Naomi Rothwell-Boyd - Career Coach

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This Freelance Insights interview features career coach Naomi Rothwell-Boyd.

I’ve known Naomi for about 15 years, since we were at secondary school together. When I reconnected with her and found out she was working freelance as a career coach, it was an obvious move to interview her for this series.

I love the passion she brings to her work and how important it is to her to help others find their calling. She’s proof that you can find something you love to do while still paying the bills, and her mission is to help others reach that point too.

Naomi offers a free Pathfinder assessment to identify your #1 bottleneck and the #1 thing you need to do next designed specifically for you. Take the assessment by clicking the button further down this page.

How do you describe what you do for work?

I'm a career coach, and the analogy I use is that I'm pretty much like having a personal trainer for your career. We spend the best years of our lives working, so I'm a firm believer that everyone should have the opportunity to find a career that makes them happy and gives them a sense of purpose while also paying the bills. I work with individuals to formulate a career plan that is aligned with their personal values and goals and then work in partnership with them to make sure they stick to that plan. I'm not the one doing all the hard work, but I empower, support and push my clients to take massive action as well as challenging them when they want to give up.

What's your favourite thing about working freelance?

Firstly, not having to answer to anyone but myself! I love having more freedom and flexibility to work to my own timetable, and I definitely have more work-life balance now. I get to spend more meaningful time with my husband and my dog, and it's allowed me to take on other projects that I wouldn't previously have had time to do. I love working with individuals, because I find that when they pay for coaching they are more likely to turn up for it (both physically and mentally) than if their employer is paying for it. And I've met so many amazing people who've transitioned to totally different careers, and being part of that is amazing.

Where do you usually work from?

I'm home-based, but I don't have a designated office space. I don't want to feel wedded to being in one space. I'm lucky that we have a nice house with space for me to move around, so depending on what I'm working on I might be sitting at the dining table, at the kitchen island, or in one of our spare rooms. Sometimes I'll even work in the garden, if the weather's nice. I like to move around and mix it up!

What does a normal working day look like for you?

No two days are ever the same. It really depends on what client work I've got going on, and I probably work three full days spread over five. I'm not someone who needs to impose lots of structure, but broadly speaking I'm a morning person. I normally walk the dog before anything else and then do some other form of exercise (like pilates or cycling) so that I feel good for the rest of the day. I do most of my coaching in the afternoons and a couple of evenings a week.

What one tip would you give other freelancers about running a freelance business?

A lot of us have gone freelance because we want flexibility or to be our own boss, but you do run the risk of your business taking over everything because you don't have the commute as a natural boundary. Be mindful of creating healthy boundaries in your own freelance world and be sure to keep reminding yourself of your why. But also surround yourself by your biggest champions. Freelancing can be lonely and not everyone will understand why you want to do it, so surround yourself with people who will support you no matter what and find the time to discuss any challenges you might be going through.