clients

Awaking the Sleeping Giant Within

 in Guest Post  tagged challenge / clients / coach / coaching / Diane Dutchin / empower / impact / motivate / passion / purpose / questions / reflect / talent

In today’s guest post Coach Diane Dutchin shares her expertise and knowledge to benefit both you and your clients.

Awaking the Sleeping Giant Within

by Diane Dutchin

"Awaking the sleeping Giant within" by Diane Dutchin

“Sleeping never moves you forward, it’s the awakening process that stirs you to action”

(DianeD)

I know, the title to this topic is not the usual you come across in your mail box like “how to uncover and tap into your niche”, or “how to attract more clients”. However, stay with me, this is an appropriate fit because it’s about you the coach and your client.

My intent is to deliver a one two punch of relevant information to empower you to reflect, to reapply methods of being and doing in your journey as a coach, and hopefully lead to a revival, renewal/refreshing to both you and your clients.

Let’s start with you the coach:

Reflect: when you first started your practice what was your attitude like? Aside from the excitement of finally doing what I felt I was created to do, I was focused on uncovering what areas of life I was deeply passionate about and connected to.

Forget about what the experts are saying you should or shouldn’t do, and what the latest niche is. What fired you up and awakened your spirit? Is that fire still there or is it a dying ember? Or, are you more motivated by external realities than your internal convictions? Stay consistent to your internal convictions. Here are some steps I follow to help me awaken sleeping giants in my journey

Revisit/Reapply: your core values and your personal beliefs. Revisiting my values gives me the opportunity to assess my present state, and how much of my values/beliefs are still in line with my living, and make adjustments where needed. By doing that you sharpen:

  • Your talents – what you know you’re really good at
  • Your passions – what you deeply care about
  • Your purpose – what is it you want your life to count for
  • Your impact – what is the outcome you’re looking to achieve

By incorporating your basic style of coaching with fresh ideas, tips and tools you can strengthen your practice, and find yourself at the advantage of serving with excellence.

Revive: your truth, your internal realities, and your purpose – not someone else! It’s easy to place too much emphasis on what others are doing, and dismiss what convicts and motivates your particular style. Yes, it takes someone with courage to stay consistent, recognize opportunities, and accept the calling to be a coach of positive change. I am not saying to ignore growth, but don’t throw out the baby with the bath water by neglecting the fundamentals you established your practice on.

Renew/Refresh: your life, your vision, your focus, your practice and your delivery. By taking the time to reflect, revisit/reapply and revive areas, thoughts, actions or saying about your life and practice, you could experience a welcomed renewal that can improve your delivery add deep refreshing to you and your practice.

All about the client:

Seeing that you’re in the coaching profession, I am going to automatically assume part of your focus when working with your client, is to:

  • Guide them towards the door of awareness
  • Empower them to open the door,
  • Challenge them to step into the journey
  • Motivate them to discover their answers, solutions, etc. in specific areas.

So, why is it some coaches overcomplicate this process? As a coach you want to remain mindful of lining up your words with your actions. I would rather have someone under promise with their words and over deliver with their actions, instead of over promising and under delivering.

Clients come to you because they have a need, and are drawn to you based on a number of factors:

  • What they’ve read on your site
  • What they heard through a referral
  • What your past clients said/testimonials
  • What was felt through the initial connection

In my experience I’ve found my most effective encounters and results came when I avoided the flashy and fancy approach. People aren’t looking necessarily for how much credentials are behind your name, or how many hundreds of clients you’ve served – all they care about is “can you help me with______?”

The basic foundational questions still works and can be extremely effective to get the journey of awareness, and empowerment to change started:

  • Why, when, where, what and how? (in whatever order)

You still have opportunity to ask other questions like:

  • What are your internal/external realities?
  • How important are values and beliefs to you?
  • On a scale ____? How do you feel about____?

My experience is that this way such questions will automatically fall into place!

There should be a natural flow when serving your clients. Be cautious of “trying” a new thing you read about, or what happens to be the “new style of coaching”. If not, it could show up during the session and mat be the last one with the client.

As a coach you can awaken and elevate areas of your personal and professional life to higher levels of fulfillment, and stir your clients forward to have a more impactful, and life transforming experience.

How do you know when an area in your life needs to be awaken, and what action do you take to revive it?

You are your Greatest Investment!

About Diane Dutchin

“Diane – life coach with a passion for living her best life and motivating others to do the same. I provide quality coaching and facilitating services to clients and coaches on a personal and professional level. I work with people to improve the quality of their lives on a personal and professional level.

Check out my site at www.makethemovecoaching.com and connect for a free 1 hour strategy session.”

What do you want to get known for?

 in Guest Post  tagged brand / business / clients / coach / expert / expertise / identity / Karen Williams / marketing / niche

In today’s guest post Karen Williams asks an insightful question to help you and your coaching business.

What do you want to get known for?

By Karen Williams

"What do you want to get known for?" By Karen Williams

From my experience, many coaches (and other transformation experts) work with clients who have gone through something similar to themselves. This may be situations like redundancy, cancer, trauma, a chronic illness, or perhaps they have learnt something that they know will help others.

Going through a difficult situation may have been one of their motivators to retrain in this profession, and likely to be one of the reasons that they want to help people now.

My story is similar to that extent. When I started out as a coach, I struggled to get clients and turn my passion into a business that was sustainable. Then I spent time with very successful coaches, discovered their secrets, implemented them into my own business, and then wrote a book about it! That’s why I help my clients to create their own successful business, get more clients, make more money and do what they love.

Even though coaching is traditionally non-directive, and technically you can work with people on any topic, clients will often look for a coach who has credibility in a certain area.

When you’ve been through a situation yourself, you:

  • Can understand how someone must be feeling and emphasise with their situation
  • Have the resources and information that may help and know where else you can direct your client
  • Have credibility in that area and build your business from that topic of expertise

.

Want a profitable and fulfilling business?

To create a profitable and fulfilling business, it’s about finding that area where you have knowledge, passion and experience, and building your niche from this place. However, I also know that it can be hard to define what to do, and niching may feel counterintuitive when you start out.

But these days you don’t need to have one of those ‘traditional’ niches such as a career coach, health coach, etc. The narrower you specialise, and the more unique you are, the easier it will be – trust me!

When you know your ideal client and what you do well, the advantage is that everything you do is aimed towards that person. You’ll have the systems in place that allows you to establish your expertise – and everything will stem from this framework.

  • Your message and brand are aligned to the clients you want to attract
  • Your website will generate leads rather than be a static page that people may come across by accident
  • You can stand out from everyone else in your profession as you know what makes you different
  • You can market yourself in a way that allows you to easily attract clients as people get what you do and the results that clients get from working with you
  • You can create a signature talk/book/information product that automatically leads people to the next step in your marketing funnel and ultimately allows you to build your business easily

.

What do you want to get known for?

If you’re struggling to niche, one of my favourite questions to ask is this: “What do you want to get known for?” I’ll be honest; it’s not enough to say “A great coach”, or “making a difference”, etc…

What do you really want to get known for?

Where is your expertise?

What are you good at?

Who would you love to work with and why?

What is your story and how does this relate to your clients?

You could, of course, do one of my favourite exercises, which you’ll find in my second book, How to Stand Out in your Business. Take your passions and talents and explore these areas unique to you. Take time to get clear what you are good at and where you excel, as well as understanding what you feel passionate about and why you love this. You can also look at your story and where you have come from and how you can might be able to help others in areas where you have your own experience.

But ultimately I suggest you ask yourself the question: What do you want to get known for? I’d love your comments below.

About Karen Williams

Karen WilliamsIf you’re ready to stand out and become more visible, or want support to discover what you want to get known for, contact Karen for a free discovery call. You can also join her at the Star Biz conference on 11/12 July and on her Writing Retreat in Spain from 25-30 September 2014.

Karen Williams is the founder of Self Discovery Coaching and is a Business Coach and Mentor, Author, Speaker and Fire Walk Instructor. She predominantly works with solopreneurs (coaches, consultants and therapists) who want to make a difference, but know that to do this, they need to learn the skills to create and grow a successful business. She helps them to get more clients, make more money and do what they love.

She is known for helping her clients to succeed by standing out from the crowd, getting noticed and being an expert in their business. She is the author of The Secrets of Successful Coaches, which reached #1 in the Business charts on Amazon. Her second book, How to Stand Out in your Business, was published in 2012. In the second book she shares the 7 Step Success System that she uses to help her clients to become more visible and create a successful business. She is half way through writing her third book.

Free resource

 in teleclass/webinar  tagged clients / coaching / Karen Williams / resource / speach / speaking / talks

“From Petrified to Powerful – How to Harnish the Speaking Secrets to Business Success.”

Free webinar

Long term readers may already be familiar with one of our regular guest posters, Karen Williams who is really passionate about helping coaches get more clients, make more money and do what you love – coaching.

Last week she ran a free webinar “From Petrified to Powerful – How to Harnish the Speaking Secrets to Business Success.”

Sharing her own and some of her clients real life stories and experiences she covered:

  • Why you’re missing out if you’re not already integrating speaking into your business and marketing strategy
  • The 7 S’s to speaking that you need in place to maximise your speaking opportunities and why these are essential to your success
  • What stops you from speaking already and how you can get over these barriers and blocks
  • The confidence strategies that Karen used to go from petrified to powerful when speaking in front of groups of people – even if you are a reserved, shy woman like herself!
  • The 3 simple steps you need to take to get your first speaking gigs and how you can make it easy for yourself

In this hour webinar Karen authentically shared some practical pieces of information, guidance and responded to participants questions and fears.

If you want access to the free recording of “From Petrified to Powerfull – How to Harnish the Speaking Secrets to Business Success.” visit www.starbizconference.co.uk/petrified-to-powerful now.

Turn Your Coaching Session Into a Coaching Experience

 in Guest Post  tagged Allan N. Mulholland / clients / coach / coaching / experience / session / structure

In today’s guest post Allan N. Mulholland shares criteria he considers essential for how he works:" Turn Your Coaching Session Into a Coaching Experience" by Allan N. Mulholland

Turn Your Coaching Session Into a Coaching Experience

By Allan N. Mulholland

There is much more to coaching than simply picking up the phone at a pre-arranged time and connecting with your client for a 30 minute chat! The old axiom “You only get out of it, what you put into it” was never more true than for your coaching session. The client must receive maximum value from the session, while the coach receives maximum fees.

If you want to facilitate the successful achievement of your client’s Desired Outcome, every one of your coaching sessions must be purposeful, results-driven and goal-oriented! If you want to charge top coaching fees, you better be prepared to go the extra mile and turn your coaching session into a coaching experience.

There are many elements that make up a properly executed coaching session. Here are the 10 session criteria that I consider essential for creating a coaching experience!

1 – Preparation

Before I connect with a client, I always allow myself 15 minutes to properly prepare for the session. This is the time when I do all of the following:

  • a) I review all my notes.

Every time I conduct a coaching session, I take detailed notes on everything that happens during the session. I am always amazed at how many coaches rely on memory from one session to the next. If you don’t take notes, you are not a credible and professional coach! Winging it is for the birds!

  • b) I check my Coaching Timeline.

Every Coaching Program that I prepare for a client is based on a 3 – 6 month timeline. I use this timeline to hold both the client and myself accountable for achieving measurable progress toward a Desired Outcome.

  • c) I read the “Prep Sheet”.

Prior to every session, my clients submit a Coaching Prep Sheet where they write a brief summary of the progress they made since the last session and where they want to spend some extra time during the next session.

  • d) I prepare a Session Agenda.

Based on the notes, timeline and prep sheet, I create a simple agenda that I will use to keep the coaching session on track and on time. Now I’m ready to make the call!

2 – Maintaining Control

When you engage in a coaching session with your client, it is imperative that you are in control of the conversation at all times! You are the conductor of your “coaching bus” and your client is the passenger! While your client may have an itinerary of places he or she wants to go, you’re the one who is driving the bus that will take them there!

This is especially true if you’re giving away a free initial coaching session! You’re passenger hasn’t even paid for the bus ticket yet, so don’t let them grab the steering wheel! If they can drive the bus themselves, why do they need you? Yet so many coaches allow their clients to “hijack” the coaching bus and take control of the session.

If you want to deliver a quality coaching session, you’ve got to be in control! How do you maintain control? By asking questions!

3 – Asking Questions

Lead the conversation by asking questions! These questions must be targeted and focused on the Desired Outcome. Listen intently to your client’s answers!

Ask more questions! Maintain control! And then wait for the “Coaching Climax”!

4 – Creating Coaching Climaxes

A Coaching Climax is the ‘mental trigger’ that validates and authenticates a pivotal point in a coaching session. I deliberately chose the word ‘climax’ as a metaphor for the powerful impact it has on a coaching client. A skillful Coach can achieve multiple Coaching Climaxes for a client during a coaching session.

If your client does not experience at least one coaching climax for every 15 minutes of coaching, your coaching session did not measure up to the rigorous standards of a Coaching EXPERT!

5 – Achieving Milestones

A sure-fire way to keep your clients motivated and on track is to provide measurable accomplishments during and following each coaching session. Recognize the progress the client has made since the last session and point out any recent ‘milestones’ that he/she has reached. A ‘Success Formula’ is created when a string of ‘milestones’ are recorded along the path to achieving a Desired Outcome.

6 – Keeping focus on the Desired Outcome

If you don’t keep focus on the Desired Outcome, the client may start to wander in different directions. While you certainly do not want to stifle any opportunity for your clients to achieve a Coaching Climax, you must guard against any random deviations from the session agenda. If you don’t, the session will miss its objective and will be difficult to record in your notes in the context of the overall Desired Outcome.

7 – Inserting the Accountability Factor

The “accountability factor” must be ever present throughout the session! As a Coach, you must hold your clients accountable for their actions.

  • Without accountability, there can be no discipline.
  • Without discipline, there can be no commitment.
  • Without commitment, there can be no achievement.

8 – Reviewing the session

Before you wrap up your coaching session, you must do a quick verbal recap of the things your client achieved during the call. This will re-enforce the client’s perception of value and the investment the client is making in you as a coach!

9 – The Assignment

Always assign some homework that the client must complete by the next session. This could be writing a new resume, drinking less alcohol, starting a new project for their home or business, celebrating a special occasion, etc.

10 – The follow-up email

For me, this is the ‘icing on the cake’! As a true professional, you must send a brief email to your clients that recognizes the Coaching Climaxes that were created, the Milestones that were achieved and the Assignment that is to be completed by the next session!

Incorporate these 10 elements in your coaching sessions and discover how you can create a unique and valuable coaching experience for your clients!

About Allan N. Mulholland

Allan N. Mulholland is the founder and president of PersonaCoach (Int’l) LLC, which provides training and certification for life & business coaches. He is the author of “Change Your Perception, Change Yourself!” and writes on all aspects of coaching training and development.

To get Allan’s free eBook “Become a Coaching EXPERT and Charge EXPERT Coaching Fees!” go to http://www.personacoach.com

CLICK HERE to join Allan’s LinkedIn Group.

Empower your clients by Standing in your power

 in Guest Post  tagged clients / coach / Debra Larson / empower / power / self / transformation / wealth

In today’s guest post Transformation & Wealth Coach Debra Larson shares some of her expertise and knowledge as she recommends:

Empower your clients by Standing in your power

by Debra Larson

It isn’t a secret that most of the people I attract are highly conscious women coaches, consultants, authors and speakers. I’ve been very blessed to have some real movers and shakers attracted to my style of coaching.

"A deeper meaning to their business which gives them a higher purpose than just making money and allows them to show up as powerful as they do each and every day."

But there is something else about this group of people that really makes them stand out, and that is that there is a deeper core, a deeper meaning to their business which gives them a higher purpose than just making money and allows them to show up as powerful as they do each and every day.

It doesn’t mean every day is a good day; it’s just means they own whatever comes their way. They know there is something bigger than themselves then what is happening at that very moment that helps them over the hump and holds them true to their vision.

Many of my clients weren’t always this way when they first came to me. Shoot, I wasn’t even this way a while back. It took some guidance, but here is the secret… YOU already have this courage within you, sometimes it just takes some coaxing. I am going to share with you the underlying mindset that I have and each of my clients learn that will help you show up each and every day, to stand in your own value, and serve your clients fully.

  • Being fully in alignment with what you love, your passions in life create unstoppable momentum within your business and for your clients, as well.
  • You must take a stand for your clients, meaning love them enough to say what needs to be said. Sometimes your clients may not be quite ready for your training, or if they are their fears are standing in the way. Which ultimately means, your love for them must be greater than your own fears!

This is one of my favorites that I am constantly reminded of, so I’ll pass it on to you!

  • Your strength has to come from a bigger place than your need to be liked. Do what is in the best interest of your client and for you. They didn’t hire you to be their best friend, (even though I have some pretty incredible relationships that blossomed from my clients), they need someone to help them get unstuck and move thru their stuff!

My current success coach & mentor Kendall Summerhawk shared this one with me, which is pretty powerful, as well!

  • Practice passionate detachment. What does Kendall mean by this? At the end of the day, you can’t be the one taking action for your client. But if your client(s) is consistently not taking action, or the same “challenge” keeps popping up, please take this as feedback and learn from it, but don’t take it on as your problem, or your responsibility. We are here to guide and support them, not DO for them.
  • Expecting instant transformation. This is a toughie; you want everyone to have a transformation, and if you are like me, you want it now. The truth is many times your client won’t have a transformation, (definition of transformation: a shift in perception), until later, after the call.

OR, sometimes they won’t get “it” until they hear whatever you’ve told them a couple more times from another source. It’s funny; they will come back and say, “I just heard this really cool _____ from ______!” And, I’ll be thinking to myself, didn’t we go over that 2 weeks ago!! It doesn’t matter when they get it, what matters is that they do!

There is a huge paradigm shift happening in the world and I have slowly but surely been grasping onto it, which I’m sure you already have.

You are hereWhat is it?

We are all meant to be part of each other’s path. Many times what your clients are going thru is a reflection upon yourself. Whether you are going through the same thing now, or did in the past, or possibly will in the future, perhaps you need to get some type of learning or awareness through their challenges to help you grow as a person.

Just know that there is a connection between you and them, but you are not responsible for them. If you continually look for approval and validation thru your customer, you will be disappointed. You will begin to attract needy and demanding clients, as well.

Another thing Kendall taught me this year that is so powerful that is always right there on top of the tool box when I need it!

“Hold someone as powerful, no matter what, even when they can’t do it for themselves.”

Decide who and how you want to show up in your business, not from where you are now but from where you want to be. If you desire to be a multi-million dollar coach that runs her business with grace and ease, then ask yourself if you are showing up as this person. If you are stuck and have a decision to make, what would the multi-million dollar coach do with grace and ease?

Ask your clients this as well, Whom do they want to show up as? Are they making decisions from this place or where they are now. Remember where you are now is already in the past so you might well be how you want to be!

Don’t let your clients run the show and be bigger than you, this is your dream, stand in your values. Always remember, people don’t take our power; we give it away.

About Debra Larson

Debra Larson is a Transformation & Wealth Coach, founder of Simply Wealthy by Debra. Debra, an award winning coach, Amazon best selling author, empowers women around the world on how to turn their own true gifts, passions and purpose into a profitable, meaningful business thru simple, doable – yet result driven concepts and systems. She prides herself in helping her clients achieve transformational results by weaving timeless truths and Universal Laws with mastery marketing counsel, teaching on everything from mindset to marketing that assists you in growing yourself while empowering you to fulfill your life’s purpose. You can find out more about Debra and get free tools, business and life building gifts, tips and steps to becoming simply wealthy in your business & in life at: www.DebraLarson.com

Want More Clients? Are Random Acts of Marketing Holding You Back? 1

 in Guest Post  tagged clients / coaching / Joan Bell / marketing / marketing plan / strategy

In today’s guest post Joan Bell shares some of her expertise and knowledge as she asks:

Want More Clients? Are Random Acts of Marketing Holding You Back?

by Joan Bell

"Want More Clients? Are Random Acts of Marketing Holding You Back?" by Joan Bell

Say NO to random acts of marketing! (RAOM)

What’s falling through the cracks in your marketing?

It’s so easy to get bogged down with all the bright shiny objects out there that we often end up confused, overwhelmed and simply frustrated with what we should be doing to get more clients.

In fact it has become such an issue for many independent professionals that they are seriously thinking of going back to old jobs or beginning something else that doesn’t require the effort and intensity that seems to be needed to be successful as an entrepreneur.

I worked with one client recently who said she had done “everything” to get more clients and nothing had worked so I was her last chance before she just ‘gave up’ and did what others had been telling her to do for months… “get a proper job”

Uggghhhhhhhhhh! That really got my heckles up! (It’s like saying women belong in the kitchen!)

Through coaching and asking her some very simple but powerful questions my client came to realize what her idea of “everything” had consisted of; this is what her idea of marketing was:

  • A few random Facebook comments
  • Random invitations to her programmes or classes,
  • A monthly newsletter that went out spasmodically
  • Random conversations with anyone who would listen
  • Writing an occasional special report or random content

I asked about her marketing plan? She didn’t have one. She didn’t have a content calendar or any specific marketing strategies or daily actions that she did consistently. In fact 80% of her marketing efforts were totally random based on how she was feeling on the day and what she was currently interested in or that she heard was the latest and greatest marketing fad.

Actually, it was luck rather than judgement that she had clients at all. Things had to change or this fabulous woman would be doing a disservice to those people she was meant to serve and she would be joining the queue of entrepreneurs who have given up on their dream.

The term RAOM (Random Acts of Marketing) came to mind, not sure if I had heard it before or whether I came up with it but whatever the case, this had been her way of marketing and she wondered why it wasn’t working.

The first thing I asked of her was to acknowledge where she was and realize that what she was doing wasn’t working. Only then could she breathe a sigh of relief knowing that there was nothing ‘wrong’ with her and it was simply a matter of learning, knowing and instigating a more structured plan of action to help her attract and sign up more clients.

The best part was I could offer her exactly what she needed to get the results she wanted and we could move very quickly to give her an understanding of how it all ‘works’ and how simple it actually is when you understand a few basic steps or keys of marketing.

They are:

  1. Know what you are offering – specifically and passionately
  2. Know who you are, what you stand for and what you can deliver
  3. Have a way or ways of delivering this that makes sense for your clients
  4. Have a solid, tangible result that they can expect from working with you
  5. Create a no excuses, reliable marketing plan that is easy to implement
  6. Take monthly, weekly, daily actions that work and give results
  7. Take a birds-eye view to see what’s working and what isn’t
  8. Make any adjustments that are needed
  9. Take it to the bank! Ching ching!

Rinse and repeat for your next stage.

Yes, it takes effort and the time to learn but surely that has to be better than flailing aimlessly through a marketing mine-field of the latest, greatest strategies that have yet to be proven.

This is one time when the tried and true actually works, you can jazz it up, colour it, add music to it or dance with it but when it comes down to it, it’s the strategies and planning, the passion and purpose and the daily actions done with love and enthusiasm that work best every time.

You know how I know this? Yep, you guessed it, I’ve tried all the rest myself and it took me a long time to get on track and when I did, life, business, marketing and my bank balance became so much more expansive.

Don’t waste another day on Random Acts of Marketing, take the time to learn how to do it in a way that works, a way that aligns with your passion and a way that can give you the results you deserve. I promise you, you won’t regret it.

About Joan Bell

Joan Bell is a Solo Biz & Marketing Coach and Certified NLP Practitioner.

Joan is also a facilitator of the GET CLIENTS NOW! 28 day marketing programme and loves to work with Coaches and Service Professionals who want more clients, more cash and more fun in their biz and their life. This programme can be done with a small group or on a 1 to 1 basis..

She’s a no-nonsense, ‘tell it like it is’ coach with a sense of fun and likes nothing better than sharing her wit and wisdom in ways that puts her clients at ease and provides them the space they need to confidently showcase their brilliance in a judgement free playground.

As a result of working with Joan clients create marketing plans that work, signature systems they can take to the bank and lifestyles they’ve only dreamed of. If you’d like to find out more, pop on over to http://www.bizcoach101.com or http://tiny.cc/gcn where you can read an article, get a Free report and check out Joan’s Services.

 

 

Article Source: Want More Clients? Are Random Acts of Marketing Holding You Back?

Design Your Business Around Your Lifestyle

 in Guest Post  tagged business / clients / coach / design your business and lifestyle / lifestyle / small business owners / Susan Tomlinson

Are you thinking about, or in the process of, setting up your own coaching practice? In today’s guest post business coach and mentor Susan Tomlinson shares some experience and advice:

Design Your Business Around Your Lifestyle

By Susan Tomlinson

"Design Your Business Around Your Lifestyle" by Susan Tomlinson

One of the key reasons I escaped corporate life, many years ago, was that I felt that I was serving a ‘prison sentence’!

I realise this might sound a bit dramatic but the frustration of commuting each day, to sit in an office from 9 am to 5 pm, just didn’t fit with my desire to have the freedom to work in a way that produced results; but didn’t have me chained to my desk for certain hours of the day.

However… here’s a trap that small business owners fall into – it’s exchanging one job for another but with you as the boss (and my boss can be very demanding)!

Which is why it’s important as you set up and grow your business that you design your business around your lifestyle. Otherwise you’ll end up frustrated, resentful and burned out.

Each of us has different needs, values and personal circumstances but if you really want to make the most of working for yourself AND enjoy life, here are some shifts to make…

Commit to working the hours that fit with your needs and values. I made the decision that I would not work in the evenings and rarely at the weekends (unless I wanted to). I also schedule in a long weekend with family each month.

Let go of any guilt or fear that you are missing out if you can only work a small number of hours due to child care or other commitments. You’ll soon become very focused in the time you have available and you’ll be much more savvy about handling distractions. Tim Ferris’s book The 4-Hour Work Week helped me shift my perspective on what’s achievable.

Block out your vacation time, even if you’re not going away. If you were in paid employment you’d probably take 4 weeks as annual leave to switch off and have fun.

If travel or being location independent is your dream then it is possible. Consider hiring help for your technology requirements and work on setting up systems so that you can do more of your business online.

Carve out space for your interests and hobbies. It’s tempting to feel that spending time on these activities is a bit of a luxury, particularly when there are so many other demands and pressures. However, doing what you love, outside of your work, will probably inspire fresh insights and bring you into contact with new people and opportunities

Choose your environment. I know this is a trickier one as you may have a partner, children, parents, schools and other commitments to consider. So moving home from town to country or even another country may not be realistic. However, may be you could design an office space that you love (I couldn’t wait to escape my grey cubicle for colour and comfort!) or if you prefer working with others, in some towns and cities, there are trendy shared work places or private clubs.

If you’ve taken the leap to start your own business then dare to design a lifestyle that works for you too. You’ll become much happier and more client attractive in the process.

About Susan Tomlinson

Susan Tomlinson, Business Coach and Mentor, is founder of Real Coaching Solutions a company dedicated to helping coaches, consultants and solo entrepreneurs attract more clients, make more money and build a business they love. To get your free ‘Boost Your Business Success’ report and to receive her ‘Highlights on Business Success’ newsletter visit www.realcoachingsolutions.co.uk

For many years Susan held senior roles in well known international businesses and industry sectors. It gave her a fascinating insight into how businesses work, as she was often involved in start up ventures.

Eventually, always being an entrepreneur at heart and feeling restless, she took the leap and set up her own coaching and consulting business winning large contracts and working with top names.

Even with all her previous experience Susan soon realised the challenges of being a solo entrepreneur, so early on she made the decision to make a significant investment of her time and money in hiring her own mentors and learning everything she could about marketing, sales and mindset to consistently grow her own business and continue to create the lifestyle of her choice.

Having coached and taught hundreds of people in business Susan now shares her hands on, real life experience and knowledge with other coaches, consultants and solo entrepreneurs, who know that the quickest route to success is working with a trusted business coach and mentor.

Connect with Susan via:

Her website: www.realcoachingsolutions.co.uk
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SusanRTomlinson
Google+: https://plus.google.com/103685189595897269188
LinkedIN: http://www.linkedin.com/in/realcoachingsolutions
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/susantomlinson/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/susantomlinson

 

 

Article Source: Design Your Business Around Your Lifestyle

Ezinearticles.com: Author bio

Spare Some Time for Coaching and Mentoring

 in Guest Post  tagged Beverley Ireland-Symonds / clients / coach / coaching / doubt / help / mentoring / space / starting coaching / time

In today’s guest post Beverley Ireland-Symonds shares her experience from when she was in the early days of her coaching:

Spare Some Time for Coaching and Mentoring By Beverley Ireland-Symonds

Spare Some Time for Coaching and Mentoring

By Beverley Ireland-Symonds

If you’re a newly trained coach in the process of setting up your coaching business you probably have a long ‘To do’ list. Deciding on a niche, writing a business plan and marketing plan, getting business cards printed, a website up and running, gathering resources, deciding on costs and fees, sorting out banking and taxes and a whole host of other things. And of course probably the number one priority for a lot of people – finding and coaching clients.

Now I suspect there may be one thing that is either missing from your list or doesn’t have a very high priority and that’s getting support for yourself. I remember on the first two day introductory course I did in coaching I was advised that all coaches should have their own coach – who could coach and/or mentor.

This sounded like sound advice but I have to admit it just wasn’t on my list of priorities at all some months later. I simply had too many other things to think about and it slipped to the back of my mind. I’d made some good friends on my training course and we’d occasionally Skype or email each other swapping tips and information and occasionally raising any small difficulties we were having.

I remember thinking at one point ‘I’m not sure what I’m doing’ but I didn’t say so because my friends sounded so enthusiastic and contented. I just continued to plod along developing my niche with some successes and the occasional failure.

But after 10 months I was suddenly hit with a real crisis of confidence. I found myself developing ideas that were different from my original niche and I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to be pulled in a new direction. Once that thought had taken hold I then started to question whether I was up to even being a coach. I’m an NLP Coach specialising in confidence. Where was mine? It had all but disappeared.

Then one day, I remembered the conversation about having a coach and knew that I had to do something. The silly thing was that I actually had access to a coach/mentor as part of the coaching training package that I bought. Did I act immediately? No I didn’t – I was too embarrassed. I had this crazy idea that being a coach – also meant I had to be superwoman!

Fortunately I got over that and I sent an email to my coach/mentor with dates for a session and about a week later we spoke on the phone.

I cannot tell you what a relief that call was and I wish I had made it much earlier. After that I had two mentoring sessions (where I received a lot of advice) and three coaching sessions (where I developed ideas, goals and actions).

So what did I get from working with a coach? A lot, but here are some of the key things.

  • There’s nothing wrong in experiencing doubts and there’s nothing wrong in asking for help.
  • There’s a lot to learn from seeing an experienced coach and their coaching style.
  • It’s a valuable lesson to experience coaching as a client.
  • I had time to reflect on where I was with my coaching and clarify where I wanted to be.
  • I had the chance to discuss the change in direction, why it happened and what it meant.
  • I had the opportunity to bounce ideas and thoughts and do some ‘blue sky’ thinking.
  • I got excited about coaching again.

Now, I recognise that I’m fortunate to have been able to work with a coach without having to suddenly find additional money. But if you’re just starting out I would advise that you factor in the cost of some coaching and mentoring for yourself and make it a priority to find someone you can work with. You may not hit a crisis of confidence like I did but you may have issues that you need coaching on and those sessions could be a crucial element in your future success.

I’m sure you don’t need any convincing how important the relationship between yourself and your clients is and the positive impact you can have on their lives. Why not sample a bit of that magic for yourself when needed?

About Beverley Ireland-Symonds

Beverley Ireland-Symonds is an NLP Practitioner and NLP Coach, specialising in Confidence Coaching, working with clients both in the UK and America. She writes extensively on a range of issues including self esteem, confidence and personal development and has developed her own online coaching programme.