#BEYOUROWN MEETS CHANTEL BALCH

Chantel Balch is a rebel soul entrepreneur who left her high paying job as a registered nurse to pursue her passions and find more out of life. Chantel was never really sure of what she wanted to do, she has always been creative but held back and chose to go with what society thought was best- Nursing. Following High School graduation, Chantel found out she was pregnant at just 17 years old, many people told her she ruined her life and there was no hope for her as a young and single mother.

Chantel knew she had to make a sustainable living on her own to support her and her new baby, and she also wanted to prove society wrong and get a Degree and highly reputable job. Shortly after Chantel graduated with her Bachelors of Nursing Degree in 2012, the struggle to find her passion area began. She worked in many rural and urban hospitals in Alberta, Canada from 2013 - 2016, and even before that she worked at a Correctional Center as a Graduate Nurse. Chantel has always been very passionate about Mental Health due to her own struggles with it personally and within her family growing up.

After 3 years in the field, she decided enough was enough and started a local Contracting business in 2015, which didn’t succeed and was closed down. Chantel also opened her own Photography Business in 2017 and her most current business, Pretty Hustle Nation in January of 2018. Pretty Hustle Nation has been her most successful business yet, based on Instagram specifically, Chantel has grown her following from 0-22K in just 10 short months with an extremely loyal tribe of women by her side. Having officially retired from nursing, Chantel is pursuing her dreams of helping women in business all over the world, through the power of Instagram!

Hey Chantel, can you introduce yourself to us?

I am a former Registered Nurse and current multi-passionate entrepreneur who always knew there was something more for me. I am finally feeling aligned and connected to my soul purpose by helping women in business globally. Although it’s taken me a lot of years and struggles to get to the place I’m at in life right now. I’m married to the love of my life and have one daughter and two step-children. So I understand the struggles of running a business, or multiple businesses and managing life at the same time!

Can you take us through your journey to where you are now?

I grew up in a single parent home, we struggled a lot. We didn’t have much money and it seemed the odds were always against us. I became pregnant as I was graduating high school and knew I needed “a good sustainable job,” which led me to my Nursing career. The society said it was a respectable job so I figured it was just the way to go. I completed 5 years of post-secondary education with a baby on my hip, as a single mama, living in my mom’s basement as I needed all the help I could get. Once I graduated I moved 8 hours for a job that would hire me as “a new grad”. It was a hard transition. I worked full time 12 hour days and nights. I changed jobs every year after for 5 more years trying to find the place I fit in until I decided Nursing just wasn’t for me and I pursued entrepreneurship. 

What is a day in the life of you like?

I’m currently living my dream. I wake up and enjoy my coffee and get to take my daughter to school. I then get to work, in my pyjamas usually for a few hours on my computer, taking breaks as I see fit. It’s not “work” to me, I’m truly passionate about what I do and I have so much time and space in my life right now for creativity which helps my business thrive. I live on a Farm with my hubby and daughter so in the day I help him with things, play with our dogs and horses, and pick my daughter up from school. I cook dinner, and in between everything I’m often on conference calls and working straight from my phone. It truly is my dream life. Simple. Quiet. Creative. Magical. I get to spend so much time with my family and helping women, without the barriers!

How did you launch Pretty Hustle Nation?

Pretty Hustle Nation, my most successful business was launched in my darkest hours. I was in a dark place, mostly unhappy and unfulfilled. I was dealing with a lot of anxiety and soul seeking. I knew I was meant for more, but I felt confused as to what that really meant. I was broke, miserable, and struggling in every area of my life. I felt like a failure for not doing what society said I should, for wasting my time and money on a career I wasn’t in love with. I was then faced with getting serious entrepreneurship or going back to nursing, and the thought of going back made me sick to my stomach. So I invested in a mentor and together we launched Pretty Hustle Nation.

Can you talk us through your Light Shakers Podcast?

This is my passion project currently in the works. I have learned a lot through my life and especially in the past year, I have so much knowledge and wisdom I want to share with my Tribe in regards to business, mindset, and spirituality that I decided to start a podcast just for this. It’s also a way for me to get my messages out, even further, in a meaningful way. Much of the women I attract are rebel souls they seek something more in life but they also feel very lost and alone on their journey. I want to connect with these women on a deeper level, through Podcast, and allow us all to unite as one. We all are gifted in our own ways, Light Workers if you will, especially as creative entrepreneurs. This is where Light Shakers comes from. It’s time to shine our lights and shake things up. Break through that fear together and leave an impact!

Can you tell us a little bit more about the support you offer for females in business and how you are helping to connect, inspire and empower women through the Pretty Hustle Nation Tribe?

My main focus right now is helping women scale their business on Instagram, the exact way I have, through one on one mentorship. Besides that, I have a Facebook Community { Pretty Hustle Tribe- Boss Babe Community } where I offer tons of FREEinformation, resources, and live training mainly about Instagram and Business.

I want to share all of my knowledge and help other women some of the failures I had to learn the hard way. I truly want to help women break their own barriers and stop hiding behind their fears through showing up online, sharing their story including the failures and successes, and inspiring them that if I can do it with all that I’ve been through that they can do it too! We help each other out and lean on each other as needed. We’re like a family now.

Can you give us 3 tips on how we can make sure we are aligned with our business?

1. Check in with yourself often, take note of how you feel, this is important. If you are pushing something too hard let it go it’s not the right fit. If it’s flowing and pulling you or it feels natural, you’re on the right track!
2. Hire a reputable branding designer who can ask you the tough questions and give you an expert opinion! This is something I wish I had known sooner.
3. Figure out what makes you feel fulfilled, stick with it and ditch the rest!

Who does the team involve behind you at the Pretty Hustle Nation?

Right now I do a lot on my own, but I know I’ll be expanding my team in 2019. I have a Branding Designer who keeps me on track with my branding goals, and I work with often on projects big and small. I’m starting to outsource my Email Marketing in November as this is an area I’m lacking in and what I believe to be as a KEY component of a successful online business.

I have assistance in managing my Pretty Hustle Tribe Group. I run my own Instagram’s and so far I’m starting my Podcast solo but I will be seeking help in the near future with the tech stuff. I also work with a Psychic to keep me grounded, find clarity, and gain guidance in my business and life.

Where can you see yourself within the next 3-5 years?

Teaching large groups of women all over the world. I want to be hosting mastermind events, with other experts and offering massive value. Truly expanding my business, having a solid team on my side, writing a book, and constantly evolving.

What strategies do you have in place when looking at the expansion of your business?

Great Question! I am very intuitive so I go with my gut I have the power of knowing. This is something I use in my business daily when making big and small decisions. I look up to other successful entrepreneurs and learn from them. It really does take a team so that's my next big step for 2019.

Can you tell us what areas you have struggled in professionally?

Yes! I’ve never known what I “should”be doing with my life. It was hard to leave behind my Nursing career and to know if that was the right decision because it was scary walking into the unknown. I’ve always been the one to question things that don't work. If it doesn't work, let's change it.

It was a struggle for me in Nursing to feel limited to how I could help people due to policies, procedures, and management of all levels. As an entrepreneur it’s scary, there are tons of failures, changes, and unknown. It can be lonely because most people don’t get it, especially the online and social media business side of things. As I’ve grown and expanded I’ve had to push through my own fears of judgement and rejection and criticism. To me, helping other women is more important than what my ego has to say.

Have you ever had any other mentor? If so how has this benefitted you to grow?

Yes. I had a mentor help me launch my business and it gave me the push, confidence, expertise, and support I needed at the time to make it happen. I look up to many other Entrepreneurs, some I know personally and some I follow online. I think it’s important to always be learning and to learn from other experts. That's where the success lies. This allows me to provide even more value to my audience and clients, and break through more barriers personally and professionally.

What outlets do use to market your business?

Instagram is my biggest outlet, it’s my home network. I use Facebook a little bit and I am currently diving into email marketing through Mail Chimp.

Which methods are you using to build your own support network?

I think just by being present on social media and genuinely connecting with other business women. We support each other. I have a handful of women who I have become very close with and chat almost daily with about business and ideas. This is very important to me. And of course my family, they are truly my biggest supporters I wouldn’t be successful without them!

What do you believe are the common misconceptions about being an entrepreneur?

That it’s one big leap to success. We see people “go viral” online weekly, but that didn’t happen overnight. Everyone has a story. Everyone has failures. There are a lot of baby steps that need to happen in order to get to that point. Also that it’s EASY because many of us work from home.

It’s like yesterday, for example, I worked, cooked, cleaned, did laundry, took care of the animals, worked out, and still got my work done. It’s definitely not easy. And that it’s always going to be forward steps to success, this doesn’t happen. There are many failures that happen first, and I believe that failures are what lead to success. We cannot achieve success without failure. 

What would you like to see changed for millennials in business?

I would like for them to be taken seriously, especially the creatives. It takes a lot of guts to put yourself out there, to introduce your ideas to the world and share your story. Most people actually can’t hack it. Equal opportunity regardless of the era would be lovely.

What is the best piece of business advice you have received to date?

Failures lead to success.

What is the number 1 critical lesson you have learned in your career so far?

That you can’t please everyone, nor should you want to. By being 110% yourself, you will open the doors to success and fulfillment that you didn’t even know existed.

How do you create an evenly balanced work and personal life?

Setting work hours, putting my phone away, taking weekends off with my family and practicing more self-care. I have learned it’s ok and important to say “no”to people. We need to fill our own cups first.

The highlight of your career so far?

I think this time right now, working from home helping women globally, starting my own Podcast, and sharing my story with the world. Feeling fulfilled and being aligned, that's success right there.

What gives you ultimate career satisfaction?

Seeing women transform before my very eyes with the guidance and support I offer them. It’s a lot more than business and Instagram. We focus on removing blocks, facing fears, and moving forward personally and professionally. Seeing my clients through this is what sets my soul on fire. I have laughed with them, cried with them, and pushed forward with them through thick and thin. Seeing them shine is what fills my heart with joy.

What challenges have you seen to have been presented during the growth of your business?

Many challenges, I have learned to embrace and welcome challenges into my life. This is where the growth and magic happens. I’ve endured things such as financial downfalls, getting burnt out, questioning my path and purpose and sharing my most personal and vulnerable stories with the world. It’s all been challenging and necessary.

Which other leading entrepreneurs and pioneering game changers do you also admire and why?

Gary Vee!

What is a good article or book you have read recently?

'Light Is The New Black' by Rebecca Campbell.

Top 3 go-to Podcast channels?

Gary Vee is the only podcast I find time to listen to right now. But I have Amy Porterfield and Rachel Hollis on my list!

How do you measure your own terms of success?

Feeling fulfilled, inner peace, and alignment! Business growth and financial gains, fewer struggles, more happiness.

What does #BEYOUROWN mean to you?

Living and leading authentically without fear.

Lastly, what is next for you?

I guess we’ll see! I have massive goals and endless visions for the future. For now, Light Shakers Podcast is next, so stay tuned and follow along @LightShakersPodcast.

www.beyourown.org