Case Study: Breaking Through a Values Misalignment to Achieve Business and Personal Clarity

In a recent coaching session, I worked with a business owner who had been pushing hard toward a particular goal but was starting to feel stuck. When we began our work together, this client was struggling with a key business initiative—a new series of professional development workshops aimed at industry peers. Despite the time and effort she invested, the initiative wasn’t gaining the traction she expected, and she couldn’t pinpoint why.

The Initial Challenge

At the start of our work, she expressed frustration over the workshops. Though she had designed them as a way to create recurring revenue and share her expertise, she realized they weren’t resonating with her or her audience. Her passion was dwindling, and despite the program's potential to grow her business, something wasn’t clicking.

Her feelings of being stuck stemmed from a misalignment between what she believed she needed to do and what truly inspired her. She came into the session ready to push harder, but it became clear that the real issue wasn’t her effort—it was the disconnect between her goals and her values.

The Values Misalignment

As we peeled back the layers, we discovered the root of her frustration. Her real passion wasn’t in leading workshops; she wanted to scale back her hands-on involvement with clients and focus on creative projects that she truly loved. But, because she felt obligated to push her business in a certain direction—one that involved leading large programs and managing more people—she was burning out.

She had built her business around the idea that growth meant expanding her offerings and audience, but what she really wanted was more freedom to explore new creative ventures. The workshops, which seemed like a logical step to increase revenue, had become more of a burden than a source of fulfillment.

The Breakthrough

During our session, we explored alternatives that would allow her to stay aligned with her core values while still meeting her financial goals. We discussed downsizing the program to make it more intimate and focused on a smaller, more engaged audience. She realized that what truly lit her up was working closely with a select group of professionals, helping them overcome specific challenges rather than running large-scale workshops.

By the end of the session, she had a clearer vision for her business. Instead of pursuing growth in ways that felt forced, she decided to streamline her offerings and focus on creating something she felt genuinely passionate about. This meant leaning into her love for creating personalized resources and tools—something she could do on her own terms without the pressure of expanding her programs beyond what felt natural.

The Impact

This realignment allowed her to break free from the "shoulds" that had been weighing her down. She no longer felt the need to chase growth for the sake of it. Instead, she shifted her focus to more creative, fulfilling work that also brought in revenue—on her terms.

As she transitioned away from the larger workshop model, she found that she could still meet her financial goals by offering high-value, personalized services. Not only did this approach bring her closer to what she truly wanted, but it also allowed her to reclaim her time and energy, reducing stress and increasing her enjoyment in her work.

The Takeaway

This case illustrates how important it is to align your business strategies with your core values. When there’s a misalignment, even well-executed plans can feel heavy and unfulfilling. By identifying what truly matters and focusing on goals that reflect your passions, you can build a business that not only meets financial goals but also brings joy and fulfillment into your life.

Through our work together, this client realized that scaling back and focusing on what she loved wasn’t a step backward but a step toward the life and business she really wanted.