Deborah Gallant is always busy. Busy doing business, that is.  Especially as of late.

Unlike many people in these hard economic times, she hasn’t taken too hard a fall. In fact, her clientele has never been a heartier lot. A professional business coach, Deborah attributes her upswing in good fortune to others’ change in attitude about their own businesses.

“Business as usual doesn’t really cut it anymore,” she said. “People are more invested in making smart business decisions.”

So Deborah coaches, conducts workshops, and teaches a series of Adult Ed business classes to steer entrepreneurs in the right direction. Sometimes that even means discouraging clients from starting new endeavors.

“It’s much better to find you shouldn’t go into business for yourself than spend your family’s life savings,” she said.

For example, Kim* had an idea for a mommy drop-in center—a place mothers could socialize with other mothers and their children. She didn’t consider factors like insurance, liability, rent, and staffing. Deborah helped her rethink the business venture and formulate a completely new plan, taking into consideration the green energy movement. Now Kim and her husband are running a successful tankless hot water heater business.

“It’s very gratifying to see,” Deborah said of Kim’s accomplishment. “It can be pretty lonely being an entrepreneur...I’ve been delighted to have been part of [people’s success].”

Deborah always had a knack for it herself.  Friends regularly sought her advice and insight. Then she went to Brandeis University, earning a liberal arts degree in American Studies. Afterward, she attended Columbia University for her MBA.  Business coaching seemed like a natural choice for her.

“Coaching was a confluence of all the things I was good at,” Deborah said.  “And I could create a lifestyle and workstyle for my family.”

At first, she focused on helping others find their “life’s mission,” but now focuses on micro-entrepreneurs and marketing strategy in her private practice, workshops, and the Adult Ed series she facilitates. She has been teaching at Adult Ed for six years, gaining a following and making friends along the way.

“The reach that the school has is just unbelievable,” she said.

When asked about free time, Deborah had a single reply: “Free time? What’s that?”

It stands to reason.  In addition to her aforementioned commitments, she runs the Conejo Jewish Job Support Group that meets once per week.  She also teaches step aerobics, a good use of her fitness instructor certification. Then there’s her husband, 13-year-old daughter and friends. Luckily, she’s able to time-shift a lot of her responsibilities, though she admits her job is very consuming.

“I love what I do,” Deborah said. “So I kind of work too much.”

*Name fictionalized for confidentiality

Interview & article by E. Kane