Kris Harris was a new business owner from Portland, OR who had recently opened a research agency in a niche space. He didn’t want to alter his finances to the point where they changed his lifestyle, but he also wanted to invest in his new venture. After 9 months of sessions, I asked Kris to share what he gained from the experience.
What stood out to you during our initial sessions?
Claire was a great listener and had a friendly, calm demeanor, which made it more comfortable to reveal all the personal details about my finances.
What were some painless ways you reduced your monthly spending?
Claire renegotiated my cable bill, which will save me about $60/month going forward. By cutting out other subscriptions and renegotiating other bills, working with Claire has saved me about $250/month.
Were you surprised by any of the extra money you found in your monthly spending?
Yes, Claire had clever solutions for saving money in a few areas: groceries, my cell phone plan, cable, the gym, haircuts and music. These were cost-saving tips I never would have thought of on my own and didn’t detract from my standard of living.
How will this process help you earn more going forward?
I learned how to clarify my business offering to be simple and effective. Claire helped me define my differentiators and exactly why people should hire me, and she helped me set up a website that will enable automation.
What would have made your experience even better?
More time with Claire! Given that the one-on-one sessions are such an important element, I think she will be most successful by having fewer clients but charging them more per hour, since her tailored advice makes this a high-end service.
Note: When I worked with Kris, I had more clients than time, so I immediately implemented his advice and created a waiting list. This allowed me to be incredibly intentional with a smaller pool of clients, tailoring each Money Makeover to their unique needs. Having fewer clients at a time also supports my ultimate goal, which is to equip each client with the tools they need to manage their finances independently.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Claire is a natural at one-on-one conversations that help people to open up, talk about their goals, and reveal their fears. I don’t know if this can be learned — it’s just who she is. I found that Claire gave me confidence when launching my business, which, let’s face it, can be a scary endeavor. She broke down tasks into simple steps, she helped me brainstorm, and kept me on track. I look forward to working more with Claire.