confessions of a coach

I was talking to my brother yesterday who runs a successful and expanding computer company teamsolve.co.uk

I asked for his top tips on what I should do as I seek to expand my coaching practice.

His advice was simple:

1. Forget all the fancy website stuff I've been trying to do - as initially my website is an on-line brochure rather than a key source of new clients.
   
2. Do get top level links from as many sites as possible, and provide reciprocal links
   
3. Follow up the associate work I have been planning to do with key career management consultancies - I do have an interview with one soon and should consider applying to others. These are the foundation blocks of my business plan and I have been neglecting them
   
4. Simplify my business card - he says the one I am currently using contains as much information as a leaflet and that is not its purpose. - So get a new business card and print some black and white leaflets - and distribute them.
   
5. Make better use of my professional memberships on my publicity literature - eg CIPD, International Coach Federation and Coaching Academy logos
   
6. Since I am CIPD qualified - see what HR consultancy work I can get during the initial start-up period of my business - cold call and send letters to companies within a 25 mile geographic radius offering my Human Resource services
7. Get back to basics - people buy from people so I need to get out there, networking and being seen.
8. Bottom-line guard my finances. The money that I had ear-marked for the next 6 months in business, he told me to try and make it last 12 - even if that meant getting associate work or a part-time or temporary job while I am expanding my business.
9. Cut up my credit cards they are just pure temptation
   
10. His other advice - consider sticking with business and career coaching rather than life coaching... that I am still wondering about...
    

So after all that advice, what next....

Well I did manage to shred my credit cards today - helped by my latest credit card bill of over £1K in a month - approx £500 of which was business expenditure! On my limited budget, it is questionnable whether I should have spent that much.

I have managed to find someone who will do me some professional photos at around £6 an hour - a bargain! Once I have these, I will submit my new photo and a 1 page description of what I have to offer to a number of sites which have a find a coach service. I am already listed on the International Coach Federation website, but don't have a current listing with the Coaching Academy despite qualifying with distinction from them in January 2004.

I have prepared a CV for a career management consultancy, I now need to draft a covering letter, quit stalling and actually send it off - so that I can get some associate work

The rest I still need to do....

Struggling not to be disheartened though by the scale of the challenge. His bottom line was set an intial seed money budget for the business - but then do not increase it until sales/client levels justify it. Instead find free or very cheap ways of advertising

I really enjoy writing, so it has always been in my plan to contact the local paper to see if they will let me write a regular coaching or women's column. I even have the contact details on my fridge that I gleaned from a chamber of commerce networking meeting... Now all I need to do is the same thing I tell my clients STOP procrastinating and actually do it. At least I have a stock of articles ready to send which does help.

There was a reason, I called this blog confessions of a coach... So like anyone else I struggle to practice what I preach. However, two weeks ago I read Rich Dad, Poor Dad - since then I have put in place 2 of its pieces of advice

1. Do a direct sales and marketing course to help me in expanding my coaching, speaking and writing practice
2. Find successful role models and learn from them

This week I have therefore done a number of things for the first time... If I look at this year as whole I have done so many things for the first time I have now lost count... To me, that's what makes life interesting to be constantly learning, expanding, growing - continually moving closer to my dream.

How about you? My question to my readers is this: How good are you at learning from others? When was the last time you did something for the first time? Is it time you stopped just reading about what others are doing and started working on your own life, goals, dream and aspirations? Is there an area of your life, whether you know you need a bit of outside perspective and accountability? Can I make a suggestion... get a coach or find someone to buddy up with and work on your goal - make your dreams become reality.

Thanks for reading,

Michelle

PS If you want any help from a real person, who can help you work through your own answers and solutions to achieve your goals and dreams- call me on 07779 305825 or e-mail me or visit my website.