Inner Firewalking

I Was Where You Are Too

Posted by David Wood

The following is an excerpt from the book Get Paid For Who You Are.

If you are working 9 to 5 for someone else at something you’re not passionate about, or struggling to get more clients for your own business, then I can tell you I understand. I’ve been in those places not too long ago.

I was a consulting actuary for Fortune 500 companies based in New York. By all measures, I was a success. I had gone to school to learn a great profession, worked hard to get promoted, and had taken 8 years to qualify as an actuary (no small feat). I was making good money. I’d moved from Australia to my dream destination, New York City. My parents were proud and my friends thought I had it made.

But I couldn’t shake the feeling that this just wasn’t me!

After much soul-searching, I took six months off to pursue a life-long dream of playing guitar and singing in pubs. I dressed up in fun, silly costumes like a kilt and a long blond ABBA wig, and sang party songs like Blame It On The Boogie.

You know what? I never made it back to corporate life. I’d broken my old thought patterns and started coaching people to achieve their goals. Soon other coaches were asking me how to attract clients using the internet. I was now doing what I loved, but I was still working five days a week. So I turned my knowledge and passion into a CD product. Now I was helping people 24/7, without using my time!

I took many deep breaths the day I slowly wrote my resignation letter to the Institute of Actuaries of Australia. My mind was screaming, “You’ve invested eight years of sweat, stress and tears in qualifying — you’re crazy to let that go!” But I was letting go of the old to create the new, so it felt right. I made my own choices. And that’s what I want for you.

Facebook Comments Box

Get Out of Your Own Way

Posted by David Wood

The following is an excerpt from the book Get Paid For Who You Are.

When web designer Mike Hall pulled his SUv into the shadows of the tree-lined drive of a prospective client, he was about to find out that Joe troyer, owner of the Cross fire archery shop, didn’t even own a computer. in fact, Joe was amish. But Joe knew that Amish or not, if people were to find out about his custom-made, hand-crafted bows, he needed a website.

Now the world can come to Joe to experience the passion of archery equipment made the old-fashioned way. He gets to spend his time lightly sanding a freshly bent bow while his website works away. . . because he hired someone to do it.

Hey, if Joe can manage to get a website (www.crossfire archery.com) up and running in a woodsy snow covered setting in ohio without even owning a computer, you might have to think hard about any excuses that might be holding you back.

Facebook Comments Box

Which Training School to Choose?

Posted by David Wood

The following is an excerpt from the CoachStart Manual.

If you are not going for ICF accreditation, then any school/course which provides effective training may suit you.

However, if accreditation is or will be important to you, you are looking for one of two types of schools:

A school, which the ICF calls an ACTP, which means it has the ICF official “stamp”, or

A school whose training is “aligned with the ICF requirements” – also known as the “Portfolio Track” to accreditation. (To be “aligned” the training must be coaching specific, be aligned with the eight training competencies specified by the ICF, and provide at least 125 training hours, of which at least 100 are face-to-face or teleclass training.)

What is the difference? The ICF has made it clear that neither path is easier – you jump through the same amount of hoops, regardless of which path you choose. Choosing an ACTP means you have most of the hoops in the same place, although understandably it comes with a higher price tag.

A word of caution: if your school does not mention the ICF, or specifically that it either has an ACTP or that it meets the requirements of the Portfolio Track to ICF accreditation, there’s a 99% chance it doesn’t.

Facebook Comments Box

Get Clients Via Public Speaking

Posted by David Wood

The following is an excerpt from the CoachStart Manual.

Public speaking is a great way to get clients. You speak to local clubs or organisations (usually for free, or you get a nice pen) and give their members a 30-minute talk at their regular meeting. You help them with a particular issue they might be facing, you’re positioned as an expert, and they get a strong sense of who you are.

If you make it easy for them to give you their information, you can follow up and build a relationship; e.g., through your ezine.

Some in the audience will want to have you speak at their club or company, and it may not be long before you’re starting to charge a fee.

And, when you have a great talk, you can record it and sell it on CD!

I gained several long-term clients, and my first paid corporate speeches, out of free speaking on the local club circuit.

Facebook Comments Box

Robert Cornish on Training and Certification

Posted by David Wood

Would you advise coaches to pursue certification?

I did as soon as I could, through I haven’t surveyed my clients to see if my certification influenced their hiring me. I think with the number of people who are calling themselves coaches with questionable experience and training that the public will eventually look for certified coaches.

I recommend certifying as soon as you can and I think the ICF has the most credible independent coach certification credential.

Are there any particular schools you would recommend?

The Coaches Training Institute is where I did my primary training, from my connections to other coaches over the years, I would also recommend (in alphabetical order) Academy for Coach Training, Coach For Life, The Newfield Network, and Success Unlimited Network.

Facebook Comments Box

Leza Danly on Finding Initial Clients

Posted by David Wood

The following is taken from David’s interview with Leza Danly in 10 Super Coaches.

What top three methods, in order, did you use to get your clients in the first 2 years?

My top three methods were:

Magic
Referrals
Public Speaking

I am not joking when I saw magic was my primary enrollment method. In fact, it was really important to me that I create my practice magically, meaning that I visualized it, I programmed for it, I spent time regularly in meditation imagining my full practice and seeing myself happily coaching a full practice. I made a schedule of where my client appointments were going to be and I absolutely allowed myself to desire it, imagine and expect it to happen.

Then I would delight as the phone rang and people called and I would set up sample sessions. I got so excited about the opportunities for growth for the people who called. I think I held an authentic space of possibility in such a way that they could more clearly see who they were becoming. Then I imagined people saying yes to coaching, and they did.

Again, I want to be clear I am not talking about a child’s magic that is about wishful thinking and looking the other way. I’m talking about the true, adult magic of consciously creating reality.

Once I started getting clients, then they referred other people. Also, even though I don’t recommend coaching friends and family, I did give them sample sessions so they would know more first-hand what I was doing and they were more likely to refer people.

Later, I began training coaches and speaking at conferences, which is another way for people to see you and get the power of your presence. But I didn’t do any public speaking in the first wave of practice-building.

Facebook Comments Box

Home

I Was Where You Are Too

Get Out of Your Own Way

Which Training School to Choose?

Get Clients Via Public Speaking

Robert Cornish on Training and Certification

Leza Danly on Finding Initial Clients