An ARO Conversation with Jeannette Maw
I can’t remember exactly how I discovered The Good Vibe Coach, but if memory serves, it was through Pam Slim (both are Martha Beck trained coaches). I started following Jeannette’s blog, inspired by her ability to produce consistently informational and entertaining content, her true engagement with her readers and followers and her strong business acumen. I admired her both as a Law of Attraction coach (who’s services I can vouch for!) and as a savvy business lady.
[FULL DISCLOSURE: After years of following her and often quoting/linking to her, she recently became a client. THAT is a whole other conversation. But long before that happy occurrence, she was a significant part of the inspiration for my blog's focus: authentic, relevant, organic business practices.]
Not everyone I talk to here will meet all three of those attributes but Jeannette most certainly does and is the reason I ALWAYS wanted her to be my first interview.
- Authentic: she is up-front and clear about her struggles with relationships…and foster animals
- Relevant: she started Law of Attraction coaching a year or two before Oprah broke The Secret and made LOA common terminology
- Organic: she built her incredibly loyal following by caring, by interacting, through incredible generosity
In addition to coaching, Jeannette has a variety of popular information products (e-books, cds). This year saw the unveiling of Good Vibe University: a full-service membership site that is crammed with content and every day reveals what a brilliant and loving group of individuals have chosen to interact with Jeannette on this mission of hers.
So, let’s talk!
Hey Jeannette! How long have you been The Good Vibe Coach?
I officially created Good Vibe Coaching in 2003, but didn’t quit my job until 2004 to begin coaching full time.
Was there a period of time that you were working a day job while you built your online and coaching business?
That was the original plan, but it didn’t work out too well! The job was so exhausting and time consuming that I didn’t have the energy (and certainly not any positive energy) for building my coaching practice. So while I did go through two coach training programs while I was still employed in the corporate world, I didn’t take building my business seriously until I actually gave notice. And that’s when good things started to happen.
How long have you been blogging? How has that impacted your business?
It’s funny, because I used to swear that I would never blog. Ever. Mostly because it seemed everyone else already was, and I didn’t want to just follow the herd.
But I did start Law of Attraction Playground on Blogger in spring of 2007, soon migrated to Good Vibe Blog on WordPress, in which time blogging has become one of the favorite parts of my business! It satisfies several personal core values, including connection, authenticity, passion, freedom and fun. It’s allowed me to connect with other like-minded folks and to build a community around the topic I’m passionate about. Not to mention it is becoming, over time, a nice vehicle for highlighting products and services, too.
Was there a particular moment or post where you thought “uh-oh, I may have something here?” (jump in followers, increased rank, etc?)
I have had a few ”Yay, this is working!” moments when there would be a new record number of comments (or in the beginning, even a comment from someone I didn’t know would get me excited!), or when someone would ask for paid advertising space, or when the incoming links started growing. Mostly, though, it’s been a gradual evolution of success – no obvious or overnight milestones or wins. I think that’s part of the trick to staying engaged, because the success isn’t always easy to spot. It kind of sneaks up on you over time – at least, that’s been my experience.
How many hours per day/week do you spend building your online presence?
I’ve got a feeling that actual number might surprise me. I don’t formally track it, but my best guess is, between the blog, Twitter, and Facebook that it probably averages under an hour a day. Some days more, some days less. I don’t have any set rules about how often or when to check in, I just follow inspiration and do what feels good. I will say, though, it took me a while to get in my good groove with twitter. (I used to live there after I first discovered it!) So I’m feeling much more balance with it all.
If another solo practitioner of some sort asked for some of your lessons on using social media as a business tool, what would you say?
Don’t do it if you’re only engaging it to make something happen for your business. If you don’t genuinely enjoy spending time on social media, it will come across to others and won’t help as much as something else would that you enjoy more. People are attracted to passion and enthusiasm and authenticity. If you can’t be that with your social media, don’t waste your time.
If you were starting over, what would you do differently?
I would be less afraid of making mistakes; in fact I would embrace doing something wrong in favor of not doing it at all. I wouldn’t have worried so much about how it’s “supposed” to be done, relied less on the “experts” and more on my gut. And I would make a point of enjoying the whole journey more. It really IS the best part – It really is the best part, you know. The building of it, the part where you’re not sure what – if anything – is coming from it all.
In the online/social media/blogging world, what are your pet peeves?
Someone trying to convince me they know what’s best for me. Being “sold” to and fear based and scarcity-based marketing. Turns me off every time. I probably miss out on a lot of great content because they’re relying on traditional methods to make the sale.
What do you love, love, love about what you do?
That I’m in charge! That I get to make my own mistakes, I get to try out something different and do it my way, I get to talk about whatever I want, and that I get to do it alongside other brilliant, fun and inspiring creators!
What do you think it means to be authentic?
For me it means not pretending, not saying or doing something just because it’s what’s expected or what I’m supposed to do or what sounds good to others. It means honoring my intuition, telling it like it is even when it’s not pretty, and not succumbing to external pressure to do it different. It’s a real-ness that allows for the kind of genuine connection that just can’t be beat. 
Follow Jeannette on Twitter @goodvibecoach.
That was fun, my friend!
Very interested in reading the rest of this interview series. This is a topic near and dear to my heart, so of course I think it’s great work you’re doing!
Great interview Kelly! Jeannette – You are one of my heroes and such a good example of living life to the beat of your drum. Even now, reading what you told Kelly I had an A-Ha – You ladies rock!