Blog Post
Who It’s For: Entrepreneurs, Senior Business Leaders, Managers, Sales Professionals, Female Leaders, and R&D, Innovation, DEI, and Other Critical Teams
8 Mistakes I Made as an Entrepreneur
Darlene Hawley
I'm sharing 8 of the biggest mistakes I've made as an entrepreneur – the ones I wish I could've avoided.
Let's travel back 18 years.
I made every mistake under the sun when starting my business.
I've been there and done that and even own the t-shirt.
But hey, hindsight's a beautiful thing.
The cool thing is that I eliminate almost all the guesswork when working with my clients. I've made all the mistakes, so you don't have to.
I'm sharing 8 of the biggest mistakes I've made as an entrepreneur – the ones I wish I could've avoided.
The best part is you won't have to go through these lessons the hard way. I'm here to guide you, removing all the guesswork so you can concentrate on what truly matters, building and expanding a business and life that brings you joy.
- To Niche or Not to Niche? - When I started my business (18 years ago), I thought I could be everything to everyone. That was a big mistake! I needed to clarify for myself who I wanted to work with, why, and how I wanted to support them. Everything changed for me when I figured this out.
- "Business Coach" ...for What Sport? - Yep, I've been there. Laugh with me. I was so vague in my message, and it was 2006, and the coaching world was new’ish. This is why I share the importance of having clarity in your messaging so people actually understand what you do.
- The Mystery Offer - Creating a brand new offer for every single prospect you talk to is not only a bad idea, but it’s exhausting. Identify a signature offer and framework that is the starting point for how you support your clients.
- Networking Overload - Networking is great when you're building authentic relationships, but matchmaking? Not so much. I found I was spending too much time playing Cupid and worrying about connecting others instead of building deep relationships. for myself.
- Admin Overload - You either find yourself drowned in paperwork or hiding behind it, and this is what kept me from increasing my visibility and up-leveling my marketing. Get super clear on what 5 ways you will market yourself and get seen so you can grow your business and build a wait list.
- The SOP Struggle - Consistency is key, yet I found myself reinventing the wheel with every new client. The magic of standard operating procedures took away the chaos and made my life so much easier.
- Long-Winded Sales Calls - Ever talk your client out of working with you? Yeah, guilty as charged. Having a clear way to share your offer can be your best friend when it comes to sealing the deal and making sure your working with the right types of clients.
- Strategic Plan MIA - You took the time and mapped it out, yet your plan never saw the light of day. Let's dust it off together and create a way that you can take the right action and make your plan feel like a success.
Why not take the next step? Please feel free to reach out to me and schedule a quick call, where we can identify your challenges and explore how we can overcome them together.
I've got a few spots open for my 6-month 1:1 Attract & Stand Out Coaching program.
Fill out the application below and schedule a call here!
✨Ready to Own Your Story and Attract Your Dream Clients?✨
If you’re ready to stop second-guessing your message and start using storytelling as a powerful tool to connect, inspire, and sell—then I’d love to invite you to my It’s Time to Own Your Story: Mini-Course.
In this self-paced course, you’ll learn how to:
✔️ Identify the key moments in your story that captivate your audience.
✔️ Share your story in a way that builds trust and positions you as the go-to expert.
✔️ Use storytelling across your website, social media, and sales conversations to attract and convert more clients.
Plus, you’ll get a
step-by-step workbook and
personal feedback on your brand story—so you can start sharing with confidence.
Hey There!
I'm Darlene
As a mother, wife, connector, and dream builder, I’m Darlene Hawley, the founder of DarleneHawley.com and an Executive Leadership & Businesss Coach dedicated to empowering leaders like you.
My passion lies in helping ambitious professionals cultivate their unique leadership style while crafting an authentic and impactful personal brand. Through my coaching, we’ll work together to build a solid foundation that not only inspires your team but also drives results and growth within your organization.
Since 2007, I have been committed to guiding leaders and entrepreneurs in launching and scaling their businesses with confidence and clarity.
Today, I focus on supporting women in reaching their leadership goals and living their dream lives—all while balancing the joys of raising my family and creating meaningful memories each day.
Together, we’ll transform your challenges into opportunities, allowing you to lead with authenticity and inspire those around you.
The Day I Learned That Selling Isn’t About Selling Ten years ago, I was on a sales call with someone who I knew would benefit from working with me. I had all my points prepared, I knew the value of my offer, and the moment I started “explaining” the coaching package, I could feel her pulling back. She went quiet. Her energy shifted. You know that moment when you can tell someone is already backing away even though you're still mid-sentence? I paused, smiled and took a deep breath and said, “Can I tell you a quick story?” I shared how I’d once been in her exact shoes... unsure, overwhelmed, and wondering if investing in myself was really the right move. I told her how I’d made that leap anyway… and shared what had changed for me during that process. That’s when she leaned in. She wasn’t sold by my offer. She was moved by the story. And that’s when I realized: Storytelling sells—without the “salesy used car salesman” vibe. Why Storytelling Works So Well in Sales Let’s be honest...no one wants to feel sold to, yet we all love to buy. What people do want is to feel seen, heard and valued. And storytelling does exactly that. In fact, studies show that people remember stories up to 22x more than facts alone. And even more powerful? A story creates emotion... and emotion drives action. If you’re struggling to convert prospects into clients, it’s not that your offer isn’t good. It’s that you might not be telling the right story to make someone feel why it matters. 3 Types of Stories That Sell (Without Feeling Pushy) 1. The “I’ve Been Where You Are” Story This is your empathy bridge. When you share a relatable story from your own experience, your audience sees themselves in you. You’re not just a coach, consultant, or expert.... you’re a human being who gets it. Example: “I used to feel invisible online. I would write a post, hit publish, and hear crickets. It wasn’t until I started sharing my story that people began engaging, reaching out, and eventually becoming a client.” This story builds trust and shows them, “If she figured this out, maybe I can too.” 2. The Client Success Story People like proof, evidence of how it will work. And no, this doesn’t mean sharing stats or results in bullet points. It means telling the transformation journey. Example: “Jackie, a life coach, came to me unsure of what to say in her content. After taking my storytelling course, she started sharing her story in her newsletter and during conversations and landed three new clients within the first month. Why? Because her audience felt connected to her.” It’s not about showing off, it’s about showing what’s possible. 3. The Vision Story Paint the picture of what life could look like for them if they take action. The power of this story lies in aspiration. Example: “Imagine waking up with clarity around your message. You open your laptop, write a post with confidence, and get a message from someone who says, ‘I felt like you were speaking directly to me.’ That’s what happens when your story connects.” When people can see their future selves in the story you tell, they want more of what you have to offer. How to Start Using These Stories in Your Sales Process Now that you’ve got the story types, here’s where to use them: On your website – especially your About page and sales pages In your emails – every time you’re adding value or selling connect with a story On strategy calls – as a way to shift from pressure to connection On social media – to build relationships and nurture your community Tip: Start building a Story Bank. Open a notes tab or a doc and jot down 2–3 small moments from your life or business each day. That way, when it’s time to write content or show up for a launch... you’re never starting from scratch. Selling Through Story Isn’t Manipulative—It’s Meaningful When you tell stories with heart and authenticity, you’re not convincing people to buy, you’re helping them see that they’re not alone. You’re offering a way to move forward. And when you do that? Selling doesn’t feel awkward, It feels like service. One of my mentors, Kendrick Shope, always says: “Selling is helping.” And she’s absolutely right. Because when you sell through storytelling, you’re not pushing, you’re guiding. You’re inviting people into a transformation that you know is possible. When you lead with your heart and with empathy and share your truth, you're not just building a business... you’re building trust What might shift for you if you started weaving more of your story into how you connect with your team, clients and community?
Women leaders with chronic illness face unique challenges in business. Learn how to manage energy, set boundaries, and build sustainable success.
The 3 Biggest Storytelling Mistakes Entrepreneurs & Leaders Make (And How to Fix Them)
Welcome back to the Attract and Stand Out Podcast! In this inspiring episode, host Darlene Hawley chats with her long-time friend Danielle Hawthorne, a compassionate disruptor and truth teller devoted to honoring her worth and supporting others on their journey. Danielle shares her path to founding 'Worthy of Dignity,' a company dedicated to teaching leaders to recognize and elevate their teams based on their core values and holistic well-being. Discover how Danielle's experiences in toxic work environments led her to prioritize health and wellness, reducing burnout, and increasing team morale. Learn actionable insights on how leaders can foster inclusive and compassionate workplaces. Don't miss exciting details about Danielle's upcoming women's conference, 'Enough 2025,' aimed at empowering women to embrace their worth without having to earn it. Tune in for powerful stories, practical tips, and much more! 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:16 Danielle's Journey to Worthy of Dignity 03:09 Impact of Leadership and Wellness 05:45 Creating a Culture of Value and Respect 13:23 Leading with Curiosity and Human Connection 16:55 Challenges and Changes in Leadership 17:36 The Power of Sharing Personal Stories 18:48 Self-Reflection and Personal Growth 19:21 The Importance of Rest and Setting Boundaries 21:46 Practical Tips for Slowing Down 25:47 Upcoming Women's Conference: Enough 2025 29:04 Ways to Work with Danielle 30:06 Rapid Fire Questions: Getting to Know Danielle 35:36 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Welcome back to the Attract and Stand Out Podcast! In this inspiring episode, host Darlene Hawley sits down with transformational coach and author Lenore Kantor. They dive into Lenore's journey from corporate executive to transformational coach, where she now helps high achievers unlock greater personal growth, professional fulfillment, and higher income. Lenore discusses the importance of authenticity, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and her new book, 'So What Do You Do? The Authentic Alchemy Path to Find Who You Are'. Whether you're a leader looking to navigate career transitions or an entrepreneur seeking authentic alignment in your work, this episode offers valuable insights and practical advice. Tune in to discover how to embrace change, align with your true self, and show up authentically in your professional and personal life. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:51 Lenore's Background and Journey 03:12 Navigating Career Transitions 06:36 Challenges of Entrepreneurship 09:11 Adapting to Change 14:50 Authenticity and Leadership 23:52 Future Plans and Projects 26:59 Rapid Fire Questions 30:14 Conclusion and Farewell ------- Lenore Kantor is a transformational coach, author, mentor, career advisor and inspirational speaker who guides smart high-achievers to greater personal growth, professional fulfillment and higher income by overcoming their blocks to creating soul-aligned work. She is the author of So, What Do You Do? The Authentic Alchemy Path to Find Who You Are, an unconventional guidebook and eight-step path for conscious leaders to discover their work in the world (launching February ’25). Lenore's holistic multi-disciplinary approach evolved over 30+ years as a former corporate marketing executive, soulpreneur and founder of Growth Warrior. Lenore integrates empathy with no BS, business strategy, marketing and product launch expertise with intuitive insight and multiple healing modalities. She's a former corporate marketing executive and has been a strategic advisor and outsourced CMO to high-growth businesses, mentored founders across multiple startup accelerators, and is a Capstone and Career Advisor to Bard’s MBA in Sustainability and part of Columbia’s Career Coaching Network. www.growthwarrior.co https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenorekantor https://www.instagram.com/lenorekantor/ https://www.facebook.com/growthcoach/ ---- Hi I'm Darlene Hawley, and I help entrepreneurs and executive leaders find their voice and mastering communication in high-stakes conversations and presentations, whether in the boardroom, on a sales call, or around the dinner table. Grab my 10 Do's and Don't for Effective Daring Conversations: https://mailchi.mp/297e8105e904/communicationguide Grab my 6 Steps To Attract & Stand Out digital guide, a free roadmap to create a successful business with less hustle and more ease: https://bit.ly/attractandstandoutonline Grab a Chai and let's Connect: https://darlenehawley.com https://linkedin.com/in/darlenehawley
Discover the transformative journey of overcoming fear with Kori Myka, founder of Calm Within Adult Swim, on the latest episode of the "Attract and Stand Out" podcast. Dive into how adults can conquer their fear of water through tailored mental and physical training. Learn how the life lessons from swimming extend beyond the pool, helping individuals build confidence and personal growth. Perfect for anyone interested in personal development, adult swim education, and the psychology of overcoming fear. Listen now to uncover powerful insights and strategies for embracing your unique path.
Reflect on 2025, choose a transformative Word of the Year, and unlock success in the new year. Discover how 'Trust' fuels growth, leadership, and your personal brand.
Struggling with imposter syndrome even after years of success? Discover how leaders, executives, and entrepreneurs overcome self-doubt and confidently share their expertise, personal brand, and client results. In this post, learn proven strategies to showcase your achievements without feeling like you’re bragging, transform testimonials into credibility boosters, and establish yourself as a trusted authority in your industry. By embracing your unique value, you’ll strengthen your personal brand, inspire trust, and drive sustainable business growth—proving that your “big brain” belongs front and center in your leadership journey.
How Practicing Gratitude Can Recharge Leaders and Strengthen Business Connections
