Questions on Coaching? Help me Update this Book

I'm updating a book I wrote a few years ago on what it takes to become a coach. I've received fantastic feedback from it and many have found it to be a helpful resource.

I need help answering more of your questions, regardless of whether you're checking out coaching full-time or on the side, or even doing it now. Here are some of the questions I've already answered in the book. Please reply with anything else you'd like me to cover.

Do Most People Really Need a Coach?
Can You Really Make a Living by Helping Others?
How Much Money Can I Make as a Coach?
How do I Charge Clients, Especially Those that Think They are Bankrupt?
Do I Have What it Takes to Become a Coach?
What Can I do to Learn More about Starting the  Business of Coaching?
Do I Need a Website?
Can I attach an Expert’s Name to my Brand?
I Trained With Dave Ramsey’s Team; How Many Referrals Can I Expect?
Where Do I Find Clients?
Do I Need an Office?
Can I Begin Coaching on the Side While I Build my Business?
Does it Take Much Money to Start a Business?
Examine Your Motives for Coaching
What can I do for Further Learning?

Please add to this list for me so I can make it the best resource out there for prospective coaches. If I use your question I'll send you a free copy.

You can learn more about it on my website if you like.

Thanks,
Justin

Tags: book, coach, coaching, update

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Edward Spangler on July 29, 2009 at 11:36pm

hey Justin

I guess it relates to

Can I Begin Coaching on the Side While I Build my Business?

HOw do you attract someone who might be more currently successful but are stuck in a business rut? HOw do they take you seriously even though you are just starting and dont have the accolades and testimonials to show?

And actually if you have a couple thought on this area right now, I would love to hear them.

Just checked out the beyondpastdue forum and hope to contribute in near future.

Permalink Reply by Justin Lukasavige on July 30, 2009 at 9:27am

Thanks Edward, I'm happy to offer it here for you.

YES, do start coaching on the side and build it before jumping in to it. You need to establish a name for yourself and that takes a while. There won't be a lot of immediate income right when you start. I do know of a few coaches who quit a job to immediately start coaching, but they all had 3 years or more of emergency savings built up.

To attract those who are more successful (and I assume you may be talking about more successful than you in business) you must do a number of things. My team routinely works with folks on their finances who make much more money than they do. Tiger Woods has a coach who doesn't play the game as well as he does, but he still employees one.

When you're the best at something you still need a coach. You need someone who can take you through the process and help you build your business, get out of a rut and on the right path, or get you to that next level. When you have worked with a few businesses and have had success it won't be hard to get the word out.

As far as someone taking you seriously when you first begin, that's usually not an issue. If you display confidence in what you do many people won't even know you're brand new in business. Even if you are brand new it's likely you're coming in to it with no experience. When I started my business I hadn't ever charged anyone formally, but I had been around businesses and had even completed projects with friends in their business over a 10 year or longer period. That's a lot of experience to have and I didn't have to start from scratch.

Does that help with your questions?

Permalink Reply by Edward Spangler on August 3, 2009 at 3:07pm

Yeah, its mostly about attitude in the beginning.

For me, Ive decided that my approach until getting and building on testimonial is to just continue to complete and document projects and have them available for view

Then when meeting new people you can say "this is something I have done".
You dont know everything yet but you know enough to do this.
And build or adjust from there......

Some like to say fake it till you make it,
I like to call it film it till you make it, Lou Bortone will probably do a series on that for sale, haha

Thanks Justin

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Graney on July 29, 2011 at 3:19am

Hi,

I notice this was posted a while back now, but thought I would add to it just in case it is still useful to you! I trained as a sports coach over twenty years ago and after running several different businesses mainly successfully and one disaster I set up my own training company and last year expanded my services into coaching. I love it so much and just wish I had done it twenty years ago lol.

I work primarily with prestartup, startup and infant businesses across the UK offering face to face workshops and courses, group coaching webinars and 1-2-1 VIP coaching. It took me a while to find my niche and I change it once, but now I am flying and considering expanding with staff to handle all the enquiries and business I have.

My questions last year would have been the following -

How do I create multiple stream of passive income?
What are multiple streams of passive income?
How can I group coach effectively?
What is laser coaching?
What sort of packages work and how can I create appealing packages?
How can I attract powerful joint venture partners?

A year on and I am still learning and expanding my skills but this is something I wish I had done many years ago. I get a real buzz from working with business startups or young businesses - making a change and ensuring they succeed where they may previously have failed.