Archive for August, 2008
Running and Apples
Posted by: | CommentsMy husband and friends who read the blog keep asking me to write a little more about the big transformation I have done over the past few months. I guess I am giving in to their wish today by telling you about my running. In the past six months, at a ripe old age, I have become a runner and am running some road races. Here is a link to a newsletter I write that describes “the big race” I did this summer that started it all and the “life lessons” I learned in the process.
That road race was such an interesting experience that I immediately signed up for another one that is this Saturday. This race is an 8 kilometer race that is part of the local Apple Festival. Apples are a big deal in this town as we have many local growers. The marketing of the entire festival is interesting to watch each year. I have been wondering if there will be cider at the water stops during the race…. Stay tuned next week and I’ll report on how the humble apple was or wasn’t used in relation to the actual race.
Coaches Console Sale Ends Sunday
Posted by: | CommentsAs I was renewing my Coaches Console account for another year, I realized that many coaches may not be aware of the value of this system. Let me tell you a little about the system before I tell you that it is on sale right now. Coaches Console calls itself a “client relationship management system”. What it really is though is a package of many of the paperwork parts of a coaching business in one neat system. It allows you to customize your correspondence with your clients, process payments, have a newsletter, track your sessions for certification and so much more.
Clients love to use Coaches Console because it makes their call focus forms, scheduling and payments all very effortless. I love the system because once it is set up, it takes care of everything for you. Beginning coaches take note – included in the price is a basic website! There is also pre-written newsletter content and coaching forms if you need those things. The company is dedicated to customer service and has done regular upgrades of the system throughout the time I have been a customer.
Go to the Coaches Console website and check it out. Don’t delay because they have been having a big promotion through the month of August. (My apologies for taking so long to tell you about it…) Right now, the set-up fee is half price – only $49 and you will lock in the current monthly fee of $29 forever. That price is going up on September 1st. So hurry on over and check out the system – it may be just what your coaching business has been looking for.
The Institute for Life Coach Training Rocks
Posted by: | CommentsToday I am singing the praises of the Institute of Life Coach Training because of their commitment to providing business training for coaches. Specifically, they are sponsoring a free teleclass on August 26th that I wish all new coaches would attend. Pat Williams, founder and CEO, and Candia Dye, one of the advanced curriculum instructors with lots of real-world business experience, will be discussing business planning and business development for coaches. The free class is a teaser for an upcoming course, taught by Candia, which sounds very valuable – Business Planning and Development for Service Professionals. I am thrilled that a coaching school is taking seriously the need to provide business training for its coaching students. Thank you!
Candia plans to cover my favorite tool for business planning – the One-Page system - which is also featured in my business development book for coaches. She is also scheduled to cover how planning helps, common mistakes in business development, and finding the right action steps to succeed. You can even submit questions as you register for this call and raise your chances of learning just what you need.
The call is on August 26th from 4-5pm eastern time. There will be some give-aways for attendees in addition to the chance to hear two seasoned business professionals cover important subject matter. For more information and to register, click here.
I am sad that I have a regularly scheduled client that prevents my attending this call. I hope to hear some feedback here from those who are able to attend.
New Coach Connection
Posted by: | CommentsOne tool that I have found invaluable in the growth of my coaching business is the discussion forum. I have learned a wealth of information and have had some important questions answered for me by others with more experience. There are a host of boards on the internet but the one I find most helpful, most often is the New Coach Connection. This group, they call themselves “the NCC”, is actually much more than just a discussion group. They are a community of coaches and those in industries who serve coaches, such as virtual assistants, who come together in the spirit of support and camaraderie.
The listserve is the location for the terrific discussions on a variety of coaching subjects. I have seen discussions about technology, philosophy, marketing, business issues, client issues and even finding a roommate for a training or conference. There truly are no silly questions here. Other aspects of the community include a marketplace area to list resources, a “perks” area where there are recordings of old teleseminars, and a blog with info on many topics related to coaching. If you would like to read my recent post on the NCC blog about testimonials as a marketing tool, click here. Other recent NCC blog posts include information about protecting your ebook from theft, product funnels and best marketing techniques.
Please check out the New Coach Connection, then come back and leave me a comment about what you find…
Beginner's Anxiety as an Entrepreneur
Posted by: | CommentsThe discussion in one of my coaching groups this week led to the subject of beginner’s anxiety. When you started your coaching business did you have a background in the business world? Many of us do not at the start. You are likely to be a true beginner when it comes to being an entrepreneur. So many of us forget how much anxiety is involved in being a beginner. If you are middle aged, you may not have done anything that you weren’t skilled at for years.
Whenever you learn any new skill that is significant, there is a big learner’s curve to move through. At first, there is the excitement of the new skill and its possibilities. Progress is fast because everything is new. You don’t even realize how much you don’t know. But soon the excitement wears thin and you start to realize how much there is to learn. You feel ackward and uncomfortable in your new role. It takes a great deal of business savvy to start any business from scratch. Some coaches react to the anxiety created by realizing how much they do not know by giving up. Others set to work to learn what they need to know in order to be successful. This attitude will allow you to move slowly along the learner’s curve to the point where you do know a thing or two.
This usually happens before you realize it. You are making good business decisions and seeing some results but the anxiety remains. Finally, as your business continues to grow, you start to relax and realize that you have become an entrepreneur. Allow yourself to go through this natural process. There’s no real need to fight that anxiety, however don’t let it derail you from persisting and learning as you move along on the curve.
