Where Are They Now: Lisa Tozer

What are your big wins or challenges since we last spoke?

My biggest win is that my business is booming! It’s gone from a side gig to a full-time job in 5 years, despite the pandemic. It’s very gratifying to see that the customers I’m serving now come from three main streams; repeat business, referrals from previous customers who recommend my services to their friends and colleagues, and folks who read my google reviews and decide to reach out after checking out my website. My biggest challenge is keeping up with demand and balancing work and life. I have marketed my service as responsive to last minute requests, which means that as a sole practitioner I answer my phone and emails even when I’m on leave. Happily, I love my work and my family is understanding of my status as a one woman show!

What advice would you give yourself 5 years ago?

The content you create matters! I established my business by writing articles which I posted on social media, and made more than 50 videos with tips and tricks for interview candidates. It was an almost cost free way to market my business and demonstrate my knowledge and expertise to potential clients.
And don’t dismiss working online versus face to face. Initially, I marketed the service as replicating an interview by holding my sessions face to face in an office setting. I had no idea a pandemic was looming, which moved all work to video conference, including interviews. I discovered many clients found the opportunity to have coaching from the privacy of their home preferable. And I work with clients all over the world too, especially DFAT employees who are in more than 100 locations around the globe. I can work from anywhere.

What do you want to ask your future self?

How long can you keep going, Lisa? I’ve decided that I want to continue as a sole practitioner and I’m not entertaining the idea of adding staff to my business. I need to be better about setting boundaries and feeling ok about saying no to business when I’ve reached capacity. As I start to approach retirement age I want to figure out how to balance still working sometimes and indulging in my love of travel.

What are you proud of right now?

I am super proud that I have helped hundreds of people conquer their fear of interviews and learn how to confidently articulate their value to employers in an interview. It is enormously gratifying to get emails and phone calls from successful candidates. I am thrilled to be on target to serve my 1000 th customer in this, my 5th year of business.