Business Coach and Business Coaching Articles

Why do people get so nervous before a speaking opportunity and what are the best/quickest techniques to address it so it doesn’t negatively affect performance? People get nervous because they know they are going to be critiqued and judged. Every person in the audience will have a slightly different opinion. Some will be bored…enthralled…angered…disappointed…challenged…thrilled. That’s a lot of pressure, and it makes people nervous.

When I started my coaching business, one of the first things I did was get a coach of my own. I purposely chose someone who had built a successful coaching business herself. After all, why reinvent the wheel? I wanted to benefit from the expertise and support of someone who had already done what I was trying to do. Later on, after my business was established, I was ready to develop another part of myself. So I found a coach who could help me grow my spiritual side.

Being a leader isn’t always easy. A big part of successfully growing your business depends on motivating others in the most optimal way. Whether you have a team of employees, are coaching others, or are leading a committee, it can be a mystery on the best ways to inspire others to get the job done. Many leaders think the best way to motivate is to put pressure on others. The major mistake is that putting pressure on others works only a part of the time.

Good salespeople spend 20% of their time talking to customers, and the other 80% of their time listening to their customers. Great salespeople do this as well, but with a slight distinction - they ask better questions. Asking powerful questions of your customers can open up doors to new ...

In my professional business coaching practice, I encourage clients to take intentional steps to bring an attitude of gratitude into their life. One very effective way is to begin a gratitude journal. The homework I give to clients is to set aside 10-15 minutes each day to write the things for which they are grateful. It’s best to have a special journal used for this specific purpose.

This tip is also a personal development tip to having more happiness in your life. I was reminded by my good friend Kathleen Gage, master marketer, author, and speaker yesterday about the power of authenticity. In my own personal journey, being authentic is a core value. It’s exhausting to ...

It is true. These are challenging times we live in. More companies will lose market share and sink into oblivion than at any other time in history. While this is truly a sobering reflection, it should be a source of optimism too. After all, for each failure there will be a story of amazing ...

We are bombarded with information. All the time! Every day, or so it seems, entrepreneurs are bombarded with ideas and information about how to do things. At times, it can make you feel like you don't know how to do anything. And that you're not only overwhelmed, but also hopelessly lost. What if that wasn't true? What if you did know what was best for you? How would you feel then? A lot more relaxed, I'll bet. More confident! And ready to roll. So that's the secret.

Many sales professionals and business executives dread speaking in public. If you feel annoyed or irritated when participants ask a question…here are 14 new ways to respond. When planning a presentation, most presenters think about one thing. What they will say. They worry and sweat about what to say, how to say it, what slides to show, and what to whiteboard. But the one thing many sales professionals resist thinking about is: what questions will the audience have?

How often do you register for classes and courses that promise to share success strategies and secrets to help you grow your business? How many books and products do you buy with the hopes of learning from experts in the field? If they're successful, they must know things you don't know or you'd ...

Detached Involvement One of the earliest concepts that I learned in my coaching studies, yet one which is not easy to put into practice is what is termed detached involvement. Being human means having feelings and emotions. When you are aware of those emotions, and allow them to flow without judgment, or attempting to control an outcome you are practicing detached involvement. When you give your gifts in life without any expectation of receiving something back in return you

When reading a book, magazine, newspaper or any marketing piece, there’s a good chance that the reader doesn't give that much thought to the paper on which the material is printed. However, if you are business person who wants to achieve more than just putting words and pictures to paper and create excellent marketing materials, then the type and quality of the paper should be a major consideration to you. In business printing, the type of paper you use can enhance the appe

How many times have you had a conversation with a prospect when nothing panned out? How many people have gone to your website and left without signing up for your ezine? What about a speech, workshop, or 1 on 1 that was a dead end? What would it be worth to discover 5 secrets you can implement immediately to achieve the results you want faster and easier than ever before? Here are 5 basic secrets that will do just that! Secret 1: Are You Talking to Me? Develop a clear message that speaks directly to where your prospects are at right now.

1. What can I do for my existing customers to create greater value for them? Creating additional value builds customer loyalty. It is always important to have customer loyalty… especially during a recession. 2. Who can I refer to one of my existing customers or prospects? See #1 above. Helping customers creates loyalty. It also induces reciprocity. If you help a customer, they will feel obliged to help you, perhaps with an additional order, perhaps with a referral or perhaps simply by not switching to another vendor. 3.

Have you ever sat down to your computer, pressed the send/receive button on your email only to have it download a laundry list of emails that you know just by glancing at them aren’t important or urgent to growing your small business? First you look at them. You feel the pressure build up inside. Then, in haste, you start deleting each and every email without opening them just to relieve the stress.

The goal of any business owner is to grow a profitable business. In order to do this efficiently, you need to build systems. It’s not a collection of systems you need to build, but systems that work together. One such system is a Lead Generation System. While Lead Generation has been around for years, there are new approaches using the tools of the internet to automatically bring in pre-qualified prospects. While it is critical for every business to have a Lead Generation System, the magic comes from how you use it in conjunction with your other strategies and systems.

I share this story because we teach people to view their business as a jigsaw puzzle. You must Start with the 4 corners ie your 4 core values, SEE the end result, big picture, FEEL as though the puzzle were already built and take massive action to put the pieces together. I excerpted the key points regarding her visualizations, her core values. Link at bottom so you can read the whole story if you like. Bold emphasis,bold comments in ( ) are mine The $112 Million Dollar Woman by David Hochman January 16, 2011

Is accountability elusive in your organization? If you're like most leaders, you regularly deal with work force issues that get in the way of your organization's success. Here you have all this talent at your fingertips, yet goals are not being met and your business isn't nearly as successful as you know it could be. It's frustrating! Accountability begins with engagement: a heightened emotional connection to your company that influences your employees to exert greater effort. According to a recent Gallup study, only 29 percent of employees are engaged in their jobs.

Malcolm Gladwell, author of Tipping Point, has gone to the Best Seller list once more with his new book Blink. I don’t want to take anything away from Malcolm because he is a proven best selling author, but how does it happen that a book about decision-making rises to the status of best seller ...

It is normal to slip through life just sliding from one thing to the next, not quite sure why we studied this, not quite sure why we took that job, no big reason for living where we do and so on. This is normal. Apart from normal there are those whose talents happen to coincide with something popular, perhaps in sports or entertainment. There are also those who are passionate about an area, and are allowed to be, and end up pursuing it as a career. Then there are those who are angry. We see something wrong and determine to make a career out of making it better.

Everyone knows that one of many fastest ways to earn cash online is by creating product overview websites. Why? Because people who find themselves reading product critiques are literally in the buying mode, they only need a confirmation or slightly push to help them make the ultimate decision. Nevertheless, making a product review web site shouldn't be so easy (you probably have never accomplished it earlier than). It's worthwhile to know precisely what merchandise to promot

I am a big advocate of learning how to live in the flow of the moment. Through life experience, education and awareness, I have observed three kinds of people. Those who dwell in the past, those who thrive in the moment and those who prepare for the future. Most of us hop around from one ...

In case you’re wondering, leaders make mistakes too. Leaders can veer off-course just like anyone, sometimes creating havoc in their wake. They’re human just like you and I, but the difference is, they chose to put themselves front and center. Whether leading a large company or institution, a middle manager leading a work team, an entrepreneur leading a small business, or a volunteer taking a lead role in a church or school, being a leader requires an individual to put themselves out there for all to see, judge and critique.

I don't know of a single entrepreneur who started their business because they said to themselves, "Oh goodie, I love marketing and can't wait to start spending time, energy, and money on marketing for my business!" Do you? Maybe you're one of the rare ones who relish marketing. But it's not likely. Most entrepreneurs start their business because they're passionate about something and they just can't keep their idea to themselves anymore.

The first rule in “Naming Your Prospect” is to ask for a title not an activity. Do not ask for “the person who makes the decision to purchase….” Making the “decision to purchase…” is an activity and may get you a name, however, it will most likely be the name of someone who is involved but not in a decision-making capacity. A better approach is to figure out what department the decision is likely made in and then find out who is the head of that department.

Be yourself; no base imitator of another, but your best self. There is something which you can do better than another. Listen to the inward voice and bravely obey that. Do the things at which you are great, not what you were never made for. - Ralph Waldo Emerson When you don't feel that you have to be perfect to be accepted, when you are given the freedom to be yourself in every situation, when you can share your heart without risk of betrayal, when being together is more important than what you do ... that is when you're in the presence of a friend. - Unknown

A man walking into a hardware shop is not interested in buying a hammer; he is interested in making a table for his dining room. That is what you should market to him; the ability to make a table, not the hammer. A man who wants to make holes in wood is not interested in drills; he is interested in holes. So sell him the perfect hole, not the perfect drill. 'This is the perfect hole, and it just so happens that this particular drill makes that hole.' Here is the golden rule

You know what it’s like. You walk through the office and you can see your team rushing to look busy even though they seem to be cruising. The sales figures are bearable but could be better and no-one seems to care. You get a little angry and think, “If they don’t fire up, I’m gunna fire them!!” You are not alone with this kind of situation – it happens more often than you think.

Have you seen all the hype lately? And is it triggering you just a teeny tiny bit? Have you gotten an email from some online entrepreneur about their brand new crazy-successful oh-so-irresistible program and thought to yourself, "What?! I could do that just as well as them – or even better!" (And then, Why didn't *I* think of that?) Maybe you've heard about someone who's sold 10 spots at $10k a pop for their "go on a retreat with me to an exotic locale" and your head just about spins with the thought of it.

Working with companies on their Trade Show and Expo presence has shown me how many people are lacking in the art of engagement. Exhibiting is like Speed Dating. If you are lucky you have about 90 seconds to convert them from slightly interested to the second date (or qualified prospect in business parlance). Here are the 5 keys to engaging with strangers at your next show: 1 Smile

Do you feel like your life is hard – harder than it should be? What if you could allow your life to get easier? What would that look like? And feel like? Let's start right now. I invite you to take a few slow, deep breaths. Just relax into it. Wherever you are. Right now – just breathe. Then close your eyes and imagine that this day just got a little bit easier. Relax into that image of an easier day. Keep breathing slowly and deeply. Sit for a few moments with the feelings of ease. And breathe.

February 20-26 is Build a Better Trade Show Image Week. This is a week for small business owners and corporate marketing professionals to get ready for business expos and tradeshows. Trade shows and business expos are a great way to get your business seen. However, if you do no prepare you run the risk of compromising your brand.

Maybe you have considered soaring high in the skies, flying among the clouds and brushing with all the birds, while protecting your own country at the same time? For those who have said yes to those queries, then it is time to be a fighter pilot. It is a well paying job and along with that, their own position is also regarded as among the best in the air force. Each year tens of thousands of applicants make an application for the post of that a elite few tend to be selected.

Today's work world is full of uncertainty, and the jobs available now and in the future will be very different from the past. Whether in good times or bad, you must take charge of your own career, because no one else is going to do it for you. Here are eight steps to help you survive in today's changing world of work:

With the current economy and market changes I certainly feel it is important to keep a positive attitude, be positive and focus on what’s working versus what isn’t working. I know without a doubt that this helps me stay productive, peaceful and creative which makes me better at what I do daily. I have started exercising more, praying more, meditating and reading more uplifting books just to stay in a happy centered place.

As many professionals know, sales presentation training provides a step-by-step method for delivering engaging and exciting sales presentations. But what if you’re short on time, short on money and have a big pitch to give tomorrow? If so, you’re in luck. Read on and discover 5 easy steps to guarantee your sales presentation is a winner.

We all get stuck at some point unsure about what choice to make. It might be from a plan that is not working as anticipated or of an underlying fear of the unknown keeping us from making the decision. When confused, we become mentally paralyzed. We often look at this or that causing a rise in anxiety, fear or frustration. We get stuck because we’re looking at only two options: this or that.

Marketing takes place in the mind. The state of your business is a direct reflection of the thoughts and feelings you have around marketing. Intention-Based Marketing is an innovative marketing model based on 7 principles that guide your intentions, knowing your desired results already exists. This lets of a lot of fear, avoidance, and “ickiness” associated with marketing. These 7 principles align your focus and attention with your intention, allowing you to market from a higher consciousness. 1. Energyr Your thoughts create energy.

By now you might have read much about the futility of making New Year’s Resolutions. Each year we get wiser and learn earlier and earlier in January that resolutions don’t work. So, if you made resolutions, how well are you maintaining them now that we are several weeks into the year? How many of the resolutions you made this year are recycled from previous years? Have you begun letting go of some of your resolve? Chances are good that you have already abandoned your reso

Some days the brakes just won't release, am I right? Nothing is more frustrating than knowing you have so much to do and not being able to do it. The first step to get out of the muck is to figure out what's really going on. Why are you moving at a snail's pace or maybe not even moving at all? Identify the root of the problem and dig it up so that you can start planting the seeds for progress. Get A Jumpstart Start the process by not actually doing anything. Yep, you heard me correctly. Don't do anything, just yet.

Time management is one of those terms that often makes people cringe. No one wants to be held accountable for how they spent their waking hours. However, when you don’t practice time management you often can’t account for what you did throughout the day. As a business owner how do judge a busy day from a not so busy day? Do you rely just on the revenue brought in each day? As a small business owner there a few ways you pay your employees and the way you supervise or manage their time is different for each one.

Throughout the world, people everywhere are making great effort to align mind, body and soul. Through this, many discover moments of profound unhappiness that lead to disconnecting from loved ones, their established communities and even careers. How does the commercial world react to the ...

Online dropshipping businesses are increasing in popularity for those who want home-based businesses. Here are some reasons why this is such a popular way to make money on the internet as well as some tips for running your own successful online dropshipping products business. Drop ship Program Popularity Reasons: 1.There are dozens and dozens of wholesalers who are willing to sell to dropshippers at a discount over retail pricing. This means that you can find ways to sell p

In a survey conducted by Forbes 400 revealed that of the 400 richest men and women in the United States, the high school dropouts in the group, who made it to the list, were worth on average, $300 million dollars more than university graduates on the list? How is this possible?

As my most loyal readers and customers know, I’m a huge fan of and believer in retaining and growing a business’s current customers. Then again, who isn’t? Yes, new customer acquisition is important to building and scaling a business, but cultivating current customers offers the truest opportunity to drive efficient and sustainable long-term success. Which is why (and this might surprise you) I think up-selling and cross-selling to those customers is often more importan

A successful turn-around requires management of the the risks of failure at the earliest stages possible. Nothing is beyond repair on one level or another so never give up hope. Recovery from a failing project requires planning and pulling a team together that above all else has their heart in ...

People have been learning presentation skills online without getting the full benefit. Discover the top 10 tips for how to change all that…and get the most out of learning new skills, virtually. Sadly, many online training programs are passive. They rely on text-based classes that do not engage learners. There really isn’t much for the learner to do. It comes down to a few tasks. Reading. Watching. Scrolling. Listening. In an era of interaction, Web 2.0 technology, and video communication, this seems almost unfathomable.

Have you ever received an email that you couldn’t read? I mean you really couldn’t understand what the person was trying to say? Or did you receive an email but did not open it because the senders name was offensive and you know that no one you know would have an email address that sounded like they were the next up and coming porn star? It is that time of year again when high school and college graduates will be updating their resumes and emailing them to hiring managers. My tips below will ensure that your resume does not get deleted before it is even opened. Five Tips for Email Success

When coaches resist to niche, they resist success. Most coaches who struggle do so because they have no defined niche. They fear they will limit themselves if they do. They don't want to be confined to one type of coaching. Many coaches wait for a niche to find them, wanting to see what comes their way. Or, they want to help everyone in the world, so why cut people out? I'll tell you why.

The present moment is all there ever is – everything else is only thought, memories of the past and visions of the future. There is a constant dialogue with the past and the future here in the present, with the unfolding future informing what occurs each moment and our ever changing perception of the past affecting our experience of the present moment – all occurring at the same time yet ever changing.