Personalised and bespoke.
To stop drifting and instead purposefully begin a new chapter
To stop hoping and wishing the next part of your story will magically write itself and instead take ownership of it.
To find a way to work and life that works and aligns with your personality, circumstances, skills and goals.
To spend time figuring out what you want and not wait for the perfect time to 'start'
To reconnect with yourself and remember you are important.
To change your career stories; what you build, how you work, your money story and how you do it all on your terms.
To uncover what is blocking and stopping you from making progress so you can finally make the moves you desire.
To see what is possible and knock your own socks off..
... and it isn't greedy. In fact it is essential and necessary.
I live with my partner and two kids and I know that when I have a slice of life just for me, everyone wins. I feel good and I am teaching them to do it too.
We are not like the 19 year old bros on the internet; whose sole commitments are working 18 hour days in their Mum's basement and meeting their protein and weight requirements.
We have to do things differently because we are doing many things - often for others.
Perfect, curated lifestyles on social media can be nice to look at but that is unlikely to be reality for most of us, most of the time.
In order to receive coaching; you don't have to be a perfect 10/10 version of yourself.
In fact, during my sessions, I am always making sure that the strategies, tools and actions are doable in this season of life.
I want to support and cater for the tired, overstretched, exhausted, multi tasking, ambitious version of you.
I see your brilliance. What a thoughtful, generous, considered person you are. How you put others before yourself and always endeavour to do the 'right' thing.
AND I feel deeply passionate that you get to be, do, have and feel everything you want.
I am not your traditional 'life coach in a pashmina with clasped hands' vibe... that sits and nods and slightly judges... although they would never admit that...
I am a strategist, a creative, here to ask the big questions so you receive the big answers. I want to help you find a way. To flip a new perspective. To get to the heart of it. To be your champion, cheerleader and welcome all your capabilities (sometimes before you see them yourself)
I hate the culture around stuffy 'role play' but with my acting background I can be your player two ... the person that you can say things aloud to, experiment and mind map with until, it feels 'just like you', a safe place where you can begin now, and not wait until the opportunity hits your inbox.
I provide accountability because I know you are always going to be busy and overstretched; often putting (often through necessity as you have caring responsibilities) others before yourself. A little and often approach builds consistency and keeps you moving forward. Rather than waiting until you have more time/money/resources/energy etc..
I want to you help you to build a 'big why' that quietens downs the negative chatter that may be blocking or stopping you.
To be in a position of clarity; so you can build from strong foundations and make heart, mind and soul decisions. To couple and collect data and feelings. To always have a sense of what you are building. No random actions or dabbling energy. Instead fully understand your goals and the metrics that you are optimising.
Making moves that not only feel good but are actually doable (and enjoyable!) and align with your circumstances, personality and goals.
Finally activating the next version of you or perhaps certain parts of you that have been dormant or forgotten about or never acknowledged. Spending time with yourself and defining and refining your next chapter and inviting the next steps to reveal themselves.
Understanding the life you want to have and live before you begin to build the next version of your career is key.
We complete a lot of work around what success looks and feels like to you; in the short term and in the long term.
Change has to be rooted in connection. You have to feel it first. You have to know why you want it. What you are doing it for. You have to know what you would like to achieve. To get clear on the detail.
Blanket phrases such as 'I just want to make more money 'or 'I just want to feel like me' or 'I want to help people and create impact' are not useful; only vague and wooly.
Without clarity; change can be stifling; a foggy path where you can't see the first step...
This is about tuning into yourself. Ignoring the trends, the formulas and the 'shoulds'. We can't continue to crowd source our life choices. We have to let our own inner voice be the loudest.
You are ready to...
Reconnect. To carve out space to listen to those feelings that are activating; maybe quietly, maybe loudly. To get support as you step into the next version of you (even if you don't know where to start or which next step to take!)
To build your version/blend of life and business success. To be able to operate in a way that is true your values and makes you money in a way that you want to make it.
To help you to break the cycle of 'just talking about it' and instead take the first steps that will bring them to life... even though there may be fear, a lot of emotion/uncertainty and the full plan may not have revealed itself yet
Press pause on the overthinking and the what ifs and create a safe and trusted space where you can be begin to clarify and articulate your ideas and move them into reality
To gently uncover what is blocking and stopping your progress. To reframe your self doubt (insert your own block) and find a way to make moves forward purposely; yet imperfectly.
To build some momentum. To find a flow and rhythm of process. To pause the research and the constant scrolling or comparing yourself and instead build a workable strategy that will enable you to forge a path that fits you.
To dare to have a go. Maybe you've reached a point in life. An f it moment. You are ready to see what's possible. You are open to knocking your own socks off in a way that feels great for you. You are in a stage of life where you know NOW is the TIME... even though you are busy, tired, over stretched, overwhelmed etc...
You are in safe hands...
'I have worked with Nicky for the past 12 months and she has asked pertinent questions, held a space for me to analyse, shape, edit and direct my personal brand in a direction that suits my ultimate goals and lifestyle. She has a knack for asking thought-provoking questions and enabling me to uncover things that I had previously missed in both my vision and mindset.'
One of my oldest goals was 'I want to do what I love and get paid for it' and it still remains at the top of my goal list in my mid 40s.
I know you are not just one thing. You are talented, experienced, skillset and multi faceted; however you may need help to pull everything together so it is cohesive.
You also want to do things your way; authenticity and connection must lead. Your lifestyle is as important to you as your business goals so you want to work and deliver in a way that feels good.
My creative strategy work is about reinventing stories...
Your money story. Your visibility story. Your work/life balance story. Your selling story.
We focus on elevating, optimising, sharing, delivering, showcasing you... you as the personal brand, your products, your services, your insight and your impact. In a way that suits you. We build your version of results. Some people want an introverted, quiet part time side hustle and others want to be a leading, visible expert in their field.
My work has created so many positive stories:
paid speaking gigs
television appearances
book deals
being the go to expert for BBC radio
landed life changing contracts and opportunities
becoming brand ambassadors
landing investment
diversifying their income
creating consistent passive income
more joy, increased income and less working hours
more life; more spaciousness and capacity
building an online portfolio that create a digital presence... that brings their vision board to life.
TV, film, radio theatre, commercials, filming days with The Spice Girls, sold out midnight shows, keynotes, in person workshops, fireside chats, being a host, an interviewer, international online presentations (my record is 58 countries joining), a top 100 iTunes podcaster, near to a million views and I feel I am only just getting started.
I have worked with hundreds of people globally.
I have welcomed quite a crowd :)
Founders, Creatives, Journalists, Leaders, Stylists, Speakers, CEOs, Digital experts, Healers, Teachers, Medical professionals. RuIe Makers (Lawyers) and Rule Breakers (Monetising non traditional careers; curating a portfolio career on their terms) Innovators, Technology Trailblazers, Dreamers, Foodies, Raconteurs, Game changers, Artists, Designers, Storytellers, Strategists, Wellbeing experts, Band Members who want to become Solo Artists (aka 9-5ers to want to create their own gig)... to name a few
In 2018 I launched my podcast which regularly charted on the top 100 business podcasts.
Plus I regularly deliver talks at various brands/events/organisations including BBC, Google, Stylist Magazine, Stylist Live, Nat West, MTV, The Collective, The Olympic Village, Huckletree, Digital Mums, Arcadia, Citizen M, The Townhall, Shoreditch, Kingston University and many more.
Take That said it (or danced it under waterfalls!) 'Everything changes but you...'
You are always the common denominator but forever bending and flexing,
Things change all the time.
New technology, trends, AI, how people buy, the algorithm etc etc in the business world...
Then your personal world; your circumstances, your capabilities, your capacity, your preferences, personality, your commitments, energy levels, your stress, what you need and want...
Your personal brand can reshape when as and when you do. You can blend your own combination.
In my 20s; my personal brand was all about saying yes. Figuring out who I was. Putting myself in rooms ready to learn and listen (and sometimes leave when I figured out I was in the wrong room!) Experiencing newness and trying define my 'thing'. It was about honing my skills and monetising them. Playing the short term game so I could stay for the long term game. Meeting, greeting, building relationships; showing up and playing full out. Very few responsibilities and the capacity to fail, build resilience, and quickly go again.
In my 30s; I knew I wanted this to be the decade that I wanted to start a family ( I had my first child at 33 and my second at 37). I had to figure out I was going to become the parent I wanted to be and an generate income...
The internet was truly here to stay (hooray!) and I began studying and absorbing everything about running an online business. I began making passive income. I diversified my income to incorporate more streams. My public speaking presence and revenue increased. The stages were bigger. My podcast regularly landed on the top 100 business podcast.
Meanwhile I was navigating a lot of pregnancy sickness, sleepless nights (for 7 years!), small babies and a lot of joy... and juggling!
Oh and then throw in a global pandemic in 2020... that dismantled all safety and security and required urgent pivoting and reshaping...
My 40s are about clarity, courage and confidence. Leaning on where I have been and what I have honed and now stretching into a new, brave version of me. I have learnt about the power of strong foundations; building a sense of flow and where my skills sit in the market. I no longer dilute myself or try to be 'liked by everyone' instead I lean into the work that I do that I know has a perspective and a point of view and more importantly that feels in alignment to me.
What about you? Where are you up to? What do you need and want next?
'Nicky was the first person I spoke to about launching Brave Bird. I’d listened to her podcast and followed her for about a year before reaching out. I’d had a few years out of work and my confidence was pretty low so I needed some professional advice about becoming much more visible. This was something outside of my comfort zone, but the faith what I had to offer convinced me it was time.
She grasped the intention right away and offered me great advice on personal branding, and helped me to formulate a structure in which to operate professionally and authentically.
I would highly recommend her services.'
Everything from pricing, packaging, selling, negotiating, marketing your personal brand.
Because I know you are talented, skilled, experienced, creative, empathetic, considered, kind, determined, ambitious, heart led, purposeful etc etc AND You are tired. You've danced with burn out. You've questioned whether or not all the hard work is worth it. You've taken 'all the right actions, but the 'results' are yet to materialise to represent your efforts. You have so many things you want to/need to do but need to be flexible. You want to have a 'successful business on your terms' but do not desire to work 18 hour days from a gloomy, windowless basement. You want to feel and know that your work matters. That you are making a difference. So you need a new way... inside of squeezing yourself into a box you want to design your own.
'I now have a plan... I was definitely winging it before and ‘hoping for the best’ and
now I have realised I can make this business work for me...’
'Working with Nicky was just what I needed. She created the space for me to open up and get clear on some goals that I'd been procrastinating over for way too long, and even more importantly helped me bring about some action.
Nicky is a great coach but she also knows when to step in with ideas, which is exactly what I needed. Her creative questions, fast understanding of what you are wanting to achieve and unique background add so much value to the conversations you have with her.'
"Working with Nicky was a great experience: a really deep and accelerated process which meant that I found answers I was looking for really efficiently. Her methods combined to kick my brain into action and helped me bypass many of the usual traps of complaining and dwelling on obstacles. It was so great talking to someone who seemed to 'get' me immediately, and she also used concrete examples and relatable metaphors that totally made sense. I recommend her approach unreservedly - a brilliant way to get out of a rut and into action.
Thanks, Nicky!"
'I am so happy I met you and I am so happy I did this for ME...
I’ve always known that I have wanted to do this but the last few years have been so tough, I was beginning to doubt myself.
The way that you hold space for people is incredible. In your company, I feel that this is all possible. I also have plan (thank you). So not only does it feel good, it makes sense on paper.
I’m now actually excited about what is next'
aka your online presence, your online portfolio. Your content, your social media activity, your website, your online community etc etcSo you can welcome every day sales, opportunities and requests. A place and space that represents you; it displays and showcases who you are and what you do. But more than that... why you do what you do.... Now is not the time to dilute yourself or blend in to be like everyone else or put 'update website' on your never ending to do list. I want to remove the guess work/procrastination/looming perfectionism and begin this new chapter with you. To essentially build your hardest working co worker aka your digital disco. So your personal brand can thrive (and sell) when you are working... and when you are not.
Working with Nicky was just what I needed. She created the space for me to open up and get clear on some goals that I'd been procrastinating over for way too long, and even more importantly helped me bring about some action.Nicky is a great coach but she also knows when to step in with ideas, which is exactly what I needed. Her creative questions, fast understanding of what you are wanting to achieve and unique background add so much value to the conversations you have with her.
Working with Nicky was a great experience: a really deep and accelerated process which meant that I found answers I was looking for really efficiently. Her methods combined to kick my brain into action and helped me bypass many of the usual traps of complaining and dwelling on obstacles. It was so great talking to someone who seemed to 'get' me immediately, and she also used concrete examples and relatable metaphors that totally made sense. I recommend her approach unreservedly - a brilliant way to get out of a rut and into action.Thanks, Nicky!
I am forever grateful for the forces of the universe that led me to Nicky. I was hooked listening to her podcasts and took the plunge to work with her. It changed my life! I am an overthinker & subscriber of too many courses - but none worked for me - or they weren’t complete. I was overwhelmed by all the processes of launching my business - creating a website, how to show up on social media, pricing etc. The course is well worth the investment. It’s chock full of practical, useful information & presented in Nicky’s warm, vibrant personality. Working 1:1 was a real game changer - right from the first session, she just “gets” me! She uses metaphors that I can relate to and just like that, I understand what I need to do next. No fuss, no drama. As a solo-preneur, it’s great to work with someone honest, calm & concise like Nicky. I can bounce ideas with her and she can give me a viewpoint that I might otherwise have resisted or not considered. When I crossed milestones in my business, she was there cheering loudly & celebrating my wins with me. In the time we worked together, my personal brand has evolved by leaps & bounds! Thank you Nicky for your BRILLIANCE!! I look forward to working with you again soon!
In an ideal world; how would your business look and feel in 30 days? What are you measuring? What are you optimising for? How many sales would you like to have made? What income would you like to have generated? What do you want to be known for? Which places and spaces would you like to be talking about your business in? What requests and opportunities would you like to receive in your inbox or DMs? How many people would you like to have helped or impacted? I know how easy it is to get busy or feel as though you are always pulled in dozens of directions; however I would like to see what 30 days of focused work on your visibility could create. The great news is you can do this on your own terms. You don't have to be squeezed into a different version of you.
Choose a shorter session
A pitch, a new offering, selling on a live.
Or maybe refining your discovery call so it isn't just a chat.
My press play sessions are perfect...
Your online content has been so helpful and real and practical as well as funny, which is of great relief when all of this can feel heavy on your own.
You are honestly super at what you do and I'm so grateful I've started working with you...
I just finished the course with you and after every module, I feel so much more put together.
If you're a business owner/a human being, wholly recommend seeing what
Nicky Raby can do for you.
I worked with Nicky when I was feeling unsure about my direction after having kids. I was through the baby and toddler days and beginning to consider my options. Nicky saw a passion in me for advocating for, and supporting, people who has been adopted - like me. Nicky helped me to take myself seriously in terms of what I had to offer. So instead of launching with a free Wordpress site to little fanfare, I invested in myself and my new brand: How To Be Adopted.
I paid for a domain name, a shiny Squarespace site and an eye-catching and professional logo. To this day I still get compliments on the logo! I launched myself at an adoption event in London where I networked and made important contacts. I have now had 34k visitors to my site, been interviewed for international podcasts and been paid to speak at events.
Thank you Nicky for not letting me sell myself short!
This is perfect for you; if you love carving out time in your diary and ticking off everything.
I remember hosting one of these days and the client opened with 'Right I have 17 things on my list'
Excellent.
Sometimes squeezing tasks into pockets of time feels exhausting and always unfinished; so having a focused day together with a month of support afterwards can create some serious progress.
'Here we are very nearly a year later and Nicky is still replying to any updates personal or professional and her responses are always full and appropriate.I can’t recommend working with her more wholeheartedly you will definitely grow and be seen.
A catalyst for change with encouragement and endorsement.Being able to see when things are not working so well. Fresh approaches and ways of working is how Nicky navigates her life and as always actions definitely speak louder than words.'
'I usually share pictures of children's books but today I am making an exception and am sharing a picture of my notebook!
I have been having a great time working through Nicky Raby's fabulous Personal Brand Plan! I can't tell you how much I am enjoying it and am getting so much out of it! I already feel much more focussed on what I want to achieve and how I will achieve it.
This programme is perfect for freelancers and small business owners.
It covers lots of incredibly relevant questions and topics including "How do I stand out?" "How do I make money?" "What do I want to achieve?" "How do I put myself out there?"
I honestly couldn't recommend this online course more, you can do it in your own time and there is lots of support from the wonderful and very talented Nicky Raby.'
I did a strategy session with Nicky and I feel it should be called an "Hour of Power" session! Nicky was able to focus in on what had me blocked from taking action in my business, and helped me reframe my approach so that I could move forward. My time with Nicky resulted in more action taken in one day than had been taken in the six months leading up to it. No fancy catchphrases or meaningless cliches - Nicky is all about achieving realistic goals and moving forward with purpose.
I can't wait to work with Nicky again!
Your online content has been so helpful and real and practical as well as funny, which is of great relief when all of this can feel heavy on your own.
You are honestly super at what you do and I'm so grateful I've started working with you...
I just finished the course with you and after every module, I feel so much more put together.
If you're a business owner/a human being, wholly recommend seeing what
Nicky Raby can do for you.
I worked with Nicky when I was feeling unsure about my direction after having kids. I was through the baby and toddler days and beginning to consider my options. Nicky saw a passion in me for advocating for, and supporting, people who has been adopted - like me. Nicky helped me to take myself seriously in terms of what I had to offer. So instead of launching with a free Wordpress site to little fanfare, I invested in myself and my new brand: How To Be Adopted.
I paid for a domain name, a shiny Squarespace site and an eye-catching and professional logo. To this day I still get compliments on the logo! I launched myself at an adoption event in London where I networked and made important contacts. I have now had 34k visitors to my site, been interviewed for international podcasts and been paid to speak at events.
Thank you Nicky for not letting me sell myself short!
If you would like to chat before booking, head to the bottom right hand corner. All messages go directly to me and all contents are strictly confidential.
Why do I like her/rate her?
If you want someone who is genuine, down to earth, not polished (can be in full make up or in her PJs with her kids i.e real)
She is not salesy, she is very funny, is full of analogies (which really works for how I learn) and is incredibly insightful and timely - Nicky is your woman...
I have just woken up after an unexpected snooze! That is how good the day was. I. Was. Exhausted! In a good way.
You are such a brilliant coach.
Worth your weight in gold.
The “Don’t play small” really impacted me and touched me deep somewhere and opened up something that i had locked away for a long time. These words are now written above my desk :-)
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.