David Wood | Inner Firewalking

Michael O. Cooper on Pursuing Certification

The following is taken from David’s interview with Michael O. Cooper in 10 Super Coaches.

Would you advise coaches to pursue certification? If so, at what stage in their practice, and through which accrediting body?

I believe the industry is evolving and coaching clients are becoming more savvy. There will come a time when clients require their coaches to be certified.

Coaches should continually strive to improve their coaching, but become certified as early as possible – certification processes will improve every coach’s quality of coaching. I view the certification process as a learning path in itself. That’s why we developed the International Association of Coaches’ certification process in three steps to provide clear, compelling feedback on which proficiencies coaches need to improve before moving on to the next steps.

I believe the IAC model, which allows any coach to apply for certification regardless of how many hours they have coached, or how many classes they have attended, is the best model to demonstrate competency, particularly because this certification is based on the 15 Coaching Proficiencies, rather than general knowledge.

Marcia Reynolds on Coaching Niches

The following is taken from David’s interview with Marcia Reynolds in 10 Super Coaches.

How would you suggest coaches find their niche?

Look at ALL your past experiences in industries, professions and fields, including volunteer work, to identify areas you know. Then look for topics that would interest clients in these areas that you are passionate about. To become an expert in an area, you have to be passionate about it. Do not go with something just because you think people need it. You have to have a strong desire to research, learn and develop yourself in order to create and maintain your expertise status.

Sample Letter to Send to Possible Newsletter Subscribers

The following is taken from Get Paid University.

Hey [insert name],

I just created this awesome free download that will help you to [insert benefit]. It’s to celebrate the launch of my new newsletter, with free tips on how to [insert benefits]. I think you’ll get a lot out of the newsletter too.

Keep a look out for the free download in the next couple of days. I’ll give you one issue of the newslet- ter, and leave the choice of whether to subscribe up to you.

Would you help me reach the people who could use this?

I’d appreciate you thinking of the people in your life who want [insert target market’s desire], and forwarding it to them when you get it. Would you?

[Signature]

What is Coaching?

The following is an excerpt from the CoachStart Manual.

“Coaching involves holding out a possibility in front of others while coaching them to move to the next level with relentless compassion.” (Hargrove, 2000)

“Coaching people to unleash their aspirations, move beyond what they already think and know, and maximise their results is one of the highest aspirations of what it is to be a human.” (Hargrove, 2000)

“There seems to be more to this whole living thing than meets the eye” (Anonymous)

Why Have a Newsletter?

The following is taken from Get Paid University.

Now, why do we have a newsletter? Billy Mae is saying that Bryan is a mentor of his. Right on, Billy. So why have a newsletter? I was asked to speak at Harv Eker’s Never Work Again conference. He’s the one who wrote a book called The Millionaire Mindset and I initially said no. I mean, yeah, why would I want to go and speak at there for? They said, “We want you to speak about newsletters. We understand you have one.” I was like, “Yeah? Who doesn’t?” But I realized that newsletters were the fundamental lynchpin of my business, like everythingrevolved around that because I kept giving away free information in the terms of valuable articles and building a relationship with people. I built my newsletter for three years before I had a product. Now fortunately, you guys have got me so you’re not going to wait that long. But I didn’t know any better and I just built it for three years and I was trying to sell my coaching and then when I did release a product, I can’t remember the exact amount – I think it was somewhere around $3,000 to $5,000 I brought in which was amazing to me for my first product launch.

Ginger Cockerham on Practice Building

The following is taken from David’s interview with Ginger Cockerham in 10 Super Coaches.

What was most disheartening for you while building your practice?

Why give up a lucrative business before I am sure I can be a successful coach? Giving up a business that was successful but stressful and transitioning to coaching full time was a HUGE decision for me. If felt like jumping off a cliff and hoping the parachute would open. It was necessary to make that choice to have the time and commitment to coaching – but it was very scary.

One morning I got up and spent the entire day coaching – doing what I loved and being on my life mission and I realized that it was worth stepping through the fear. In addition, I have had fabulous senior mentor coaches in the 8 ½ years I have been coaching. It was with the support and encouragement of a coach who was ahead of me on the journey that gave me that courage – I was not stepping out alone.

The second block was the plateauing. In the first two years, I built my client base to 10 or 12 clients consistently but I could not get past that number. It was then I read the anonymous quote – “If you can do it yourself, it’s not a big enough dream” – so I started building and increasing my network so that referrals come regularly from clients, from networking groups, for alliances, from other coaches, etc.

Posts by David Wood

About David Wood

Michael O. Cooper on Pursuing Certification

Marcia Reynolds on Coaching Niches

What is Coaching?

Ginger Cockerham on Practice Building