The following is taken from David’s interview with Bob Davies in 10 Super Coaches.
What were the biggest doubts you had in your early months?
The only doubts I ever had was that it cost me money to actually coach clients. Each moment I spent coaching was time away from marketing my more profitable speaking business.
I continued to coach however, because of the impact and feedback from the clients and because of the long-term nature of the relationship. Also, the income was more secure than the unknown from the speaking engagements and a diversified source as well. I made a deal with myself, if I’m going to take clients, then here is the marketing I agree to do to compensate for the time away with coaching…
The following is taken from David’s interview with Michael O. Cooper in 10 Super Coaches.
What was the most interesting or exciting thing for you about building your practice?
Three things, really:
- Watching clients arrive out of nowhere!
- Clients wanting to hire me even before experiencing a sample session/collaborative interview!
- Watching passive revenue dollars add up in my bank account – when I’m out at the beach or on vacation!
The following is taken from David’s interview with Ginger Cockerham in 10 Super Coaches.
Would you advise coaches to pursue certification?
Absolutely, it is a great confidence builder and adds credibility with prospects, particularly companies and professionals. In a newly emerging industry like coaching, there is uncertainty in organizations about using unproven people and solutions. Credentialling is a way to reassure prospective clients. Also, media attention is most likely to come to you if you are credentialed by a major coaching training company or coaching organization.
I encourage the coaches I mentor to start the credentialing process at the beginning of their coaching business. For example, to find out what are some of the criteria for credentialing and start using the proficiencies and tracking clients immediately, so when it is time to apply for credentials, most of the required information is ready.
The following is taken from David’s interview in 10 Super Coaches.
What was the most interesting or exciting thing for you about building your practice?
There are a few events along the way that I found very exciting. Firstly I’ll say it’s very exciting when you have a client make a big life change and they’re absolutely thrilled by it and they say “Thank you so much! I wouldn’t have done that if you weren’t my coach” That’s always wonderful.
But some of the really exciting things were when I got an opportunity to coach for television, I don’t think it had been done before and I was very excited about being on TV. And recently I got a chance to go to New York and audition for a television show over there, so I think there’s a lot of scope once you start getting known in the coaching community to do radio interviews, to do some television stuff, to do some magazine articles which is a lot of fun.
The following is taken from David’s interview with Anna Dargitz in 10 Super Coaches.
What method did you find most effective in getting your initial clients?
I had some ideas about the universal law of attraction from my depth psychology and world religions work and from Thomas Leonard’s book, The Portable Coach. But, as indicated, I knew of no coaches, workbooks or resources that could guide me… step by step, to use the law to market my business.
It took over a year and a half to create The Authentic Marketer, but we were highly motivated and dedicated to see it to completion. The process of writing it accelerated our proficiencies in the area of attraction. The step-by-step workbook is about who we are beyond name and personality, and how to share it with grace and ease. It focuses on the universal laws that govern our whole world not just how many paying clients we have. When I changed my definition of success from “how many paying clients I have” to “how powerfully I help others express their Whole Self”, I became extremely successful on my own terms.
The following is taken from David’s interview in 10 Super Coaches.
What did you charge your initial clients?
My first ever paying client I charged Australian $25 a week. If you were going to translate that to US dollars it would be pretty similar, you might charge US $20 dollars a week or even $25. (I’m not talking about straight conversion, but I think that would be appropriate).
Then I started saying that my regular fee was $250 a month, and the first couple of people that came in, I said, “Look, this is what I charge, but I’d be happy to do you for half of that fee” and they were thrilled to be working with me for what they saw as half price.
