What’s Needed to Launch a Successful Business That Elevates You and the World

By Kathy Caprino–

Part of the series “Entrepreneurs Rocking the World”

As a career coach and writer, I’ve connected with hundreds of coaches around the world whose work is truly transformational and offers help and support at the highest level. But I’ve also come in contact with other coaches who aren’t effective or worse – who haven’t undergone the rigorous training and work required to serve others well or develop an effective model for change that will help their clients reach their highest goals. And I’ve watched with sadness as friends and colleagues have spent tens of thousands of dollars with certain well-known coaches and marketing “gurus” who simply took their money but never actually helped them move forward.

So when I learned of a new online initiative emerging out of Scandinavia designed to offer free global access to top-level video strategies from some of the world’s leading coaches, I was truly intrigued. After learning more about Goaly.com, and meeting its founder David Vox, I said “I’m in!” and have been thrilled by every minute I’ve been involved as a contributor. The site launched in March 2015, and I was excited to sit down with David to learn more about what led him to start this endeavor, how he received funding, launched it on schedule, and finally, his ultimate dream for the organization. Here’s what he shared.

Kathy Caprino: David, what ignited the spark in you to start Goaly.com?

David Vox: I launched this business because throughout my life I have been in search of the most effective coaching strategies and teaching, to help heal myself and see if we could create a forum where free, expert coaching could help transform the world. I met amazing coaches who created tremendous changes in my own life, and I wanted to make this available for everyone, especially my best friends and family.

Caprino: How did the idea for your business come about?

Vox: My interest for coaching emerged through a life-long journey of trying to find healing for trauma I experienced in my younger days. As a young child, I was moved into a foster home in Norway where I experienced serious abuse. At the age of 6, I was full of anxiety, depression and was at times extremely delusional and suicidal.

The new family I was given at age 6 was wonderful and never gave me up or gave up on me, but I grew up wanting to make sure that no children would ever experience what I have gone through. Even though I had a great family from then on, the severe trauma made unpleasant visits in the form of panic attacks, post-traumatic stress, eating disorders and large problems communicating with others.

As an adult, I had tried therapy but wanted someone to focus more on what was in my life now and my goals going forward, not repeating the past.  I tried coaching, and at first my life did not change – but my perception and mindset did. Then slowly, my life changed as well. And through a long process, Goaly was born, designed as a strategy-based coaching platform, where every coach featured is an expert in specific fields and with unique experience and success in the coaching profession.

After traveling the world meeting many great coaches, my life totally transformed. What I experienced was that only small, digestible pieces of advice or short, doable techniques could be implemented each day. Listening to a long talk for hours does not work. It’s impossible to remember and integrate important material when it’s presented in an unfocused way. Goaly’s coaching videos are just 2 minutes long, in average, with very focused recommendations and outcomes.

Caprino: So how did you acquire funding for Goaly?

Vox: I started the project myself with a simple prototype and a lot of research, and my Bachelor thesis in social video marketing. Then I crossed paths with an investor who has created many successful businesses in his career, and was ready to enable a project that would give back to the world. From the moment I shared the Goaly vision, he was convinced and gave me his full trust.

Caprino: How important have your employees and partners been to your success?

Vox: They’ve been absolutely everything. Finding our CEO Elizabeth Rankich was a deal-breaker to become a success and get launched. I’m the guy with the big ideas and vision, but building an organization with so many different freelancers, and organizing everything melted my mind. Luckily we found a team that created a perfect balance and symphony with the project, and with who I am as a person as well. In my CEO, I have found a mentor and a great friend who can organize and work in the speed of light to get things done – in such a calm and loving leadership style.

Caprino: What changes have you implemented in your own life from the experience of launching Goaly?

Vox: Here are the some of the most impactful results, but there are many more:

– I know my stress and anger better, and how to handle it.

– I connect on a deeper level with my friends and family.

– I have an increased sense and gratitude of my own and others’ strength.

– I stopped unhealthy habits, like drinking and smoking and am maintaining a happy daily health regime with a workout six times per week.

– I’ve realized that I can create any moment or experience in life that I would like.

– I started trusting people on a new level, that’s had a tremendous impact both personally and professionally.

– I know I can rely on my intuition, and that I work better with those who share my beliefs and values.

Caprino: What were the biggest challenges in creating and launching Goaly?

Vox: The biggest challenge was being too busy to check the quality of the work that was being delivered. (And running too fast to check if my shoes are on!) We gave full trust to several freelancers, and also our previous development company. That was a mistake. It created a lot of chaos, and we had to spend months re-organizing and redoing things more professionally. We lost so much time and money. Hiring a young amateur might look sexy on paper, but we have bled almost to the level of bankruptcy because of this. I will never do this again – hire someone without knowing that their values, beliefs, strengths and skills are in line with our organization’s needs.

Caprino: What is your role in Goaly now?

Vox: I created the concept, and my focus now is getting Goaly out to the world. Through Goaly I am connected with a massive network, and my job is to build relations with influencers who want to collaborate and spread our mission but also with all those around the world who are ready to reach their highest potential. Together with my co-founder I am also working on the next phase of Goaly that many of the experts have said will be revolutionary for this industry.

Caprino: What is your ultimate dream for the future of Goaly.com?

Vox: My goal is to create the best media platform for personal development coaching strategies and news, so that any magazine or blog can find powerful coaching videos and relevant news for their own community’s personal development – right here at Goaly – and all users and visitors can get the best information available online, for free.

My dream is to move the world from “personal development” to “development in unity.” We are creating tools that will help businesses and organizations thrive and grow, as well as individuals.

Caprino: What is your one best piece of advice for young entrepreneurs who dream of building a business that is both healing to themselves, and helpful to the world?

Vox: My professional and personal life has changed tremendously, through working with experts in this field. If you want to change the world, start with yourself. You can’t become the teacher before being a student, and there is no better way of learning than working with someone who has gone through the same process or experience that you are trying to achieve, and implementing it at your own pace. I thought this project would be done in just months, yet it took me 3 years and required a great deal of personal growth to be able to build the professional network it needed. It all comes down to being authentic and trustworthy. If you can build trust, you can build anything.

For more information, visit David Vox and Goaly.com.

(To build a happier, more rewarding career, visit kathycaprino.com and take my 6-day Amazing Career Challenge.)

Originally posted on Forbes.com.