For Business Owners who are in it for the long haul...

Whenever a person becomes an expert in something, lots of benefits follow. If you've been creating what matters to you most as a business owner, you know this is true. But one of the downsides to soaking yourself in expertise is that sometimes things can feel very stale. You may find yourself asking:

• Not THIS topic again


• Please don't hire me to do a repeat on THAT


• They shoot horses you know!

In all seriousness, one of the questions I frequently dust off when I feel at all stale goes something like this:

If I had one last chance to say something on this topic, and then that was it for me, what would I say? I wrote the answer to that very question as pertains to marketing in an article for Choice Magazine, the magazine of professional coaching.

The full article containing:

3 Advanced Marketing Tips and Tricks, for Coaches Who're In It For the Long Haul as well as the

call recording elaborating on the same topic are now available to you, dear reader, as a courtesy from Choice.

I'm not sure how long they'll be available so grab them while you can and enjoy.

Oh and yes, print magazines like Choice are notoriously difficult to keep afloat - like restaurants, they suffer from a very high bankruptcy rate, so let me take this opportunity to give Choice a hearty bravo for their work, now in their third year. Bravo team! Keep up the great work.

On this occasion they've offered a $4 off coupon for you to use towards a print subscription this year. Good only for readers of Creating What Matters, claim the discount by entering in the following code at checkout.

The code? Here tis: pinkspoon

Now where again are the Top Marketing Tips I'd share if it was my last chance on earth to do so? Go here...

This is where you can claim one of over $319 in Prizes for the Next 6 Registrants in the Leadership in Coaching TeleSummit

The excavation of the basement is complete! The most onerous part of packing so far has been deciding what to keep, what to donate or recycle, and what to give away to a good home.

I have 6 items carefully kept from the donation pile that I think would be a welcome addition to almost any coach's library, and I'd like to ship them - on me - to the next 6 coaches who register for Option #2 or #3 at the TeleSummit.

Just go to the TeleSummit page to register, and when your receipt arrives in just after you're done, send it to andrea@andreajlee.com with your mailing address and selection and I will drive myself to the post office this weekend. Happy dance!

Please indicate your first and second choice of 'Andrea's Moving' Prizes (first come first served):

Dr. Wayne Dyer's The Secrets of the Power of Intention, Live Lecture 6-CD Set | Retail $59.95, HayHouse Special $45.

Hypnotherapy for a Millionaire Mind with Julie Dittmar produced by Peak Potentials Training | Not available outside of T. Harv Eker events, this is a lovingly replayed and personally treasured disc

Guided Marketing 101 Meditation CD only: Marketing and self-promotion the easy way by Suzanne Falter-Barns | Retail $37 but please note this is the CD only, for some reason I have two copies of this great little disc

Thomas Leonard's 28 Principles of Attraction Program, produced by Nightingale Conant, 7 CDs, 48-Page Workbook and Card Deck | Retail $89.95 [Two separate sets available]

Karla McLaren's Emotional Genius: How Emotions Can Save Your Life produced by Sounds True, 8 CDs | Retail $69.95

No-Fee Tool | The Coaching Entrepreneur's Surrogate Boss

Andrea told me about this cool little free tool since she knows I have a tendency to go at full speed, and like many of you, tend to work too long without a break.

Instant Boss is a piece of software that you download to your computer. After you set it up, you will get a small grey reminder box popping up on your screen telling you to take a break.

When your break time is over, you get another box telling you to get back to work, complete with a funny graphic of a screaming boss- perfect for those days when you long for the corporate world.

Set the time intervals up as you see fit in the control panel shown above. Two hours of work, 10 minute break. Two and a half hours of work, half hour break. Whatever it is, remember that when you are self-employed, it is easy to fall into unreasonable working hours. The bad thing is that you can’t complain to your co-workers around the water cooler!

Keep yourself focused and healthy by taking breaks. Instant Boss will help.

Download this no-cost software at http://www.appsapps.info/instantboss.php

With Guest Contributor and The Sound of Coaching Collaborator Barbra Sundquist

Did you know the giraffe has the biggest heart in relation to its body size of any mammal?

That's why I choose it to be our symbol for learning the IAC's Coaching Mastery #1™: Establishing and maintaining a relationship of trust.

From the IAC website, Coaching Mastery #1is defined as:

Ensuring a safe space and supportive relationship for the client’s personal growth, discovery and transformation..)

(For members of the IAC, see their learning guide for more information

The keywords to remember for Mastery #1 are TRUST and RAPPORT (remember the giraffe with the extra-big heart).

Some of the ways that you build trust and rapport are by:

• using active listening skills such as paraphrasing and listening for feeling as well as content
• having a warm and supportive tone of voice
• validating the client's feelings
• asking for the client's suggestions and input

Action Item:
 
Listen to the 6 minute coaching excerpt below and then answer the questions. Then scroll down to read my suggested answers. (My answers are not all-inclusive. If you heard something that I didn't mention, well done!)

And now, continue reading for a set of questions (and their answers!) vis-a-vis this live coaching clip.

» Continue reading

From Michael Bungay-Stanier, a real stand up guy and big cheese over at Box of Crayons:

----begin email----

Andrea,

I'm part of the committee behind the Canadian Coach of the Year award, and it's getting to the time of year when we're looking for great coaches to apply.

As someone who's influential and well connected within the Canadian coaching community, I have two favours to ask of you.

==> First, that you'll consider applying for the award yourself. (Curses! Andrea, know you're not eligible...)

==> Second, that you'll encourage other great coaches you know to consider applying.

The application deadline is August 31st and the application form is here.

With best wishes - and thank you for your support,

Michael

------end of Michael's note----

Alright all you Canadian Coaches...I've personally seen the tiara and starshine that are yours when you win this prestigious honour and there's nothing shabby about either, so...are you ready? Start your engines!

First step, check out the prerequisites here.

"These photos have a job to do; To help sell our customers' products!" - R.H.

So you've created a coaching product, now what? The above quote says it all. You want to sell your stuff - effortlessly and elegantly - getting your message out and making a difference to the world.

To that end, a supplier like Robert House Photography, creators of the images at left [of Laura Howard West's stunning new 'Joyful Business Guide' a Law of Attraction-based cure for the difficult-to-do, life-sucking Business Plan] are worth their weight in gold.

Thankfully they don't cost quite that much and they do accept credit cards. Reasonable, a pleasure to work with, and - God bless them - they understand that their job is not photography, it's marketing.

Another bonus? They list their pricing table right at their site and best of all - the images are 100% royalty free.

[Look for future posts featuring Laura as she notches up success after success with her product. Big name testimonials...nation-wide joint ventures, etc.]

Click 'continue reading' below to see the photos enlarged. Yummy!

Are you interested in collaborating with Laura to bring a coachable planning process to your small business clients? Email her here to discuss: laura@joyfulbusiness.com

» Continue reading

Via the Calgary Association of Professional Coaches External Events announcement:

The Organizational Development group in Human Resources for the City of Calgary has been developing a resource guide for management at The City on Leadership Coaching for Development, which includes the internal process for engaging a coach.

While it has been occurring at The City to a certain extent, we are anticipating an increased demand from management for Leadership Coaches, and are hoping to expedite the process of engaging a Coach through the establishment of a pre-qualified list. The process is titled Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ), which we currently have in place for HR related Consultants, and Leadership Coaching will be a specific category within that Consultants' list.

The process is managed in partnership with our Finance and Supply business unit, and will allow internal clients to access those on the list for engagement in coaching.

» Continue reading

"Andrea, I always know we're onto something big when you say something and I hate your guts."

LOL, love that honesty, C! Your courage and growth are inspiring and it is a true a privilege to be your coach.

Side note to anyone considering hiring a coach, maybe even for the first time: Laughing happens often in great coaching sessions because the truth (especially our own) is usually pretty funny.

[More coaching quotes like at right, here.]

"Dear Andrea,

I have a client who doesn't like to plan. She is definitely living in the moment, yet she doesn't like her situation - money, love life, business - she's even unhappy with herself physically. How do I coach her when she resists planning ahead, even as far as a month or two?

She says she wants help building her business which is speaker training, and her business is doing ok as far as it goes - six figures, just. I just can't seem to find a way 'in' to help...is she uncoachable or am I missing something?

-- A.N., Missouri

Thanks A.N. for your great question. On the face of it, this may seem like an unusual circumstance for a coach to find a client in. However most coaches will work with clients who resist things - planning, focusing, letting go of control. So is this an issue of 'not planning' or 'resistance' or both?

Let's see what our community of coaches has to say about this one and I'll blog an overview with tips on how you can proceed in a separate blog post.

Coaches, post your suggestions and tips below - remember this kind of 'situational practice' is an excellent way to sharpen the saw. And even if you're unsure but want to give it a try - you can't hurt this website, whereas 'trying' in certain situations when you're out of your depth with a real client - can have damaging effects.

So comment on, and I will select a winner of the Coaching Question of the Day from the what unfolds.

P.S. The prize will be juicy - I'm still choosing! Lest you think the prize is a ploy... ;-) let's put a bit of a parameter around it shall we? Minimum five posts required before the winner will be selected.

P.P.S. If you're someone like me who hasn't been to coach training school for a while - or maybe even ever? Be sure to stay tuned for an upcoming announcement of 'The Sound of Coaching' and self-study training on the IAC Masteries.

Via the New Jersey Professional Coaches Yahoo Group...

Subject: If You're a Woman and A Coach, You Could Be on TV

SEEKING TELEVISION HOST

Award-winning production company Force Four Entertainment is seeking a EXPERT HOST for their new national television series for the W Network called THE REAL YOU. Force Four has over 24 years of experience creating lifestyle and documentary programming.

In each episode of THE REAL YOU, the HOST comes to the rescue of one woman who finds herself stuck in a rut. Who is she really? What are her true passions, hopes and dreams? What lies beneath the surface that has the potential to transform her career, relationship, style – her whole life?

‘PERSONAL BRANDING’

The HOST views personal branding as a tool for attracting one’s ideal, but only after the necessary steps are taken to find out what their ideal really is. The HOST is passionate about helping people transform their lives from the inside out. The HOST inspires each woman to take charge and bring their truths to the surface to help each create her own personal brand.

THE HOST

The series revolves around a compelling female HOST who:

- In her real profession helps women discover their true selves.
- Is passionate about promoting, encouraging and directing women with ways to discover their authentic selves, their inner desires and hopes for the future.
- Directs each woman through a series of challenges that lead to self-discovery.
- Acts as a coach, confidante, and mentor and gives the tools each woman needs to discover their true selves.
- Taps into each woman’s true passions, talents and desires which result in an individual “brand package” representing who that woman really is.

Keep reading for submission guidelines, deadline and be sure to enter your email address at left (under Tina's photo) - you'll receive updates from this blog including new opportunities as soon as they come up.

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