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Hector, CEO/Founder at OnePlusWe -- self employed: Advize Career Interview

Hector's journey to becoming a leadership coach at OnePlusWe is a testament to the power of diverse experiences and genuine connection.

From childhood leadership roles to corporate engineering, a career path highlights the importance of developing both technical and interpersonal skills.

A typical day prioritizes physical and mental well-being alongside client preparation, emphasizing active listening as a key skill to understand client needs beyond the surface level.

The most rewarding aspect of the role lies in witnessing client growth and receiving direct positive feedback.

While finding the right clients who challenge and inspire poses a significant challenge, the constant opportunity to connect with fascinating individuals globally is an exciting perk.

Success in this field requires curiosity about people, strong listening skills, and the ability to build genuine connections.

A valuable lesson learned is the difference between coaching and advising, emphasizing empowering clients to find their own answers.

Entry-level advice includes seeking leadership positions, asking tough questions of leaders, and prioritizing connecting with people on a human level.

College experiences underscore the importance of exploring different paths, discovering one's strengths, and aligning passion with career choices.

Advizer Information

Name

Job Title

Company

Undergrad

Grad Programs

Majors

Industries

Job Functions

Traits

Hector J Bordas

CEO/Founder

OnePlusWe -- self employed

University of So. Ca & Cal. State, Long Beach

Biology & Related Sciences, Engineering - Civil

Coaching

Consulting

None Applicable

Watch all of this Advizer's videos below

Career Path of a CEO Founder as a Self Employed Professional

Hector's career path towards becoming a leadership coach began long before college, with childhood experiences in leadership roles from elementary school through Boy Scouts, and expanded through managing people in family businesses. Leveraging experiences and success leading complex teams in a corporate engineering career, combined with "self-taught" knowledge from books and mentors, led to a transition into one-on-one coaching that has now grown into a thriving business.

Main Responsibilities of a CEO and Founder as a Solo Entrepreneur

Hector, as a solo entrepreneur at OnePlusWe, initially handled "everything" from coaching to marketing and finances; however, to maximize effectiveness, Hector now focuses primarily on coaching, which is their passion, while delegating backend tasks to others.

A Day in the Life of a Self Employed Executive And Leadership Coach

Hector, a CEO/Founder at OnePlusWe, emphasizes the importance of practicing what one preaches by starting the day with physical activity, including "mobility and stretching exercises," followed by journaling to set the day's mindset and determine key priorities. Preparation is also critical, as the coach reviews client forms ahead of appointments to understand their current state and concludes the day with a quick analysis of their own performance.

Most Important Skills for a Self Employed CEO Founder

For a CEO/Founder like Hector, it might seem that communication is key, but "listening is critical," particularly active listening that focuses on the client's words and body language. This allows a career professional to "read between the lines" and ask probing questions to truly understand what's happening with a client's career, business, or leadership skills.

Favorite Parts of Being a Self-Employed CEO and Founder

Hector at OnePlusWe finds the most enjoyable aspect of the role to be witnessing the growth and development of clients, as they make positive changes in their careers and businesses; the direct feedback received, whether explicitly stating "that was a great session" or sharing news of a new role or company started due to coaching, is "quite phenomenal" and has a significant impact. Working with a client doing amazing things transforms even an "awful day" into something positive, highlighting the rewarding nature of the work.

Biggest Challenges Faced By a Founder as a Self Employed Consultant

Hector's biggest challenge as CEO/Founder of OnePlusWe is "finding the right clients" -- those with established leadership experience seeking to evolve and who will challenge them to help them grow, though working with new leaders can also be enjoyable. As a self-employed individual, they prioritize selectivity over simply taking any client.

Favorite Parts of Working in the Consulting Industry as a CEO Founder

Hector, as CEO/Founder of OnePlusWe, most enjoys the constant opportunity to connect with diverse and fascinating individuals across the globe through LinkedIn, emphasizing that even when these connections don't lead to business, the enriching conversations and exposure to "phenomenal" careers are a rewarding part of the work.

What Type Of Person Thrives In The Coaching Industry According To A CEO And Founder At OnePlusWe

In the coaching industry, according to Hector, a CEO/Founder at OnePlusWe, people that thrive possess a strong "curiosity about people" to deeply understand their aspirations, coupled with being a "people person" who can effortlessly make connections, and possessing strong listening skills. These traits are critical for effectively guiding people towards their goals, suggesting that success in this field hinges on genuine engagement and understanding of others.

What a Business Owner at OnePlusWe wishes they had known before entering Coaching

Hector wishes someone had explained the true difference between coaching and advising earlier in career, realizing the importance of "helping people find the answers for themselves" instead of simply giving advice, and also wishes someone had emphasized how much effort goes into finding clients for a service-based business, but also that "you can make it fun" by focusing on the enjoyment of connecting with people.

Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Self-Employed CEOs and Founders

Hector of OnePlusWe notes that there are no specific coaching degrees, and instead recommends individuals "take on leadership positions, tough ones" to challenge themself and learn on the job, further suggesting to connect with leaders and "ask 'em tough questions" in order to define and develop coaching skills.

Significant Career Lesson From A Self Employed CEO And Founder

Hector, CEO/Founder at OnePlusWe, emphasizes the significance of connecting with people "at the human level, not surface," fostering vulnerability and open communication to truly understand what's happening in their lives, as "better humans make better leaders, better leaders make better humans." This deep connection allows for more meaningful conversations and a better understanding of a person's circumstances.

College Experiences That Helped a Self Employed CEO and Founder Succeed

In college, Hector explored different paths, from biology at USC to civil engineering at Cal State Long Beach, ultimately realizing the enjoyment of working with and leading people in team settings was the most important. Discovering what one is "really good at" and matching that with passion became the key to career success, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and exploration over a rigid mindset.

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