The following is an excerpt of one of David’s coaching sessions in Top Coaching Techniques.
David: Let’s talk about revenue, and I think it fits in really well with this other thing. You said you decided to pursue a loan to open a location and use someone else’s money, but then almost in the next breath you said, ‘I really need to focus on creating more revenue.’ I get nervous when the two of those are put together or when the two of those exist together. Talking really big picture stuff – what I’d like to see for you is that you create revenue, and then you launch into a location to expand an existing revenue stream, or one that you already know is going to be there. So that’s the big picture point. So, let’s say you’re going to launch a location and you do that over the next three months. What’s the worst that could happen? Do a little risk analysis.
The following is an excerpt of one of David’s coaching sessions in Top Coaching Techniques.
David: You seem to me like someone who really wants the world to like them. That’s all of us to a certain extent. That’s something that you’re definitely working at it. What a great insight to have now, instead of at age 60 or 70. There will be a few bumps as you figure out what is right. You may go overboard flexing your muscles and go too far sometimes. But, that’s fine. It’s time you stirred things up a little bit.
Client: Yes!
David: Say, ‘Bring on the consequences.’ That ties in to the second goal. You’ve got to have more fun and stop being so serious. So how about when you are scared to say no to somebody? You can actually go the other way and stir it up a little bit. Have some fun with it. Can you please pass me a glass of water? ‘No. Never as long as I live.’
Client: [laughing] Yes. I can tell this is going to be an interesting task.
The following is an excerpt of one of David’s coaching sessions in Top Coaching Techniques.
David: So I’ve got the sense that there are some things you haven’t been telling the absolute truth about, and you want to feel better about these things and be honest without huge upset.
Client: Right. This is with a few of my relationships with my family, I guess, for different reasons.
David: Okay. So, the first point I would make is that sometimes huge upset might be appropriate.
Client: Yeah, I realize that there could be some risks. I have wanted to talk openly with them, but that’s the fear – that there would be this big upset, and of course, I’m worried about losing love.
David: Yes, I totally get it. So one of the definitions of being powerful is to be straight in your communication and to take what you get. I totally understand that that’s asking a lot of you. You really have to stand tall and even grow and be a bigger person to say, ‘You know what? I’m going to take it. Whatever the upset is, I’m going to let them be, and just take whatever it gets.’
The following is an excerpt of one of David’s coaching sessions in Top Coaching Techniques.
David: I’m hearing too in there that there might be some things that are important to you that are not getting attention right now. So, you’re actually out of integrity and that’s why you’re feeling that. It’s good news that you’re so sensitive about it. Some people don’t even notice.
Client: Right.
David: Or they just go and distract themselves.
Client: Part of it too is, Seth and I keep coming up with plans and we keep changing these plans. He has been changing his mind, and I feel like I have to go back and figure out what a new strategy is. So some of it is just needing to sit down and come up with a plan together, because there are too many unknowns. Part of it is the being out of integrity thing. In our relationship, he cares very much about making the money and I care about having fun. So, I feel like I have to keep bringing money to the table, but at the same time I really don’t care, because I just want to have fun.
David: So, if you are following his agenda, whose fault is that?
Client: Yeah. That’s part of the problem.
David: There’s something else I could send you that’s really cool and I think you might like it. I don’t think you’ve seen my personal life goal sheet. I’ll send you that and it might give you some ideas.
The following is an excerpt of an actual transaction between David and a client in Top Coaching Techniques.
David: You feel that you’re not achieving?
Client: Well, I feel that everything I am achieving is about making money, which is a good thing, because I need to make money and I’ve figure out how to make it. The problem is that then I start to feel I can’t do the fun stuff, because I’m not making money. That’s frustrating me and I need to deal with that.
David: Good. I would tend to agree with your strategy. Not doing fun stuff because it’s not the same priority as the money making stuff.
Client: Exactly.
David: Are you doing fine with the money making stuff? That’s working?
Client: Yeah. I’m doing fine with it.
David: And it’s working because you put your attention on that?
Client: Exactly.
David: There’s a managing director I’m working with who has this 7-stage plan for their life and their business, with a grid of different areas they’re going to achieve and by when. I liked it because it included things that wouldn’t normally be in a business plan. For example: one area someone put in was giving back, and he wrote he was going to sponsor a child. Another person’s area was goals they had for their kids. Another’s was life-changing experiences. I think one of them was to go and visit a morgue.
The following is an excerpt of an actual transaction between David and a client in Top Coaching Techniques.
Client: My partner says, ‘How’s he going to change all these A type people to something different?’
David: What is an A type person?
Client: They never sit still; never stop thinking.
David: And who is she referring to?
Client: Me.
David: Oh, and how am I going to change an A type person?
Client: Yeah. How’s anyone going to change me, calm me down or whatever?
David: We will see this week. What it takes ultimately for everyone is the awareness of it. It’s not like someone just telling you. It can take from a day to ten years depending on where you are at this stage. But we can start with building your awareness. If you resist it, that’s okay. Notice it every step of the way. Here are a couple of ways to achieve this – set targets you can actually achieve. One of them is called double padding. You set the target for each day; estimate how long each will take and double the time. Say it’s going to take 7 hours, so you double pad it saying it’s going to take 14 hours. You know the funny thing is it really does take 14 hours – you are just telling your brain you are double padding. Another thing is to set spaces in your day, like an hour space in the afternoon. It’s a good way to do the experiment if you are willing to go for it. You’re paying for this, so you might as well use it.
