I hesitated from speaking my mind about this, but eff it, here goes…
I’m the type of coach that will “die on the hill” defending this industry, it’s integrity, it’s process, and it’s potential.
[Anger coming through]
I get so bothered in seeing people talk about “coaches” in a way that bashes them. Rarely do I get angry, I’m actually a pretty chill person, but something about people knocking on our precious industry and the hard work that we put into it makes my blood boil, and I figured out why that is.
It’s because it reminds me of high school and elementary school where I was terribly bullied all the way up till grade 11 and witnessed others being bullied as well.
Bear with me as I share these thoughts. I’m an HSP and as an HSP I’m prone to feel deeply first and think logically second.
This “industry” or “profession,” has its issues, no doubt about it. I strongly believe that regulations can help us improve the way we do business, however, if our industry was regulated the same way, for example, the therapeutic industry is, I find that we’d lose a lot of our “marketing freedoms;” the same freedoms that are probably causing the various stains to occur. I could be off on that statement, but I’m working with what I learned about my “freedoms” when I researched becoming a therapist last year.
[Trust Must Be a Core Value]
Today I enrolled a premium client into my container and as a part of my process I asked him 10 questions to help us align our core values with one another. I believe that when your core values align with your clients core values, a bond is made. When your core values align with their core needs, and opportunity is birthed.
One of the questions was, “do you trust me?”
Another question was, “do you trust this process I’ve introduced you to?”
His responses were:
1. Yes, I trust you. But I’m curious about your guarantee. Will you really keep working with me for free until I make my first premium sale?
A: Yes, and here’s why. (Insert all the reasons)
——-
2. I trust your process. It makes perfect sense and I believe it’s everything I need right now. However, my hesitation around your process is that I’ve purchased programs in the past and half way through them, they stop answering my messages, their content dwindles, and their commitment to my growth seems to fade. How do I know that won’t happen with you?
A: I don’t have the power to predict the future. But I can co-create the present. How about I walk you through the process that’s been created for you so you can see all the steps we’ll be taking together. Upon purchasing this experience, you’ll have lifetime access to the materials and if for some reason our container gets interrupted, I’ll refund you for the portion of your investment that has not been delivered. If you like what you see and feel both safe and empowered to take action on each of these steps that you’re purchasing, let’s go ahead and co-create something special together. Lastly, if you like what you see, can see yourself taking responsibility by acting on the training materials without my integration and accountability, and trust the value of my guarantee, you can waive the refund so that it’s not energetically giving you “one foot in and one foot out” vibe, and dive in fully committed to your own embodiment of this work. I’m open to hearing whether this does or does not align with your trust in this process and am willing to co-create an agreement that aligns with the both of us.
[PSA]
As a public service announcement to this community of coaches that I believe are dedicated, heart-centred, and care about the people that are trusting them with their time, energy, and money, I’d like to say this:
Your integrity, professionalism, and commitment to following through on your word affects every other coach on this planet.
Does that feel like a lot to handle?
It shouldn’t.
Your integrity, professionalism, and commitment to following through on your word “should” be a default way of being.
[Questions]
Would you do what you’re currently doing for free?
Would you keep coaching clients without being paid for it?
Is this something that you can do for the fulfillment of what the process is like for you and the client, or are you primarily doing it to pay the bills?
[Coaching Works]
Coaching works.
No doubt about it.
There are extraordinary coaches in this world that offer tremendous value.
And there’s also coaches that have been influenced to behave in a way that has been publicly marketed to them and therefore has tricked them into thinking that this work is “easy” and “lucrative” because of some ad dollars and a funnel campaign.
[Many Hats]
Above all else, coaches are coaches first.
Somewhere along the lines coaches became burnt-out entrepreneurs on a seemingly never-ending hamster wheel of content creation, marketing, sales, and a slew of other responsibilities that most coaches simply don’t have the skills to excel at. (Yet)
Whether you’re certified or not, upon marketing the opportunity to enrol people into your container, keep in mind that you clearly communicate your intentions, the benefits, outcomes, opportunities, credentials, and expectations that can and cannot be met by them hiring you.
[Transparent selling serves aligned clients]
Hidden agendas, false promises, and poor integrity when making guarantees ends up costing you your reputation, the clients’ trust, and the rest of the coaches in your field the ability to be trusted as well.
I came into this work 10 years ago because I was inspired by guys like Tony, Bob, and Napoleon. I was influenced by ladies such Esther, Marie, and Marianne. And along the journey, I’ve made enough mistakes to help me course correct for the long haul. I’ve never ran an ad, never had a funnel, never had a website, and never sold to the back of the room because I’ve always looked at sales tactics as icky.
I’ve learned how to heal those perceptions and have matured into my own way of selling, marketing, and buying products, for the better.
There’s so much more to learn and I’m here for this work until I die on the hill with a million empowered clients that are grateful to have had my contribution to their lives.
I hope for the sake of your own ethics and for the sake of this community, that you continue to serve from a place of ethics and care, while balancing your thirst for profits and never losing sight of the adage,
“People, Planet, Profit.”
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