CoachStart - Inner Firewalking

Three Testimonials

The following is an excerpt from the CoachStart Manual.

Coaching is still relatively new, so if this were a baseball game your ‘First Base’ to get to would be getting three solid testimonials. Do whatever it takes to get three managers or executives to work with you for three months each. Take a pay cut if necessary, coach in exchange for a donation to charity, or even better — charge what you like and offer a 100% money back guarantee. Let them know up front that you’ll ask for a testimonial backed by their name and company at the end, which you will only expect if you’ve done a great job.

Your Coaching Service – The Details

The following is an excerpt from the CoachStart Manual.

Remember that most people have never worked with a coach before. In fact a coaching ‘structure’ is probably new to them (and you!).

You don’t have a coaching service they can buy, until you have the details. You need something they can get their mind around – wrap their arms around – so they can buy it or commit to it.

Is there a minimum commitment? How long are the sessions? Face-to-face or via phone? Is e-mail support provided? Are results guaranteed? What will be expected of me? What can I count on the coach for? What are your coaching hours? Are there any bonuses you provide? Are you available in between sessions? Do I have to pay in advance? What forms of payment do you accept? What if I want to stop half way? What if I want to miss or postpone a session?

Once you have answers to these questions, you have a coaching service. At this point you will have something your potential clients can say YES to, when you invite them at the end of an Exploratory Session.

Public Speaking Exercise

The following is an excerpt from the CoachStart Manual.

Exercise:

Imagine you will die at midnight tonight.

Your friends and family have been invited to come to a great hall to hear you share what you have learned, that you wish to pass on to others.

At 9pm you walk onto the stage. You look around at their smiling, loving faces. They are listening, ready to soak up what you have to pass on.

You have 30 minutes to speak. Write down what you say to them, that it may be passed on from generation to generation.

Introduction:

– Tell them what you are going to tell them

– Include what gives you credibility to speak on the topic, and WHY you left home to come and speak on it

Main Section:

– Tell them what you want to tell them

– Point, story illustrating point, point

Conclusion:

– Tell them what you told them

– Reiterate why it’s important

– Possibly let them know briefly what you do and how you can help them

– Consider leaving them with an action they can take; perhaps invite them to email you the results.

Questions:

– (Optional 5-10 minutes)

What To Include in Your Biography

The following is an excerpt from the CoachStart Manual.

Here is a list of things you might consider including in your biography:

Your passion to help people
The way in which you have already been helping people (e.g., unofficial coaching, mentoring, shoulder to lean on, teaching, training, managing)
Specifically WHAT you provide for people
Your successes (e.g., promotion, career, financially, health, relationship/marriage)
Your adventures (e.g., climbing a mountain, travel to different countries)
Challenges that you have overcome (e.g. divorce, a death, bankruptcy, health issue)
Anything unique or interesting (e.g., scuba dive)
What you love; what you hate (e.g., kids, flowery e-mail signatures, poetry)
Your training (e.g., communication, corporate experience, people skills, self-study such as books and courses, business, any diplomas or degrees or certificates that are relevant or show you have accomplished something, or on-the-job training)
Membership of any relevant associations e.g., National Speakers Association, International Coach Federation, Toastmasters, Chamber of Commerce, any volunteer positions on industry committees
Any current coach training course you are undertaking.

Two to three paragraphs should suffice. Don’t include anything that does not give you credibility or a reason why you might be a good coach for them i.e., keep every word relevant. Two powerful lines are better than half a page of waffle. Oh – and of course keep it honest! For example, no saying “Gina coaches executives from major organisations” until you have at least one, or “Bill is a professional speaker” if you’re not yet. As always, you decide what is authentic and what isn’t.

Where to Look For Domain Names

The following is an excerpt from the CoachStart Manual.

You can search for names and variations at www.MyDomainFriend.com — a very powerful free tool.

But don’t register the domain there as it’s a bit expensive. Once you know the domain(s) you want, go to www.godaddy.com and register a name for only US$9 per year.

You’ll also want to check the name is not trademarked in the country where you’ll do business.

Don’t get discouraged if even the first twenty names you want are taken. This is just the way it is. Keep being creative and you’ll soon have your perfect domain name.

Your Approach

The following is an excerpt from the CoachStart Manual.

Everybody loves a ‘pilot’ project, so here is one approach:

Start with your network and get on the phone to HR people & senior managers whom you know. If you don’t know any, call your network and get referrals for these people.

Give them your rough pitch and see if you can get to a meeting to discuss it further. A great offer is to do three staff members for three months as a ‘pilot’ project. If they get great results, you get paid, and a corporate testimonial. And — you start rolling coaching out to other key staff. If they don’t get great results, then no fee is necessary, and thanks for your time.

Or, if they don’t want to bring in other people at this stage, invite them to trial coaching for themselves. They can do an Exploratory Session to set some goals and then decide if they want to trial three months of coaching. Similar deal to the above.