I’m Natasha McCreesh and I founded PIP to Grow Strong with one clear goal, to always do work that I enjoy. I led a varied career in commercial buying, product development and brand marketing before taking the step to launch my own coaching, mentoring and collaboration business, PIP to Grow Strong in 2014.

It is my career journey, speaking my truth and my commitment to only work on projects which bring me (and others!) joy which makes me and my business stand out. What I love most about what I do is that I am able to focus each and every day in supporting others to Grow Strong.

Inspiration is always a great indication of why people launch businesses. Who or what inspired you to get started?

I’d always seen the value in coaching and mentoring, and developing strong collaborative relationships. I had a great mentor early on in my career, Stuart Singleton. He taught me a lot about self-leadership, commercial values and managing tricky conversations. He also encouraged me to think bigger, he painted a vision of what he believed I was capable of achieving in my career, more strongly than I could have for myself at that time. This stuck with me.

My two art teachers at school SA and LV Smith influenced my ways of seeing the world, they nurtured a mindful perspective within me and inspired me to be a cultural explorer. This way of thinking has inspired me to encourage others to look at their world from different perspectives.

Finally, a group of festival organisers from Sheffield, Tribe of Xanadu, influenced my decision to leave my safe career without worrying about the financial uncertainty of leaving corporate life. I looked at how they lived fun, vibrant lives with limited resources and knew that everything would always be ok.

How do you set yourself apart from other businesses in your industry?

I’m not constrained by the label Business Coach; coaching is just one of the powerful tools I use to support my clients. My business is different because the focus is collaboration, partnering with my client, being with them beyond our calls and connecting them with who they need to connect with to grow strong. 

How did you conquer those moments of doubt that so often affect entrepreneurs or stop many with great ideas – what pushes you through?

The biggest motivator is an overwhelming desire not to go back to a 9-5 daily grind! Also, I genuinely don’t see myself as facing or dealing with obstacles and, especially with the benefit of hindsight, I can look back on my snake and ladder moments and see that even the difficult experiences were never really obstacles, only lessons to learn. I’m an eternal optimist and have faith that progress is always being made.

Who is your target audience?

I work with business leaders, male and female, from a range of corporate backgrounds, all with one thing in common - passion for something important to them. I thrive on kick starting strategic projects and aiding personal and professional growth for individuals or teams who want to experience a more joyful connection to their work.

What would be your number one tip for young entrepreneurs who are ready to launch their own business?

Let go of attachment to the outcome.

What plans do you have for PIP to Grow Strong over the coming 12 months?

Year on year since launching PiP to Grow Strong, turnover has doubled and the intention this coming year is no different. With the underpinning commitment to only do work that brings me joy, I’m upgrading my clients. It’s really important for me to continuously take stock of who I choose to collaborate with, coaching is a two-way commitment, so I’m thinking bigger and bolder about the people and organisations that I am prepared to support.

What’s the most important question entrepreneurs should be asking themselves?

Does this score a 10 for me and if not, why not? 

Recharging every so often, especially as a parent and entrepreneur is important. How do you recharge when you’re feeling burnt out?

I’m a cultural explorer; I love art, music and film. Exploring an exhibition, browsing in a record shop or watching a movie are my favourite ways to switch off.

What are your thoughts on networking to build your business? 

I enjoy learning as I connect, so I attend conferences and seminars, I always meet interesting people, and there is the double benefit of personal development. Connection through contribution is another way I enjoy making contacts, being in service is at the core of my business so meeting people who value serving others feels like a positive way to grow my network.

What are your thoughts on failure as an entrepreneur?

It’s impossible to be an entrepreneur without failing, it’s what makes us. Every failure is a test of our commitment and it also helps us to calibrate our definition of success. I’m definitely a fail forward kind of person!