Hi Barbara and Tom. I enjoyed this interview. When I see a fellow life coach being rewarded with the recognition he deserves I feel inspired to keep going. I have 3 questions for you Tom….

1. You’ve been in the coaching business for many years. What advice can you give me as a newbie just starting out in my own life coaching career?

2. How long did it take before you had a good steady clientele?

3. Are you finding that the “free” services are appreciated and taken seriously? I mean, in my experience, when people receive things for “free” (myself included), they tend to not appreciate them as much.

I just learned this the hard way. Of course, the introductory coaching session is complimentary, but… I offered a few free trial coaching sessions to a friend because she said “she couldn’t afford to pay me.” What happened is that because there was no monetary exchange, she subconsciously did not value the service. She took it more lightly than she would have if she were paying for it.

Davina´s last blog post..Akemi Gaines On Intuition, Dreams And Spiritual Guidance–Interview Part 1

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Hi Tom,

I know you can’t give a solid answer to this question, but where will you direct me? What hints would you give me at finding my business? I am a former Catholic seminarian with a passion for philosophy, fiction and writing

And I extend the question to anybody, please share.

Miguel de Luis´s last blog post..Oliver Twist lives (2): Who will buy this wonderful morning?

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All - Don’t be surprised if I ask you a question or two before I take a stab at answering your questions and coaching challenges.
The best I can do for you in this format is to give you an approach that perhaps you haven’t considered or a tip to get you into action.

Thanks Barbara, I’ve got some coaching to do but I’ll be back soon to address every question.

Tom Volkar / Delightful Work´s last blog post..Do It Your Way

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@ Tom - Thank you for taking time out of your day and answering all our questions. Here’s mine.

I’m an entrepreneur and already have many business skills (both online and off). Currently however, I’m trying to focus my business around being the place to go to host your WordPress blog.

Our focus is on attracting newbie bloggers and those looking to switch from free to paid hosting.

Here’s my problem. Hosting-wise, I can only offer what other, bigger pockets, hosting companies can offer. Therefore, what value do you suggest I can put into my business to attract these bloggers and get them to sign up? Or - what direction to you suggest I start thinking in?

@ Miguel - one of my Computer Science advisers in college once told me something I’ll never forget. “If money wasn’t an issue, what would you do?”

Realize that starting a real business takes a lot of work and sacrifice. Although I’m not a coach like Tom, my entrepreneurial advice would be to pick something that you love to do and would hardly even consider it work - then, turn it into a business by solving big problems people in that niche have. Key: solve problems.

John Hoff - eVentureBiz´s last blog post..30.1 Web Tools For Online Success And To Make Your Life Easier At The Same Time

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Laser Coaching Ground Rules

I’ll answer all questions and suggest approaches. Since I can’t really “hear” you like I would in a coaching session - let me know if I miss or hit the mark.

Follow-up questions are fine. I promised Barbara that I’d answer all challenges until the Steelers play Sunday.

Davina - 1). Right from the start I’d select the demographic that I was most passionate about serving and niche myself as the expert to those folks.
2). We all have different needs and desires of course. There are lots of peaks and valleys in a coaching practice. Steady takes awhile because when we do a good job the client no longer needs us. I supplemented my coaching practice with training and speaking income for the first two years. Then once I got up to being fully booked I found out that I didn’t really want to be that busy with one-on-one coaching so I added groups. Finding your ideal work/client mix takes some time.
3). “Free” works if they perceive value and if the offer is truly one of no obligation. For example I do my free group coaching calls as a win-win because they act as research and development for me. Since they are free, I’m free to wildly experiment in them. I have some folks who have participated in many free calls and they may have no intention of ever hiring me. I’m totally fine with that. The situation you mentioned with your friend sounds like it could have been set up with a more succinct agreement. If you want to know how I got most of my clients when I was new just ask.

Barbara - Finding more time is essentially about creating more space. So if I were coaching you we’d make agreements in a couple of areas. 1). You’d address all of the tolerations in your life. Tolerations are things that drain your energy and focus that you could permanently take care of but you don’t. Most of us have hundreds of tolerations in our lives from misfiled papers, things that are broken we haven’t fixed, to draining relationships; it goes on and on. So by systematically cleaning those up you’d create more space. 2). We would agree on what your important priorities were and you would not allow yourself to become distracted by anything else until those were addressed. We’d do a lot more but these two would be a good start.

Miguel - you win the prize so far for the biggest question! There are nine pieces to the ideal business puzzle. They are: core values, requirements, fears, environments, vision, core self (soul), strengths, heart’s desires, and peculiarities. When people come to me for coaching they will be familiar and confident in understanding some of these. Our work together is to shed light on them all so that your puzzle gradually fills in. I take this inner approach first because it’s what stops folks. After that grounding we are in a better position to look at specific business possibilities. If you want to ask a more specific question on any of these - fire away. I have written about some of them a lot at my blog.

Lunch time - I’ll be back soon.
Tom Volkar / Delightful Work´s last blog post..Experimenting For Fun and Profit

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Hi Tom and Barbara - This was a great interview and I’ve learned a heap from the questions and answers so far.

My problem is one of feeling overwhelmed. I know I mentioned to you a while back Tom, that I’m not really keen on the idea of going into business coaching or consultancy work.

So, I’m busy trying to work on a product to sell on my site, at the same time as struggling to chase up the huge debts I’m owed from an old business.

The trouble is, I get heaps of emails asking for free advice. In one way, this is good because it gives me an idea of the problems folk are facing, so I can focus on providing a solution to them.

And it was ok in the beginning because I got far less. Also, I wasn’t in a position where I needed to make extra cash in the earlier days, so I could afford the time.

I’ve now stopped even trying to respond to the emails from folk I don’t know. But I get lots from people I’ve met through the blogosphere. And I do tell them that I can help but I won’t get back to them straight away. But I worry that I’m offending folk by keeping them waiting.

At the moment it feels like I lose whatever I do. If I offend existing readers, I lose future potential customers. But if I spend all my time helping folk for free, my own product will never be ready and I’ll run out of cash.

Is there a magic solution?

Cath Lawson´s last blog post..Barrack Obama - A Leader In Twitter Use

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Lance - I’ve been thinking about writing a post on partnerships because there are sooooo many points to consider. Here are the bare basics.
1). Examine why you are attracted to a partnership in the first place. Really dig on this one. Truth be told, some folks look to collaborate because they are too chicken to go it alone. That’s not a good reason. Then talk to your potential partner and see if your motivations are aligned.
2). Be sure that all possible eventualities are examined and agreed to in writing. Personal recollection of agreements are highly subjective. Especially cover work load responsibilities, exit strategies, points of disagreement and what happens if you really ht it big.
3). Follow your gut. If you’re concerned about something bring it up early and often.
4). Consider a joint venture alliance on a short term project first. If things go well and you worked well together you can always expand the scope.

Bamboo - problem free huh? Good for you. Thanks for the recognition.

John - I’m thinking that you’ve got to find an edge in service that stems directly from your size. There has to be something that you can do, like to do or are willing to offer that the big guys can’t or won’t. For example I shop in a higher priced grocery store that is 1/6 the size of the giant just because I can find what I want without taking a three hour tour. So I pay a premium for time savings and clarity.
There has to be some version of orientation, tutorials, exploratory lessons that you can deliver in a group format to leverage your time. As you know I’m a fan of the free conference call. You could walk them through the decision-making process and build their comfort with you at the same time.
I’m sure you’ve considered hooking up with webmasters who do blog conversions. Many of them of course would have affiliate deals with the big boys but perhaps not all.
I also wonder - the clients who have said yes. have you polled them to see what influenced their original decision? Hope one of these is a new thread for you to follow.
You advice to Miguel is spot on. Lots of money has been made by meeting a need in an area you’re passionate about.

Jennifer - you mean with all of these productivity blogs out there you haven’t found that answer yet? Seriously, this could be a deeper issue than it appears at first glance. I’d first examine what you are working on when distraction occurs. Is it always the same kind of tasks? It could be that you get distracted because you want to be. Try to determine if the work you are doing when distracted feels more like an obligation than a joy.

You could also be one who needs lots of variety to stay focused. I’m like that. I often switch between projects frequently so my energy and interest remains high.
If you’ve ruled those two out then - yes, determine your must do priorities and do them first. Every business has a top 15% of tasks that we must do or we don’t have a business. Identify them and complete them come hell or high water. I use all kinds of tricks to stay focused. I schedule the time and then turn off the phone so I can honor the time. A kitchen timer set for an hour at a time focuses me well also.

Break time. I shall return.

Tom Volkar / Delightful Work´s last blog post..Experimenting For Fun and Profit

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Cath - I appreciate you being upfront here and I hope some of these e-mailers are reading this. Here’s one solution.
Be totally candid and forthcoming regarding your limitations and intentions but do communicate with everyone, including those you don’t know.
Put all of the emails together in a list so you can write them regularly telling them that you’re working on a solution in the form of a product.
Tell them that as email inquirers they will get the opportunity to purchase first at a discount.
Express your appreciation for their faith in your competence and tell them to serve them even better you will be sending them a survey to understand their needs more clearly.
Tell them when you’ll do all this.
Put some clear instructions regarding your intention on your contact page.
Announce on your blog that you will be temporarily posting less to invest the time to write your product.
Your readers already like and trust you so they will wait until you are more ready to serve them. It sounds as though somethings got to give. Make sure it’s not your sanity. If you were my client we’d be making agreements on all of these but also dealing with the proper release of your feeling of overwhelm.

Coaching Disclaimer - Folks what I’m doing here is not coaching. If I were on the phone with you I’d also have the benefit of really listening and using my intuition. I would sense what you were capable of and stretch you while at the same time unconditionally supporting you. I don’t offer many sample sessions anymore because potential clients get familiar with my expertise in other ways. But if you really would like to see what coaching might do for you send me an email through my website or blog and I’ll coach you on one issue at no charge, so you can experience the value first hand.

Tom Volkar / Delightful Work´s last blog post..Experimenting For Fun and Profit

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Thanks Tom. Something to think about. I’m thinking the egg timer to focus on the high priorities is a good solution. I’ve tried a timer once or twice, but not with consistency.

Jennifer´s last blog post..Come and Share in My Misery

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Thanks Tom! Well thought out reply to all these questions! This has probably kept you busy today, I bet!

Speaking from personal experience in working with Tom in the past, I can say, without a doubt - that - if you are impressed by the answers he is giving here in the comments - with little information to go on - when working with him in person you get the cat’s meow! He is fully committed to “you” - and it’s like taking these answers/solutions he is providing here and multiplying them by 1000.

And, Tom…I for one, am impressed with all the answers you’re providing here in the comments - awesome stuff!

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Linda - Sorry to have missed you yesterday. What came up for me from reading you. First a follow-up question.
1). When you say you want to identify the most fulfilling path for your blog, are you talking about fulfillment or something else as well like financial rewards? So Before I can suggest some questions - please define fulfillment as you desire it.
2). I wonder if you may be what Barbara Sher calls a scanner. We are folks who flit from career to career, project to project sucking out the nectar and then we move on. If you love variety and get bored easily that could be the case for you. Possibility?
3). Finally - you did tell me two paths that you did not want to take your blog down. Can you tell me where you do want to take it? If not a specific path at least define something about where you want to be with it. Answer these today and I’ll give you something more to work on.

Vintage Mommy - Read over my responses to Barbara and Jennifer. You could find a gem or 2 there that may work. Blogging Overwhelm is a huge challenge for so many of us. If I were coaching you I’d begin by getting you to really look and see if you truly do want to manage it all. Sometimes we say yes to too much without even considering the investment in personal energy to keep it all going. I’d also put you on a YES-Free diet. Which means until you sort things out and understand your motivations and priorities you must answer all new requests with “no thank you.” No is a complete sentence. Explanations aren’t really necessary. This is a good start to taking back your life.

Lance - I totally appreciate you saying that. It’s important that folks realize that an exchange of the written word only reaches a fraction of our faculties and coaching is so much more.

Evelyn - Sure I’ll be pleased to help you out when you have the time to focus.

Anyone else? Don’t think you’re late to the party. I’ll check this thread throughout today and one more time Sunday morning.
Barbara was nice enough to lend me this forum - I’m happy to serve her readers in return.

Tom Volkar / Delightful Work´s last blog post..Experimenting For Fun and Profit

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I don’t have any specific questions for Tom at the moment, but I have great respect for his area of expertise and his wonderful insight.

Thanks for sharing him with us, Barbara, and thanks, Tom, for making yourself available. Great interview! Eric.

Eric Hamm´s last blog post..The Color Of Passion | Community Insight

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Thanks Tom - this is really useful advice and I feel as though I’ve had a huge weight lifted from my shoulders. Plus, you’ve also given me a way to reply to all my emails as opposed to just a few. Thank you.

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Hi Tom and everyone who has commented - I was reading through all of the questions and Tom’s answers and am amazed at the amount of valuable information that is in this thread.

Tom, your answers have given us all so much to think about and fabulous ideas to implement. I truly appreciate the time you’ve spend not only on the interview, but on responding to the comments. Again, I say thank you.

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Linda - This will take some deep inquiry on your part but I think it will be worth your while. Here’s what you need to uncover. What can I share that only I can share in the way that only I can? Begin to think way outside the box for starters. If you email me I share a wisdom excavation tool that has been very useful for me.

Essentially you’ve got to find your natural positioning advantage. You know stuff about elder care that most of us do not because of your experiences. Don’t discount any idea. Brainstorm every day over at least a week to do a data dump. Get it all down on paper.
I like to use an 18in x 12in. artists sketch pad and colored pencils, mind-mapping the original way. While doing this don’t think about the product or service so much but list everything you know. Do not allow you judgmental mind to stop you from putting “silly or small” ideas down because all ideas could lead to you gold.

Your next step is to get very comfortable selling your expertise and making money from it. Too many bloggers want to monetize but they don’t have a merchant’s heart. Work on that and develop one. We make it all up anyway - so make up how you want to think and feel about cashing in on your expertise.

What will you sell - you’ve got to decide if it will be a product or a service. If you want to try to monetize through ad sales there is lots written on that around the web and I’m not the guy to teach you that because I think it’s too slow and often inappropriate to ones content.

So product or service? Break down your ideas further into all the possible products and services you could sell.

One path I’d investigate if I were you would be the sponsorship route. There is so much money made by equipment manufacturers and drug companies that you may find a company willing to sponsor a series of workshops or forums that you’d facilitate.

If it’s a product don’t let the whole book thing scare you. Why not a booklet or e-book to get started?

Bottom line you need an emotional hook because this is an emotional topic. So you may have to really dig deep and get personal to connect. I would imagine that folks would want someone very solid that they could trust in this area. The trust will come form you being super transparent. Are you ready for that? Get there emotionally and you’ll see ideas that you may not see now. Let me know what this brings up for you.

J. D. - What do I wish I knew when I started about what the Universe, coaching , entrepreneurship, life? Since you weren’t specific I’ll answer you this way.

You asked. “what do you know now that you wish somebody told you when you started?”

Your question could be taken to mean that there is some great secret to life or business that experienced sages don’t share with newbies. The pursuit of this secret is what sells a lot of books. But here’s the truth.

Not all things work for all people.

You’ve got to discover your edge in the marketplace, based on the core of who you are and what strengths and values you have. Others can only share methods what worked for them. So one really wants the freedom of calling their own shots and building their own wealth they better get on that journey
now. Because it will be “your” realizations that come from “your” mistakes that will tell you “your” secret to success.

Success is an individual adventure because we are all so blessedly unique.

Barbara - thanks so much for the opportunity to showcase a bit of what coaching can do. Thanks to everyone for sharing some great questions and challenges. Coaches love to know the rest of the story so let me know how things turn out for those of you who are willing to engage this advice. Please visit Delightful Work because I frequently offer group phone calls and other coaching opportunities that could be the spark you need.

Tom Volkar / Delightful Work´s last blog post..Finding Your Path to a Successful Business Startup

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Tom,

Yes, you’ve given me lots of thinking and soul searching to do! I will be emailing you directly for the details on the excavation tool. Thank you so much for your time and energy!

I’m writing this right before kickoff. Hope the Steelers win! I live in CA, but have some very close friends in Pittsburgh, and I know they’ll be watching the game as well. Enjoy!

Barbara, thank you again for this opportunity!

Linda Abbit´s last blog post..Funny Fridays: Because It’s Better to Laugh than to Cry!

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Thank you Tom, for your response.

What I find funny (and extra challenging) is that I have to say “no” to myself, not so much to the requests of others.

Vintage Mommy´s last blog post..Show and Tell: “Use It or Lose It” Knitting

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