John Govic had been in business for years and initially wondered what a coaching program could really teach him. But after Jim’s Life Coaching helped him rethink how he handled work, stress, and personal time, he says his business improved 100% and his weekends became his own again.
Watch the video above, or keep reading for the full Q&A.
Why Did John Start Jim’s Life Coaching?
John Govic started Jim’s Life Coaching because he was curious about what the program could teach him after years in business. At first, he wondered what he could really learn because he felt he already knew what he needed to know.
That changed once he looked more closely at how he was working. John said he was trying to juggle too many things, and when things did not work out, the pressure started building. He described that period as “very stressful”.
The coaching gave him a reason to stop and reassess how he was handling both work and life outside the business. Rather than treating experience as proof that he already had every answer, he became more open to making changes.
What Changed First After John Started The Coaching Program?
The first major change was that John began looking at himself and how he was using his time. He realised that running a business had become too focused on “work, work, work”, leaving too little space for himself and his family.
He started putting time aside for family, getting outdoors and paying more attention to his mindset. Those changes were not about abandoning the business. They were about creating a clearer separation between the time used for work and the time used for everything else.
For John, that shift started with reflection. The coaching encouraged him to look at his own habits instead of assuming the problem was always the job, another person, or the situation in front of him.
How Did Jim’s Life Coaching Change His Work-Life Balance?
Jim’s Life Coaching helped John create firmer boundaries around work. He moved to a Monday-to-Friday work week and kept Saturday and Sunday for himself and his family. That gave him a clearer line between business time and personal time, instead of being bogged down with work from morning until night.
That new structure also changed how he responded to smaller problems. Issues with jobs or other people that might once have stayed on his mind became easier to put aside when they did not need immediate attention. He could focus on what he needed to do that day instead of carrying every problem at once.
Franchisees looking at the wider support available within the network can also explore how Jim’s Group supports franchisees.
Did Jim’s Life Coaching Improve John’s Business?
John said his business had “improved 100%” after he changed the way he managed his time and focus.
His explanation was simple: when it was work time, he could focus properly on work. When it was not work time, he allowed himself to step away. That clearer division helped him approach the business with more energy rather than feeling that work was constantly following him into the rest of his life.
John also said he became excited to go to work again. At the same time, he was excited to have weekends free to do other things. For him, the improvement was not simply about working more. It came from being more deliberate about when he worked and when he switched off.
Franchisees can also learn more about the broader Jim’s Group franchisee training program and the support available when running their own business.
What Health And Lifestyle Changes Did John Notice?
John said he was eating better, sleeping better, and spending more time looking after himself. Those changes came alongside having more time outdoors and more time with family.
He did not describe a complicated routine or a dramatic overnight transformation. The changes were practical. He stopped allowing work to control every part of the day, made space for himself and became more conscious of what he needed outside the business.
Business pressure does not necessarily disappear simply because someone owns their own business. Jim’s Group has also published information about its mental health and wellbeing support for franchisees.
For John, the most visible outcome was that work stopped having the same impact on his personal time. He could concentrate on what needed doing without letting every issue follow him home or into the weekend.
What Did John Like Most About Jim’s Life Coaching?
John said the honesty of the program stood out most because it made him stop and assess how he was doing things. The coaching pushed him to think about whether his habits were helping him have a productive day and move the business forward.
He did not frame that reflection as a simple right-or-wrong exercise. Instead, he said the process made him think more carefully about the way he worked and where he could make positive changes.
Sue Thomas also became an important reference point for him after the program. John said that when he gets into “a bit of a pickle” or is unsure which way to go, he reflects on the coaching and asks himself, “what would Sue say”.
People who want to understand more about Sue and the approach behind the division can read more about Sue Thomas and Jim’s Life Coaching.
What Was The Hardest Part Of The Coaching Program?
The hardest part was having to reflect honestly on himself. John said the part he did not like was having to identify things about himself that he was not happy with.
That discomfort was also part of what made the process useful for him. He said people can easily think they have everything right, but reflection can reveal areas where they are doing things poorly or could make a positive change.
Instead of treating that as criticism, John used it as a way to reassess his habits. The result was a different approach to work, personal time, and decision-making.
Sometimes the difficult part of coaching is not learning another business tactic. John’s experience suggests the bigger challenge can be examining routines and behaviours that have become normal and deciding which ones need to change.
Would John Recommend Jim’s Life Coaching To Other Franchisees And Franchisors?
John said he would recommend the course to people across Jim’s Group, including franchisors, new franchisees and franchisees who have already been in the system for a long time.
His reason was that experience does not necessarily mean someone has nothing left to learn. John entered the program thinking he already knew a great deal because he had been in business for a while. He came away saying people could be amazed by what they learn from the course.
His experience centred on practical changes: protecting weekends, spending more time with family, eating and sleeping better, dealing with smaller problems more calmly and focusing more clearly during work time.
Anyone considering running their own business within the network can explore the current Jim’s Group franchise opportunities and learn more about the training and support available.
John’s story does not suggest that every business owner will have the same outcome. It does show what changed for him when he became more deliberate about where his time and attention went. For John, taking back control meant working with more focus while giving himself permission to have a life outside work.