing a demanding career, single parenthood, and managing a chronic illness. These challenges inspired her to help others, particularly small business owners and professionals, manage their own time and workload effectively.
Her flagship program, “Project Manage Your Life,” empowers clients to handle time constraints and prioritize tasks in both personal and professional settings. Sarah’s niche focus on time management coaching has garnered her widespread recognition, and she offers one-to-one coaching, project management consulting, and bespoke workshops.
The Path to Building a Time Management Coaching Business
Sarah’s journey toward creating her coaching business was shaped by personal tragedy and career challenges. At the young age of 19, Sarah tragically lost her mother to ovarian cancer. This experience forced her to master time management at a young age, juggling household responsibilities and university coursework. Her father enlisted a life coach to help her through this difficult time, laying the foundation for Sarah’s future in time management coaching.
In 2021, Sarah left her corporate job and entered self-employment. She initially launched her business with an online course called Soar: Finding Your Freedom, aimed at women who lacked confidence. However, Sarah soon realized that her true passion and strength lay in time management coaching, and she began focusing on that niche, transforming her business in the process.
Launching the First Time Management Coaching Program
Sarah’s first product offering was one-on-one coaching, which quickly expanded into group coaching sessions and workshops. Her signature program, Project Manage Your Life, merges traditional time management techniques with mindfulness practices, offering clients a comprehensive system to help them balance their busy lives.
Initially, Sarah launched her program without a website or landing page, marketing it solely through Instagram and email. The first cohort of students participated in the course through a private Facebook group, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. As demand for the program grew, Sarah expanded it into a three-month course hosted on Zoom, incorporating additional resources like a mindfulness meditation library.
How Sarah Launched Her Time Management Coaching Business
Unlike many entrepreneurs, Sarah didn’t have a side hustle or a six-month safety net when she left her corporate job. But, thanks to a consulting contract with a pharmaceutical company, she had financial stability as she built her coaching business from scratch.
Sarah relied on organic marketing strategies to build her client base. She used LinkedIn to announce her career shift, created a website using Squarespace, and began offering paid coaching services after gaining certification. Her first paid client was a pivotal moment, confirming that she was on the right path.
Marketing and SEO Strategies to Grow a Time Management Business
Sarah’s success in building her time management coaching business can be attributed to her organic marketing efforts, with a strong focus on SEO and content marketing. By optimizing her website and blog for keywords like “time management coach” and “time management coaching services,” Sarah consistently attracts new clients through Google searches.
She also prioritizes email marketing, offering free resources such as eBooks, time-blocking masterclasses, and printable templates to grow her email subscriber list. Her blogging efforts focus on providing valuable time management tips and advice, further establishing her expertise in the niche.
Her strong online presence has led to PR opportunities, with features in Stylist magazine and guest appearances on popular podcasts. Sarah also hosts local networking events in Glasgow, such as Connect for a Cause, which raises money for the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice.
Current Status of Sarah’s Coaching Business
As of today, Sarah’s time management coaching business has served 121 clients and generated $150,000 in revenue. Her signature program, Project Manage Your Life, is set to relaunch in 2024, and Sarah plans to expand her services into the corporate sector. She also envisions growing her public speaking engagements and sharing her time management strategies with larger audiences.
Key Lessons from Sarah Stewart’s Time Management Business Journey
Sarah has learned many valuable lessons throughout her entrepreneurial journey. First and foremost, she advises other business owners to focus on their interests rather than following trends. Time management is a crucial skill for entrepreneurs, and Sarah emphasizes the importance of creating an “ideal workweek” that aligns with one’s lifestyle goals.
She also underscores the value of having a supportive community of fellow business owners. Sarah regularly meets with two close business friends every six weeks to share goals and celebrate achievements, which has been instrumental in her growth.
Tools and Resources That Helped Sarah’s Business Succeed
To run her time management coaching business efficiently, Sarah uses tools like Asana and Google Calendar to organize her tasks and schedule. Time-blocking is a core strategy she teaches her clients, and she practices it herself to maximize productivity. She also continues to use pen and paper for big-picture planning.
Sarah is inspired by resources like Laura Vanderkam’s Tranquility by Tuesday and the Your Simple and Spacious Business podcast by Jen Carrington, both of which focus on intentional time management and running a business with fewer working hours.
Final Advice for Entrepreneurs in the Time Management Niche
Sarah encourages aspiring time management coaches and entrepreneurs to focus on balance and avoid burnout. By building a business around intentional living and effective time management, entrepreneurs can create sustainable success. Sarah’s final piece of advice is to create an ideal workweek and structure your decisions around that vision, ensuring your business supports your desired lifestyle.
Conclusion
Sarah Stewart’s time management coaching business is a perfect example of how a unique niche and a strong marketing strategy can lead to success. With a commitment to helping clients regain control of their schedules, Sarah has built a $150K business while maintaining a flexible and balanced lifestyle. Through her signature program and coaching services, she continues to make a positive impact on her clients’ lives, demonstrating that effective time management is the key to personal and professional fulfillment.
