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del.icio.usHow Is 2008 Shaping Up For You?
June 1st, 2008
Thank you for sharing your 2008 strengths and struggles so far. Be honest, brief and share from your heart… because you know you’re not alone in this.
Your post will get you a free ticket into The Big Turnaround, my free teleseminar to help you turn around your business this year! Bring your biggest complaints, frustrations and the things drive you nuts to the Teleseminar — because I’ll give you laser coaching solutions right there.
PS - Don’t forget! Click here to leave your response and vote on the posts other coaches have made. The best post will win $200 worth of one on one time with me. And that could be you!
27 Responses to “How Is 2008 Shaping Up For You?”
To vote for the best comment, click on the green 'thumbs up' next to the commenter's name. Please vote only once, and please don't vote for your own response.
June 1st, 2008
Wins: With help from Rhonda, I finally selected a niche (after years of resisting). I also chose a company to design a new logo for me and create a new website focused on my niche. I also joined the Coaches Power Path program, which made it simple to determine what high pay-off actions I would take daily and weekly.
Struggles: As I began moving closer to selecting a logo, choosing logo and website colors, and writing web content, I began to question my niche and myself. What if this is the wrong niche? What if I don’t really know this market? What if I am not even a good coach? Wow, talk about big-time resistance and self-sabotaging. I’ve even had a few moments when I’ve thought I should just give this all up. I froze in the midst of the self-created confusion and stopped taking any action except internal, negative questioning.
But then I got another big win: during my 20-minute laser coaching session with Sue, I got a nugget of insight that has kept me going. I don’t need to have it all figured out, all perfect or all complete in order to get out and start talking to my target market. As Sue said, “choose your niche and then you meet your market half way. You’ll learn more the more you talk and work with them.”
June 2nd, 2008
Wins: I was selected by a major employee transition company to offer assessment/decision-making coaching to employees who were offered early retirement packages. It has been a rewarding experience …personally, professionally and financially. The awesome coach training I received from Rhonda/Coach Training Alliance about 2 years ago, really came through as I received repeated postive feedback from my superiors. Additionally, this experience has expanded my awareness of career ,retirement and entrepreneurial coaching, in which I am interested in exploring further.
Challenges: Although the above experience has been very positive, it was only a temporary assignment and I am now faced with determining how to best manage my coaching business so that I am able to attract a steady stream of clients, whether they be companies, groups or individuals. I realize that although there are benefits of working for one company, I will also need to prepare myself for other opportunities if I am to be successful in my coaching business, and be truly independent and profitable.
June 3rd, 2008
The most challenging part of my life coaching business is managing the many hats I wear. I enjoy every aspect of this business but struggle finding the time to attend appropriately to each part.
I am learning about Web 2.0, search engine optimization, and trying to keep up a current blog. Other days I focus on writing articles for on-line article banks. Then I write, market, book, and present speeches in the community. I enjoy investing time to learn new strategies to make my actual coaching more creative and effective. I serve on boards in the community and attend networking functions.
Are you exhausted yet? I know this is the career I was wired for because I’m not exhausted. I’m energized! But I know my practice could be serving more clients if I could do a better job with each component. I’ve considered hiring staff, but financially that’s about a year away.
What do you think, coach?
June 3rd, 2008
Win: I’m back on track now, I’ve moved and at peace where I am.
Struggle: I was in an abusive marriage and experienced the death of a close loved one, so it was hard to stay on course with my plans.
Please help me get back into the flow of marketing myself. I need to make this work.
June 3rd, 2008
I am a new coach going through certification, but am very anxious to get my coaching practice started. I have already started coaching and am making plans to start getting PAID soon - isn’t that why we all do this?
The biggest struggle for me has been picking my niche. I have several interests and have enjoyed business coaching and relationship coaching over the last few months, but my true passion lies in Wellness & Weight Loss Coaching. I think it is because it is personal for me - I have been overweight since I hit puberty a long, long time ago and this began my lifelong battle with the scale and essentially, with myself. I’ve discovered that without changing thinking patterns and attitudes about living a healthy life, the yo yo will always swing upward. I’ve developed a true love of finding the fun in healthy living, and feel this is how I can really succeed in helping others. Since passion has always been what was lacking in previous career ventures, it seems like choosing this particular niche is a no-brainer!
I’ve had good success with the few clients I do have, and am planning on a launch for my new practice at the end of summer. I am going to do a Healthy Living Challenge locally and hopefully the idea will transpose into something I can repeat over and over again, even virtually via teleseminar or webinar. I hope to gain the attraction of local media to promote the event, and my practice as well
Coaching is something relatively new around here (everyone thinks I coach soccer or something - if only they knew how uncoordinated I am!) and I plan on seizing this opportunity to corner the market, make money, and be wildly successful!
June 3rd, 2008
Where do I start? I started my certification in September ‘07, started prospecting for clients in November ‘07, and finally captured the 3 required clients for my certification by March ‘08. Since then I have been juggling all my business responsibilities along with a part-time job to bring in cash while growing the business. Tired? Nope…I wouldn’t trade being more in control of my professional life for anything. Overwhelmed? Yep…too much to do and only one person to do it.
Strengths: Networking!! I have coffee meetings with prospective clients and gateopeners several times a week. I also belong to PowerCore and a local Chamber of Commerce. Lots of people know who I am and what I do, and say they will be happy to keep an eye open for potential clients.
Struggles: Even though everyone wants to help find me clients, the intangible nature of what I provide seems difficult to grasp for most of them. They have a hard time explaining what Coaching is, except to say “I help people change their lives for the better.” And the referrals I do receive can’t seem to find a way to afford me in this difficult economic time. Like personal trainers, coaching is perceived as a beneficial, but non-essential service. So met with the decision to pay for a coach or put gas in their car (or anything else they HAVE to pay for regularly), a coaching program loses every time.
All my future clients are out there, I just can’t seem to find them right now. I’ve also picked a niche, and am trying to find economical ways to touch them regularly. All that remains is to see the fruits of my labor - hopefully sooner rather than later.
June 3rd, 2008
My win is facillitating a body centered group workshop for 6 dynamic ladies. My struggle is getting my website working.
June 3rd, 2008
My win is taking on a volunteer postiion within my new networking group, the Arizona Holistic Chamber of Commerce. I am now hosting a one hour, bi-monthly Internet Radio show on Achieve Radio entitled The Spirit of Business. First I was invited to be a guest on the show, and the next month they were asking me to be the host! It is very exciting.. and a little anxiety-provoking! But what is fear anyway, if not the excitement about stepping into the unknown?
My struggle is not only time-management, but a sense of overwhelm that is palpable and, at time, paralyzing. I get so excited about so many projects and ventures, and then my homelife gets hectic and busy, and before you know it, I’m in shut-down, do-nothing mode! I feel like if I just went to live on some tropical island by myself for a month, I could get soooo much done! But then I would miss the day-to-day joys of being with my family, friends, even my dog! So I guess it comes down to BALANCE. It always comes down to balance. And… no woman is an island!
June 3rd, 2008
Wins: 1. Being a part of Power Path and participating in the monthly “events” and connecting with fabulous coaches all over the world. 2. Learning - how to do webinars, teleconferences, newsletters; marketing techniques and business plans. 3. Choosing a business name and logo. 4. Enjoying speaking engagements and learning/networking groups. 5. OH, did I mention I left my job of nine years to pursue my dream?!
Struggles: The first three months I was going with great momentum. Now, I seem to have gotten distracted with family needs, a house demanding a makeover, painful arthritis, and determination to get my body back into shape. I also get distracted with emails - great information I think will help me in the future - and overwhelm of administrative things to do. Arghh! And my calendar - oh my, I NEED my high payoff actions written down, EVEN if they are family and fitness related. My website is calling - I want to write, I need to write, why don’t I write??? I am scattered - need to find my track, my “map,” my niche, and make a difference in people’s lives! The DREAM is calling!
June 3rd, 2008
Wins: Just completed CTA coaching course, posted a website, purchased business cards, sent warm letters and sent first ezine.
Challenges: I am a single mom with three kids and work one full-time and two part-time jobs. TIME and money are my biggest challenges. My heart and mind are ready to go full speed in coaching, but my body thinks it needs rest (go figure). I am so excited about coaching I have trouble concentrating on my other jobs.
June 3rd, 2008
I’ve been coaching for 5 years now. Personal growth and development have always been a top priority for me. My shelves are lined with every self help book under the sun and I love them all. A great breakthrough came for me in my life and business when I began focusing more on my spirit, the essence of me, and less on my physical, thinking, ego, feeling self. Here is where my confidence, strength and joy comes from. I’ve gained a heightened sense of intuition (prompting from my spirit) and am trusting in that — taking action with confidence that a blessing is waiting for me there. This new way of “being” has changed my life and I’ve noticed the positive impact on my coaching. Clients are benefiting and referrals are trickling in….my favorite form of marketing.
My greatest challenge is identifying my niche. Over the years, clients have come to me from all walks of life. Finding a thread for a niche has been difficult. I am a true entrepreneur with an abundance of ideas coming to me around my business. As I venture to pick one niche, another promptly pops into my head and that begins to take over. Bottom line, I feel a great deal of confusion in this area… like a ship being tossed around in a storm. Confusion leads to overwhelm and I simply put it on a shelf and keep doing what I’ve been doing. As all coaches know, that doesn’t change anything.
However, I am ready to sort this out. I want to chose a niche that is right for me. I believe this will greatly benefit my business and clarify my message, which is also all over the place. Your help would be oh, so welcomed! 
Although I’ve not felt that strong intuitive prompting around a solution to my niche dilema, I believe participating in this post contest was promted by my intuition. I’m searching and know the answer is on it’s way!
June 3rd, 2008
It’s great in ‘08!
WINS: keeping clients longer than ever before. Clients keep finding me…pipeline is full.
Doing business by referral…just received two more referrals today.
Struggles: finding a less expensive credit card processing company
finding a web designer who is more “do” than “design.”
Nailing down my writing process– I could be richer than I am right now if I would write now.
Thanks for all you do, are, and contribute!
Mike
June 3rd, 2008
Wins: I am happier than ever and making daily progress on my coaching practice. Just making the decision in March to start coaching has made things fall into place. I am learning every day and excited about my future!
Struggles: Just knowing where to begin, not getting overwhelmed, doing things in an order that will make things fall into place and choosing a niche market where I can grow and prosper!
June 3rd, 2008
Wins: Getting my first testimonials from a long-term client for my marketing materials, beginning the networking process, and being released from my day job so I have time to develop my coaching and writing businesses.
Struggles: Where does the time go? I feel overwhelmed sometimes by all the “stuff” including all the learning around setting up a website, marketing and business plans, etc. Also, I need to narrow my marketing niche and figure out where to find my ideal clients.
June 3rd, 2008
My practice has not moved at all. I have even hired a virtual assistant to give assistance with marketing, and she’s been great, but no new business has been generated.
Thanks to her, I’m a new member on various websites, I’ve done a webinar for colleagues/friends, I posted a VERY affordable 2-session tele-class, have done sample coaching sessions for attorneys, and now I’m developing articles to publish on-line….May generated no coaching clients.
I just don’t get it………..any input is much appreciated!
June 3rd, 2008
My nemesis: the niche. How does one choose from so many possibilities? I have some good ideas, but am unsure of which would be most marketable for me.
June 3rd, 2008
Wins: I have finally picked a niche I’m excited about, which feels great. I’ll be coaching Realtors, who have been some of my favorite clients in the past. I have interviewed those I know to get a feel for their top concerns.
Struggles: My perfectionism is kicking in, because I have never been a Realtor, and I’m afraid I don’t know enough yet. I’ve never even bought a house! So I’m reading and learning as much as I can. But I can also see how I could let that keep me perpetually stuck, since there will always be more to learn. After the last marketing clinic, I know it’s OK for me to move forward with what I DO know, and I can continually learn and tweak my message along the way if needed.
June 4th, 2008
I am finding it hard to get people to understand to value of coaching in the area where I live. It is not a culture here yet. I live in a country aera not in a city. I am getting very frustrated!!
June 4th, 2008
I retired after 30years as a food producer and manufacturer having sold my business.and I am now embarking in a new career as a business and life coach . My niche is retirement and succession coaching. At 64Yrs. I am not at all ready to retire and feel a whole new life opening up in front of me! I am really enthusiastic about coaching as it is such a joy to see clients change for “their better” before my eyes. I have also completed myTrain the trainer course last month and I am about to become an NLP practitioner.
My big challenge is to get clients as coaching is still considered as either “messing with you head” or on the playing field!
I know I will succeed in my new career and I am impatient to do so!
June 4th, 2008
Rhonda - I just LOVE everything you do!
My wins for 2008 include expanding my coaching business to include The Passion Test, which I was certified to facilitate last October. It has given me a new, entry level program - something accessible for groups, workplaces, organizations, as well as individuals. Even people who are leery of coaching feel comfortable with The Passion Test. It feels like a beautiful addition to my toolkit. I’m also pleased with my Ezine, and I get very good response from it and an amazing percentage opened each month.
My struggle is that EVERYTHING looks and sounds good to me in the moment. If you could look around my office, and see the PILES of books, DVDs, Home Study Systems, Coaching programs…most of which have never even had the spine broken (I’m totally embarrassed to admit). I feel like there must be something that will “break it all loose” for me. SOMETHING that will cause the clients to come rolling toward me, and help me begin to feel the abundance promised by all the “gurus”. But, what I end up with is the humiliating and maddening experience of having just another “thing” to pull my attention away from what I really want to do - serve others in the highest way possible.
Yikes.
June 4th, 2008
My wins: I had a wonderful start to 2008. In January, I found my calling to be a coach so I can help make a difference in people’s lives. I joined The Coach’s Power Path in February and started my certification training in March. With the help of two wonderful coaches, Rhonda and Sue, I was able to decide on an obvious niche that I totally missed. I launched my blog in late April and am now promoting my site to my niche on the internet. I am learning how to social network online, and this week, I just started to develop the web content for my coaching site. It has been a truly amazing journey for me so far this year and I can’t wait to see how it will unveil over the next few months.
My challenges: I have moved through many challenges this year, thanks to Rhonda and Sue. In fact, almost all of my wins so far this year were my previous challenges.
Right now, my biggest challenge is learning to become proficient in social networking. It may sound strange but it is an extremely stressful experience for me to network and establish relationships electronically with my potential clients. Posting a thread in the forum is like stepping on stage in front of a huge audience. This is a main marketing technique for me to reach my niche and move my business forward. This means I have no other option but to buckle down and learn it well.
June 6th, 2008
I think my biggest challenge is zeroing in on a specific niche…I’m getting closer but still am in need of clarity.
Also I’m still working on ensuring that sufficient amount of hours in a week are devoted to my business and that I’m not sliding on that minimum that I set for myself.
My wins are the amazing amount of contacts I have developed this last year, many of which are blossoming into opportunities for the future.
June 10th, 2008
Rhonda,
I love the question and think it is very timely–here we are midyear and it is time to evaluate my target and figure out if I’m on track or if something is missing.
Although my practice is intentionally very small right now, I have to say I am so fulfilled with my 2008 project of building my business through new marketing strategies. I love learning and have been doing just that for the last six months. I’ve learned so much about niches (thanks PC!!), website development and optimization, marketing language, new venues for “marketing” that pay, like speaking engagements, workshops, writing articles, etc. I am soooo stimulated by all the possibilities for me to grow personally and professionally since I’ve become aware of these elements of enrepreneurship. So YAY for learning, YAY for getting out there and applying what I’ve learned!!! Thanks for letting me share these wins.
Where I continue to be challenged is just getting new clients. I am certainly investing in myself, my business and all of this is making me a better human as well as a better coach. I am focused on what I CAN do with the tiny 5 hours per week I can give to coaching right now that will give me a return on my investment in the near future. But I wonder if I’m getting lost in doing all this other great development stuff at the expense of finding two new fullpay clients?
As a coach who loves to always be learning, I am satisfying one of my highest priorities. But as a coach who is also committed to earning money for the work she does, I’m concerned that I am not taking the right actions to get paid, that I’m losing focus on this part of business.
I’d love a “kick in the pants” session with you and am very excited about the Turnaround call.
Please sign me up for it!
And thanks, as always, Rhonda, for the great work that you do. You and the PC program are exactly what I needed to get totally energized about my coaching career again. And getting to be part of this community of fabulous coaches just fills me up!
All the best,
Lara
June 10th, 2008
Dear Rhonda,
I could relate to all the statements you mention in your letter. I believe my worst is not knowing what would make a difference. I’ve set up my web page, sent warm letters with follow-ups to people in my niche (addiction), made a brochure I’ve shared at conferences, friends and potential clients, and my latest is a Newsletter every two weeks. So far my clients are past therapy clients and I only have two. I don’t want to work too hard (I’m retired) but I love what I do and would like to have 3-4 more clients. Help!
June 10th, 2008
Dear Rhonda,
I could relate to all the statements you mention in your letter. I believe my worst is not knowing what would make a difference. I’ve set up my web page, sent warm letters with follow-ups to people in my niche (addiction), made a brochure I’ve shared at conferences, with friends and potential clients, and my latest is a Newsletter every two weeks. So far my clients are past therapy clients and I only have two. I don’t want to work too hard (I’m retired) but I love what I do and would like to have 3-4 more clients. Help!
June 11th, 2008
I’ve created my website, I’ve composed a letter, I believe I am sufficiently trained… but I still am not coaching! Subconsciously I believe that I’m not ready: my website is lacking, I don’t have the proper level of self confidence, etc. However I know in my heart that I am ready, I know it! I just can’t get past my fears to jump in and put myself out there. I know I possess the proper skills and I have the proper training. My goal is to have enough clients by December so that I won’t have to use my credit cards to Christmas shop for my kids this year. I’m willing to work hard toward that goal from here forward!
July 9th, 2008
My website will soon be launched. I have worked as an attorney for the last 18 years. I closed down my law practice because we had no business. I am scared that I am bringing that same energy into coaching. I am also nervous that people would not trust or like me as an attorney turned coach.
I am also not clear on my niche.
Help!