Michael Madson, owner of Colorwheel Painting, has been working with Gold Master business coach Michael Stelter for over one year.  In that time, he has dramatically transformed his business from a chaotic burden to a well-organized enterprise.  His dream of being a successful entrepreneur has been realized.

He now spends much of his time planning for the growth of his company and he couldn’t be happier.  Michael shares his experiences with us in this one-on-one interview.

Q: It sounds like you had a good plan for your business.  Did your company succeed right away?
A:  At first, yes it did.  However, I was in control of everything and, after 2 years, I was really burnt out.  At that point, I tried to hire and delegate tasks, but through many errors, learned that running an actual business – versus me having my own job – was a huge challenge.  Hiring, training, and directing a team is complicated.  Managing money is time-consuming.  I felt as though my business was running me and not the other way around, and this was after attempts to delegate!

Q: Did these numerous challenges lead you to a business coach?
A: Fate and a referral lead me to the coach; an open mind and ambition did the rest.  At some point you have to decide if you can continue to run your company the same way, if you need to make changes, or even close your doors.  I was unhappy and had a gloomy outlook about my business.  There was no happiness as a business owner.  Changes were overdue and something had to be done.

Q: You have been working with Coach Michael Stelter of ActionCOACH since 2008.  How has that relationship impacted your company and you as the business owner?
A: Coach Michael is a powerful catalyst for exponential positive change.  He has helped me to see my world as it relates to business in a brand new light.  He has helped me to identify issues, worked through challenges, found solutions, and even provided consequences for poor actions that I wouldn’t have given myself.  He has supported me, pushed me, and challenged me.  He has held me accountable as a business owner.  He taught me how to listen, work harder, work smarter, and take appropriate actions for the benefit of my company.  His guidance has been incredibly valuable to me and my business.

Q: In your opinion, what makes Michael Stelter such an effective coach?
A: First and foremost, Coach Michael is an entrepreneur himself.  He has owned and continues to own numerous businesses.  He has wrestled with the same struggles we have all faced as business owners.  He has walked in our shoes.  Secondly, he brings a tremendous sense of accountability, responsibility, and results orientation to the table.  Coach Michael is keenly aware how important it is to run your business with purpose and integrity.  He has high standards and he raises the client (me) up to another level.  Through all of this he brings great compassion, empathy, and understanding to the relationship.  He is an excellent coach because of the experiences he has had and the person that he is.

Q: What would you say to the business owner who has doubts about working with a coach?
A: I would tell him/her that the return on investment is better than anything else you can find.  The business coach can bring fresh eyes to the situation, look objectively at the business, and offer guidance and solutions.  The business coach will not run your business, but will help you run your business more effectively than ever before.  Even world-class athletes rely upon great coaches to become the best they can be.  That same principle applies to business owners.

Michael Madson
Colorwheel Painting
www.colorwheelpainting.net/
Phone: (414) 708-6324