The following is taken from David’s interview with Ginger Cockerham in 10 Super Coaches.
How would you suggest coaches find their niche?
I think that the secret is in the connection. By showing up in as many arenas as possible, coaching and speaking about coaching and allowing your niche to develop, you will attract the people who are your ideal clients.
If you have been a player in an industry in a previous life, use your advocates and start with that community. Experiment in several communities by speaking, networking, and writing in journals or newsletters that they read. You have the opportunity for your ideal clients to show up, be attracted to you and create magic together.
The following is an excerpt of David’s interview in Top Coaching Techniques.
David: A lot of things we spend money on are not adding to our life -cigarettes, for instance. If you quit those you would be adding to your health too.
Ingrid: I think that’s a whole other topic.
David: Instead of a gym, get into a training program with a friend. Ditch your cell phone for a few months until you are able to save. If you own a car, really consider writing a paragraph on how you could get around without a car. They drain money like nobody’s business. You can ride your bike or share a ride. When you can actually put a number on that and say, ‘Oh, look, I could save $5,000 this year.’ and that could go towards your goal, then you have the motivations to get rid of that expense.
Excellence in coaching comes down to excellence in the coach.
A coach’s life doesn’t have to be perfect. Boy – you should see some of the stuff that happens in my life! But what’s your attitude around it? Is it: ‘What a powerful ride! What’s next?’ Or ‘Why does this always happen to me?’
Do you learn from your experiences? It’s the growing and expanding that leads to understanding for ourselves and for those we coach. I just had a session today where my courage in coming through a difficult time was fuel and inspiration for my client. It wasn’t so much my ‘technique’ in coaching her; it was her being able to see someone who had been there and faced the tough decisions and come through it with a smile (eventually!).It’s wonderful how our clients call us to live greater lives than we might on our own.
Even in our imperfect lives, are you excited about your life? Do you wake up feeling that something wonderful will happen today? This passion brings enthusiasm to your clients as well. You can create light, when you are lit up yourself.
The following is taken from David’s interview with Bob Davies in 10 Super Coaches.
What were the biggest doubts you had in your early months?
The only doubts I ever had was that it cost me money to actually coach clients. Each moment I spent coaching was time away from marketing my more profitable speaking business.
I continued to coach however, because of the impact and feedback from the clients and because of the long-term nature of the relationship. Also, the income was more secure than the unknown from the speaking engagements and a diversified source as well. I made a deal with myself, if I’m going to take clients, then here is the marketing I agree to do to compensate for the time away with coaching…
The following is an excerpt of David’s interview in Top Coaching Techniques.
Ingrid: You know, I have this theory that all you need is one good idea, David. For example, the guy that developed the bendy straw or Velcro or the zipper or your fireman hose – is it a bit more than just a good idea?
David. I’m so glad you said that Ingrid, because yes, I think it is. You could have the most brilliant idea in the world and make nothing from it, or you could have an idea that’s just good – it’s not brilliant like velcro, but it’s a good idea, people need it – and you feel passionate about it and you can actually really make some money from that and make a living for yourself. So, no, an idea alone is not what’s going to do it. You need some passion behind it. It does need to be a good idea that the world needs right now. You don’t want to do something that’s already being done, unless you can do it better. I think you need to start creating some systems for the business. It’s also really going to help to have a partner who’s got some experience in this. Take on a business partner, or get yourself to a really good accountant or business advisor or business coach who can help you with it.
The following is an excerpt of one of David’s coaching sessions in Top Coaching Techniques.
David: It sounds great that you hit that block, you kept on moving, and I’m grateful to these people who didn’t keep their appointments with you.
Client: Yeah, that was a real kick in the gut. It was like, ‘Oh, no. I knew it wouldn’t work.’ You know, I went into the whole self-doubt thing. Some of them did ring me and apologize, which I thought was great. When I went back, it was, ‘Oh yeah. Sorry.’ I said, ‘Would you like to reschedule?’ ‘Oh yeah,’ so I’ve actually rescheduled everyone.
David: Okay. I think this may have come along for a reason for you right now, being some kind of lesson here. Can you see what the lesson is, what might the lesson be?
Client: That it’s not necessarily about me, that maybe something else came up, and it’s not personal.
David: Okay, very good. I can see that as being a powerful lesson. I can see another one here, too. See, early on in my practice, I had a lot of people not be there for calls. I can have six calls scheduled in a day, and two or three of them wouldn’t be there when I called. Nowadays, that doesn’t happen. Nowadays, there are zero people not show. Even for the trial sessions, in different countries with different time zones, the people are there. It’s very few: maybe 20 percent aren’t there. Who doesn’t show up, the percentage of people that don’t show up is totally a function of who you’re being in setting up that call.
