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Megan Walker (00:00)
So, hello and welcome to Healthcare Online. I'm Megan Walker, and today our very special guest is Angela O'Connor. Angela's part of our Scaled Health Practice Academy, and we wanted to check in with her and hear her updates, what she's been working on, and all the behind-the-scenes activities that go on to pull together a beautiful health course. So, Ange, do you want to kick us off and tell us a bit about who you help, your business, and what type of product you're pulling together?

Angela O'Connor (00:34)
Yes, sure. So I'm a family therapist and couples counselor working mainly with couples now. And what I noticed, you know, was that a lot of clients come in and talk about similar things. Of course, there's unique factors and also there's a whole lot of other underlining issues around their communication.

Yes, I found some commonality, you know, across clients around just specifically around communication. And I found that I was not necessarily just repeating myself, but we were covering some of the similar ⁓ issues around communication. So I thought, okay, and then you came along out of the blue. Well, you know, maybe Facebook ads had something to do with it. I don't know.

But it came at a time where the timing was perfect for me. So I was so grateful to have come across your ⁓ academy and it was exactly what I needed at the time. So just to take a step back, I had been involved in another business program where I had a coach and I was about eight months into that when I came across your academy.

And while that was good for a whole lot of other things around what I was looking to do in terms of ⁓ buying businesses and scaling businesses not related to my field, it was really great for that. But when I stumbled across your academy, was, like I said, it was just perfect for what I needed at that time. I

Megan Walker (02:14)
And I love what you're saying about just going back a little bit to, know, you, you already had that sense that you had repeatable education information that you were doing one on one. And so you're going to lean into that communication is one of those aspects that you feel people could do more and learn from home is that, and will you offer that so that they learn those skills in between sessions or do you have a vision that your course will be able to know sort of stand separately how do you see it fitting

Angela O'Connor (02:43)
That's a good question Megan. So I guess my target audience is really for newer relationships. teaching them some, you know, basic healthy communication skills and understanding their communication patterns and dynamics and what drives their communication ⁓ is kind of what I'm wanting to teach because obviously it doesn't replace therapy and it's not a substitute for couples who may be in crisis. In fact, it would be counterproductive ⁓ in many cases. So it's a very clear ⁓ cohort that I'm looking to support. In saying that, Megan, I do have a couple of couples on my list, couple of clients that have ⁓ started the program, but that's because I've worked with them for a long time and I know where they're at. So I think it's I don't think I know that it's quite safe for them to undertake that. And they're also still, you know, seeing me in session so we can cover that ground as they're kind of completing the program. 

Megan Walker (03:52)
 I read an interesting fact. don't know how true it is, but the number one use of chat GPT at the moment is people asking it to give them phrases and statements they can make in their relationships that will help them communicate. And you think, well, that's not really giving the underlying skills, is it? So I'm glad we've got you and the program to have more lasting depth. So what have you put in place so far? you came across the academy, you've learned how to build an online course. Oh, good. What have you done so far? What's your progress?

Angela O'Connor (04:26)
Well, I've got two programs ready to go. And so one of them is a mini program, which is a really low ticket item, which gives some basics around communication and things that couples can work on at a basic level. And then I have my signature program, which is quite in depth. So there's about six modules to that program. And it covers a whole lot of things around you know, having your own time versus couples time, intimacy, and obviously communication as well. But there's, it's expanded, I guess, around relationship issues, not just specific to the communication skills that I have built in the first, in the mini program.

Megan Walker (05:14)
Fantastic. That's so good. And have you checked in with your people and got feedback on any of materials?

Angela O'Connor (05:19)
feedback me and I'm getting impatient. think I'm a very patient person but it's dragging out now I'm kind of, so I'm ready to go. And I've also just engaged Karen as well to help me with that next step, because over the last, you know, couple of years, I've done a lot of work on my own, on my website. I've had some conflicting advice also around what to include and what to have on that front page and what to say about yourself. And so again, when I came across Karen in your program and, and, you know, saw that you had used her as well. And I love your pages, your website. And so for me, even though I didn't really know Karen, I trusted that you know her. So that was, that was good enough for me. Yes. So I well, I'd rather take someone who's involved in, in what we're doing that knows about what we're doing as opposed to someone else from.

Megan Walker (06:02)
Thank you.

Angela O'Connor (06:19)
maybe that other business group that I talked about before.

Megan Walker (06:22)
beautiful. So that process is then about, you know, looking at like the Storybrand formula of how you write your website. And so for those of you who are listening who aren't familiar with that, it's instead of having websites that are, you know, me talking all about me, which doesn't solve the problem for the reader. It doesn't really, it's not that interesting. And they want to know, do you fit with me? Pardon me, can you help me in my journey? And so Storybrand is about seeing the person where they are and recognizing them and talking about their situation and their challenges and then, you know, showing them that they can get started in, you know, a couple of steps. And so it really is much more an encouraging style of writing. It works really nicely for healthcare because it's non-threatening, it's non-salesy, but it puts the client in the hero's journey, which is beautiful for agency and ownership of the process. it just, clinicians and therapists and practitioners love Storybrand for how well it relates to them.

Angela O'Connor (07:28)
I guess with that the kind of work that we're doing so exactly is kind of what stood out for me as well. Yeah

Megan Walker (07:35)
It's not talking at someone, it's inviting them in and saying, here's how I can help. Take it or leave it, no pressure. But this is you and what you can potentially experience by working with me. So, oh, that's really exciting. you're going to have this. Nasty looking website. Are you going to take the plunge and get corporate photos done?

Angela O'Connor (07:49)
to take that next step. I've done that already. So yeah, they're ready to use. Oh, look, it was interesting. I used someone in my network through a business, women's business network that I'm involved in. And, you know, she did a great job and they will kind of be okay for what I need it for right now.

Megan Walker (08:00)
I had to find that experience.

Angela O'Connor (08:20)
You know, maybe in a couple years time, I might need to update them and, you know, do something different. But right now I think, yeah, she was a good fit also for where I'm at right now. And I'd like to support other women, especially that I'm kind of involved in, in particular networks. 

Megan Walker (08:36)
Yeah, I'm the same. love that. And I think it's really important to choose someone who takes good photos, but also that you feel really comfortable with. I think you get sort of some people, oh gosh, this is going to be a long experience. And then others where it's more like, yeah, natural. And then that's going to come across in the photos.

Angela O'Connor (08:52)
I've had some really great feedback about the images. So,  I'm excited. Everything got all my ducks in a row, I feel. So just getting really close now to that launching.

Megan Walker (09:46)
Beautiful. ⁓ so exciting. Well, can't wait to see your progress unfold. Thank you so much for sharing your journey. Is there anything that would be helpful that you'd like to share with other clinicians and practitioners, therapists who are listening that you think would be helpful advice for them?

Angela O'Connor (10:03)
Yeah, I think there's a couple of things on one you talk about also and that's just, you know, progress over perfection and I know that I've been guilty of that perfection part as well, even though I knew I shouldn't be and was trying not to be. ⁓ I was and especially when I created my...mini course it's actually now my signature program. much information in there. And I kept going back reviewing your lessons, which again was a really great thing to do because then I was like, hang on a minute. Yeah. A little boo boo here. need to actually, that's actually going to be my signature program. There's so much information. ⁓ so that helped me kind of  redefine and redesign my program. So I think that's a really important tip. Go back and review and watch your videos over and over again until you've kind of got what you need and where you need to be.

Megan Walker (11:07)
That's such good advice. just, find that we're also intensely university trained. We're so used to the lecture shoot model so that when we become course creators, we think that's the volume we've got to share. But in the online space, it's like an ad break. It's got to be quick, one win, one action. And then the person has to feel like a legend that they're champion. They've done that. And then they'll move on. Whereas if we overwhelm them and they stop, they never get the transformation. So, but it's such a hard battle saying to perfectionists with an overt sharing, over giving tendency to say, you're actually helping people if you pull back and get...

Megan Walker (13:07)
And I love that you kept going and went, all right, I'm stuck at this gate, but how can I what can I do to get this gate to open? All right. If Zoom's not my friend, then good for you to be resourceful enough to go. What the hell? What the heck else can I use instead of this thing?

Angela O'Connor (13:24)
It took me a while because I hate to be defeated and I feel like, I'm going to get this. I'll go back and watch this again, what Meethan's saying. And it still didn't work. And in the end I just went, why am doing this to myself? I know I'm going be doing this. So what else can I do? What else is out there?

Megan Walker (13:43)
Good on you. That's good. You've got to that problem solving. you know, if we, if we gave up every time IT didn't play for us, we would just be rocking in a corner, wouldn't we? Like, we've got to just keep pushing through and finding the solution.

Angela O'Connor (13:58)
Absolutely. And I think the other thing just on that, which is kind of, ⁓ you know, relates to that also is just, well, a couple of things, believe in yourself. Like I had belief in myself. And when I, like I said, when I found you, that just really cemented my belief in what I was trying to achieve. So yeah, believe in yourself, ⁓ you know, do those small things every day because that compounding effect, know, people talk about it, but it actually it's true. So just keep going. You know, don't give up, reach out to people, you know, in the network and seek support if you need it. But you know, just keep going.

Megan Walker (14:41)
Good. I'm so glad that we've met and that I was your who. There's a great book I'm reading at the moment, The Who Not What, and sometimes you need a who to just make a connection of something happening.

Angela O'Connor (14:56)
Yeah, you can get the what and the why but sometimes you just need that who person first.

Megan Walker (15:03)
And well done on everything you're putting in place. Can't wait to see it all unfold and it's an absolute pleasure. so thank you for chatting with us. You're welcome.

Angela O'Connor (15:12)
Thank you.