Hi I'm Susan!
I started this journey several years ago because I had a strong, belief that people could and should prosper doing what they love. I spent 20+ years in the exciting (though not glamorous) world of entertainment, but being a restless soul by nature with LOTS and LOTS OF interests, it became increasingly clear to me that I needed time to pursue ALL of my dreams -- not just one. One of those dreams was fast becoming a reality. I was transitioning into motherhood, which to me, although cliche, is truly the most important job of all! Sleeping in editing rooms, hopping on a plane at a moment’s notice or working extremely long hours didn’t compute with my newfound reality. I didn’t necessarily want to be my own cookie-wielding version of Martha Stewart, but I did want to be there, be engaged and be ever present in my child’s life, helping her navigate life’s ups and downs.
All of this coupled with the fact that the world was changing, propelled me on a quest for greater control over my destiny through work I love. The internet and mobile technology placed the power of creating businesses quickly and efficiently in our hands and they made it easier to reach a global audience. Add to this the economically induced disappearance of traditional jobs and job “security” and I was compelled to hatch my own “escape plan”. Now, I’m on a mission to help my clients hatch their own “escape plans” so they too can do work they love and feel meant to do.
See below some questions others have had to see if working together might be a good idea.
How did you become the Escape Hatcher?
Well, its funny really, but I've always been a person who thinks up "escape plans" for all sorts of things in life...basically if things aren't going well, I typically like to have an idea of how to make them better or create a better situation for myself. This sort of thinking has aided me in all sorts of ways, but when it started to kick in for me regarding work was several years ago. As you may have read above, I was working in the fast paced, high pressure entertainment business and had been for some time helping people I would come across or interface with in the industry who just weren't happy to think of other ways they could make a living or creative ways to earn money. I just did this for fun. I was and am big into reading articles, blog posts and gathering information so this came naturally for me. Eventually, I was reading one of my fave magazines SELF and I saw an article featuring Dr. Valerie Young talking about people making money doing what they love and she used my favorite quote -- "Its never too late to be what you might have been" by George Eliot and I thought "I've got to know this person!" So I immediately signed up for her mailing list and eventually she announced the formation of a class teaching others to coach people on turning their passions into profits. It had never dawned on me that I might turn my love of helping people figure things out combined with my desire to help myself and others "escape" unfortunate situations into a business, but there it was starting at me in the face. I pounced. I took the class and did eventually launch my own coaching/consulting practice. And that is how I became the Escape Hatcher! The name didn't come easy - it took a lot of brainstorming which I spent one Thanksgiving doing with my family - and nothing was sticking...but one morning I woke up and realized that I wanted to help people "hatch escape plans" and it stuck.
What are your clients like?
I work with mostly women (and the occasional guy) and mostly Gen X'ers, who are unfulfilled in their work life and know that there is something better out there. Generation X because that is where I am so I relate and also we've been out in the world long enough to know our way around, but we still have a lot of time left before our twilight years to pursue our passions and build lots of dreams. You've been around the block and know that you are far more than what you "do", you've become wise enough to know that you can't really "have it all" if you want to maintain your sanity so you're done with working long hours and not having enough time to spend with the people you love and you know that putting the people you love and things you love to do on the backburner while you slave away for someone else for probably less money than you would like to be making is not only unwise, its heartbreaking.
You might be a mom, a wife, single, an executive, a creative artist, an assistant or something else, but you definitely know you want a change.
I also tend to work best with people who bring with them a positive "can do" attitude, an open mind and willingness to try things and a big, wide expansive imagination and a sense of humor. :-) We cover a lot in the Program and so being someone who gets things done is also good.
You worked in entertainment, I have a more "normal" 9 to 5 job will you "get" me?
Not to toot my own horn, but one of my strongest attributes is empathy...I do my best to put myself in my client's shoes. I've also had LOTS of other jobs in my life so I've definitely done the typical day job thing and I know lots and lots of people in all types of jobs who I consistently listen to for the issues they face. The work we do together is the same no matter what your current day job might be or might have been. The elements are the same so don't let this get in your way.
Are you a life coach?
Thank you! This is my favorite question! And the answer is an emphatic NO! :-) I get this a lot because of the type of work I do. Hatching an "escape plan" requires, for most people, a lot of mindset work. Transitioning from employee to entrepreneur is a big leap for a lot of people so we do spend a fair amount of time looking at common mindset pitfalls and we also spend time defining your mission, so I can see how people might confuse me with a life coach. Its nearly impossible to do this kind of work also without touching on how it will affect your life, relationships, time, etc. - so that gets weaved in, but the focus of our work is definitely about making money doing what you love and getting that all going. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the life coaches that I know and they do GREAT WORK, but that is not the focus of my business. For those that are looking for this, I can make some good recommendations.
How can you do this work without an MBA?
ohhhhhh good question! :-) I don't get asked this much, but it has come up before. Its a bit of a touchy subject for some that come from the more mainstream or formal business worlds, but the plain truth is that I don't need one to do the work I do. I specialize in working with service-based solopreneurs. My clients are people who will be doing most of their work virtually and/or in person one on one with clients. They, for the most part, will not have a brick & mortar (physical shops) presence, do not have employees (though they will eventually outsource) and will not be conducting any high level manufacturing at this stage. This being said, I do have clients who want to move onto those things as they scale and for that I have top knotch referrals to people who handle bigger business structures. Also, its a new world out there. For solopreneurs and entrepreneurs these days, its about having an idea, testing its viability and getting going, its not about spending years learning a skill that you will apply for someone else. Just ask Seth Godin (or do a little reading about his on the ground MBA program)...its a new age and MBAs, though extremely valuable for certain situations, are not necessarily needed for solopreneurs. In this work we cover the basics, we lay the groundwork for coming up with you idea and monetizing it and getting going quickly with very little overhead. For more specialized information that delves far deeper into other topics, I can make appropriate referrals where necessary.
Is there any kind of person you wouldn't work with?
Well, I hate to say it, but yes. If you're going to come on board for the "escape plan" hatching program™ either self paced DIY or with me in a private coaching program you need to be ready to take action. Sometimes in life this just isn't possible for whatever reason. You may be too distracted by other events in your life or emotionally drained. Maybe you are really not in a position to spend a dime right now and are focused on just living check to check or paying off debts - these are a few scenarios I can imagine where it might just not be the right time. If you tend to poo poo things or not live in a place of possibility then this kind of work might not be for you. Don't get me wrong, I consider myself a realist and I'm very pragmatic so you don't have to be a woo woo everything is possible if I just wish it to be kind of person, in fact its probably better if you aren't, as I think a lot of this work you need to keep your eyes open and know what is and isn't right for you, but if you're an extreme pessimist this probably won't be a good fit. If you don't tend to get things done we might not be a good fit either as we cover A LOT of ground in the program and you will need to absorb a lot of information and implement it. If you have trouble doing this it might not be a fit. Though I have had clients who prefer to absorb before going back and implementing - so that is always possible and I certainly encourage my clients to go at a pace that feels comfortable for them, so if its just a matter of that it might work, but again these are just a few of the scenarios I can imagine creating some problems. But there are lots of ways to stay in touch with the Escape Hatcher community if right now is just not the right time for you...you can join us on our Facebook page, the Twitter stream and make sure to sign up for our list to receive special offers, early bird pricing and lots of tips, tools, resources and goodies.
What is the Escape Plan Hatching Program™ and how does it work?
The Escape Plan Hatching Program™ is a step by step system that helps you devise your own "escape plan". Its broken up into 5 main Modules:
Mindset
Mission
Money
Marketing
Mechanix
In the Mindset module we cover a few of the main mindset culprits that I have seen pop up for my clients again and again. As stated above, transitioning from employee to entrepreneur or from corporate slave to solopreneur can be a big leap for some, but its mostly anchored in fears that just need to be managed or eradicated. I find that having this foundation before getting too deep into the work provides a nice safe space for us to work in.
In the Mission module we focus on building your mission and all of the things that go with that. I am a firm believer that any solopreneur these days is actually on a mission. Its not enough to just make money doing what you love, you need to have a much bigger motivator than that, essentially you need to be on a mission or creating a movement even if tiny. This along with the mindset work we do, creates a really strong foundation for you to flourish.
In the Money module we do just what you would think -- we focus on all things money. This ranges from bootstrapping to monetizing your passions. Money is one of the biggest challenges for anyone so we spend a lot of time discussing all sorts of things in this subject areas and coming up with strategies and solutions for helping you manage this.
In the Marketing module we work on the big enchilada for any budding solopreneur. In the beginning you should expect to spend about 85% of your time marketing so you need to have a plan and you need to choose the vehicles that work for you and match your style.
The Mechanix module is basically everything else. Its all the stuff you need to get going, the nuts & bolts and the pieces that will support your business.
Do you offer other products and/or services?
Why yes! :-) I also offer a single session called an Idea Kick...this is a simple. lower priced single session option for those that want to try some Escape Hatcher methods on for size and also may just be starting this journey and not ready to fully leap in just yet. I also offer monthly ongoing coaching for "hatchees" (people who have completed the program) who need a little ongoing help, or for solopreneurs who already have a business, but need some accountability, ideas or help. My DIY Escape Plan Hatching Program™ is currently under construction and will be made available over the next few months. This is basically the self study, self paced version of the full Escape Plan Hatching Program™ that you do on your own. Sign up for the mailing list to stay informed on release date and other upcoming information about that.
What kind of results can I expect? How fast?
My answer to this one is simple. That all depends on Y-O-U! If you implement the strategies we discuss then you will see results. I'll bring in another fave quote "if you work it - it works". Everyone has their own pace and style - you may want to take a much longer time than others might, or you may want to move faster so that will affect results. And part of what we do also is to test the viability of your business idea by making sure you can get some clients in your pipeline so there may be some revamping that needs to happen there as well, but at the very least if you do the work you can expect to:
learn about ways to make money doing what you love
start to feel relief that there is an "escape route"
receive all of the information in a steady, step by step manner so you don't feel overwhelmed
have a shoulder to lean on as you try out everything and a trusted confidant who has been there and understands what you are going through
How fast you start to see the benefits of hatching an "escape plan" depend well, on how fast you do it. If you have the time now to devote and commit to this fully, you will start to see results faster. If you are doing the "day job juggle" it will take longer, so this will depend on a number of factors. You shouldn't be too hard on yourself and you should realize that this is a big transition and accordingly will take time. Contrary to what pop culture would have you believe there really is no such thing as an "overnight success" or "rags to riches" overnight story. What most people make look easy, usually is actually the result of lots of effort, dedication and commitment.
What do others have to say?
We have lots of testimonials from past clients, check out what others have to say here
OK, I'm ready to hatch my "escape plan"!
This = awesome. First things first, decide whether you would like to do an Idea Kickaround first, add your name to the list for early notification about release of the DIY Escape Plan Hatching Program™, talk to me to see if the full, one on one Escape Plan Hatching Program™ is right for you or consider monthly coaching.
Which one is right for you?
If you're just starting to toy with the idea of hatching an "escape plan" than trying an Idea Kick™ might be your best bet. Contact me at 323/484-4007 to set that up or read more about it here.
If you're fully committed and ready to hatch that "escape plan" right now and either do the "day job juggle or even can imagine a complete income replacer and kicking your day job to the curb as soon as possible then the Escape Plan Hatching Program™ may be right for you.
To break that down further, if you are a self starter and enjoy doing things at your own pace, then the DIY Escape Plan Hatching Program might be right for you, add your name below to be on the early notification list with special pricing.
I started this journey several years ago because I had a strong, belief that people could and should prosper doing what they love. I spent 20+ years in the exciting (though not glamorous) world of entertainment, but being a restless soul by nature with LOTS and LOTS OF interests, it became increasingly clear to me that I needed time to pursue ALL of my dreams -- not just one. One of those dreams was fast becoming a reality. I was transitioning into motherhood, which to me, although cliche, is truly the most important job of all! Sleeping in editing rooms, hopping on a plane at a moment’s notice or working extremely long hours didn’t compute with my newfound reality. I didn’t necessarily want to be my own cookie-wielding version of Martha Stewart, but I did want to be there, be engaged and be ever present in my child’s life, helping her navigate life’s ups and downs.
All of this coupled with the fact that the world was changing, propelled me on a quest for greater control over my destiny through work I love. The internet and mobile technology placed the power of creating businesses quickly and efficiently in our hands and they made it easier to reach a global audience. Add to this the economically induced disappearance of traditional jobs and job “security” and I was compelled to hatch my own “escape plan”. Now, I’m on a mission to help my clients hatch their own “escape plans” so they too can do work they love and feel meant to do.
See below some questions others have had to see if working together might be a good idea.
How did you become the Escape Hatcher?
Well, its funny really, but I've always been a person who thinks up "escape plans" for all sorts of things in life...basically if things aren't going well, I typically like to have an idea of how to make them better or create a better situation for myself. This sort of thinking has aided me in all sorts of ways, but when it started to kick in for me regarding work was several years ago. As you may have read above, I was working in the fast paced, high pressure entertainment business and had been for some time helping people I would come across or interface with in the industry who just weren't happy to think of other ways they could make a living or creative ways to earn money. I just did this for fun. I was and am big into reading articles, blog posts and gathering information so this came naturally for me. Eventually, I was reading one of my fave magazines SELF and I saw an article featuring Dr. Valerie Young talking about people making money doing what they love and she used my favorite quote -- "Its never too late to be what you might have been" by George Eliot and I thought "I've got to know this person!" So I immediately signed up for her mailing list and eventually she announced the formation of a class teaching others to coach people on turning their passions into profits. It had never dawned on me that I might turn my love of helping people figure things out combined with my desire to help myself and others "escape" unfortunate situations into a business, but there it was starting at me in the face. I pounced. I took the class and did eventually launch my own coaching/consulting practice. And that is how I became the Escape Hatcher! The name didn't come easy - it took a lot of brainstorming which I spent one Thanksgiving doing with my family - and nothing was sticking...but one morning I woke up and realized that I wanted to help people "hatch escape plans" and it stuck.
What are your clients like?
I work with mostly women (and the occasional guy) and mostly Gen X'ers, who are unfulfilled in their work life and know that there is something better out there. Generation X because that is where I am so I relate and also we've been out in the world long enough to know our way around, but we still have a lot of time left before our twilight years to pursue our passions and build lots of dreams. You've been around the block and know that you are far more than what you "do", you've become wise enough to know that you can't really "have it all" if you want to maintain your sanity so you're done with working long hours and not having enough time to spend with the people you love and you know that putting the people you love and things you love to do on the backburner while you slave away for someone else for probably less money than you would like to be making is not only unwise, its heartbreaking.
You might be a mom, a wife, single, an executive, a creative artist, an assistant or something else, but you definitely know you want a change.
I also tend to work best with people who bring with them a positive "can do" attitude, an open mind and willingness to try things and a big, wide expansive imagination and a sense of humor. :-) We cover a lot in the Program and so being someone who gets things done is also good.
You worked in entertainment, I have a more "normal" 9 to 5 job will you "get" me?
Not to toot my own horn, but one of my strongest attributes is empathy...I do my best to put myself in my client's shoes. I've also had LOTS of other jobs in my life so I've definitely done the typical day job thing and I know lots and lots of people in all types of jobs who I consistently listen to for the issues they face. The work we do together is the same no matter what your current day job might be or might have been. The elements are the same so don't let this get in your way.
Are you a life coach?
Thank you! This is my favorite question! And the answer is an emphatic NO! :-) I get this a lot because of the type of work I do. Hatching an "escape plan" requires, for most people, a lot of mindset work. Transitioning from employee to entrepreneur is a big leap for a lot of people so we do spend a fair amount of time looking at common mindset pitfalls and we also spend time defining your mission, so I can see how people might confuse me with a life coach. Its nearly impossible to do this kind of work also without touching on how it will affect your life, relationships, time, etc. - so that gets weaved in, but the focus of our work is definitely about making money doing what you love and getting that all going. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the life coaches that I know and they do GREAT WORK, but that is not the focus of my business. For those that are looking for this, I can make some good recommendations.
How can you do this work without an MBA?
ohhhhhh good question! :-) I don't get asked this much, but it has come up before. Its a bit of a touchy subject for some that come from the more mainstream or formal business worlds, but the plain truth is that I don't need one to do the work I do. I specialize in working with service-based solopreneurs. My clients are people who will be doing most of their work virtually and/or in person one on one with clients. They, for the most part, will not have a brick & mortar (physical shops) presence, do not have employees (though they will eventually outsource) and will not be conducting any high level manufacturing at this stage. This being said, I do have clients who want to move onto those things as they scale and for that I have top knotch referrals to people who handle bigger business structures. Also, its a new world out there. For solopreneurs and entrepreneurs these days, its about having an idea, testing its viability and getting going, its not about spending years learning a skill that you will apply for someone else. Just ask Seth Godin (or do a little reading about his on the ground MBA program)...its a new age and MBAs, though extremely valuable for certain situations, are not necessarily needed for solopreneurs. In this work we cover the basics, we lay the groundwork for coming up with you idea and monetizing it and getting going quickly with very little overhead. For more specialized information that delves far deeper into other topics, I can make appropriate referrals where necessary.
Is there any kind of person you wouldn't work with?
Well, I hate to say it, but yes. If you're going to come on board for the "escape plan" hatching program™ either self paced DIY or with me in a private coaching program you need to be ready to take action. Sometimes in life this just isn't possible for whatever reason. You may be too distracted by other events in your life or emotionally drained. Maybe you are really not in a position to spend a dime right now and are focused on just living check to check or paying off debts - these are a few scenarios I can imagine where it might just not be the right time. If you tend to poo poo things or not live in a place of possibility then this kind of work might not be for you. Don't get me wrong, I consider myself a realist and I'm very pragmatic so you don't have to be a woo woo everything is possible if I just wish it to be kind of person, in fact its probably better if you aren't, as I think a lot of this work you need to keep your eyes open and know what is and isn't right for you, but if you're an extreme pessimist this probably won't be a good fit. If you don't tend to get things done we might not be a good fit either as we cover A LOT of ground in the program and you will need to absorb a lot of information and implement it. If you have trouble doing this it might not be a fit. Though I have had clients who prefer to absorb before going back and implementing - so that is always possible and I certainly encourage my clients to go at a pace that feels comfortable for them, so if its just a matter of that it might work, but again these are just a few of the scenarios I can imagine creating some problems. But there are lots of ways to stay in touch with the Escape Hatcher community if right now is just not the right time for you...you can join us on our Facebook page, the Twitter stream and make sure to sign up for our list to receive special offers, early bird pricing and lots of tips, tools, resources and goodies.
What is the Escape Plan Hatching Program™ and how does it work?
The Escape Plan Hatching Program™ is a step by step system that helps you devise your own "escape plan". Its broken up into 5 main Modules:
Mindset
Mission
Money
Marketing
Mechanix
In the Mindset module we cover a few of the main mindset culprits that I have seen pop up for my clients again and again. As stated above, transitioning from employee to entrepreneur or from corporate slave to solopreneur can be a big leap for some, but its mostly anchored in fears that just need to be managed or eradicated. I find that having this foundation before getting too deep into the work provides a nice safe space for us to work in.
In the Mission module we focus on building your mission and all of the things that go with that. I am a firm believer that any solopreneur these days is actually on a mission. Its not enough to just make money doing what you love, you need to have a much bigger motivator than that, essentially you need to be on a mission or creating a movement even if tiny. This along with the mindset work we do, creates a really strong foundation for you to flourish.
In the Money module we do just what you would think -- we focus on all things money. This ranges from bootstrapping to monetizing your passions. Money is one of the biggest challenges for anyone so we spend a lot of time discussing all sorts of things in this subject areas and coming up with strategies and solutions for helping you manage this.
In the Marketing module we work on the big enchilada for any budding solopreneur. In the beginning you should expect to spend about 85% of your time marketing so you need to have a plan and you need to choose the vehicles that work for you and match your style.
The Mechanix module is basically everything else. Its all the stuff you need to get going, the nuts & bolts and the pieces that will support your business.
Do you offer other products and/or services?
Why yes! :-) I also offer a single session called an Idea Kick...this is a simple. lower priced single session option for those that want to try some Escape Hatcher methods on for size and also may just be starting this journey and not ready to fully leap in just yet. I also offer monthly ongoing coaching for "hatchees" (people who have completed the program) who need a little ongoing help, or for solopreneurs who already have a business, but need some accountability, ideas or help. My DIY Escape Plan Hatching Program™ is currently under construction and will be made available over the next few months. This is basically the self study, self paced version of the full Escape Plan Hatching Program™ that you do on your own. Sign up for the mailing list to stay informed on release date and other upcoming information about that.
What kind of results can I expect? How fast?
My answer to this one is simple. That all depends on Y-O-U! If you implement the strategies we discuss then you will see results. I'll bring in another fave quote "if you work it - it works". Everyone has their own pace and style - you may want to take a much longer time than others might, or you may want to move faster so that will affect results. And part of what we do also is to test the viability of your business idea by making sure you can get some clients in your pipeline so there may be some revamping that needs to happen there as well, but at the very least if you do the work you can expect to:
learn about ways to make money doing what you love
start to feel relief that there is an "escape route"
receive all of the information in a steady, step by step manner so you don't feel overwhelmed
have a shoulder to lean on as you try out everything and a trusted confidant who has been there and understands what you are going through
How fast you start to see the benefits of hatching an "escape plan" depend well, on how fast you do it. If you have the time now to devote and commit to this fully, you will start to see results faster. If you are doing the "day job juggle" it will take longer, so this will depend on a number of factors. You shouldn't be too hard on yourself and you should realize that this is a big transition and accordingly will take time. Contrary to what pop culture would have you believe there really is no such thing as an "overnight success" or "rags to riches" overnight story. What most people make look easy, usually is actually the result of lots of effort, dedication and commitment.
What do others have to say?
We have lots of testimonials from past clients, check out what others have to say here
OK, I'm ready to hatch my "escape plan"!
This = awesome. First things first, decide whether you would like to do an Idea Kickaround first, add your name to the list for early notification about release of the DIY Escape Plan Hatching Program™, talk to me to see if the full, one on one Escape Plan Hatching Program™ is right for you or consider monthly coaching.
Which one is right for you?
If you're just starting to toy with the idea of hatching an "escape plan" than trying an Idea Kick™ might be your best bet. Contact me at 323/484-4007 to set that up or read more about it here.
If you're fully committed and ready to hatch that "escape plan" right now and either do the "day job juggle or even can imagine a complete income replacer and kicking your day job to the curb as soon as possible then the Escape Plan Hatching Program™ may be right for you.
To break that down further, if you are a self starter and enjoy doing things at your own pace, then the DIY Escape Plan Hatching Program might be right for you, add your name below to be on the early notification list with special pricing.
If you are interested in the one on one Escape Plan Hatching Program, then call me at 323/484-4007 or e-mail me at susan@escapehatcher.com to talk more about it and see if this is the right program for you. We'll set up a "help me hatch it!" 20 minute FREE call to discuss.
I'm just not sure yet, how can I find out more about your work and your community?
GREAT QUESTION...the best ways to get a feel for who I am and what I do is to:
sign up for our mailing list for newsletters and tips, tools, resources and goodies (also special advance pricing for DIY Guide and other products)
check us out on our Facebook Community and/or Twitter feed
and you can always (as mentioned above) set up a FREE 20 minutes "help me hatch it!" session with me to get to know me better and see what I have to offer. To do this just call me at 323/484-4007, e-mail me at susan@escapehatcher.com or fill out the form below.
GREAT QUESTION...the best ways to get a feel for who I am and what I do is to:
sign up for our mailing list for newsletters and tips, tools, resources and goodies (also special advance pricing for DIY Guide and other products)
check us out on our Facebook Community and/or Twitter feed
and you can always (as mentioned above) set up a FREE 20 minutes "help me hatch it!" session with me to get to know me better and see what I have to offer. To do this just call me at 323/484-4007, e-mail me at susan@escapehatcher.com or fill out the form below.
To your dream diving,
p.s. if not now when?
p.s.s. I'm here to help and just a phone call, e-mail or inquiry away
p.s.s. I'm here to help and just a phone call, e-mail or inquiry away
Don't forget to get your copy of 7 Steps to Making Money Doing What You Love - you can sign up for our mailing list here to receive access to this content rich 50 minute video, just click on the image below
