I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for the coaches and mentors I’ve worked with over the years.
These individuals have enabled me to accelerate my progress, avoid costly mistakes and grow both personally and professionally.
In today’s episode, I share some of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned from these coaching relationships. And I’ll tell you how you can get the most value from a business coach, if you ever explore that option.
I also share my thoughts on gratitude and how making thanksgiving a daily practice helps attract wonderful things, people and circumstances into your business and personal life.
The notes that follow are a very basic, unedited summary of the show. There’s a lot more detail in the audio version. You can listen to the show using the audio player below. Or you can subscribe in iTunes or on Stitcher to get this show delivered straight to the Podcasts app on your smart phone, tablet or iPod.
My Coaching Journey
I believe there’s great value in getting help, feedback and mentoring from others. I started reading self-help books in high school and have been into self-help ever since.
My first coach was Kieran Dougherty. He helped me with copywriting and greatly accelerated my progress. Thanks to him, I avoided tons of mistakes.
In 2004, I hired Chris Marlow. Chris helped me create a prospecting system and grow my confidence.
Around 2005-2006, I arranged to buy time from Steve Slaunwhite. I’d compile questions and then schedule a session with Steve to go through them. This gave me the opportunity to tap into the expertise of a seasoned professional.
Over time, Steve and I worked together to develop different projects, including The Wealthy Freelancer (along with Pete Savage) and The International Freelancers Academy.
I hired Peleg Top as a coach in 2012. Peleg supported me as I transitioned from mostly writing to mostly coaching. He’s also helped me develop an abundance mindset and grow as a person.
Coaching Lesson #1:
Great coaching is LESS about getting information and MORE about helping you grow personally and professionally.
Often, we hire coaches to get access to their knowledge. But frequently, the biggest value is in the “unadvertised” benefits. My coaches have pushed me to find my own answers.
Good coaching is about working with what you have. You bring the raw materials and then the coach works with you to make quantum improvements
Coaching Lesson #2:
Great coaching only happens when you know what you want to accomplish.
You have to be clear about what kind of outcome you want. Until you’re clear, don’t hire a coach.
Where you are, in your life and business, has to fit with the type of coaching you want.
Types of coaching/mentoring:
Business coaching: A collaborative relationship. You and the coach work together to find solutions, make breakthroughs.
Mentoring: More structured. Less collaborative. More teaching.
Training: Even more structured. The coach is doing almost all the teaching.
Coaching Lesson #3:
Great coaching happens only when you take full responsibility for yourself and your results.
Great coaches are not there so you can “outsource” your problems to them. You have to do the work.
Don’t seek coaching if you have a mindset of disbelief.
Coaching Lesson #4:
Great coaching happens when you click with the coach—and the coach clicks with you.
You have to trust each other. And it really helps if you like that person.
Coaching Lesson #5:
Great coaching happens when you think of it as an investment in yourself and your business—not a cost.
Good coaching isn’t cheap. But it’s one of the best investments you can make.
Because barriers to freelancing are low, it gives the false impression that no investment is required. But every business requires continual investment; freelancing is no exception.
If you’d like to explore coaching or mentoring with me, go to: https://b2blauncher.com/coaching
My Thoughts on Gratitude
I reserve part of every day to feel and express gratitude. My gratitude ritual forces me to focus on the things I have, instead of the things I don’t have.
I practice gratitude every morning by:
- Writing
- Feeling
- Giving thanks (including thanks for things I don’t yet have – acting “as if”).
Benefits of my practice:
- Creates a positive start to my day
- Attracts amazing things and situations into my life
- Makes me more aware of life’s gifts.
I didn’t wait until I’d reached a certain level of success before I started practicing gratitude. Instead, success came from feeling gratitude before I’d achieved it.
However you decide to practice gratitude (journal, meditate, pray), get into the habit. Choose a time that’s quiet. A time you can focus.
Want More of This Stuff?
Want to get more tips and strategies for boosting your writing income? There are three ways you can enjoy these tips and strategies, share them with friends and help me grow this movement to banish the starving writer syndrome:
- Sign up for this podcast on iTunes. Click here to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
- Subscribe to this podcast through the Podcast app on your iPhone or Android phone (free from the app store).
- Leave a review — Share an honest sentence or two about the show on
the iTunes page and give it a star rating (this makes a HUGE difference in helping others find the show). - Share the love — Share this episode with friends and colleagues. An easy way to do that is by using the social media buttons down below.
Finally, if you have a question you’d potentially like answered on a future show —or if you’d like to be considered as a guest for a future episode — please let me know: ed at b2blauncher dot com.
Thanks again for your support!
Till next time,
-Ed
