$500 an hour. That's what I paid for a founder coach.
Best ROI of my career.
Why?
1/ I stopped avoiding tough conversations
Giving constructive feedback used to make me uncomfortable.
I either sugarcoated too much or avoided it altogether, afraid of creating tension.
My coach helped me reframe feedback as a tool for growth—not criticism.
Now, I communicate clearly, directly, and without hesitation.
2/ I gained clarity on my values
Before, I focused only on business goals:
↳ Revenue
↳ Growth
↳ Execution
But I never took the time to ask: WHY am I doing this?
Through coaching, I:
↳ Defined my personal and company values
↳ Found a stronger sense of direction
↳ Made decisions with more purpose
3/ I developed emotional intelligence
I used to think emotions didn’t matter much in business.
Now, I know they drive everything—from leadership to negotiations.
My coach helped me:
↳ Understand my own emotions and what they signal
↳ Communicate them clearly instead of bottling them up
↳ Navigate other people’s emotions without unnecessary conflict
We often invest in tools, courses, marketing...
But investing in myself has been the most valuable decision.
The best founders don’t just grow their business.
They grow themselves.
Do you think I paid too much for a coach? 🙈
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👋 Hey, I'm J.Y!
I'm the co-founder of BuddiesHR, the #1 suite of Slack apps.
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Sustainable Business Growth Partner for SMEs | Acquirer of US Commercial Real Estate & European Companies | Author of the Stronger You, Stronger Business
10 hours ago
Congrats on your decision to hire a coach. And the second congrats goes for $0 raised capital. If the business is structured for bootstrapping, the rest is the choice.
J.Y Delmotte I've often found especially in today's world, genuine feedback often leads to tension.. How did you 'reframe feedback as a tool for growth' for the first point?