For me, the smell of my business when it's going well, and the smell of joy, is somehow tied to lemons. That's a regular everyday kind of smell that I associate with my work. And it's the smell I hope subtly, and not so subtly (as when I write about it like this) gets communicated when someone visits my website or reads one of my books.

Tangy, thoughtful, awake and energized.

On a really great day, or when I'm blissed out and basking in the bloom of full creative flow, lemons get bumped up to peaches...but lemon is still in the background. Yum.

Here's my favorite Lemon Yogurt Cake recipe based on one from Ina Gartner, the Barefoot Contessa. It's easy, good for you and delicious. Exactly the way I want my life and my business to be.

Andrea's Favorite Lemon Yogurt Cake

Mix together:

1 and 1/2 cup flour, 2 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt

In a separate bowl mix:

3 eggs, 1 cup plain yogurt, 1 tsp vanilla and the zest of 1 lemon and 2 teaspoons juice from the lemon. This makes it really lemony.

Then add the dry mixture to the wet mixture until just mixed (not too much.) Add 1/2 cup of vegetable oil and blend together.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes or until golden. A loaf pan is best but I like it when Mike makes it in a round bundt tin too. It stays really nice and moist through the week - perfect for lunch in the middle of a lemony day.

Enjoy!

If your business had a smell, what would it be?

Recommended, if I do say so myself: A copy of 'Money, Meaning and Beyond: 27 Unexpected Ways to Create What Really Matters for Business owners.' It's a business book I wrote with Tina to address everyday things like smells, and how they can impact your business. Click here for a peek at how salad bowls, a golf course, and even your sex life have something important to say about you and your work.

P.S. Just two weeks left in my first creative hiatus of 2007. How's it going? Different from what you might think. I promise to post more about it.

This week, I'm asking...

(1) If coaching looked like something, for example, some form of art, what would it look like?

Would it be an oil painting or watercolour? Impressionistic or abstract in style? Would it be a series of sculptures? Or maybe a sandcastle? A collection of erasers...

What does coaching LOOK like?

(2) Having opened up space in life with this creative hiatus, what if I went on permanent creative hiatus for 2007? What would that take?

(3) Into the vacuum of creative hiatus, so many new opportunities are presenting themselves.

The invitation to co-write a book. Ghostwrite two books. Build a coaching department for two well-known authors, giving coaching employment to hundreds. Write a serious feature article for a provincial business magazine. A coaching-related article for a national magazine in the US. Write for a social networking site as a permanent guest. Join the Board of Directors of an international association outside coaching. Do nothing but stay home and be a loving housewife. ;-)

Yeah, yeah Andrea, so what? Okay here's what I'm asking: What the bleep do I want, really? :-)

Seriously though...what is the perfect fit for the next chapter of life I want to create? the perfect fit with the new 'me' that I'm becoming? Am I ready to 'not' be the boss and pull towards a vision of someone else's again? What if I want to do it all, taste it all?

Which opportunities are just the crack pipe talking and which opportunites are the wheatgrass? Thank you Pam Slim! :-)

And finally courtesy of the comedian Steven Wright, I'm also asking...

(4) If someone were to shoot a mime, would they use a silencer?

;-)

Ah heck, just to mix things up here's something, brand new:

What I'm reading...

"Sophie's World" (philosophical fiction) "Executive Skills in children and Adolescents" (background preparation for the ADD Keynote due in April) and "Inspired Philanthropy."

Highly recommended: Even if you don't publish a blog, I've found it a really great habit to cultivate - observing what I'm asking. What are you asking today?

"The answers lie in the source of the questions." -- Source Unknown

Andy says:

Many of you have read my rant about The Secret and even posted comments ranging from 'Right on!' to 'Go to hell!' After seeing The Secret featured on Larry King and then Oprah (twice) I thought, let's tighten the screws a little bit.

Put The Secret to work for you for 30 days! What can you manifest in 30 days using the so-called law of attraction? What if you just did nothing different for 30 days - would anything change?

We'll be starting on March 1st and continue through the month with 2 teleconference calls and a worksheet to chart your progress.

Join Andy's experiment here.

Addendum from andrea: If you're a long-time reader of this blog, yes this is the second experiment on this theme I've invited you to participate in. And yes, I have a bias on the topic, so if you think you'll be unduly influenced by seeing the results of the last experiment, don't click the link, just go play at Andy's site.

For the curious, my friend and colleague Elyse Killoran did a similar experiment in May 2006. Experiment began here. Results here.

In my post about what's in store for Coaching in 2007, I mentioned coaching coming under fire...

Coaching Prediction #3: There will be an increase in mainstream criticism of coaching and the self-help industry as a whole.

First - don't get me wrong, I'm not fearmongering here. But experience tells me that with topics such as Law of Attraction gaining so much ground so rapidly, and Oprah taking on 'The Secret' and so on, there will be push-back.

And the criticism will take many forms, some visible and some invisible - the latter even sometimes comes from family and friends.

But here's the thing about criticism: most of the time I believe there's something in it that's of value, that can be 'taken like a vitamin' so as to make us stronger. It gives us 'rigor' as it were.

Which is why I try to listen carefully to critics. Because in all of our idealism and desire for a better world, it still pays to have a discerning eye, yes?

In response to the questions I've received about this prediction, probably the most useful thing I can publish is a list I've made of "8 Things I Personally Try to Live By, as an active practicing coach." As I process questions about the efficacy of coaching, handle push-back, or even take criticism, I like to test myself against what's said and tweak or refine. It's a little like a 'living code of conduct' and one of my most fundamental tools for growth.

In no particular order:

(1) Be responsible. First, last and foremost - do no harm.

As simple a baseline as this is for any coach, it's still one worth noting. I find this one grounds me when I read it as I do from time to time - and helps me take a light touch in sessions.

Have you asked yourself lately, how responsible (or irresponsible) are you being in your coaching? Are you going out on a limb and taking unnecessary risks? Even if they're just words to you, what you say and do, how you 'are,' in your sessions can have a lifelong impact. So these are words to live by - even if you think 'you know.' First, do no harm.

(2) Come to understand all clients will be 'done' one day.

There are short client relationships, and long client relationships. But no client relationship is forever. I like to look into the future a little and 'wonder' when a certain client may be 'done' and ready to move on, having grown out of our relationship. Not anticipate or force, mind you, just wonder...

Or, if I don't sense a feeling of 'completion' forthcoming with a client, I ask what's going on in the coaching that's lending us such a degree of 'comfort.' I don't doubt it's possible to have a coach-client relationship that's alive and awake after 5, 10 or more years, but I feel strongly these are in the minority. For everything there is a season, and all that... so yes, I look forward to witnessing great milestones in my clients' lives, and to saying a happy adieu.

Ask yourself "Are you in any way making efforts to keep your clients coming back?"

Do you know how to say goodbye to a client when it *is* time to say goodbye?*

(3) Cultivate self-sufficiency always. Be a no-addiction zone.

There is a huge world of a difference between marketing your services successfully, then securing a client as a result and ....creating an addictive relationship. Yet sometimes the differences can get blurry.

This is one of the reasons why it's critically important that coaches are never desperate for a client...the dynamic is instantly manipulative if that's the case.

I remember a mentor coach who I shadowed at the very beginning of my introduction to coaching. I had a visceral aversion to the way he seemed to revel in his clients' dependency...he would answer emails at all hours, always return phone calls, sometimes within a few minutes, encourage clients to be in touch very frequently...

On the face of it, this may seem like a strange thing to dislike...but I'm a fan of drawing out more self-sufficiency in a client. So I set it up that way - clients know I won't always reply quickly - they get a chance to think over their own questions. My answer comes more as an affirmation or addition to their own thoughts - but this way the key result is: they learn to think more assertively for themselves, and I'm the environment that supports that.

How might you be creating - even in a tiny way - a dependency on you in your clients? How can you embody tough love - the kind of love that creates strong individuals who don't need anything outside their own inner strength to continue on the path they've discovered? How might your financial situation be influencing how you relate to your clients?

(4) Focus on results, not just methodology or process.

Although results don't have to be money, or a promotion, relationship or other tangible thing, do ask yourself what intangible results you are creating. The best way to do this is still (only) to request your clients' self-assess.

Many clients may not realize they have the right to always be assessing your coaching relationship. You can help them by making sure they know they can always ask for tweaks, more focus, greater intensity or, indeed, whatever it is they want more of.

Coaching is not a 'holding pattern.'

(5) Encourage critical thinking.

Have you ever wondered why so many of us use our brains as storage facilities not thinking facilities? We go to conferences, listen to tapes, even read books with the goal of retaining as much as possible. This is not the original purpose for the human brain.

So first, think about how you might have stopped thinking critically about things, instead of just trying to remember things. And then, up the ante and ask how you can support your clients to think for themselves.

Most clients, as they articulate what they want and make choices about their lives, may not be thinking for themselves. Instead, they're thinking what everyone around them is thinking. Or perhaps even more frequently, thinking what people around them are telling them to think.

So obviously you as their coach have no agenda for what they ought to think, but you are asking them to think. Make sense?

(6) Be aware of your own persuasive powers. Triple check your marketing.

Although I don't remember the precise incident, I do remember the feeling - it thudded into my physical body. I realized that with the way I try to live my life, and the things I try to stand for, when I try to sell something, I need to be careful.

I realized, if I were to try hard enough, I could probably sell almost anything to anyone. And I do believe that's true of many, many coaches, just because of how 'in integrity' most of us live our lives.

That's not arrogance, it's just a reflection of the kinds of relationships we create - we care, and it usually shows, and people feel they can trust us. So while I would never intentionally sell something inappropriately to anyone, this is important - I triple check my marketing. (1) I make doubly sure I've told the truth. (2) I ask myself if I've overpromised anything. And (3) I make sure what I'm selling is something that will add value.

After all of that is done, I usually dial back my marketing language by 5-10%. It's just something that 'feels right' to do because there's enough marketing noise out there and I'm not interested in having to market anything 'hard.' It's kind of like a commitment to making sure anyone who purchases something from me is doing so with as clear a head as possible.

Note: For a portion of the coaching population, this one won't apply because you're actually having to learn to market enough - so don't hold back if that's you. But you know who you are - if you seem to be able to sell most anything to anyone - take a moment now to ask why, and if your conscience is clear about this 'talent.'

(7) Very few things are all good or all bad. There's really no such thing as all black or all white.

Over the years I've lived through some tough business situations where some pretty big tomatoes were thrown. It would be easy even now to think horrible things about some people. But the truth is, after my emotions are cooled off, I know that no one is all good or all bad, least of all me.

So instead of using up energy 'hating' a person or situation, or soaking in upset, I try to pull back and recognize there's no such thing as black or white. No single person, place or thing is all good or all bad.

Practically speaking then, how can you apply this to your life as a coach? Let's say a little criticism comes your way.

When someone hurls an insult at you, try to divide it by three before letting it in.

And conversely when a compliment comes, multiply by three and repeat the words to yourself before letting that in too. :-)

(8) Contribute to a body of ethics or standards of conduct.

I've been asking myself this question more often lately, especially on creative hiatus this month. Within the self-help and coaching professions, how can I help forward the idea that we can hold ourselves accountable? There is more and more activity being done under the 'name' of 'coaching' some of it not so great.

So in an unregulated industry, how can we seize the singular opportunity we have, to hold ourselves to the highest level of integrity?

Whether it be at our industry associations such as the IAC and/or the ICF, or on our own through our own professional codes of conduct or even personal lists like this one, how can we answer to the critics in a positive way?

As the answers emerge, we become more equipped to calmly and intelligently answer any positive push-back that might come our way.

I hope this list of things I try to live by, helps you create your own.

Overt criticism or no, I can think of nothing more useful and comforting - invigorating and energizing - than to know where I stand and how I feel about these 8 things (over and above coaching skill, technique or experience.)

For better or for worse, when it comes to serving my clients, this is what's going on in the background. And what I try to live by as an active practicing coach.

----

*A lovely story about saying goodbye comes to me from the dusty corners of my memory. It's a buddhist story I believe, about a favorite mug.

Think of your most favorite mug. You love it and enjoy using it every time. But one day, it breaks, and is gone. Instead of being upset and unhappy that it's gone, what if you could say 'ah, there it goes.'

Because for everything there is a beginning and an end...'ah, there it goes.'

Not everyone will love all the colours, but chances are you'll find something to like among the 4 new coaching quotes I had made. They're a continuation of the ones posted here and are free for you to post at your websites.

The only request I have is that you save a copy to your own server rather than link directly to mine, for bandwidth reasons. Enjoy!

Got a favourite coaching quote you'd like made up in the style above? Can do. Request it by posting a comment.

You wouldn’t use a power tool to put in a tack, right? So don’t send your ‘big guns’ out to do the little things in your business.

It's not even 60 days into the 2007 yet, and already I can feel it. That sensation of everybody digging in, getting their noses to the grindstone, and starting to work really hard.

Ugh.

Which is why it's the perfect time for this excerpt from the "Money, Meaning & Beyond" book that emphasizes the opposite...

Chapter 18: Seeking the Minimum Level

Would you use a power tool to put in a tack? Time and energy are your precious resources. Use them wisely by seeking the minimal level.

The idea of seeking the minimum level in business owes origins to the work of the Frugal Zealot* who wrote about ‘the minimum level’ from the perspective of thrift as an alternative lifestyle in 1992.

‘People are creatures of habit.’**

When it comes to business owners, there’s never been a truer statement. It’s probably for that reason that the unexpected ways we approach business in this book are so well received.

After hearing the same lessons about business for so long, we can tend to accept them without questioning. After doing things for the same way for so long, it can take a little shock treatment for us to stop.

But it’s important that we do, because far too many business owners are chronically tired and overworked, yet are still trying harder to do more with their energy and time.

Old ways of thinking and old habits can be very costly – to both the success of your business, and your overall happiness.

Case Study:

Andrea: I was working with a client in the summer of 2002. I remember it clear as day. She was a really earnest, really serious-about-getting-to-success type of client. And she was talking about doing some door-to-door canvassing of the business owners in her building to see if there was interest in doing a building-wide flyer.

(This was part of our work together on collaboration – see Chapter 12: No Great Thing is Accomplished Alone)

Now you need to know that her business was doing alright. She had earned close to six-figures each year for the last year and a half and had an assistant and a nice little office. But whatever reason – you might relate – she was extremely stressed about getting over six figures. It was a prize for her, something symbolic, I think.

When she started talking about going from door-to-door herself, later in the day, and how it would take her several days to get around to all the offices, I interrupted.

“I think that’s a waste of your time and energy. You’re already tired out as it is. Is this something YOU have to do?”

I don’t know why, but some clients just like to argue with their coach, and that’s what she did. Finally, I said –

“Why would you use a power tool to put in a tack?”

And she got it.

Do you invest too much energy into tasks that aren’t worth it? Are you using a lot of time on a project that could be done with much less?

If you have a tack in front of you, you wouldn’t use a power tool to put it in. It would be a massive, disproportionately powerful tool to get the result you want.

This can be a difficult one, but try to develop an awareness of how to apply just the right amount of energy and resources to the appropriate tasks.

If you’re used to providing a full-fledged proposal for a client, would a two-page summary work just as well? Do you send over five possible ideas for how to ‘redo the living room’ when 3 would be equally delightful to your client? How about paperwork – are you overdoing your paperwork and losing time and resources?

When you write emails, do you always proofread and double-check before you send out? If you’re doing a series of follow-up calls that are administrative in nature, could an assistant could do the trick? Do you always stay open an extra three hours on Thursday night when only a few customers ever come in? See if closing up shop on Thursday nights will work. Or, take appointments for people who absolutely can’t get to your store during regular hours.

You get the picture. Experiment with the minimum level.

Wisdom nugget:

Based on experience, we estimate business owners waste an average of 20-30% on tasks that would be just as good, just as complete, if they’d leave well enough alone.

The Frugal Zealot puts it really well:

“When you wash dishes, do you always fill the sink to the top? If you’re doing a small number of dishes a sink half full of water may suffice just as well. Do you always put a two-second squirt of dishwashing liquid in the water? See if a one-second squirt will work. “

“Do you use an inch of toothpaste because a brush has inch-long rows of bristles and every toothpaste advertisement you’ve ever seen portrays a neat, full, bristle-length swath? Experiment to see if a ½ inch of toothpaste works as well.”

Seeking the minimum level definitely goes against the grain at first, because business owners are used to working hard, and racing to keep up.

Take a moment now to think of just one thing that you could work a lot less hard at to complete, or better yet, one thing you can take off your ‘To Do’ list entirely.

* The Frugal Zealot is pen name for author Amy Dzcyczyn, founder of "The Tightwad Gazette."

** Amy's article on 'Seeking the Minimum Level' in volume I of her book 'The Tightwad Gazette: Promoting Thrift as a Viable Alternative Lifestyle" was the inspiration for this chapter which takes the idea of the minimum level and applies it to the business world.

Did you know Thomas Leonard? Perhaps not personally, but from communicating with him online? Or maybe you met him face-to-face once or twice, volunteered on a project of his, took a class, read a book or even worked directly with him?

It's four years ago today when he passed away so suddenly, and as the years go by, I remember the little things most. That's new to me because I'm at the age when not many people around me have passed on just yet. But I hear that's how it goes.

Every once in a while I think "I really ought to share that "little something about Thomas" but then I think it's probably just silly. Then again, every once in a while I think of something I wish I could 'ask that person' about Thomas --specific things.

So let's consider this an experiment, a perfect one for the blogosphere so to speak. I'd like to base it on the thought that there are a lot of 'little somethings' we each know, or think, or feel about Thomas, that we may not have a place or occasion to share. But that together, they form a picture that would be worth telling, or preserving, and several thousands of people at least, would be interested in referring back to, from time to time.

So in the spirit of weaving a web of interconnected stories, factoids, interesting anectdotes, insights or just comments, I'll start by posting a few of these 'little somethings' along with a few 'specific questions' for people, below.

As you read this, you're welcome to consider yourself part of the experiment and contribute (or not) accordingly. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

(1) Do you have an untold story about Thomas, that may have happened to just you or in a larger group setting? Share as much or little detail as you like. Funny, profound, silly, significant - you get to pick the flavour, and post the photos too, if you'd like.

(2) How about a thought you have about Thomas and who he was, from your perspective. Again this need not be heavy, but just fine if it is. And no need to paint the man in white either - we know he was idiosyncratic and the quirky stories often are the most illustrative. :-)

(3) What about a fact about Thomas that you think isn't widely known, or bears repeating? (Remember there will likely be new coaches reading through who didn't know him, which is part of the reason for this experiment - each one of us might find it hard to give a 'snapshot' of who Thomas was, but together these 'little somethings' form a composite.)

(4) Do you have a piece of unfinished business related to Thomas? This might be a great spot to tidy it up in public...

(5) And finally, maybe you have a question about Thomas. This could be a general question for noone in particular, or it could be specific. In the latter case, name the person directly and link to their website if you can. In a lot of cases I think certain people could ask really terrific questions about certain things Thomas did - questions that would illuminate topics we'd all love to hear, but don't know to ask. And then of course, once the question is asked, I think some neat answers will follow.

That's it for suggestions on generating some 'little somethings.'

Logistically, let's lay out a few ground rules. Post your choice of the above to (1) your own blog or website (2) the comments at the bottom of this post (3) both of the above or (4) somewhere else (that I haven't thought of here) is fine too.

The only rules are simple:

- keep it civil
- tell the truth, even if no one will know if that 'really happened or not;' this isn't an excuse to fabricate or sugarcoat
- at the bottom of your contribution, include the memetag "This is a contribution to 'A Little Something about Thomas Leonard"

Optionally:

- you can link back to this post or another person's contribution, so as to create a visible web through which visitors can easily navigate (the memetag should make these searchable over time, but including an actual link creates a stronger bond among contributions.)
- after posting, invite another person or persons to participate, to keep the experiment growing outward in as many directions as possible

At first I thought to make it 5 Things About Thomas Leonard, but I think that's constrictive to those who may only have a thing or two. So let's keep it open that way and just see where this goes, shall we?

I'll get us started:

Here's a little something about Thomas Leonard I'd like to share:

(1) "Biggest Contribution"

I think the greatest contribution he made to the coaching world was sizing up and seizing the opportunity of the Internet. Some people say Thomas invented coaching which is actually not true. But he did set the bar when it came to popularizing coaching in the online context.

I remember nodding my head vigorously when I overhead David Goldsmith once say, something like (apologies if I misquote you David, please correct if so) "I once asked Thomas whether he was more excited about Coaching or the Internet and it seemed to me he was almost more excited about the possibilities of the Internet."

It's not that he wasn't excited about coaching, just that the convergence of the enormous Internet boom and all the coaching content he was creating...THAT was really what caused the 'big bang' effect that so many people refer to when they think of Thomas and CoachVille.

(2) "Loveliest Thank You"

I have three cards from Thomas that have his very scrawly handwriting in them written in his favorite blank ink pen he so famously tested. (Apparently he bought tons of types of paper and tons of types of pen and picked his favorites, only to never buy any other kind ever...)

Of the cards, there is a thank you card that says "Andrea, thanks for all you do, especially the things I don't know about. Thomas"

The other one simply says "Have a Merry, Thomas" but the pre-printed inscription in it's been appended. Where it says 'Goodwill towards Men' he's scribbled in 'and women.'

And the third says "Andrea, thanks for sticking with me/us/it. Thomas"

"Thanks for all you do, especially the things I don't know about" is, I think, one of the loveliest thank you's ever, and I try to give it sometimes myself. It really gets to the heart of a person.

And here are a few of the (face it, many) questions I've always wanted to ask:

(1) For Sandy Vilas - how did Thomas come to approach you when he'd decided to sell Coach U? when? and why did he say he wanted to sell it? what was the arrangement and what made you buy it? So many things I could see asking Sandy... :-)

(2) For Shirley Anderson - on Thomas' old website, he said something like 'Shirley Anderson, who I listen to just barely enough.' What did he mean, exactly, do you think? What advice is he alluding to that he sort of ignored?? :-) Also, how and when did you first meet?

(3) For whoever was student #1 at Coach U - I've heard that people used to be very proud of their student number at Coach U. "Back in the day" it was apparently a status thing. :-) Curiously though I've never heard who was student #1 - maybe it was Thomas himself, giving himself a student number? Does anyone know?

(4) For Steve Davis - what was the Internet Marketing conference you and he attended in the spring of 2001? Was it Carl Garletti, the copywriter? When I met Carl he said he knew Thomas and that Thomas had demanded a refund from the conference, apparently in a very rude way, lol. What can you say about this, Steve?

I think you of all people would have an insight into the moments when Thomas was putting 2 and 2 together and coming up with CoachVille, yet we haven't heard the story...please, won't you tell a little something... :-)

Updated 4/2/2007: To keep this little bit of goodness going, I'm going to reach out and tag a few people:

Andy Wibbels

Maryam Webster

Gail Sussman Miller

Pat Gundry

Ken Winston Caine

And finally just one piece of unfinished business for now:

» Continue reading

Key #1: Understand FULLY that you can't give away what you don't have.

If you want to be generous, you must be wealthy. If you want to be attractive, you must have plenty. If you want to change lives, you must have reserve.

If you want to be a coach, you must be coachable.

In other words, stop being wishy washy about money. Make sure you are sure, in no uncertain terms, that you want to be a financially well-off actively practicing coach.

Sign up to receive the full five lessons of this ecourse at http://www.moneyforcoaches.com/

DOES YOUR WORK INSPIRE YOU OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING?

The NEW Business on Purpose Teleseries is intended to give people the means and the courage to build a business on purpose -- a thriving profitable enterprise that is a reflection of their core values, of their vision for what's possible, and the essences of their True Self/Soul/Spirit.

In the series, you will hear interviews with well-known speakers who have each become successful by creating work that is such a reflection of their true life purpose including Andrea Lee, co-author of Money, Meaning and Beyond, Suzanne Falter-Barnes of Get Known Now fame, and others.

Each speaker has been handpicked because they have successfully built such a business and in the process have learned vital 'purposeful pointers' -- key strategies, mindsets, insights, principles, etc. -- that have made this business-building process far easier and simpler. They have also learned 'off purpose pointers' -- self-limiting mindsets, erroneous or out-dated strategies, business principles -- that tend to interfere in creating such an enterprise.

The Business On Purpose Teleseries is ideally suited for:

Join us for the Life On Purpose Business On Purpose Teleseries and learn how you can put more passion and play into your work.

For more information and to register go here.

And start your journey in Building Your Business on Purpose with a Free Introductory TeleSampler to the TeleSeries on Feb 14, 2007 - Wed 12 noon Eastern, with Life On Purpose Institute founder, Dr. Brad Swift. Register in less than a minute online at http://www.lifeonpurpose.com/telesamplers

NOTE: Be one of the first 6 people to register for this live, 7 part teleseries and receive it for only $69, PLUS a special PURPOSEFUL PRESENT BONUS offered by Life On Purpose Institute, Inc. Just go here to activate.

Key #2 to putting money in your pocket: You must say "yes" to a unique segment of the human population.

As you doubtless know at a deep and intuitive level for yourself, every human being is here for a reason. As with your clients, you were created for a specific and very special purpose. And, you have a specific assignment, a problem that you are uniquely sent to solve.

But, there is a critically important distinction here. You are not a solution to everyone's problem. You must choose who you will be a solution to. You must choose a segment of the human population to focus on and serve.

There are people in the world who can only hear the message you have, from you. They're waiting.

Sign up to receive the full five lessons of this ecourse at http://www.moneyforcoaches.com/

Key #3: You must get unstoppable confidence.

It's always perplexed me how on the one hand, coaches get really fired up about their profession when they discover it. On the other hand, they get timid and shy when it comes to selling it.

I know, it's mundane to say that now, because there is just so much talk about how to make money as a coach. But that's why this ecourse focuses so much on the foundational things. Because if your spine is out of whack, it doesn't matter how many ways you know how to bend over and pick up a box, you are going to have problems.

Sign up to receive the full five lessons of this ecourse at http://www.moneyforcoaches.com/

Key #4: Ask...should you quit Coaching?

Yes, you read that right. What does quitting coaching have to do with putting money in your pocket? Read on for a twist in your mental viewpoint that may help alleviate a great deal of stress and strain for you as a practice-building coach.

First...you can't coach well if you're under financial pressure.
It is VERY simple, you just CAN'T.

It's like trying to thread a needle on too little sleep. Your hand WILL shake and you will make a mess. Just stop.

Sign up to receive the full five lessons of this ecourse at http://www.moneyforcoaches.com

Key #5: There are things your clients want to buy from you, but they can't, because you aren't selling them. Yet.

I call these invisible pockets of revenue. When you are a coach offering one-on-one coaching, and not enough clients are buying, I invite you to think of it in a new way.

The old way (which is good, just not all there is) is to think and plan: How do I get more one-on-one clients. Marketing strategies, business plans, all sorts of stuff gets thrown around.

The new way is to ask: What new streams of income can I build, quickly and efficiently, to leverage my existing customer base.

Sign up to receive the full five lessons of this ecourse at http://www.moneyforcoaches.com/

One of the Money and Meaning back office team, Kerri to be exact, received this email last week, and was so delighted by it, shared it with us all. Some of you have had the pleasure of working with Kerri on your team, so you know of whom I speak. ;-)

The is a lovely example of meaningful, relationship-building (permission-based) email from a veterinarian's office, of all places, so no more complaints saying 'I don't know how to make online marketing work for my dentist/health food/photocopy/restaurant/other business!

In fact, see whether you can think of a way to model this email, and imagine what kind of dialog you could foster, done right...

-----Original Message-----
From: Calgary Cat Clinic [mailto:meow@calgarycatclinic.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 01, 2007 8:35 AM
To: kerri martin
Subject: Happy Birthday, Thor!

Dear Thor,

We heard a rumor that someone very special is having a birthday this month -- you! We hope it's a memorable one, full of fun and hugs from your favorite humans.

Here's wishing you a happy and healthy birthday and many more to come. Oh, and one more thing -- let your favorite human handle the birthday candles!

Sincerely,

Your friends at Calgary Cat Clinic
Telephone: (403) 289-9999

P.S. If we've goofed and your birthday isn't this month, your human friend can let us know by signing into your Pet Portal at http://www.calgarycatclinic.com and updating your information.

*****************************************************
Pssst, pet owner...

If you'd prefer not to receive e-mail messages from us, just sign into your Pet Portal and update your account
information to change your e-mail preferences.

We respect your privacy and use our e-mail list for hospital communications only.

-----------end original email--------------

Here's Kerri's comment to the team:

From: Kerri Martin
Sent: Thursday, February 01, 2007 12:36 PM
To: 'Tina Forsyth'; '[From Andrea Lee]'; 'Cindy Greenway, Virtual Manager'
Subject: FW: Happy Birthday, Thor!

Hehe, I didn't know Thor's birthday was the day after mine. ;)

I'll have to tell the cat clinic good use of autoresponders...

And here's my reply to Kerri:

----- Original Message -----
From: [From Andrea Lee]
Date: Thursday, February 1, 2007 12:54 pm
Subject: RE: Happy Birthday, Thor!

hehe

the only thing they need to add is 'by the way have you had your shots lately? click here to book your special grooming birthday appointment 10% off!

lol.

-----end email exchange----

And that, dear readers, is your random behind-the-scenes peek into the world of email here at Money, Meaning and Beyond. :-)

P.S. For our Calgary-based readers, yes, the clinic is a terrific spot for your feline friends...recommended highly by Kerri herself, once a Veterinary Technician, I believe. It's conveniently located on Crowchild Trail across from McMahon stadium in the NW. No Pink Spoon yet, however.

Inspired by Manolo of the very funny guilty pleasure of a blog, and his 'What the Manolo Is...' series on Tuesdays, here is my first stab at 'What I'm Asking...'

Ahem. I wonder whether this will become a regular addition to the Money and Meaning Blog... ;-)

But seriously...

(1) "How much money is enough?" In the quest for money, how can it be that we've spent so little time on this question? So then. As conscious entrepreneurs, how much is enough?

If 'enough' were to hit us in the face, would we recognize it?

(2) Being on creative hiatus for the month of February leads me also to ask... "Of the short-listed projects I have in front of me, what would be the biggest contribution to complete? What would be the most far-reaching? What material introduced in what way, would be most transformational?

(3) It being 'not a bad time' to consider a charitable foundation as an addition to my business (at least according to people I trust), what the heck would I want it to do, to stand for? I mean, it's one thing to make donations regularly, but....*ponder*

These are fairly serious-seeming questions this time around, but they won't always be, trust me. :-)

It's just that Canada's most famous Albino Groundhog, Wiarton Willie already took care of *the* most important other question today, leaving me free to think deep thoughts.

Thanks Wee Willie, for bringing news of an early spring!

Although I had previously understood this news was carefully under wraps until February 4, 2007, to herald this year's International Coaching Week, I saw it released today via the Coach2Coach Network at Yahoo Groups. (Thank you to John Agno who runs this long-standing group.)

It's news at once too appropos of a previous post (Prediction #7) and too worthy of analysis and absorption not to share. And I'm sure there will be LOTS of ink and discussion within the community in days to come, so for now, just the facts (as published to date) first:

"Results of the first-ever global survey of coaches demonstrate how the young profession of coaching has gained a strong foothold in the marketplace and now contributes more than $1.5 billion (USD) to the global economy."

Side Note: One billion equals one thousand million or a 1 with 9 zeroes behind it.

"The International Coach Federation (ICF) commissioned independent research firm PricewaterhouseCoopers to conduct this groundbreaking study of coaches worldwide in order to evaluate the magnitude of the coaching profession.

From September to December 2006, nearly 6,000 coaches (both ICF members and non-members) in 74 countries were surveyed on their coaching practice and client demographic information, as well as revenue details.

The highlights of the survey findings include:

> Coaching clients tend to be 56 percent female/44 percent male, and between 38 and 45 years of age. Sources: International Coach Federation, February 5, 2007 press release and www.Forbes.com, January 12, 2007

----end excerpt from the Coach2Coach Network

So....how do you measure up? Where are you relative to these 6000-ish colleagues?

Here are a few deductions (trying to make some meaning here while not distorting the picture too much):

(1) If the average earning amount per annum is $50,000, and the average number of clients at any given time is 11...

$50,000 divided by 11 clients divided by 12 months = $379 per month per client, seems about right...

(2) With the average coach's age given at 46-55 and the average client's age between 38 and 45...

Coaches are generally speaking at least slightly older than their clients.

(3) Back to the average number of clients at 11. Assuming for a moment that each client meets with their coach 3 times a month for an hour each time...

11 clients times 3 times a month = 33 hours of coaching per month

33 divided by 4 weeks = 8.25 hours per week

That's a pretty light week, even understanding that obviously this time doesn't include administration, finance and of course, marketing.

(4) This one's just for fun, and maybe to stir the pot a little, but if 69% percent of coaches are female. And 56% of clients are female, doesn't this say something over time about the relative growth and advancement of women?

Forgive me, my feminist colours are showing.

On the other what does this mean is happening in China, one of the biggest growth areas for coaching, where the population is so skewed towards males due to the 1-child policy there?

Statistics are such interesting beasts. And I know there will be some conversation about the soundness of the survey due to figures, survey process and overall science of the thing.

That being said, a definite and genuine salute to the ICF for the leadership taken here. It's a giant amount of work to bring this together, and so very needed.

---end deductions---

Alright, that's enough for one night. Enjoy the statistics for what they are worth. I'm sure when the formal release comes out on February 4, 2007 we will see and hear a lot more context.

In the meantime, a few points to ponder:

Is this a lot of money really, relative to other service industries? (Who has a handle on statistical analysis and can do some comparisons for us?)

We may not have historical data yet, but what happens between now and the next comparable survey? In other words, are we growing? How 'in motion' are we?

Does having these numbers make us feel more wealthy? How much is enough money for each of us?

If this is the new state of the nation, does this mean all the fear-based marketing will stop? ;-)

That's it for me for the moment. I'm sure I'll have some thoughts overnight.

In the meantime, what do you make of these numbers?

As promised (Coaching Prediction #5) news of mergers and acquisitions taking place in the coaching world here.

Specifically, two of the grand-daddies in the Executive Search field buy coaching firms. [Note, the link takes you to a Forbes Magazine 'Welcome' page that you'll need to 'click to skip' in order to reach the article.]

The irony for me is rather thick. I left the executive recruitment world in 2000 to enter the coaching one. Now, these two worlds collide.

Take special note of the revenues forecasted by the acquiring companies post-acquisition.

Stay tuned too, for businesses that are positioned a little 'downstream' of Executive Search to begin looking hard at coaching as a new revenue stream.

Come to think of it, if I was that way inclined, I could see putting together a proposal to some of the top dogs in Permanent Placement, for example. Alas, I enjoy my home office a little too much, I think.

After pioneering the Coaching TeleSummit for the last 3 years to a rapt audience of hundreds, Milana Leshinsky has decided this is her last year. She is, in her own formidable way, moving on to the 'next level.'

With a nod of thanks to Milana, I'm excited that the International Association of Coaches (IAC) has stepped into this role of leadership to convene the next Coaching TeleSummit so the tradition doesn't come to an end.

Accessibility being a key value held by the IAC, the virtual Conference will continue to be a way in which hundreds of coaches worldwide can dramatically shorten their learning curve, advanced coaches can access cutting-edge work, and community can be built, all without travelling further than their home offices.

More news about the IAC's first TeleSummit forthcoming very shortly, including speakers of world-renown from industries outside coaching that are having a tremendous impact on us.

To stay apprised of developments at the IAC, subscribe to their newsletter 'The Voice' at this link.