What Actually Makes a Business Work — with Louise O'Brien
Two business owners get honest about mentorship, investment, structure and building a business that actually works
What does it actually take to build a business that works — and keeps working?
In this episode Niamh Cassidy sits down with Louise O'Brien, women's wellness coach and business mentor at Badass Coaching, for a genuinely honest conversation between two business owners about what makes the difference. Not the polished version. The real one.
Louise closed her physical gym, started from scratch with €5k in the bank, invested all of it in a business mentor and made it back within two months. Since then she has built a thriving online coaching business that she has runs entirely on her own terms, and grown almost exclusively through referrals.
This episode covers the business decisions, mindset shifts, systems and support structures that actually move a business forward — and why most business owners stay stuck without them.
In this episode Niamh and Louise cover:
— Why Louise invested her last €5k in a business mentor — and what happened within two months — The difference between working in your business and working on your business — and why getting stuck in one kills growth — Why AI is a useful tool but will never replace the value of a mentor or community who truly gets your work — The GPS analogy for mentorship that will change how you think about getting support in your business — How Louise structured her business to work from Thailand for six weeks while signing eight new clients — without running a single ad — The role of accountability in keeping a self-employed business owner moving forward consistently — Why surrounding yourself with the right people is one of the most powerful business growth strategies available — What Louise would tell any service-based business owner who is just starting out
Who this episode is for:
This episode is for any self-employed birthworker, doula, lactation consultant, antenatal educator or service-based business owner who:
— Is trying to build a business without any real support structure around them — Has wondered whether investing in a business mentor or coaching programme is actually worth it — Wants to build a business that gives them genuine freedom — not just a different kind of busy — Is struggling to find time to work on the business rather than just in it — Needs to hear an honest account from someone who has built something from nothing
About Louise:
Louise O'Brien is a women's wellness coach and business mentor at Badass Coaching. She works with women all over the world on health, fitness, mindset and business growth. Find her on Instagram @louise_badasscoaching
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