My Top Ten Tools for Coaches

Coaching is often presented as a wonderful way to leverage your skills while serving clients who need your expertise. But what many new coaches lack is a toolbox they can use to keep their workload manageable. Here are ten tools that will save you time and energy…

Coaching Tool #1: Card Decks

Card decks are useful for allowing you to start conversations with clients. Typically, each card in the deck features an open-ended question that your client can answer. From there, you can dive into a deeper discussion.

There are plenty of card decks available for sale such as The CBT Deck by Seth Gillihan or QCards from Little Leaps Press. Of course, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, you could always create and design your own deck of cards.

Coaching Tool #2: Podcasts

If you’ve been thinking of starting a podcast or already have one, it can be an amazing tool to use in your coaching. The Life Coach School has a popular podcast where the host, Brooke Castillo shares valuable insights with her community.

When you have a podcast, you can dedicate each episode to solving a certain problem for your client. For example, if you teach clients how to launch Kindle eBooks, then you might have an episode where you discuss keyword research and another one where you talk about cover design.

Now when you have clients that run into these problems, you can refer them to that specific podcast episode. This saves you time in the long run and gives your clients a way to face their problems.

Coaching Tool #3: Worksheets

As a marketing coach, I noticed I often work through the same problems with my clients. So, I typed those questions up in a document and created a worksheet.

I give the worksheet to new clients and have them complete it after their first session. Doing this allows me to streamline my coaching while still serving my clients.

Coaching Tool #4: Core Training

A core training is a wonderful way to help your clients. If you’re a copywriting coach and your clients struggle with writing content, you could create a core training on the different types and formats of content.

Then when one of your clients needs help in a specific area, you could point them to the correct module within your core training.

Coaching Tool #5: Voice Messaging

A voice messaging app, like Voxer, lets you and your client leave messages for each other. You can then check these messages as your schedule allows.

The advantage of voice messaging is that it promotes easy and frequent communication. It gives your client the ability to reach out at the exact moment they need help and talk through the issue that’s troubling them.

Coaching Tool #6: Retreats

Sometimes, clients need to be able to get it away from it all if they’re going to have big breakthroughs in their mindset. Other times, you may schedule retreats to give your client space to achieve a large goal such as writing a book in two weeks or designing their website.

By creating a retreat, you’re creating a  cocoon - a warm, safe area where they can dig deep and work on transformation.

Of course, a cocoon isn’t meant to be a permanent housing answer, and neither should your retreat. Set a clear timeline for when the retreat begins and ends.

Retreats can be fun and empowering for clients. But make sure you factor in downtime for yourself before and after the event. You’ll be pouring a lot of energy into your clients and you want to refill your own well once you’re done.

Coaching Tool #7: Onboarding

Many coaches that end up overwhelmed have this happen because they don’t have a smart onboarding process in place. Onboarding lets your clients know what to expect, how you’ll be helping them, and what they’ll need to do to achieve results.

Onboarding can include assessments, quizzes, and inventories. For example, if you help high-powered executives find their next job, you might have them perform an inventory, so you know which skills they already possess and which ones they don’t have.

Keep in mind that you can refine your onboarding process as you go. You might find that the inventory rarely serves your clients, but the personality type assessment often causes them to experience breakthroughs. Then it’s OK to let go of the inventory and hold onto the assessment.

Coaching Tool #8: Trackers

If you help clients develop smart habits, then a tracker can be a wonderful tool for your coaching practice. You can create a tracker and ask your clients to fill it out daily, weekly, or monthly depending on their needs.

The advantage with using a tracker is that it motivates clients to do the work by fostering accountability. It also encourages them to see the progress they’re making and that creates powerful momentum.

Of course, you can create a tracker around almost any goal. Your clients want to earn more? Create a daily earnings tracker so they can watch as their income soars.

Your clients want to get more clients of their own? Design a cold calling tracker so they can see the connection between the calls and their growing client base.

Coaching Tool #9: VIP Days

A VIP day is one you focus on just one client or a very small, select group of clients (typically two to four). The advantage of having a VIP day is that it allows you and your client to map out a strategy for reaching their goal.

It’s also useful for getting a large project done at once. For example, if you help job seekers then you might want to spend the VIP day helping your clients learn how to use LinkedIn effectively.

How many clients you serve at once during a VIP day depends on what you’re trying to achieve and how clients might benefit from time spent with each other.

You might find that your LinkedIn clients need one-on-one attention, but your web design program might thrive when you have a small, focused group of three clients working together.

Coaching Tool #10: Books

Just because books are low-tech doesn’t mean they should be overlooked as a coaching resource. Books can be valuable in that many people are more willing to read through them whereas with a course or product, they may skip entire sections.

A book also allows a client to dive deep into an issue that’s troubling them. For example if you have a client that’s struggling to make sales calls consistently, you might recommend they read BookYourself Solid by Michael Port.

After they finish it, encourage your client to read AtomicHabits by James Clear to learn how to turn self-promotion into a regular habit. By recommending books and nudging them to implement the advice they read, you slowly help your client design the life and business they want.

One Size Doesn’t Fit All

The truth is coaching tools come in many different styles and forms. A coaching tool that works well for your best friend may not work for you at all. But a tool she hates may be just the thing you need to assist difficult clients.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with different tools. Study which ones seem to work best for your clients and use those often!

The Night The Lights Went Out in Rogers

True story!

When we first moved out on the dirt road, we weren't exactly ready to make that move.

Oh we had a plan...

My mom and dad were getting to the point that they needed some assistance. And the house we were living in at the time had everything they needed to make life a little easier for both them. Raised garden beds, no stairs, and a walk in shower for my mom. Chatty, nosey neighbors and a patio with a rocking chair for my dad. It was close to stores...and medical facilities....and not that far from us. It was perfect for them!

And so the plan was to move my mom and dad into our old house when we made the move to the dirt road. They would stay with us in the original house so we could help them get settled and get our new home ready for us. And then, when everything was finished, we would move.

But the best laid plans, as they say...

Before we could even put the first coat of paint on the walls, or finish the stairs to the 2nd floor...

(Did I mention the house wasn't quite ready for prime time?)

My mom passed away. And my dad was far enough along in his Alzheimer's journey that he could not stay alone, even with nosey neighbors!

So with two houses, which meant two mortgages, we did the only thing we could. We put the original house up for rent and moved. Ready or not. We would just finish the house in our spare time, after work and on weekends.

We moved in late fall, and immediately got swamped with helping my dad get settled into his home with us.

Holidays Dealing with the longer commute to work.

Everyday, we would say, "Tomorrow. Tomorrow we really have to work on the house." But of course, tomorrow was just a repeat of the day before. Before we knew it, it was just a few days before Christmas and we still hadn't really accomplished much.

On December 23rd, I came home from work and parked my car in the driveway. (We still hadn't enlarged the garage to accommodate 2 cars). I remember the date perfectly because it was the last time my car would move until mid-January.

Now if you know anything about Arkansas winters, you know they can run the gamut from mild fall-like weather most of the season, to bitter cold with ice and snow measured in feet! This year, it happened to be the latter. A storm dropped 6 inches of ice, which was then covered by snow. Lots of snow. My car was buried. The road was impassable. And, of course, we lost power.

Do you know what you have in an all-electric house when you lose power Nothing. No lights. No heat. No way to even make a hot cup of coffee.

And while we were all huddled together trying to stay warm, I vowed we would never be caught unprepared again!

Now, obviously we survived. We used every blanket we had. And fortunately, the power wasn't out very long. But it could have been disastrous, especially for my elderly father. Because we weren't ready.

But there was another problem. Remember, when I mentioned my car didn't move until mid-January? That's a fact. Private dirt roads don't get plowed or sanded. Schools were still closed also so even if I could have gotten into work, I didn't want to leave my girls and my dad home alone.

Fortunately, again, my husband and I were both salaried so between that and the fact that we had already put in for holiday vacation, we were okay. But I'm sure many hourly employees either didn't get paid, or literally risked their lives to get to work to keep food on their tables or pay the rent.

You've heard the story of how having to care for my dad was the trigger that catapulted me into learning about attraction marketing. Well this storm was the event that showed me I needed to have MULTIPLE INCOME STREAMS. And I've spent the last 22 years learning exactly how to do that.

But what about you? Would a job loss, a health crisis, a divorce, or a natural disaster be a minor inconvenience? Or would you be struggling to figure out where your next dollar was coming from?

And let's be real. In today's uncertain economy, it's simply not enough to have just one source of income anymore. You need multiple income streams. And I'm not talking about 2 or 3 (or heaven forbid...more) jobs. I'm talking about passive, residual, make money from home in your spare time income streams.

I'm not going to promise you'll make $10,000 a month in your sleep with no work, but it's quite possible to make an extra $500 a month. Or $1000. Yes, you can even build up to $10,000 a month...WITH WORK!

I'll be talking a lot about this in future, I've learned a lot about what it takes to make sure you always have at least one income stream no matter what, although multiple income streams are better. If you want to learn how to insulate your finances from WHATEVER is coming next...

(I keep hearing the RECESSION word a lot lately)

Stay tuned. I'll be right here. Sharing all the goodness.

If you want to get a head start and discover the pro’s & con’s of 5 proven (and legitimate) ways to start making money from home, download my free report HERE.

How many of them are you already doing?

Life On The Dirt Road

I live in a big old country home with a wraparound porch on a dirt road surrounded by plenty of land.

There is room for kids and grandkids.

Friends are welcome.

I can sit on my porch in the morning and watch the sun rise, hear the birds sing as they greet the day.

I can drink my coffee and watch the squirrels play and the deer come through the field to feed.

I can sit in the peace and stillness of a country night and listen to the sounds of crickets and watch the fireflies...

And see the eyes of little raccoons watching to see if they might steal some food from the bird feeders.

I travel with my husband to visit family and friends...or just to see our favorite places.

I started in the industry in 1975...

And there have been many times since then when I questioned that decision.

Days when I felt like I would never figure this whole marketing thing out.

But then I would be reminded of why I had started and so I didn't give up.

I just kept moving forward...

Some days a little...
Some days a LOT!

But I never quit.

I just kept plugging away, day after day.

I knew I was progressing, however slowly it may have seemed.

And now, in 2022, my husband and I live life on our terms and enjoy every minute of it!

I don't say this to boast.

It took a long time to get here!

A gal who is living a life she loves on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere.

And that's the point.

I never dreamed of big cars or fancy houses or traveling around the world.

I have EXACTLY what I always wanted.

And isn't that what this business is all about?

The ability to live life the way you want...

To make the choices that are right for you and your family...

And it doesn't matter how long it takes to get there...

As long as you keep moving towards your dream.

If you JUST keep going, those efforts you make, day in, day out, no matter how small, are all bringing you closer to your "dirt road".

My "dirt road" is an actual dirt road. But yours may be a NYC high rise.

An RV that you travel the country in.

A cabin in the mountains.

Endless hotel rooms as you travel the world to see all the places you dreamed of visiting.

Life on the dirt road is above all else about FREEDOM!

I want you to go find yours.

And I want to help you get there.

If you want to run with me, and get on the inside to help grow YOUR business and find your path, join my Marketing Mastery Facebook Group.

The group for people who want FREEDOM above all else!

See you on the inside!

The Reboot

Okay...

You read all about my big new vision for my business. There wasn't anything wrong with the way things were going. In fact, quite the opposite. I was much too busy. But I was busy doing things that didn't bring me joy. So, after some soul-searching and sessions with my two amazing coaches and mentors, I realized it was time to refocus and reboot.

In my previous post, I outlined my plans for the refocus.

Today I'm focusing on the reboot. Not everything about my current business is broken. It just needs some tweaking. And just like that, it will fit well into my new vision.

Rebooting is a wise first step in lot of situations. We reboot our computers when they don't work as they should. We reboot our brains by getting a good night's sleep. We reboot our creativity by doing something fun or unexpected.

You can reboot your business too. Like me, you can pivot to something bigger and newer. Or you can simply try a new marketing strategy.

Email that list you've been neglecting.                                                  Launch a new product or course.                                                        Polish up your website.                                                                        Start a podcast.

Where in your life or business are things not working as expected? What would a reboot look like? Now is the perfect time to take action.

Meanwhile, here's what I'm working on...

Rebooting this blog. Less focus on straight marketing techniques. Writing more about mindset, creativity, and all the other aspects of designing your dream life.

Rebooting my CafePress and Zazzle shops. Going to focus just on Zazzle. Not giving it up because this is my creative outlet. My stress relief. I'm not an artist by any means! I can't even draw stick people. But thanks to technology I can still create with the best of them. But managing 8 different shops is too time consuming. So I'll be moving everything to one shop on Zazzle.

Rebooting my digital products. So in addition to things like my FB Profile Cheatsheet and 10 Ways to Make Real Money with Your Network Marketing Business ebook, I'll be creating more things like my Vision Board Journal and my Abundance Log.

Rebooting my social media marketing business. I'll still be teaching marketing. But I'll be phasing out the agency part of my business. I want to focus more on teaching. You know what they say...teach a man to fish.....

Rebooting my YouTube Channel. It's a pretty sad hodgepodge of videos right now. But I have plans on how to fit it into my new focus very nicely.

What about you?

Is it time for a reboot in your business?

The Secret To My Success

Success...

What is it?

How do you define it?

It's different for everyone.

For me success was making enough to take care of my dad.

Then it was making enough to spoil my kids and grandkids.

Then it was making enough to retire comfortably.

Then it was multi, multi six figures. Yes...I wanted to be rich!

Briefly...but for a few months, I seriously looked at what would it take to get there.

And now..

Well my definition has changed a lot.

Now it's all about freedom and choices.

But in the end one thing has never changed....

I wanted to have a business that didn't require me to pester people all day every day.

In fact...

I didn't want to pester anyone EVER.

So when I found Attraction Marketing I knew it was my answer and I pursued it like crazy.

In a short period of time I went from approaching people in supermarkets and malls and holding home meetings and making cold calls to working a few hours a day around my family life and making more money than I ever imagined.

So yeah....

I HIGHLY recommend Attraction Marketing!

Learning it could be LIFE CHANGING for you.

But let's be real for a minute.

Times are changing.

Inflation is scary high.

Rumors of recession are becoming increasingly prevalent.

We even have folks...

Folks I know and trust...

Predicting economic collapse...

Civil War...

And basically the end of life as we know it.

Now, while I do know and trust these folks, I'm not sure it's going to get THAT bad.

But I do know that there's a lot of uncertainty in the world.

And I do think 2023 is going to be a year where many people get scared and wipe out so being a part of something that keeps you alive and protects you in scary economic times will be a blessing.

And if the past few years have taught me anything, it's that we need to be prepared....

For ANYHTING!

And that's why I am changing the focus of my business.

Now don't worry...

I'll still be teaching attraction marketing for people who want to learn.

But it's going to take more than marketing skills for you to survive if things get even half as bad as some folks think.

You're going to need multiple income streams...

You're going to need to know how to generate quick cash flow...

You're going to need the tools that enable you to work no matter where you are....

Basically, you're going to need what I already have...

Freedom

Choice

And there's no better time to start than NOW.

So that's what we are doing.

I'm going to teach anyone who's interested how to achieve total FREEDOM.

I'll be building sites and templates and all that jazz.

I'm going to try to bring together all the good parts of our industry without all the crap!

IT'S TIME!

This is not a "program".

There's nothing to "join".

I'm done doing programs.

We don't do programs...

We utilize them.

Our commitments are to ourselves and our customers.

We find high quality products, services and opportunities to serve them.

And that's it.

Now it's just a matter of who sees and understands.

Acquiring this mind shift could change things for you FOREVER.

If that's you, hit me up. I'm creating a list for those who "get it" so I can update you.

This is the future folks.

And once again, I am leading the way.

How to Create a Webinar with Your Business Bestie

A webinar can be a great way to reach a new audience and build your business. But putting together your first webinar can be a bit nerve-wracking. 

That's why I often collaborate with other entrepreneurs. Hosting a webinar with one of my "business besties" not only makes it easier, but also a lot more fun. If you’re considering doing the same with your business bestie, here are a few decisions you’ll need to discuss…

What Is the Goal of the Webinar?

There are many different reasons you may want to do a webinar. Maybe you want to sell your product, promote an offer as an affiliate, or add new subscribers to your sales funnel. Whatever the reason, decide on the purpose of the webinar before you proceed.

What Is the Topic of the Webinar?

Sometimes, the topic may seem obvious. For example, if you and your business bestie are hosting the webinar to promote a course you created together, then the topic should be related to your course.

If you and your business bestie are serving two different niches, then you want to choose a topic that has cross-over appeal for both your communities.

Imagine you blog about the paleo diet and your friend runs a parenting blog, then you could create a webinar on topics like: “paleo diet for busy moms” or “paleo friendly family meals”. This will result in more viewers since both your circles are already interested in these topics.

Which Style Will You Use?

The most common webinar styles are tutorial, interview, and a presentation. In a tutorial webinar, you and your bestie show the audience how to do something. In an interview, you or your business bestie ask each other discussion questions. For a presentation, you’ll share slides as you educate your viewers.

Keep in mind that there’s no right or wrong style to use. Pick the one that feels the most natural to you and your business bestie.

How Will You Promote the Webinar?

When you and your co-host are talking about the webinar, consider how you can both promote it. Look at resources you may already have. For example, if you have a Facebook group with five hundred members who are in your niche, then tell them about your upcoming webinar. If your business bestie has a mailing list with fifteen hundred subscribers, she could email the webinar link to them.

What Will You Do with It Later?

After our most recent webinar was over, my bestie and I left it as a free opt-in gift for our subscribers. We continued to receive rave reviews about the content inside the presentation so we bundled it with a workbook and began selling it as a self-study course. Now we are getting ready to add an upsell option for group coaching and hopefully earn even more.

Don’t record a webinar only to let it gather dust on your hard drive. Have a long-term plan for how you can use it to build your businesses. Proudly recycle your content and use it again!

Creating a webinar can feel scary when you’re doing it alone. But with your business bestie by your side, it can be easy (and fun!) to launch a webinar.

Where to Find Your Business Bestie

When you run a digital business, it can be difficult to find people who can relate to your struggles and your triumphs. Your family and friends may be supportive of you but they don’t understand what it’s like to work online.

The wonderful thing about having business friends is that they do understand what you’re going through. Other digital business owners can sympathize when you’re dealing with difficult tech problems or struggling to rebrand your site. They can also celebrate your successes with you and provide valuable guidance along the way.

But how do you find these business besties? Where do you go when you want to form friendships with digital business owners? Consider looking for new friends in these places…

Join Facebook Groups

Look for Facebook groups for online business owners. You’ll want to join a mix of groups—some should be general business groups. These are perfect for finding friends who may be in various niches or have business models that are different from your own.

You also want to look for groups that are specific to your business. For example, if you’re a virtual assistant, look for a few groups that are made up of just virtual assistants. If you’re a coach, you may want to search for specialty coaching groups.

Once you’ve joined a few groups, introduce yourself. Tell the group a bit about yourself and how you got started online. This isn’t the time to promote yourself or your website. Simply share a simple bio and mention that you’re looking forward to getting to know the other members.

If you're looking for a great group to join, check out our very own Ninja Marketers!

Attend Business Conferences

A business conference like the Like a Goal Digger Event can be the perfect place to meet new people. It’s important to understand that conferences come in all shapes and sizes. If you’re an introvert who prefers quiet, look for a small single-track conference with a small number of attendees. If you enjoy offline events and crowds energize you, then try to find a larger conference.

Some digital business owners approach a conference with the wrong mindset. They want to hand out as many business cards as possible and meet as many new people as possible. While this may feel more productive, it doesn’t allow you to plant the seeds for deep relationships.

It takes time to get to know people. Focus on making a few meaningful connections, rather than thirty or forty shallow introductions. You’ll be more likely to make lasting friendships this way.

Dive into a Mastermind

If there’s an area of your business that you want to excel in while finding like-minded friends, a mastermind group could also be useful. For example, if you want to improve your copywriting skills, then joining a mastermind dedicated to the topic will be helpful.

The advantage of a mastermind is that it gives you the opportunity to meet others who are also working on improving their businesses in a similar way. You can engage with the other participants by asking (and answering!) questions, giving feedback, or sharing notes.

When it comes to finding your business besties, you have to put yourself out there. That might mean joining a mastermind, attending a conference, or hanging out on Facebook groups. These activities might feel uncomfortable or even scary at first, but keep showing up and participating with others!