Seth Godin's 'Poke the Box' Workbook is the closest thing I've seen to a book that coaches. And he's not a coach. And it's free.
Are you built to do big things? Does the world need you? Then get started.
Recommended Reading for Coaches: What Matters Now by Seth Godin & Friends. Get the Free Ebook.
Seth Godin, the best selling author who coined the phrase, 'relationship marketing', invited 70 other thought leaders, such as Chris Anderson, Kevin Kelly, Martha Beck, and Tom Peters, to each write one article based on one word.
It's available as a free download now. And of course it's not just for coaches, but I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in coaching.
Download What Matters Now for Free.
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Topics: Coaching, Coaches, Seth Godin, Martha Beck, Kevin Kelly, Chris Anderson
There aren't many companies that I would write a love letter to or about
Here is just one that I thought I would share with you, because you'd probably love them, too. And even if you aren't in the market for their service, you might as well try it out, because it's free and trust me, you'll find cool ways to use it.
Here's my experience.
As the owner of a "cutting edge" coaching school, I went on a mission last year to find the perfect way to share coach training. Something that would combine the intense experience of live training with the convenience and cost-savings of teleclasses. I knew there had to be something better than teleclasses. I was right, but it took a long time to find it.
I explored every software out there from WebEx, to GoToMeeting, to InstantTeleseminar and a whole bunch you've never even heard of. You know what I found out? They are all expensive, clunky, sometimes hard to use and they almost always require participants to wait while the system downloads something to their computers, before they can even join the class.
I don't know about you, but I'm pretty leery about downloading anything that I don't already understand and I hate to wait.
My clients and students are the same way. I bet you are too. And I bet your friends, family, clients, customers and/or students are, too.
Somebody finally answered my prayers (Thank you, Seth Godin, for pointing the way). Less than a year ago, I discovered a brand new company that had set their sights on turning the business of webinars upside down.
You're not interested in doing webinars? Well, do you...
- Wish you could visit with family and friends, like they were in the room with you (smiling faces and all)?
- Do you wish you could watch your favorite videos with your faraway friends and chat and laugh like you were together?
- Do you ever have long-distance phone meetings where you're all trying to follow they same notes, contracts, reports, etc.?
- Do you ever wish you could stop driving/flying/training and spending time, money, fuel and what's left of the environment, just so you could do your work with others?
In other words, if you could use this service for nothing, then why on Earth wouldn't you? The only reason I can think of is that you just don't know about it, yet.
So I'm telling you: Get Dimdim.
It's as close to perfect as it comes. You can meet freely. And easily. And do lots of cool stuff with the people you love, no matter where they are.
Yes, you can do more if you pay something (An annual subscription is a fraction of what WebEx costs for one month), but for most people, the free account is all you'll ever need and it's not a free trial. It's free forever!
And yes, Dimdim has offered to expand my service if I tell my friends about it, so that's my selfish reason for writing, but I already brag about Dimdim to everyone I know. So.
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Topics: Coaching, coach training, Free, Coach Training Programs, Seth Godin, teleclass, video coaching, coach training school, In-person coach training
It's that time of year again: When bloggers make predictions for the coming year.Seth Godin trumped us all by whipping out a fake list of prediction for 2008. Guess what? He was right about everything!That's why I'm not predicting. I'm just asking (and suggesting). So here goes. Please post your suggestions, questions and yes, even your predictions in the comments area below.
1. Personal Branding Coach. This is career coaching for anyone who has a job or a business, from Millennials on up (but especially for folks under 30 - or maybe I should say especially for folks over 30). Resume writing and interview skills are still nice, important even, but if you want to land the job of your dreams without working your way up the ladder for oh, 50 years or so, then you've got to cultivate your Personal Brand by blogging and participating in social media, etc.
Coaching issues: Integrity: When are you working for the company vs. when are you working for you, Public vs. Private, Adding Value vs. Fooling Around.
Resource: Me 2.0 by Dan Schawbel. Sorry, it's not released yet, but I predict it'll be ready for shipping from Amazon in April. ;-)
2. Simplified Life Coach. This has always been attractive to Yuppies and other affluent folks who are just plain tired of all the stuff they have and now that we're officially in a recession, it's becoming really trendy (just as it always does during a recession), only now that the Polar Ice Caps are melting at break-neck speed, there's an urgency to it, as well.
2. Simplified Life Coach. This has always been attractive to Yuppies and other affluent folks who are just plain tired of all the stuff they have and now that we're officially in a recession, it's becoming really trendy (just as it always does during a recession), only now that the Polar Ice Caps are melting at break-neck speed, there's an urgency to it, as well.
Coaching Issues: Thrive vs. Survive, Being Enough vs. Having It All.
Resource: January 2009 issue of O Magazine. See: Back to Basics: Living with "Voluntary Simplicity"
3. Smart Tech Coach. When I tried to describe the smart house/appliance/grid of the future to my older sister, who is a retired teacher, living in a small Midwestern town, she got that deer-in-the-headlights look, cuz there is no way that she's ready for today's technology, much less tomorrow's! I got a premonition of her 9-year-old brainiac grandson having to help her turn on her coffee maker every morning. Not pretty! Boomers and older folks are going to need a lot of help adjusting to the changes that are coming to virtually everything they use. There will be consultants for this - A whole new profession is forming AND we all know how effective consulting can be without coaching skills. There's an opportunity here for techy coaches.
3. Smart Tech Coach. When I tried to describe the smart house/appliance/grid of the future to my older sister, who is a retired teacher, living in a small Midwestern town, she got that deer-in-the-headlights look, cuz there is no way that she's ready for today's technology, much less tomorrow's! I got a premonition of her 9-year-old brainiac grandson having to help her turn on her coffee maker every morning. Not pretty! Boomers and older folks are going to need a lot of help adjusting to the changes that are coming to virtually everything they use. There will be consultants for this - A whole new profession is forming AND we all know how effective consulting can be without coaching skills. There's an opportunity here for techy coaches.
Coaching Issues: Resistance vs. Incompetence, Overwhelm vs. Off the Grid.
Resources: Hot Flat and Crowded by Thomas L. Friedman, and the Oprah Winfrey Show 12-26-08
4. Green Business Coach. Sustainability has been a buzz word for a few years, but not everthing called Green is making a difference, either to the environment or the economy. If it was, people wouldn't be so nervous right now. However, there has been a genuine sea change in 2008 and all predictions point to a totally new way of doing business in the future. What about the business that wants to survive the downturn and thrive in the new economy (That would be every business)? A coach who has an eye on what's happening now and what is coming in the near and distant future, can add incredible value to the business client (from solo-preneur to Fortune 500) of 2009.
4. Green Business Coach. Sustainability has been a buzz word for a few years, but not everthing called Green is making a difference, either to the environment or the economy. If it was, people wouldn't be so nervous right now. However, there has been a genuine sea change in 2008 and all predictions point to a totally new way of doing business in the future. What about the business that wants to survive the downturn and thrive in the new economy (That would be every business)? A coach who has an eye on what's happening now and what is coming in the near and distant future, can add incredible value to the business client (from solo-preneur to Fortune 500) of 2009.
Coaching Issues: The Bottom Line vs. The Triple Bottom Line, Leading vs. Following.
Resources: See the three specialties above, since all three are relevant to the needs of the Green Business.
Well there you have four possible hot new specialties for coaching. What have I left out?
Oh! And on a related note, it seems appropriate to mention new delivery systems for coaches here, as well:
What are your thoughts? Favorite tools, trends, and more? Feel free to comment, below. Alternatively, there's already a great conversation going on this at our Find a Coach website.
Copyright, Julia Stewart, 2009
Well there you have four possible hot new specialties for coaching. What have I left out?
Oh! And on a related note, it seems appropriate to mention new delivery systems for coaches here, as well:
- What about the Texting Coach? Seems like that would be pretty hot for the Gen X client, or younger and more laser than Laser Coaching. Is anyone doing it? Please share your comments.
- Then there's Video Coaching. Now that we can video IM with Skype and Macs, etc., this seems like a natural fit. Or is it? Will the old-fashioned telephone continue to the professional coach's favorite tool?
- And what about Webinar Coaching? With desktop sharing, doc sharing, video sharing and more, isn't coaching via webinar a bit of a must, especially for groups?
What are your thoughts? Favorite tools, trends, and more? Feel free to comment, below. Alternatively, there's already a great conversation going on this at our Find a Coach website.
Copyright, Julia Stewart, 2009
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Topics: Coaching, Seth Godin, ENVIRONMENT, FIND A COACH
Kevin Kelly's blog, The Technium, gets referenced a fair amount on the blogosphere and for good reason, he's quite insightful. Today,Seth Godin directed me to Kevin's latest, True Fans, about how a good solid living can be made with just about 1,000 people who really believe in your work. Now Kevin is writing about how artists make it, but what he says is rather familiar.
Most coaches thrive and prosper with perhaps an even smaller number of fans. I'd call them Ultra True Fans. This is because an Ultra True Fan will pay a coach hundreds of dollars per month to work one-on-one or in a small group. And it's not unusual for Ultra True Fans to return to the same coach again and again and to buy many of the coach's products, as well.
The "big mailing list" myth can be a real waste of time for a coach. Do outstanding work and cultivate great relationships with your all your fans, especially your Ultra True Fans, and worry about becoming a mega star only if it really lights you up.
Copyright, Julia Stewart, 2008
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Topics: Coaches, Coaching, Seth Godin, Kevin Kelly, True Fans
I'm a subscriber to Seth Godin's Blog, because he's a great writer and really "gets" the whole "marketing with integrity" thing that is the only way to become a successful coach. I wish I had written the following post that he wrote for real estate agents. Only I would have written it for coaches during the last recession, when a lot of them needed to hear it.
Since you're part of "group B", you might want to follow the advice he gives for real estate agents who are in it for the long haul. Just remember that you'll need to do a little creative customization to make it work for you.
But then, you're a coach, which means you're creative and you know how to serve people, right?
No brainer for you then!
Read Seth's post here and then subscribe.
Since you're part of "group B", you might want to follow the advice he gives for real estate agents who are in it for the long haul. Just remember that you'll need to do a little creative customization to make it work for you.
But then, you're a coach, which means you're creative and you know how to serve people, right?
No brainer for you then!
Read Seth's post here and then subscribe.
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Topics: Coaching, Seth Godin
