What is your name?
Helen Kosinski
What is your title?
Owner / Business Coach and Animal Communicator
What is your business name?
Helen Kosinski
What is your website URL?
helenkosinski.com
What is your Instagram handle?
@helenforemankosinski
What is your LinkedIn URL?
linkedin.com/in/helenkosinski
How long have you been a Boston Business Women member?
ICM Since the spring / Non-paid since 2017
Where are you based? How did you end up there?
I live and work on Cape Cod.
In 1996, we bought a “weekend” home on the Cape. Within a month, we loved being there so much that I started commuting from the Cape. At the time, I worked in downtown Boston for a financial services firm. The commute for me was over 2 hours one way!
I did this commute for 10 years! It may sound crazy, but I didn’t want to be any place else when I wasn’t working!
Today, I’m thrilled to offer my coaching and animal communication services over the phone from my home!
Tell us more about your company! What do you do and what pushed you to start?
I’m a business coach and an animal communicator. As with many businesses, what I thought my company would look like has evolved over the years!
Believe it or not, I started out as a techy in the financial services industry. I spent close to 25 years knowing deep down this technology career wasn’t what I was supposed to be doing.
In 2004, I finally began working with my first coach to figure out “what I wanted to be when I grew up.” It turned out I wanted to be a coach!
When I started my company in 2005, I chose the name Better Than Ever Coaching. I focused on partnering with unhappy corporate employees who wanted to make a big change. I knew there were tons of these potential clients just at the company I worked for. However, I quickly discovered many unhappy corporate employees had created a lifestyle that depended on the money they made in corporate, and they were NOT willing to risk potentially giving that up for a more meaningful career.
I then shifted to working with small business owners to address business growth, as well as overwhelm, stress, etc. I love working with these clients! They are smart, passionate leaders who are on a mission.
Fast forward to 2018, when my male kitty, Kona, passed away. I was heartbroken. During a meeting with my coach, we talked about me exploring the idea of animal communication—which truthfully, I thought you needed “special powers” to do. It turns out you don’t!
The type of animal communication readings I do are different. During a reading, I share the lesson the animal is working on with their person. These lessons are all focused on their human becoming the best version of themselves.
After completing my certification for “Soul Level Animal Communication,” I decided to change the name of my company to Helen Kosinski. This gives me the freedom to offer:
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1-to-1 coaching
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Animal communication readings
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Coaching with animals (which is very cool because it combines 1-to-1 coaching with the lesson obtained from the person’s pet during an animal communication reading)
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Special offerings, such as Women’s Walking Retreats, Horse Wisdom events, etc.
I love to partner with ever-evolving intuitive businesswomen who are on a mission! My clients are passionate, lifelong learners committed to making a difference in our world—and they love animals! It’s exciting to witness my client’s authentic self as it shines through all aspects of her business and life, resulting in the success she desires!
What is your definition of success? How do you know when you’ve reached it?
My definition of success is knowing I was able to support businesswomen as they move forward authentically to achieve their unique definition of success. It’s also important for me to include working with animals and the mission they are on to help their humans be their best. Additionally, my definition of success includes continuing to learn, grow, and have the freedom to balance various facets of my life and business.
My definition of success is an ongoing path, not a destination. Some signs that signal success for me are when:
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I witness the progress a client makes and the confidence that comes from them achieving their definition of success
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I’ve given voice to an animal’s lesson, so they can partner with their human to support my client’s definition of success
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I’ve learned a new technique or skill that improves the way I do things
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I’m feeling productive, healthy, and I’m making a difference
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I have time to read, learn, spend time with those I love, and/or just be
Tell us about your most transformational moment as an entrepreneur.
For me and most of my clients, transformations occur as part of a steady forward movement. When I take time to look back at all the ups and downs, twists and turns, etc. of building a business, that’s when I see how much my business and I have evolved.
What was one of your biggest challenges in business?
I am incredibly loyal, and one of my biggest challenges in running my business is letting go of things that are no longer working for me.
For example, I was part of a networking group that was a great source of referrals for many years. It really worked well—until it didn’t. Even though it didn’t work, I still felt committed to the group. When I finally decided to leave, I was sad but very relieved. I was also amazed how much time and space was opened up by letting go of this commitment.
How do you handle the harder days? The struggles? Those moments when you feel like giving up?
I believe that without these challenges and the days where it’s so tough I begin wondering if this is all worth it, I truly would not appreciate the great times and the easier days! Remembering the harder days and the struggles are temporary and “the great times and easier days” are around the corner helps keep me moving forward.
Also, as an avid learner, I often ask myself, “What do I need to learn in this situation?” — which helps shift my focus from frustration to growth.
How has being a Boston Business Women Inner Circle member positively influenced your life and business?
I’m a fairly new member of the Boston Business Women Inner Circle. I’ve found meeting various women during different webinars valuable, as has providing support to others in the FB group.
However, the biggest benefit I’ve gotten from being a member of this group is gaining different perspectives. As a solo businesswoman, it’s easy for me to get “locked” in my head and continually approach things only from my experiences and my perspective. Listening to and reading about different women’s experiences, challenges, successes, etc. have helped me shift my lens so new and creative ideas can emerge.
Tell us about your most proud moment in your career.
I am currently embarking on something very innovative—combining coaching with animal communication. Every time I share this new way to approach coaching with someone who “gets it” and is eager to learn more, it makes me very proud.
The reason I feel proud isn’t because of the actual offering—it’s because I am proud to be able to give a voice to the animals that support the people they love so much and only want the very best for them.
Who is the woman behind your business? What does she like? How does she spend her free time? What does she value?
As a businesswoman, I’m a quick learner (and I love to learn), direct and creative. I value honesty, integrity, persistence, and discovering what lights someone up.
I also believe building relationships is the core of building your business. Taking a genuine interest in others and being curious is one of the keys to establishing great clients or referral partners.
I am passionate about animals and helping women bring their authentic selves out into the world so they can achieve what is most important to them.
I spend my free time walking (especially in nature—ideally on a beach!), reading, playing with my two kitties, Mickey & Minnie, enjoying time with my husband Rich, and volunteering at the local animal rescue.
What makes you stand out from others in your field? What do you do differently?
What makes me different is my unique offering of “Coaching with Animals.”
As an established ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with over 15 years of coaching experience and almost 25 years in corporate, I understand many of the challenges businesswomen experience.
When my clients bring the wisdom of their animals into their coaching meetings, that’s when things start to really move forward. Their animals know them better than any being in the world. Their animals only want what’s best for them. And their animals understand that to be successful, the woman must be functioning at her authentic best. That’s what the animal’s support helps them do!
Where can we keep up with you? What social media platforms do you use the most?
I use Facebook most:
Personal profile — facebook.com/helen.foreman.kosinski
Business page — facebook.com/helen.kosinski