David Hope opened a local franchise of The Growth Coach in January 2008 with his daughter Pamela Jackson. The Edmonds company offers strategic business development coaching for owners and managers at small to mid-size businesses and nonprofit organizations.
Q: How, or why, did you decide to open your business?
A: For Dave, entering the field of business coaching was a natural step following his 25-year career in executive leadership for a Seattle-based international corporation. Not ready to “retire,” Dave felt called to offer his extensive executive leadership skills to smaller organizations and remain connected to the local business community.
When Dave invited his daughter, Pamela, to consider partnering as coach and co-owner in The Growth Coach, she jumped on the opportunity to integrate her years of corporate marketing expertise with her heart for entrepreneurs.
Q: What convinced you that this was the job for you?
A: Intrigued by The Growth Coach’s unique approach to success with life balance, we both recognized coaching as a powerful path to transform the lives of owners and managers who feel chained to their business, giving them hope for success while living a fuller, richer life that honors their families and their core values.
Q: What does it take to blend your passion with your livelihood?
A: It takes courage to follow one’s purpose. It takes commitment and a willingness to manage disappointment without losing sight of the greater vision.
Q: What are the crucial elements for success for your business?
A: A heart for championing people’s dreams, letting the client drive their own journey, a collaborative mindset to align with other qualified professionals to serve clients holistically, and a habit of asking for referrals.
Q: What has been your biggest challenge and how did you meet it?
A: One of the greatest challenges has been identifying the ideal client for this type of coaching. Many clients who may have the greatest need for coaching are often not of a mindset ready for a coaching process. It’s important to meet with individuals and discover what they desire at a heart level, asking powerful questions to determine how open they are to coaching, then honoring and affirming the individual wherever they are in their journey.
Q: How did your friends and family react when you told them you were getting into this business?
A: Since we started this business as a family partnership, we had buy-in from our spouses early on. Pam’s then-6-year-old daughter exclaimed, “I knew you could do it, Mommy!”
Q: What motivates you?
A: Seeing the lives of individuals and families transformed as a business owner begins to “let go” and allow his or her business to serve their life, rather than living to serve their business. The best motivation is to hear a client say, “I took a family vacation for the first time in years, and found my business did better without me there!”
Q: What personal abilities do you think in needed to excel in this business?
A: Deep listening skills are paramount! Intuitive sensitivity to listen for what’s not being spoken, which is often more important than what is spoken. Boldness to hold people accountable to their goals. The skill of asking powerful questions to guide the process of self-discovery and resisting the urge to “tell” the client what they ought to do.
Q: When you’re not working, how do you enjoy spending your time?
A: Dave and his wife, Kathy, are crazy about baseball – devoted fans of the Mariners and Everett Aquasox. They host Aquasox players or coaches every season. Dave is currently on the board of directors of the Seattle Mariners RBI Club, a nonprofit that raises money to provide toys for underprivileged children and other Mariner-related charities.
Pam enjoys time with her husband, Bernie, and 10-year-old daughter, Isabel, playing with their senior Arabian horse, Abby. They also host international students attending Shoreline Community College.
The Growth Coach
PHONE: 425-582-2646
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
