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I’ve been in business for almost ten years and I’ve seen a lot and learned a lot in this industry. The first time I seriously considered getting out of the coaching biz was in 2012 when I burned my business down. (That’s another story for another day.)
I was disheartened by what I was seeing as the “norm,” particularly in the live event space. It was a wake-up call for me to assess what I wanted to create in my business, with my clients, and in the world.
These were just some of the questions I had from the models I saw:
- Was there another way to make money that wasn’t based on ‘overcoming objections’ and convincing people to buy stuff?
- Could people make 5- and 6-figure paydays from their live events without the fear-based selling?
- Could I create a leveraged business model that still had a high-touch component with my clients?
- Was the only way to grow my business to get a fancy brick and mortar office and hire full-time staff?
- Did I have to post the lifestyle shots on social media that showed everyone how great my life was?
After considering these questions and finding a path that resonated much better with me, I’ve come a long way and I’ve seen a lot in this industry.
There are a few coaching myths that I just don’t buy into. I’d love to hear your thoughts below on this post or in my Facebook group.
Myth #1: Charge what you’re worth.
You are an infinite being, how can you possibly charge what you’re worth? Or charging what your client is worth. Hmmm…
What if you embody your value and charge what you desire, knowing that you can change it at any time. I think everyone I’ve known who runs a business has under-charged at some point but they only way to know that is to start where you are.
Myth #2: You can’t be a coach if you don’t have a coach.
This is industry jargon that is a great marketing strategy. I bought into it for a while and hired coaches I shouldn’t have hired. I didn’t trust myself enough to say no. I chose it 100% but for all the wrong reasons. How I hire coaches now is vastly different than a year ago, let alone five years ago.
I DO believe that if you are going to ask someone to do something, it’s a good idea to be willing to do it yourself. I also believe that if you say you can help someone do something, it’s helpful to have experience doing it more than once.
Asking people to invest but you don’t is an interesting choice. Hire support for the right reasons not because you “should.”
Myth #3: You have to have a breakdown in order to get to the breakthrough.
Is this a “fact” or a self-fulfilling prophecy? What if you are willing to CHOOSE the breakthrough instead of going through hell to finally “deserve” it?
Just something to think about. And while we’re at it, I’d love to see less glorifying of the breakdown and to simply honor when it’s time to rest. (Trust me, I get it.)
Myth #4: “I had my first $10k month by following the system to charge premium prices and now I’ll teach you the same system.”
Where do I begin with this one? When the system that was passed down from person to person doesn’t work, there’s a whole slew of problems not to mention the person teaching the passed-down system, has no idea how to create if they’re not following the system.
Duplicate your results. Have something original. Bring all of you to the table. Start where you are. You are always an expert at something. Embody that first, then move onto things that are truly in alignment with you and your experience.
Myth #5: I’m not making money in my business so I must have a money mindset issue.
Most cash flow issues in business are caused by a message and/or a marketing issue; it’s usually a combination of both.
If month after month, or year after year, marketing is hard, ineffective, or just plain slimy, it would make sense that the money doesn’t show up or it’s very inconsistent.
If you have no message, what in the world are you going to market?
See the problem here?
The foundational pieces of business (message & marketing) aren’t there, therefore the money isn’t there.
What if your “money mindset” problem was really a marketing misalignment? I wonder what you can create if you gave the money mindset a rest and actively market yourself with a message that’s true and compelling?
Myth #6: This 6-step formula to 6 figures will work if you work hard enough (and if you want it bad enough).
“Angella, just do what I tell you to do and you will be successful.”
My first high-end coach told me that and she was right. I did what she said and I went from zero to six figures in about ten months. It was awesome… until it wasn’t.
It was hard to see there was another way when all I could see was the race dedicated to going faster, bigger, and better than anyone else and if I wasn’t fast enough, I wasn’t working hard enough.
The Path that Took a Decade:
This June, I’ll be celebrating my 10-year-anniversary in business #woohoo. There are so many times I could have quit:
- When I burned my business to the ground in 2012 to get out of the rat race and to repair my marriage, heal my self-trust, and re-ignite my intuition again.
- When I lost $40k on the very first large event I hosted in 2009.
- When I couldn’t pay my bills and didn’t know how to create money.
- When I lost sight of why I was doing any of this and had disappointed clients.
- The first time I got hate mail. Or the second. Or the third, etc. (people really need some new hobbies)
- When friendships I thought would never fade didn’t support my success.
- When launches, events, and strategies flopped.
Through the ups and downs, here’s what I know for sure:
- You can have fewer than 5,000 people on your email list (apparently that’s the magical number to be an ‘expert’ on telesummits) and make multiple six figures, fill events with 100+ people, and have a global presence.
- You don’t need to “sell” free tickets to get butts in seats to your events. People are willing to pay to be there. And once they’re there, you don’t have to sell to them for three days to walk away with a six-figure payday. (Stay tuned for a free un-webinar I’m hosting in February about live events and not following the formula.)
- It doesn’t matter how much you pay a coach – no one can want your business to grow more than you do. Your business is up to you.
- Intuition doesn’t override strategy. Strategy doesn’t override intuition. Following your awareness and taking action will change your business in big ways.
- Just because you’re inspired by your business doesn’t mean that you won’t be scared sometimes. Fear is always a liar. Please don’t believe it.
- Not everyone should be doing video. Or speaking. Or hosting live events. Or running Facebook groups. If you are ever told “if you want to be successful, just follow these steps,” you may want to run away before forking over the $20k to show you the “secret” steps.
- Think for yourself. Even when it’s so tempting to be told what to do.
- Trust yourself more. Listen to yourself more. Stop asking so many other people for their opinions.
- Being uncomfortable and knowing that something is not meant for you are two different things. Knowing and trusting the difference is a game-changer. You can only get there by practicing.
- If you’re jealous of someone, it’s very likely that you’re being shown what’s possible but you haven’t been willing to choose it and create it yet. Go do it your way! Use it as fuel to create and along the way, cheer people along.
- You can create anything you desire. Take enough baby steps and you’ll create a quantum leap.
- Start where you are. You have expertise. Copying people’s stuff never works out. Inflating big promises in your marketing is actually not what people want, not to mention the inauthenticity that will show through at some point.
- While you’re on your way to amazing yourself, let go of the need to be right. Be willing to get it all wrong — to fall flat on your butt — and I promise you that you will amaze yourself.
- Be coachable and ask for support. Then be willing to receive support.
- The world is ready for you. Go out there and create. Thanks for being here (for reading this and on the planet.)
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