Deep Voice Man

Welcome to the fourth book, “Succeeding As A Life Coach Made Easy” in the Introverts' Fluff-Free Series.

If you are a working stiff looking to escape the corporate cage and being a life coach sounds appealing, this is the book for you. Inside, you'll learn exactly what it takes to launch your career and thrive. This blueprint is engineered explicitly for you.

If you lived long enough, you most definitely have 6-figure coaching business within you. All you need is the right gameplan, which I will provide.

As someone who coaches others, I can tell you, it is an extremely rewarding profession in more ways than one. There's nothing quite like seeing the lightbulb go off in someone's mind as they experience an emotional breakthrough, a groundbreaking mental shift.

It is no wonder that coaches report high job satisfaction, often ranking their careers among the most fulfilling lines of work. This is driven by the profound sense of meaning, flexibility, and autonomy the job offers.

But I must warn you, a lot of what you've been told is, shall we say, debunked nonsense. While the final chapters of my previous books focused on dispelling common coaching myths, this guide goes significantly further.

The facts, stats, and macroeconomic realities are entirely on my side, even if the truth stated in these pages are deeply shocking, controversial, and polarizing.

Don't get me wrong, the demand for coaching will always exist. In fact, as society faces hyper-isolation and digital pollution, that demand will grow astronomically over the coming years.

But make no mistake, the industry is undergoing a violent schism that you must be aware of before embarking on your coaching journey.

So with that out of the way, let's begin your coaching journey.

It's vital that sessions not be aimless and scattered. Follow a process.

First, you must build quick rapport to get the client to open up. You don't want folks to hold back private information. This stage is the appetizer before the main course.

From the second meeting onward, congratulate them on any progress made since the last session. Update them on where they are on the map to their destination.

Set a clear agenda for the meeting, as this provides structure, while assuring the customer you know what you're doing. Do this by inquiring about what's on their mind today or what would they like to achieve today.

Oftentimes, they will mention several issues they're wrestling with. Narrow it down to one core concern by asking which is the biggest or most urgent. Addressing the key dilemma will help to resolve the smaller ones.

Their reply ensures focus and meaningful discussion, while avoiding distractions that takes you guys off-road. Clarity is what it's all about. Possessing an expected outcome plays a key role for the next phase.

Now it's time for the meaty middle. During this section, we want to get to the root cause of the challenge by posing thought-provoking, open-ended questions. Listen for what is not being said. Read between the lines. Watch out for hesitation, changes in tone, body language discomfort, etc.

The ultimate goal is to discover the limiting beliefs, harmful biases, and outdated assumptions that are handcuffing them from progress. Gently call them out on it. Help them reframe and replace automatic, negative thoughts aka ANTs. When profound breakthroughs happen, they are magical.

The final summary stage brings everything to a proper close. Having them highlight all the takeaways helps clients retain and take stock of all their newfound insights and progress. Possessing faith in your client's ability to flourish will motivate them. Thanks to you, they will feel accomplished and reinvigorated.

With this knowledge in place, inquiring about the next action steps and how obstacles will be handled maintains the momentum, leading to lasting, life-changing results.

Once concrete, specific goals with deadlines are established, hold them accountable so they follow through on their promises, as that it is #1 needle-moving factor in goal attainment. End strong and on a high note.

Once upon a time, I wanted to be a personal trainer so I attended a now-defunct school for it.

They sold me on their high placement rate for graduates and how they help you get a NASM certificate, the most prestigious and expensive in the industry. After several weeks of classes and paying thousands of dollars, I passed the official exam for NASM.

I immediately got a job at an Equinox gym. Little did I know, the turnover was horrendous, just a meatgrinder. You must get clients yourself, stand for long periods during floor shifts, pick up dirty towels, deal with rude members, organize heavy equipment, etc. for minimum wage. In the meanwhile, certain, favored trainers get all the leads.

Worst of all, no one really wanted to buy expensive training. There was no demand to justify hiring a ton of trainers for the limited gym capacity.

I got conned for sure. It happens. I really saw the light when a fellow trainer told me that most gym members have never heard of NASM. He got his cert from a nondescript entity. Possessing that piece of paper meant nothing. Since being trainer is a sales job, gyms will hire anyone.

Many life coaches feel they need to secure a certification. However, the entire certification industry functions like an expensive, bureaucratic hamster wheel.

The International Coaching Federation, the premier group, is a large, greedy, bureaucratic racket designed to extract 5-figure fees from eager, naive amateurs while delivering no real-world client acquisition power.

This corrupt racket is an un-elected, private regulatory body that successfully institutionalized its own credentialing system.

By convincing gullible suckers that their expensive, multi-tiered trinkets are the only standard way to coach, they have created a lucrative, multi-million dollar brand out of selling permission slips.

They tell newbies that unless they pay $5,000 to $15,000 to sit through 125 hours of boring Zoom lectures and submit log sheets, they aren't official coaches. It is a great business for them, but total capital drain for you.

students are compelled to trade mock coaching hours with each other in non-revenue-generating student circles just to hit their 100-hour or 500-hour ICF logs. It is a completely fake bubble where broke amateurs coach other broke amateurs to receive an acronym that the market places no value on.

Once inside their system, you are stuck in a nonstop, 3-year renewal loop. You must constantly pay fees and complete "Continuing Coach Education" (CCE) units every three years just to retain your acronyms.

Consumers do not buy acronyms or pieces of paper; they buy results, chemistry, and transformation. Prospects never Google you to see if you have an ACC, PCC, or MCC badge. They are ignorant of ICF bylaws. They ask one question: "Has this person mapped out a step-by-step blueprint that can solve my specific problem?"

Your self-published books on Amazon demolish any value an ICF certificate could ever provide. That book series is the ultimate proof of your genius. It makes an ICF certificate to look like a phony participation trophy, that is not worth the paper it's printed on.

Tony Robbins scaled a global empire by bypassing bureaucratic gatekeepers and distributing his proprietary frameworks directly to consumers through books and media.

A book tells the world you possess a proprietary, step-by-step framework for solving real problems. An ICF certificate tells the world you paid a bureaucrat thousands of dollars to memorize their rules. It is just an expensive permission slip. Toilet paper is more valuable.

A certificate cannot run ads, collect emails, display true authority, etc. Your books act as your self-funded, automated front door for discovery.

Many in the industry are scared beyond belief about AI making them obsolete. But why?

The existential panic is due to how generative AI can scrape billions of pages of data, track metrics, and generate a 12-step performance plan in half a second. No human can match that ever.

The gurus are spreading this narrative everywhere. They want you to believe that a client desiring transformation will prefer chatting with an automated chatbot on zoom rather than a real mentor.

It sounds frightening. It sounds awful. And it is a complete, categorial lie.

What the Chicken Littles don't understand is that information is a cheap commodity, but transformation demands human chemistry. You can have the high tech, but you still need the high touch.

AI will wipe out a specific tier of the coaching market. If your model depends on selling dry, boring, generic, commoditized, "how to," step-by-step manuals or scripts that you lifted from a textbook, the end is near.

The amateurs who build their brands on basic information with SEO blogging are shouting into the void. They pray that a search engine algorithm indexes their keywords.

But search engine optimization leads to a dead end. Google’s transition to an AI-driven, "Zero-Click" platform means search bots now scrape informational content, display the raw bullet points directly on the search page, and preempts the user from ever clicking a link.

The blogger gets no traffic, no database signups, and wastes gobs of energy and time. Google leverages traditional bloggers as free, unpaid researchers.

Content creators will survive because many youngsters use TikTok, YouTube, etc. as their chief search engine over Google. Additionally, content in one's recommendation list will be still be consumed. But bloggers are toast.

The sad reality is that many coaches think they're constructing an empire. However, they are plunging themselves into a digital meat-grinder. The market value of basic information has been permanently erased.

The one bright light in this story is that while AI can easily summarize facts, it completely shuts down when it tries to summarize genuine human performance, raw vulnerability, or charismatic storytelling.

The ultimate secret weapon of an elite coach is that software has no soul and no heart. It doesn't stay up until 3:00 AM staring at a ceiling wondering if it's making a big mistake with its life. It cannot share a moment of authentic, unscripted vulnerability.

When folks seek a life coach, they are not searching for a data dump. They're want an intimate sanctuary. They covet a space where they feel deeply heard, understood, and challenged by someone who holds them to high standards.

AI can distill an academic textbook, but they can never emulate the profound, conversational chemistry of an unhurried session between two peers. That experience is the product.

If human bonding is the product, then how do you capture the attention of high-intent buyers without relying on the content treadmill that AI is annihilating?

It starts with putting what you would write in a blog in a book sold on Amazon. Don't treat your wisdom like a free handout. Lock your unique voice behind a paywall, bypassing Google's AI summaries. Hand-write your insights into a hyper-focused 80-to-85-page book series that readers can binge.

Amazon is the premier transaction engine on the planet. When shoppers need to solve a problem, they head over to the Amazon search bar to stand at the cash register. Their credit cards are already on file. They click "Buy Now" with little sales friction.

Books plant the initial seeds that grow into a mighty oak tree. Follow this gameplan.

I saved the best for last. This approach is what I recommend most.

The last two methods I shared with you are not the most efficient and for many will lead to burnout and failure. I wanted you to know those options well because they work for a few but are not the best use of your time.

Gurus love telling you to leverage TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts the second you launch your brand, by framing it as a "discovery engine." I fell for this myth, so I want to warn you not follow in my foolish footsteps.

I label this the "Rookie Trap." Social media platforms are slot machines. They compel you onto a draining content treadmill from Hell, where your visibility is reliant on viral trends, ever-changing algorithms, and cheap entertainment. If you stop posting for a week, or even a day, your traffic drops to nothing. Congrats! You traded a 9-to-5 job for a 24/7 content creation job.

Industry analytics data shows that the average organic reach for a non-paid post on Meta, Instagram, etc. has plummeted to under 1.5%-5% of a creator's total audience. For a newbie with no following, the algorithm hides your content unless you pay to play or post non-stop. Otherwise, you are posting into the void. Targeting a specific niche with a specific pain point doesn't change that.

More than 65% of amateur content creators cite "burnout due to relentless production demands" as the primary reason they quit their first year. Chasing short-term trends obliterates creative output. It is unsustainable.

The folks who love being on social media are just not buyers. They're casual scrollers with small attention spans, looking for a dopamine hit of mindless entertainment. Many of whom have no money and are only interested in free information. Creating an email list with viral clips fills your database with bots, tire-kickers, and looky-loos who never open your emails.

If social media isn't the solution for our traffic needs, then what is? I have written about it before but it bears repeating: Books sold on Amazon.

Amazon must be your top-of-funnel engine for discovery. There you will find high-intent consumers with their credit cards in their hands.

That card is already on file, so they only need to click "Buy," or "Add To Cart," unlike having to input it on a random sales page. With Amazon, the purchase is more secure. Perhaps readers can check out your books for free as a Kindle Unlimited member too.

People visit Amazon for solutions, not entertainment. They go there to buy all their books, proving they will pay for transformation. That is what you sell.

A high-intent list of a couple hundred Amazon shoppers will out-monetize 100,000 hollow social media followers by a mile. Amazon serves as your automated storefront, as the books filter for verified buyers and true believers aka raving fans.

In my book, "Personal Growth," I wrote about why paid traffic beats the brakes off free, random, but time-expensive traffic. I also talked about why Amazon has the #1 ads platform on the planet because when you win, they win.

Imagine visiting a big casino where the house actually wants you to get the jackpot. Amazon is in the business of selling products, not harvesting data. Big difference.

As your books sell, they will increase their organic ranking. Google, Meta, Bing, etc. can't compare. Those search engines attract high-intent purchasers too but they're hard to figure out, and stunningly greedy, as they have no incentive to help you.

Don't get me wrong, social media and search engines have their place, but it is not meant for tadpoles, only full-grown frogs. You must delay your grand entrance there until you have 5,000 email subscribers who join your list due to reading your books. Why?

Once you cross the Rubicon of 5K subscribers, you now own the ultimate algorithmic cheat code for every social media platform that will ever exist. You are bringing a rocket launcher to a pillow fight.

When you finally post your first video clip, blast that link to your highly engaged fans. When they flood the platform, your views skyrocket from day 1. No more posting and praying. Remove luck from the equation.

This forces the TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube algorithms to recommend your organic content—doubling or tripling your audience. The platforms will also have the data to target the right audience with your message immediately.

Once your social media, email list, podcast, etc. blows up, you'll get to enjoy the financial windfall from ads and sponsorships. It only happens with a big audience.

With big numbers and constant recommendations, even the casual scrollers will take you seriously, become buyers, join your email list, etc. This works to amplify your podcast's popularity too. Instead of relying on luck, you trigger instant virality at will, not by chance.

To win the game of digital sovereignty, you must stop behaving like an employee of Mark Zuckerberg or TikTok's parent company or letting Google bleed you dry as a naive novice. Stop trading your limited hours and budget for chaotic algorithmic time/cash sinks and pixels. You will get eaten alive. Only deal with those guys when you're ready. Amazon is where you commence your journey.

Let the Amazon storefront act as your initial, automated, self-funding traffic engine. Build your fortress there first. Deliver elite, fluff-free wisdom to high-intent buyers through your published titles, let the pricing architecture weed out the tire-kickers, and capture those verified buyers inside your email database. Write to be free.

Once your list crosses that 5,000-subscriber mark, the digital void transforms into your playground. Until then? Keep your head down, protect your energy, master your foundational asset of writing a high-value book series, and stay completely off the social media grid. You have been warned.

When it comes to bringing clients aboard during the discovery, serve, or intro call they book, here's the secret:

Don't view yourself as a pushy salesman who's desperate for commission. That simply works against you. Do this instead: Imagine you're a doctor diagnosing an illness, a detective solving a mystery, a high-priced consultant, and/or a researcher conducting a focus group or survey.

In the beginning, let them to talk about themselves, their favorite subject, by asking questions about their day, week, family, hometown, occupation, etc. To get them to expand on something, repeat the last few words they said in a questioning tone. Do this throughout the chat.

People love buying from folks they can relate to, so look for things you have in common with your prospect. Research them beforehand and try to match their energy. After this stage, let prospects do 95% of the talking.

The #1 complaint consumers have about salespeople is that they talk too much. Don't copy them. Folks want to feel heard not vomited on.

Truth be told, customers close themselves. They believe half of what you say, 100% of what they say. Asking them why they're interested in you and your offer specifically does more to amplify their belief in what you sell than you running your mouth.

People who show up for these appointments know you're attempting to make a sale so they arrive in defensive modes. Building rapport disarms and opens them up. Call out the elephant in the room. Make it clear there will be no pressure or obligation. Reading their mind shows empathy.

Set the agenda of the meeting upfront and get the prospect to agree, allowing you to control the discussion. It's much easier to get them to return to the agenda when things go off-track. A sale will only result in a structured chat, not a messy one.

This is what you might say, "First, I'll ask you questions about your situation (e.g. business, health, mindset, etc.) and what you're struggling with. I will see if I can figure out what's going on and provide concrete suggestions. If that includes how I may be able to help you solve the problem, I'll tell you more about what I offer and let you decide on moving forward or not. Sounds good?"

This step fosters trust, as you come off as not desperate, genuinely caring, and professional, while setting proper expectations. Inform them that they'll be doing most of the talking while you're actively listening.

The ultimate goal of your queries is to find the pain so we can dig into it. Go deep. That is the most important piece of the puzzle. The real reason is hidden and deeply personal. You must discover it. Bring it into the light. Get to the heart of the matter by identifying those pain points. It's not uncommon for folks to mention things they never told a soul.

The prospect needs to get a little upset or close to tears, as we push to them to be vulnerable. We must find out these intimate details because they don't desire what we sell. They desperately need whatever we sell gets them. Get them thinking about that, not your offer.

Don't rush this, as this is a common error. Most salespeople think the presentation or demonstration of the offer does the most to secure the sale. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you quickly jump into mentioning a lot of features that the prospect doesn't care about, they'll assume the offer is not meant for them. It may lead them to think your offer is just like some other commodity that didn't work for them in the past. No one wants a generic pitch. Specificity=value.

A common myth is that to be great in sales, you must have the gift of gab. Not so. Contrary to popular thinking, the best salespeople are the best listeners, a key talent introverts possess.

Facilitating a breakthrough makes your job as a salesperson a lot easier. Purchasing decisions are emotionally driven and later rationalized with logic. The pain is the pitch. Customers need to know that you care as well. You sell to the heart, not the brain. Mastering the diagnosis phase step takes time but is well worth it. It won't be a hard sell, but a heart sale.

For example, a client may want you to help them make money from home so they can homeschool their children or spend more time with their spouse and newborn baby. This is the real reason, not money. Maybe they want to lose weight so their husband doesn't leave them or to fit into a wedding dress. You must probe for this secret treasure.

Compel prospects to dwell in their pain because folks only buy when the pain is more expensive than the cost of ending it. Making them talk out loud about the problem makes them feel the agony. Get them to explore how long they have dealt with this and what horrible things will be if things don't change.

Their answers must be specific and detailed, so don't accept general replies. If you get those, ask "Can you expand on that? Tell me more about that." or "Oh really? Wow. How so?" You can try repeating the last words they said in a questioning tone too.

Don't ask "Why......?" when a prospect tells you how they feel or what they believe. That word elicits defensiveness. Use "How.....?" and "What.....?"

Summarize or confirm what prospects say by asking,"Sounds like....?" This shows you're listening, validates their experience, deepens the connection, and gets them to continue talking.

It's vital you find out what they have tried in the past to solve this dilemma. What are their roadblocks. This gets them to dwell in the pain some more but in addition, helps us to distinguish our offering as new and different, preempting objections like "I did that already and it didn't work." You don't want commoditization, rather customization and unique innovation.

Once the pain is established, let's paint a picture of their current and desired situation. You may probe to figure why they want that outcome is if it hasn't been fleshed out yet or to dig into the pain. Determine specifically what they hope to gain by working with you. When this is known, we can set expectations about our offering or qualify them. It is best to underpromise and overdeliver.

Ask them why they aren't able to cover the gap on their own. What's holding them back? They must confess their ignorance and/or need for assistance, so they're closing the sale themselves. Buying is now their idea. Asking them what is making them want to fix this issue now if they have been ignoring it for some time may help to locate that critical pain.

Watch out for those who constantly blame other people or external factors for their failures. You don't want to be the next scapegoat. Avoid these guys like the plague, as they will not be coachable. You've been warned. The ideal client takes full responsibility for their lives.

At this stage, obtain a commitment from the prospect that they are willing expend the energy doing what it takes to arrive at their coveted future. If they don't express 100% conviction, do not bring them on board. Tell prospects they will never feel completely ready, so stop the dithering. Foster a sense of urgency. Imagine you're a motivational speaker but don't get pushy. It is a delicate balance I know.

Clients with a half-ass attitude won't do the work and are challenging to work with. They will blame their lack of results on you and will trash your brand on- and offline. Skip 'em. Heed your intuition. Don't be desperate. The takeaway close, which I wrote about in "A Self Help Guide," works well here. If they truly want it, they'll jump at the chance. Display posture.

Before we get into asking for the sale, I want to make clear that sales is a transfer of emotion. You confidence in your offer = their confidence in your offer. Believe your offer is God's gift to the prospect.

Please believe strongly in your prospect's ability to improve too. Self-doubt is the #1 cause of objections. Have more faith in them than they have in themselves. Tell them what they need to hear, not what they want to hear.

Now you're ready to give out your prescription. If the prospect is a good fit, offer them a tailored package, reflecting what they told you. Use the same language they used throughout the chat so it resonates. When done well, there are no objections, the lead is rearing to go, and the transaction is a seamless, natural next step. Ask for and charge that credit card. Congratulations!

Never say, "I think...." Replace that with "I believe....." The latter sounds more confident which is contagious. For the entire discussion, especially during closing, never interrupt or fill in quiet gaps. Consumers are mulling things over. The first one who talks loses. Silence is golden.

When the prospect is clearly excited, assume the sale. If they're not elated, go with the "Perfect Close" I wrote about in my last book. Later on, you may need to use the takeaway close. Learn other closes from books, blogs, YouTube videos, etc.

From time to time, you will get objections, but this shouldn't be too common. The structure I've laid out will reduce the chances. Leads will book with you because they are deeply familiar with your content, philosophy, reviews, price, etc. or deeply trust the referrer who brought them in. Sometimes objections are unsaid, so get them all on the table. Isolate each of them and handle each one before moving to the next.

In most cases, they would have already read your books and emails. Many will research you online first. This makes your job easier because they're presold. Just seal the deal. I tell folks all the time, closing is the most overrated part of sales.

Leveraging guarantees, a generous refund policy, and ethical scarcity should push fence-sitters over the hump.

If prospects say no because of timing, hesitation, etc., follow up with them periodically by just checking in, not pitching. Do not resort to high pressure. Owning your book or reading your emails takes care of follow-up.

Even with no sale, give prospects concrete advice or referrals to other coaches. This builds strong goodwill. In fact, call discovery calls complimentary coaching if you wish.

If you always think "serve," not "sell" you end up getting more sales. You've also been given robust market research data that brands pay big money to receive.

Usually, many will buy in in the coming days. They just need time to reflect, weigh other options, talk with their spouse or partner, etc.

Now go forth and close.

When I purchased my tripod for filming long-form video, it took me over 1 month to open the box.

Due to fear, insecurities, and introversion, I waited a long time to post my first video on social media. This is a huge issue for many people. You may be dealing with it yourself.

Public speaking is the #1 fear, often ranking higher in polls than that the fear of death, spiders, or heights. And there is nothing more public than the internet. Talk about pressure. Everyone is scared of the Judgment Monster.

We all tend be to hypersensitive to our perceived flaws, but over time we can learn to accept them. Your audience isn't focused on that anyway.

As you speak to the camera, imagine you're talking to a friend or just one person who happens to be your customer avatar, not a big crowd. We're never nervous when talking to our friends and family.

Let your passion for your subject matter and message carry you to victory, for it is contagious and will resonate with your soon-to-be fans.

The worst thing you can do is pretend to be someone you're not. Viewers can spot a phony. Folks prefer the authentic version of you.

I tell clients they can either be second-class versions of someone else or first-class versions of themselves. People buy coaches, not coaching. Your vibe attracts your tribe.

The first few videos are the toughest. As you film more, it gets easier. You just have to get over the initial hump by powering through the anxiety. If I can do it, so can you. Filming unpublished practice videos helps.

I am here to tell you that no matter what you look or sound like, you have a strong, unique message to share with the world. If you build it, they will come. Don't let stage fright and self-doubt rob the world of your gifts and expertise.

Another key aspect of camera confidence is dealing with haters. Whenever you put your views and ideas out in the world, you will draw nasty naysayers. Be ready for this. Don't be unnerved. You can only avoid this by being and doing nothing which won't make your dreams reality.

Never fixate on the bad things bored, malicious people say about you, but judge yourself on how many people pay you. If the latter is going great, ignore the former. Obviously, address legitimate concerns and complaints.

Author Matthew Stevenson once said, "You will never be criticized by someone doing more than you. You will be criticized by someone doing less." Haters are driven by jealousy, envy, cynicism, pessimism, narcissism, etc.

There are 2 types of coaches one can be, pure or hybrid.

Pure coaching is about partnering with clients in a coequal relationship, where you elicit solutions from them by posing thought-provoking, open-ended questions and reflective inquiry without directly offering advice.

Most gurus, including the International Coaching Federation (ICF), recommend pure coaching. It has its merits but some drawbacks.

When folks develop their own solutions, they feel empowered, self-motivated, and are more committed to following through on goals because it's their idea for fixing concerns they helped diagnose.

Probing inquires enable us to uncover clients' needs, desires, values, insights, issues, limiting beliefs, inconsistencies, etc. You don't want to make assumptions. When done with silence, sharp observation, and undivided attention, powerful breakthroughs occur.

Pure coaching is great for coaches who lack certain life experiences, especially young coaches. You don't need to have accomplished what your clients are trying to achieve. The right questions alone can compel customers to brainstorm and craft solutions that are already inside them.

It sounds great and it is, but there are disadvantages. Many clients lack the knowledge needed to know the right course of action. That is why they hire coaches for their expertise.

Most folks aren't going to pay thousands of dollars just to have you interview them. I wouldn't. If you can't either, you're not going to convince others to do so. Consumers pay big money for clearly defined, tangible deliverables based on a pre-existing framework.

Without any direct guidance or feedback, the path to transformation will be awfully slow. Additionally, a client's choices can be plain wrong and retard their progress. You cannot just sit back and allow that.

Hybrid coaching permits you to combine the pros of pure coaching while eliminating the cons. How so? In addition to great inquiries, share your stories of what worked for you, while providing tailored, flexible suggestions, exercises, drills, training, tests, homework, etc.

It is a delicate balancing act of pure coaching and mentorship. Clients want to learn from your lived experience and wisdom, as they look up to you as an inspiring role model.

However, there are potential pitfalls to watch out for. What worked for you may not work for them. Everyone is different and each individual must be given the space to find the right path for their own unique journey. No two clients will follow the same gameplan. Run from any coach offering a one-size-fits-all program. It doesn't exist.

Your subjective views, beliefs, thoughts, skills, talents, and style may not exactly align with your client's core values, preferences, experiences, circumstances, strengths, and opinions 100%. This is why asking powerful questions are mandatory. Be wary of your biases and possibly outdated ideas. Be open-minded and nimble with clients.

Avoid being a drill sergeant who loudly barks orders. This disempowers clients and goes against the human need for autonomy. Resentment will build. The coaching relationship is meant to be coactive.

So what is the proper ratio of asking questions vs offering advice? It all depends. Everyone hates that answer but it's true. You must adapt to each paying customer like water taking the shape of its container. Some folks will need 50/50, some will need 60/40, while others require 80/20. Factor in your own experiences as well. If you don't have any, you can attempt 100/0. Good luck with that last ratio. You're going to need it.

Being a life coach is not for everyone, no profession is. However, if you are drawn to this line of work, chances are, you have what it takes.

Possessing the qualities below ensures you will be successful with the right gameplan of course. So without further ado:

1. Robust Interest In Personal Development

All my life, I've had a strong interest in self-help books, podcasts, blogs, etc. I don't have the same interest when it comes to watching, reading, or listening to fiction. For example, I am in the minority of Americans who don't subscribe to Netflix. Don't get me wrong, I love a good film or TV program, but not as much as the general population. It doesn't fulfill me like nonfiction does. My desire to continuously level up in life is one of my "Whys."

If you are in the same boat as me when it comes to being a self-help junkie, then coaching just might be your calling. You can use that wealth of knowledge, wisdom, and lived experience to assist others along their path to self-actualization, which Maslow says it is the ultimate need of humans. We were put on this Earth to flourish and thrive.

With your large bank of hard-earned insights, you can guide clients on the road to personal growth by being their living, breathing self-help book. Folks hire coaches all the time for managing transitions, faster progress toward goals, getting unstuck, handling big decisions, modifying their beliefs, etc. For many, coaching is their last resort after trying other methods.

2. You Are An Introvert

Don't get me wrong, one can excel as a coach as an extrovert but introverts have innate talents that allow them to hit the ground running. The key attributes they have that lend itself to coaching is patience, active listening skills, empathy, penchant for deep discussions, love of deep learning, curiosity, etc.

I have always been comfortable learning about others and allowing them to dominate conversations. My probing questions have often gotten me in trouble for being too personal or invasive. You live and you learn. But as a coach, you literally get paid to ask great questions about other people's lives. How cool is that?

Funny enough, people did tell me intimate, vulnerable details about themselves they hadn't shared with others. People tend to see me as a man of integrity, which I am. I never divulge secrets. They could tell from my calm, quiet demeanor or vibe that I would listen without judgment or interruption. If folks regularly open up to you, then being a coach is right up your alley.

3. Passionate About Helping Others

Like most people, I love rooting for the underdog. Coaching affords you an opportunity to watch the best reality show ever: your client's transformation. You're the Yoda to their Luke Skywalker. This is why people love flipping houses. Improving something or someone gives you a magical feeling like no other. You did that.

Aiding others provides us giver's glow, helper's high, a sense of purpose, a strong legacy, etc. In sports, when coaches lead their teams to victory, its their win as much as it is the team's. They provided the direction and guidance to make it all happen. So many people at the top love assisting others climb the ladder.

Believing in your clients when they don't believe in themselves is vital. Bring them up when they're down. Failure is often done alone but success requires a team. The accountability alone plays a huge role in their journey to goal attainment. Studies show it's #1 factor that fuels success.

4. Easy For You, Hard For Them

I wrote about this "Personal Growth." Most folks discount their knowledge, unique life experience, and gifts because they're so accustomed to all that, mistaking their expertise and aptitude for common wisdom or basic competence.

Imagine you're coaching the younger version of you who doesn't possess all the information and proficiency you do now.

Additionally, don't set the bar too high. In order to coach others, you don't need to live a perfect life, you just need to be a few steps ahead of your clients, not a complete expert.

Never worry about about the competition, as there is more than enough clients to go around. There are ways for a new coach to overcome their initial lack of experience, recognition, etc. as you will read about later.

No two coaches are the same. Your customers are out there, waiting to buy from you, and possibly only you. By broadcasting your clear message and radiant personality, they will discover you. People buy coaches not coaching. Your inimitable vibe will attract your tribe.

Make an audit of all your strengths, lived experience, and skills so you see how to you can help others. Working with what comes easy to you almost feels like cheating but we were all born with talents that we must put to good use.

Selling stuff that is priced at $1000+ often requires you meet with prospects 1-to-1 so their questions and objections are handled properly. Most people don't part with that kind of money on a whim or clicking a "Buy Now" button.

Many great coaches quit because they can’t sell. The #1 cause of business failure. Sales is the only thing that adds to a brand's bottom line. Everything else adds to cost. Master the craft and you'll be swimming in cashflow. For firms, money solves many problems.

When it comes to high-ticket sales, you must get and keep your sword sharp. It is an art and science. My sales philosophy was honed by these guides, which are all highly rated on Amazon for a reason. Reading and rereading the wisdom found in these pages will transform you into a high-ticket closer. I will be adding to this list for sure. Enjoy!

•The Pocket Guide to High Ticket Selling by Dan Henry

•The Book on High Ticket Sales by Chad Aleo

•Serve to Sell by John Meese

•Big Ticket Selling Specialist by Damon D. Willis

•Conversation to Client by Adam Cerra

•An Introvert's Guide to High Ticket Sales by Michelle Kulp

•Flip the Script by Oren Klaff

•Punch The Elephant by Mike Koenigs

•Closing Is NOT Your Problem! by Lisa and Nick Terrenzi

•The Perfect Closing Script by Simon Bedros

•The Perfect Close by James M Muir

•High Ticket Remote Closing by Chris Thomas

•Secrets of Closing the Sale by Zig Ziglar

•The Art of Closing the Sale by Brian Tracy

•How to Master the Art of Selling by Tom Hopkins

•One Call Closing by Claude Whitacre

•Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss

In order to succeed as a location-independent coach, there is some required software needed.

1. Calendar Apps

Before you set up a website or work on your logo, ensure you head over to TidyCal to pay a small one-time fee for your calendar link. This should be the first thing you do. Despite it being a small action, it's a big psychological gamechanger. You go from dreaming to doing. It transforms your so-so desire to coach others into a genuine business.

The ribbon has been cut. The doors are open to the front office. There's a sign saying "I'm Open For Business." It's where customers will go to book meetings, pay money, and most importantly, a reason to take you seriously. I like to use a fancy redirect domain for my calendar link.

That software is also the key to your time freedom, as clients will not dictate when sessions happen. They must work around your schedule, not the other way around. It feels refreshing for work to occur around your life and needs for a change.

To save time, set up a pre-meeting questionnaire that informs leads of the effort involved in the process of transformation. Not everyone who is interested in your offering will be a good fit, so it is best to determine that asap. The questions help to evaluate a prospect's readiness, commitment, and openness to putting in the work to change.

You simply cannot meet with everyone, as you will waste a lot of time that can devoted to better qualified leads.

Mention your prices upfront and everywhere else too. People hate when marketers hide how much they charge or dodge questions about price until the very end. Prospects will respect you more for it and folks who can't afford you will be weeded out. Clarity and transparency is the way to go, as trust closes deals fast.

To prevent no-shows, ensure automated emails and texts are sent out to prospects in timely intervals to confirm and remind them of the appointments.

If this doesn't work, experiment with charging a small refundable deposit for the discovery call, which filters out the time-wasters. Clients can have their deposits applied to the price of your package. Connecting a payment processor like PayPal or Stripe to your calendar link shouldn't be hard.

2. Squeeze Page

In "Life Lessons," I wrote about email marketing being the King of ROI. It boils down to possessing an audience with no middleman master, and having prospects that 15x more likely to buy.

To get things going in this area, you need to head over to Namecheap.com to buy a punchy domain that describes your solution. Then make your way to Carrd.com to set up a landing page for a very affordable price.

That page's sole purpose is to get visitors to sign up for your email list in exchange for a valuable lead magnet. There should not be any other distracting links taking them elsewhere. Ensure the page's messaging, images, and graphics will resonate with your ideal customer.

Don't be frugal when it comes to crafting a strong lead magnet. Prospects know cheap crap when they see it. An email is equal to money in the bank, so it must treated that way. No excuses.

You must offer something so good and precious that you charge others for it. It must be an offer so irresistible, people will think you're crazy to give away, and visitors would feel feel stupid saying no to.

For example, I give away the audio version of every book in this series with promo codes to those who agree to receive my emails. Since I won't get as many customers who would've bought my books on Audible, I am losing out on royalties. But emails are worth far more.

If I impress listeners enough with my knowledge, they may feel compelled to return the favor by reading my emails and later buy coaching, courses, merch, etc. from me. Moreover, when folks are given a test drive of the car, they're more likely to buy. Don't skimp on the lead magnet.

Another great lead magnet is an educational email course where you leak out valuable information to inboxes on a daily basis. So many marketers are switching to EEOs because they train your audience to look for your emails with anticipation. Ensure your emails contain edutaining stories.

Your EEO must include your entire methodology and philosophy. No secrets. Don't hold anything back. You may wonder why would any email subscriber buy if you do this. Freebie seekers don't become clients. The do-it-yourselfer is not your ideal customer.

After a visitor opts in, send them to a bridge page, promoting the lead magnet with long-form copy. Since you have their attention, exploit this. Don't upsell. This pisses people off because they haven't even tried your free stuff yet.

The bridge or sales page should resell, reinforce, and validate what they requested. This ensures they see the lead magnet for the worthwhile product it is and increases the likelihood they will read, watch, or listen to it. We are striving to foster a strong relationship with hundreds, if not thousands, of fans. Let's start on the right foot.

The page should contain a thank you message. If they have questions about the material or run into any issues, inform them you are available to help by listing your contact information. Including a video of yourself expressing gratitude and talking up the lead magnet is a nice touch.

When it comes to both pages, follow proper copywriting principles. Here are a few pointers:

-Spell out the problem in such great detail, it feels like you're reading the prospect's mind. They'll feel like you know them, so they will be more interested in your solution.

-Describe the solution as close to a magic wand as you can, which enhances value.

-Use strong, bold headlines, as they get the most attention.

-Write bullet points that elicit curiosity and intrigue.

3. Email Service Provider

To send out emails to massive audience efficiently and automatically, while staying compliant, you need to pay for a great ESP.

There are many to choose from, but the top recommendation for creators is ConvertKit. Start with a free account and upgrade later to a paid plan.

After being frustrated with ESPs, Nathan Barry founded the user-friendly brand so content creators could finally have an ESP designed for their needs. The customer support, training, tagging, automation, deliverability, cross-promotional, design, and monetization tools offered is top-notch.

ConvertKit enables you to categorize subscribers based on purchases, downloads, and other several other metrics, ensuring deep customization, segmentation, and personalization. Each email must feel like 1-to-1 chat, not a mass, generic blast. It's #1 for a reason.

4. Videoconferencing App

Almost 75% of coaches offer their services remotely and virtual sessions make up 56% of all coaching revenue. Virtual delivery dominates the modern coaching landscape due to ubiquitous internet access and consumers' desire for convenience. Well over 70% of customers prefer online sessions. The demand for remote coaching is growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of over 10%.

When it comes to ranking the best videoconferencing platforms, Zoom is the gold standard because they offer dependable connection, breakout rooms for group coaching, and AI-generated transcripts. Start with a free plan and then upgrade.

Another good one is Google Meet, which offers zero-installation, no downloads, and instant calendar integration. However, it doesn't have all the advanced, built-in coaching tools of Zoom. Start with a free plan and then upgrade.

Profi is best for scaling an established or multi-coach brand. They offer client portals, session scheduling, and payment processing along with video calls. There is no free plan.

If you wish to reduce the number of apps you use, consider these comprehensive, all-in-one options like CoachAccountable or Nudge Coach.

These guides are mandatory reading and rereading for coaches. Coaching is an art and a scient that you will never stop trying to master.

1. "The Coaching Habit" by Michael Bungay Stanier

My initial coaching style was shaped after reading Stanier's book. His insights taught me to resist the knee-jerk reflex to blurt out immediate suggestions to my clients.

Instead of offering suggestions right away, I began implementing a question-first approach in my sessions. This simple shift helped unlock my clients' inner potential and genius, empowering them to become self-sufficient.

The featured questions in the book are cleverly designed to discover what's troubling a client, their true desires, expand on their ideas and thoughts, stimulate creativity, retain takeaways, etc. As a coach, put these tools in your arsenal.

Stanier's knowledge is derived from training thousands of managers around the world to be better coaches. His book was written for workplace leaders but is applicable to life coaches.

2. "The HeART of Laser-Focused Coaching" by Marion Franklin

Franklin is a brilliant coach with endless wisdom. The featured case studies, sample sessions, and stories reinforce the lessons.

The book gave me great tools, tactics, and concepts to facilitate amazing, transformative breakthroughs in sessions. I enjoyed studying the most common issues people need to resolve. Applying this framework elevates a novice to adept practitioner.

Franklin advises coaches not to get distracted by personal stories but to maintain proper focus on the core issues at hand. Listen to what is not said by observing tone, body language, emotions, etc. Her advice on crafting the right type of questions for the best impact is solid.

3. "Coach the Person, Not the Problem" by Marcia Reynolds

Reynolds argues that too many coaches get stuck in their head trying to craft stellar questions, while not actively listening or focusing on the paying customer. There really is no such thing as the best, most perfect, magical question.

Rather than asking questions, coaches should use reflective inquiry, whereby you summarize and paraphrase what clients tell you, eliciting deeper critical thinking. Along the way, Reynolds debunks several myths about the profession.

Repeating their words and thoughts guides folks to see how underlying beliefs, stories, and emotions impact their decisions, creating breakthroughs and mental shifts. This strategy is far more useful than solving immediate problems. Research on the brain proves this approach fosters deeper self-awareness and lasting change.

4. The Thriving Coach by Frank Macri

The book turned me on to the coveted lifestyle of a high-ticket coach who can live anywhere and work whenever. With premium pricing, the numbers stack up fast. Earning 6-figures is within the reach of anyone who knows the proper protocol and executes.

This underrated guide inspired and educated me a great deal. He debunks a lot silly myths about coaching that I had believed.

Macri's podcast is a joy to listen to as well because he is a personal development genius. I don't always agree with everything he says and writes but I learn so much from him.

I know many will disagree, but first, let's do a pop quiz.

What do Christopher Nolan, Stanley Kubrick, Quentin Tarantino, and Steven Spielberg have in common?

They never went to film school.

Here's a little fun fact about Tony Robbins, the world's highest paid life coach:

He never received a life coaching certification. In fact, he had a chaotic childhood and never went to college. After high school, he left home to work as a janitor.

How did these guys do it?

If want you make a living, get formal education. If you want make a fortune, get self-education and mentorship.

At age 15, Robbins learned speed-reading and reading one book a day. He read over 700 books on psychology, physiology, sociology, and human development, as well as numerous biographies, in seven years.

At age 17, while earning only $40 a week as a janitor, he spent $35 to attend a seminar by motivational speaker Jim Rohn.

Robbins became Rohn's assistant and seminar promoter. He embraced Rohn's core philosophies on personal development, later adding his own high-energy delivery style, proprietary frameworks, and beliefs.

In his early 20s, Robbins studied Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) under its co-creators, John Grinder and Richard Bandler.

Robbins' philosophy of fast results in helping people overcome trauma, fear, etc. ruffled a lot of feathers in the therapist community, but his polarizing, controversial views drew attention.

Robbins excelled at selling to groups, not 1-to-1. He included firewalking in his seminars as a metaphor for overcoming fear. This became an instant media magnet and word-of-mouth engine.

He hosted live events where he cured audience members of their worst phobias (e.g., fear of heights, snakes, or public speaking) with Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) in minutes. This public proof instantly converted skeptics into paying clients.

So how did he grow his brand really big?

In the late 80s and early 90s, Robbins bypassed corporate gatekeepers by selling books and cassettes directly to consumers through infomercials, earning millions. Of the many who bought, many upgraded to personal coaching and/or attending his live events.

He translated his live-event philosophies into more best-selling books. His books served as high-credibility, low-cost marketing tools that reached a global audience.

By the way, none of his fans inquire about his nonexistent, overpriced ICF certification or what Ivy League school he attended to earn a psychology degree. Many of my podcast guests who are successful coaches don't own certifications.

Robbins loves to say that success leaves clues. Robbins's success sure does leave clues. As a life coach, I want you to follow the trail Tony Robbins blazed.

Robbins used self-education, grit, optimism, mentorship, television, books, charismatic persona, inspiring story, selling to groups, novel ideas and gimmicks, unique philosophy and style, fast results, controversy, etc.

Back in his day, getting on television, finding a publishing company, working with a high quality mentor, etc. was difficult. Tony had to spend millions purchasing TV infomercial blocks to distribute his books and cassettes. However, with the advent the internet, social media, self-publishing, Zoom, AI, etc., the playing field is level.

This chapter will detail a faster path to getting clients through social media.

Building an audience from scratch is a slow, passive approach. For every MrBeast, many influencers burnout. Good things happen to those who wait but many really want to get the ball rolling. Faster results leads to less procrastination and quitting.

Developing an online following can take months to years before getting your first client. That's the long game. But relationship building through direct outreach will land you your first client in days to weeks. That's the short game.

Instead of or in addition to leveraging social media to publish content, use other people's audiences to contact leads.

How so?

Identify and join online communities where your target customer hangs out by using the search bar. AI can help you figure this out as well. The smaller and more active the group, the better, but not too small. Search for and engage with people who post questions or comments that are relevant to your niche.

Post readable, step-by-step answers that easily solve and break things down that everyone can read. Be generous with your wisdom. Don't hold anything back. People will thank you for imparting your golden nuggets.

Don't mention your website, that you're a coach, or instructions to DM you to learn more. Build organic relationships but don't spam or pitch-slap, which violates every online forum's rules. Everyone hates that and you will get banned. As a member, always give more than you get. Think serve, not sell. Stoicism teaches us that the more we don't try, the more we get.

Out of curiosity, members will visit your optimized profile, describing who you are and who you help with what in your bio. Ensure they see: good photo of your face, real name, brand name, client testimonials, video content, details about your lead magnet, and a link to your squeeze page. Don't brag about you do. Let them find out. This is way more effective.

Foster massive trust by solving posters' problems publicly by providing excellent advice and knowledge. Requesting permission from or collaboration from group admins goes a long way. With consent, you may promote yourself more brazenly, but be cautious.

Having a track record of leaving high-value comments without trying to sell anything frames you as an authority. Later on, you can DM folks to further deepen relationships. Be human, casual, not salesy. Since they know you this will be warm, not cold outreach.

1-to-1 human conversations grows trust significantly faster than the 1-to-many nature of social media content. Focused, personal interactions move the needle.

When the time is right, offer them your free lead magnet in exchange for their email. Even if they don't buy, they can give you referrals or share your lead magnet (e.g. book, email course, etc.) to their friends, which makes introductions a whole lot easier.

Many coaches swear by this method because you do not have to be at the mercy of ever changing algorithms or random virality.

Moreover, view these groups as market research tools, not billboards. Understand the language of your ideal customer, so your marketing better speaks to them.

The best platforms to use this strategy are Discord, FB groups, and Reddit. Now go forth, network and grow rich.

When starting out, what is the best way to draw clients? Books, and then social media.

In my ealier guides in this series, I write extensively on how to use books. In this title, I will focus on the 3 strategies to use for social media.

The first is establishing your own platform by being a content creator, which we will go over in this chapter. The second is offering advice to and DMing leads on other platforms, which we'll cover in the next chapter. The third I will keep secret for now.

The key to generating leads isn't about going viral, polished editing, fancy graphics, or having a big audience, but creating highly relevant content that not only educates but entertains your target customer.

For every wannabe influencer looking to be the next MrBeast, there's 100 quiet entrepreneurs earning gobs of money with less effort by giving direct value to a small fanbase of buyers. It is not uncommon for coaches to pull in 6-figures with a few hundred followers.

Your content must solve real problems for real people. Take note of what questions your ideal client types into Google, brings up during introductory calls, talks about on Reddit, etc. Folks should feel as if you can read their minds. There should be an endless amount of material, preventing writer's block.

Get a subscription to Answer The Public, an online tool that shows the exact phrases leads type into search engines, looking for information on various topics. Many marketers swear by it.

When your content addresses pertinent concerns, you position yourself as an authority and instills trust in prospects before they ever meet you. By being warmed up by knowing your process or style presells them.

In his bestselling book, "They Ask, You Answer," Marcus Sheridan details how he took his small, struggling pool company to the most trusted authority in the industry.

How did he do it?

Sheridan answered every question that customers ever had for his firm, even the unusual ones, in his blog. He shared information that other brands would never dare say, courting controversy.

Let that be a lesson. Don't be afraid to rock the boat by offering unfiltered, taboo advice or opinions that other brands in your space are too scared to mention. Reveal the closely guarded secrets and knowledge that is often kept behind locked doors. Being polarizing in this way gets attention, draws your peeps, repels others, builds loyalty, and fosters goodwill.

Headlines are the most vital part of all content. When it comes to crafting headlines, you have two choices as well: clarity or curiosity, not both. Being clear directly compels interested onlookers to raise their hand to learn "How to..." My preference for titling things is clarity.

But opting for curiosity forges a burning question in readers' minds. Be careful. The answer to that query better be worthwhile or folks will feel ripped off by the "clickbait." It helps to get people to check out something they don't typically care about. When done right, the curiosity route may be more effective.

Ensure every piece of content you create must have one of two clear purposes that serve your audience. Each post either displays the "Why" or the "How," not both. Cramming both into one bores your audience. The beauty of this is you're able to develop twice as much content from your list of topics. Win-win.

Marketing guru Gary Vaynerchuk advises us to "Document, don't create." Posting content that allows followers to get a sneak peek into your life fosters a robust parasocial relationship. People have an innate desire (aka being nosy) to know what's going on behind the scenes. As you go about your day, take note of anything interesting you would love to share.

Don't be afraid to repeat the same lessons. Oftentimes, we need to hear the same message repeatedly until it sinks in. Providing the same advice a dozen different ways at a dozen different, spaced-out times will ensure it clicks for behavior to finally change. Repetition = Absorption.

Find ways to repurpose old content in a novel way. This can be done with a different personal story, new case study, commenting on news stories, celebrities, or historical events, opining on books you've read, etc. Remember, in order to sell anything, you must instill certain beliefs and knowledge. Those key points must always be reiterated.

Don't worry about freely giving away your secret sauce. If your free stuff is really good, they'll think your coaching must be even better. The do-it-yourselfer who only wants freebies is not your ideal customer anyway because they will never buy.

Anything you offer the public should be (almost) free or expensive. Merging both will give you phenomenal results. Stay out of the middle.

Never worry about others stealing your ideas to sell or implement without paying or asking you. Tons of information is available online for folks to Google. Worry about anonymity.

People don't desire data, they want a trusted guide to hold their hands, guiding them step-by-step in an organized process. They are looking for expert insight from trusted, charismatic personalities who make sense out of the chaotic details by curating what's important in one place. You sell a personal brand, a plan, entertainment, and interpretation, not information.

Every YouTube, TikTok, or IG video you make acts as a 24/7 salesman pulling in customers today, tomorrow, and 12 months from now. In "Life Lessons," I talk about why video marketing is the way to go.

It does take a while to get the ball rolling. You'll feel like you're publishing into the void. Consistency compounds. Producing lots of material is key. Don't constantly look at your analytics.

Getting that first sale will be the hardest before everything snowballs. Hang in there. Stay strong. Be thankful it's challenging. If it were easier, everyone would do it.

Once you begin getting folks success, their testimonials, reviews, referrals, etc., clients will signing up left and right. You don't even have to be a superb salesman or marketer. Client acquisition gets easier and easier year after year.

Abundant, compelling content eventually leads to fans binge-watching, visiting your squeeze page, joining your email list, and then setting an appointment. For those who choose to follow you only, communicate with them in the DMs, closing business there. Instagram is the best for this. Always remember: Bingers = Buyers. Be someone's Netflix series.

Start with creating 1 short-form video that lasts 30-60 seconds with your phone every day to get your feet wet, especially if you're an introvert.

Videos must start with hook in the first few seconds to get folks to watch until to the end. Viewers must feel that you're talking directly to them. Ensure your hashtags, captions, titles, thumbnails, descriptions, etc. are on point.

Once you get the hang of short-form, add long-form to the mix. Purchase an affordable vlogging kit from Amazon that includes a tripod and other accessories. When it comes to scripting, focus on raw, authentic, relatable storytelling. Mistakes, setbacks, failures, hiccups, etc. make you human and likeable due to the Pratfall Effect.

As you get more established you may consider paid ads but you don't have to go that route. Paid ads are are not for beginners. Figure out your message and audience first. For producing ads, similar rules apply as the ones for organic content. Either way, start or stick with organic content.

Ensure all your ads and some of your organic content contains clear calls-to-actions (CTAs) that instruct fans to subscribe to your channel, join your email list, buy your offering, etc.

Edutaining, inspiring personal stories or those of your clients showcasing transformations and lessons go a long way in making you relatable and credible. Stories work great for emails too. Facts tell, stories sell. As a bonus, when you teach, you learn twice.

You don't want clients to ever wonder "Where is this going? How does this work? Is there a plan?"

Offering a detailed plan to prospects allays their concerns, instills trust, shows you're organized, makes your job easier, and sets expectations. It's critical they understand how long long it may take, what obstacles they'll face, and how much work must be put in.

In my last book, I wrote about how transparency elicits trust and closes deals fast.

Using a visual guide, like a flow chart or timeline, helps make the invisible visible, and step-by-step milestones make the large small. Put effort into creating it, as many coaches consider this a game changer. Without an outline, you'll likely fail as a coach. It's that vital. Get that done first before anything else.

Having a program in place delivering the desired outcome permits you to charge more money than billing by the hour or one-off sessions. It's best to have one package instead of multiple confusing options. Decision fatigue leads to no sale.

As a coach you must promise a specific outcome to a specific, urgent pain point. Tell prospects exactly what they will walk away with. Spell it out. Failure to illustrate a tangible, measurable end result is why many coaches fail. Don't copy them. If you don't paint a clear picture of what they want in leads' minds, no one hires you.

Clients purchase transformation, not information. They purchase a solution, not a product. They desire the destination, not the path to get there. Consumers don't buy the drill, they buy the hole.

Simply framing your offering as close to a magic wand as you ethically can that gets prospects what they truly desire will dramatically increase its value.

Do the best you can to minimize clients' sacrifice, effort, time expense, etc. while crafting the outline. Be creative. Be innovative. Your bank account will thank you.

During the journey, referring back to the framework from time to time to update them on where they are and the progress gained stimulates momentum and motivation.

Be prepared to encourage clients so they don't quit before the transformation transpires, wasting their money and time. Reciting inspiring, success stories goes a long way.

Even the best customers get impatient with the slow pace of progress as the initial excitement fades. When creating the path, ensure they can get quick wins throughout, especially in the beginning.

Obviously, no two clients are the same, but a rough agenda of what to expect is paramount. So every plan must flexible and adjustable.

Starting your coaching career can be daunting but a simple sentence can ensure success.

In Dan Henry's "Digital Millionaire Secrets," he writes: "If I could summarize how to create a $1M education business in just one word, it would be 'clarity.'" When he diagnoses a brand's chief concern, 99% of the time it is the clarity being murky.

When people buy coaching, they're really buying transformation. That is what you are selling. The hope is that you will help them close the gap from where are to the destination they desperately long for. The messaging about this must be crystal clear, not muddy. That is the only way folks will care.

The questions of what your business does and how to position it must be answered by filling the blanks in a few simple phrases.

The coaches who enjoy the fastest and most success select a specific person to help and a specific problem to solve. Your offering will have a 100x higher chance of success.

Doing this not only makes your marketing more effective, but simplifies it too. Knowing who you serve and the exact problem you solve, it's far easier to find out where they hang out, what they're into, how they talk, their hopes, dreams, and fears, etc. This allows you to get in front of them with an enticing grand slam offer that is hard to say no to.

You are able to swiftly elicit trust from prospects who immediately raise their hands and pay high prices because they feel you better understand them and their unique pain points will be addressed more than going with a generic counterpart designed for the broad, general population. No matter the product or service, customers pay more when it is tailored and customized.

I can't stress this enough. When an individual feels you're communicating directly to them, reading their mind, it touches their heart and soul because you truly get them at a deep, molecular level. The impact is powerful. That potent connection will not be forged with a boring, vague pitch designed for the masses.

In fact, the narrower your niche, the less you spend on marketing. Many coaches who get this right don't do any marketing at all.

First, the bad news: The harsh, bleak reality is there are a lot of life coaches available because it is an unregulated industry. Anyone can wake up tomorrow and call themselves a coach. With all this saturation, no one will ever take you seriously. Most life coaches struggle financially and quit.

Now, the good news: By specializing, you get to stand out from the herd, be taken more seriously, and charge more. In fact, don't call yourself a life coach. Give yourself a title that expresses your specificity. I call myself an approach coach. You'll find out why later. General life coaching is a hard sale, but specific solutions and transformations are an easier sale.

Consumers place more value on brands that do one thing only, nothing else. For them, you become the obvious choice. Not only can you charge higher fees, but concentrating on one type of person enables you to productize and scale your offering. The tinier your niche, the more money you earn. Niche and grow rich. Specificity = value.

Billionaire Entrepreneur Peter Thiel said, "When you're starting a company, you're starting small, so you want to get a large share of your market quickly." "The most successful companies make the core progression—to first dominate a specific niche and then scale to adjacent markets."

The path to being big is through being small. The most successful companies you've ever heard of like Amazon, PayPal, Meta, etc. first dominated a specific niche before expanding to adjacent markets. Let that be a lesson, your brand can pivot or expand in the future, but to gain initial traction, give one niche your undivided attention.

Attempt to find an uncontested, underserved market aka blue ocean that the big, established players are overlooking. This is a game you can win, even with fewer resources like money, fans, experience, brand name, time, staff, etc.

In business, the biggest competitive advantage is have no competition. Granted, it isn't easy to find this kind of opportunity, but when you do, go all in. Your bank account will thank you.

When your messaging to this group is sharp, consumers will choose your slingshot of precision over the brand name of Goliath because your messaging is hitting the bullseye where they want it too. Your clear, punchy messaging in the prospects' own language does all the heavy lifting.

If it weren't for niching down, there is no way an ambitious upstart can get a foothold in the industry. As you gain resources, you can expand if you wish.

Solve the dilemmas of saturation and being small (new) with separation. Being the decisive winner in a small market is the easiest business to start, grow, and the most profitable to run, while avoiding commoditization or demolition by whales.

The most successful real estate agents and investors focus on one neighborhood or zip code they know well. Sending 10,000 mailers to 1000 homes over time is more effective than sending them out to 10,000 different homeowners one time.

How does a laser get its power? Never spread yourself out too thin. You won't make money. Period. You would be a fool not to understand and apply this concept.

The proof is in the pudding. No matter what industry, specialists always earn more. Countless success stories abound of clarity earning coaches millions.

For many once-struggling coaches, executing this one tweak made all the difference. They went from the land of "No Money" to "Take My Money."

The riches are in the niches. Market deep, not wide. Be a big fish in a small pond. Get this right and you'll unlock the treasure chest of client acquisition and cash. You will be able to print cash.

It took me awhile to realize this as I wasted valuable time trying to be all things to all people to later find that no one was raising their hand. It just felt so counterintuitive,"Why would I want to shrink my opportunities?" I was suffering from a strong case of FOMO. However, I was missing out by being a generalist. When you chase two rabbits you end of with none. Learn from my mistake.

Before you begin guiding others, fill out this statement:

I help [specific group] achieve [specific result].

For reference, mine is: "I help shy recent grads easily ask women out asap."

Some recommend that the sentence be kept short, although mine is on the longer side because I wanted to add differentiators so I'm not commoditized. Emphasizing speed and ease enhances value as well.

To further make your products and services appealing, fill this one out too:

I help [specific group], achieve [specific result], without [impediment or sacrifice], by [(possibly new) method, process, etc.].

The extra words enable you handle objections upfront. For reference, mine is: "I help shy recent grads easily ask women out asap without anxiety or struggling with what say by learning game." Once I nailed it down, it made a big difference.

As you focus on one problem, you'll soon be helping clients in related areas too. As you develop strength in your chosen zone, you'll attract clients from other demographics or who have entirely different challenges.

Your exclusivity will paradoxically compel outsiders to climb over the fence. Everyone wants what they can't have. Anything that is freely available to all has lower value.

Solving a key issue, but for another demographic makes your offer feel more legitimate, reducing the perceived financial risk of purchasing it.

Investigate whether other established brands are enjoying success in your chosen area by selling books, courses, coaching, etc. This proves that people are paying money for this type of solution. Your competitors have already done your homework. Use AI for researching this too.

If you need help figuring out your customer avatar, explore your strengths, talents, skills, expertise, past accomplishments, etc. What problems are you good at solving that others find challenging? You don't have to learn or invent something new to get started. Remember, the 3 golden niches that I wrote about in previous books: health, wealth, and relationships.

Oftentimes, the most rewarding niche is the one that permits you to offer guidance to the younger version of yourself. Since you possess a deep understanding of their plight, your impact will be profound.

Now let's up the ante. Fill in the blanks of Russell Brunson's "Big Domino Statement" from his book, "Expert Secrets." Here goes:

If I can make [specific group] believe that [my or a certain method, idea, plan, etc.] is the only way to get [desired result], and the only way to do that is through [my product or service], then all objections become irrelevant, and they must invest.

That is quite a mouthful. Thankfully, this is only for you to know, not prospects. Many entrepreneurs get this wrong but when you get it right, you'll never struggle to create a webinar, paid ad, content, sales page, email, etc. The blueprint for your entire marketing strategy will be set.

Clients must first believe in a specific path, system, idea, or new opportunity will lead them to what they ultimately want before anything else, knocking down the initial domino. Afterwards, you get them to believe that your offering is the only way to achieve it, bringing down the bigger one.

Remember, always ask yourself, "What does my customer need to believe in order to buy?" Sometimes leads will already have some or all of these beliefs, so you can directly state your offer when marketing. But other times they won't, so your marketing will have to teach and inform them first.

For example, I must first teach young, introverted men that many women enjoy being approached by regular guys when it is done the right way. Since so many guys are too scared, view approaching as harassment, or don't know how to do this properly, they can have a competitive advantage by being fearless and/or skilled.

Then, and only then, do I offer my guidance to attain what I call "Nice Guy Game," the name of my 6-month coaching program. If I don't properly instill the right beliefs in prospects at the outset, they will not be interested in my offering.

Remember, as a coach, clarity is your #1 tool for success. What you sell may be great but if you don't articulate who exactly it's for, their specific ailment you cure, and what they need to believe, you're likely to fail.

I sincerely hope that I have hammered this point home into your mind, body, heart, and soul. It is truly shocking how many coaches get this wrong. Don't be one of them. Please.

Why do you need friends? So you don't die.

In the USA, the Surgeon General produced the report, "Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation," that compares loneliness to the danger of tobacco, obesity, and illicit drugs. It's equal to smoking 15 cigarettes daily.

Loneliness, the lack of deep, intimate relationships, negatively impacts our sleep, mood, optimism, self-esteem, immune system, etc., while increasing our risk for heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer's, addiction, mortality, inflammation, depression, anxiety, paranoia, etc. It boosts the risk of dementia by 31%. Insurance companies should mandate friendships.

Roughly 13% of adults experience chronic loneliness and 4%-17% suffer from chronic social isolation. Younger adults (Gen Z and millennials) and minority groups are disproportionately affected.

The causes are fewer community groups, a rise in single-person households, social media, economic strain, Covid-19, remote work, long job hours, job relocation, unsafe neighborhoods, etc.

This is a global dilemma, with almost 1 in 6 people worldwide suffering from this ailment. In the UK, a Minister of Loneliness was appointed to create public awareness of the issue and programs to combat it. In the UK, Sweden, and Australia, designated park benches were set up where strangers can socialize with each other.

Human beings, including us introverts, are social animals. Our need for connection is as strong as it is for food or water. Being in tightly knit tribes is how we survived as a species for a long time.

Throughout history, exile was one of the worst punishments you could get, with some considering a more terrible fate than death. Even today, the United Nations labels 15+ days of solitary confinement torture.

BFFs aren't just for humans, or even primates. Elephants, dolphins, whales, and other mammals enjoy the buddy system too.

Unfortunately, we have the most friends when we're young, but the number declines as we age. It's a shame. People experience higher levels of happiness and enjoyment with friends than spouses or family because time with friends is often more recreational, less stressful, and voluntary.

Numerous studies show that what the happiest people have in common is good relationships. Friendship accounts for 58% of of the difference in happiness between individuals, regardless of whether they are introverted or extroverted. It is very challenging to be happy without friends.

Loneliness leads to depression far more than depression leads to loneliness. A study found that people undergoing high levels of loneliness are at 5x greater risk of developing depression.

The value of a better social life is equivalent to earning an extra $132,232 or more a year. It should be noted that salary raises provide only a minor increase in happiness beyond earning $75K-$100K. We swiftly adapt to more money after a brief high and our previous mood returns.

However, the emotional fulfillment of frequent social interaction never disappears. Once your basic needs are taken care of, money can play a supportive role, but can't really buy happiness because it is just a man-made construct after all.

Research tells us that less than 20% of employees see their manager as a close friend but those who do are 2.5x more likely to enjoy their job. If you have 3 pals at work, you're 96% more likely to feel happy about your life.

Disliking your coworkers comes with grave consequences. Monday morning is the most common time people die of heart attacks. Most folks spend a third of their life working. Think about it.

Positive social relationships are second only to genetics in predicting health and longevity in humans. Good relationships can add a decade to your lifespan. The longest living people on Earth have strong social networks.

The best predictor of whether you will be alive 1 year after a heart attack is 2 things: The number of friends you have and if you smoke. Having a bad diet and excessive alcohol consumption only has a modest impact compared to those 2 factors.

A 2006 study found that breast cancer patients with 10 close friends had a 4x higher survival rate than those with zero friends. Having a husband had no impact. A long-term study that included 736 men showed friends reduced the likelihood of heart problems, while a romantic partner had no impact.

Lacking institutional support, friendship doesn't get the respect it deserves, even though it does a huge amount of the heavy lifting of bringing happiness and joy into our lives.

In 1990, 33% of Americans had 10+ close friends, but a 2021 survey showed that only 13% do. The percentage of U.S. adults with no close friends has quadrupled to 12% since 1990. We have some work to do.

As you can see, it is important that we be proactive, deliberate, and intentional about getting and maintaining friendships. But what is the key to developing strong, robust friendships. You need 2 things:

1. Time

Spending time with someone consistently sends a strong message because it is the most valuable commodity we own. One of the most common causes of friendships ending is the decreasing time or attention paid to it due to new jobs, partners, living situations, etc. For a friendship to last, it must be nurtured like a plant. Touch base with your buddies once every 2 weeks by phone at minimum.

When it comes to making new friends, it does take more time. Research tells us it takes roughly 40–60 hours to become casual friends, 80–100 hours to become friends, and 200+ hours to become close friends. It isn't just the total amount of shared time, but what type. Hanging out, going beyond small talk, and showing care fosters closeness when it is done voluntarily during leisure, not work or classes. You can speed things up with:

2. Vulnerability

Researcher Arthur Aron found that interpersonal closeness and friendship can be made in as little as 45 minutes due to an experiment where pairs of strangers asked each other 36 increasingly personal questions and engaged in silent eye contact. Accelerating the natural, gradual process of getting to know someone , finding commonalities, active listening, and the perception that the other person likes you were the key factors.

Being open and intimate tells folks they are part of an exclusive fraternity. When people are trusted and invited into the clubhouse, they feel special. Sharing past mistakes also increases likability and relatability due to the Pratfall Effect. Trusting someone else gets them to open up and trust you, a virtuous cycle. To get friends fast, follow this rule: If it scares you, say it.

Vulnerability does come with the risk of ridicule, betrayal, rejection, etc., but the risk is overblown and worth it because friends are so important. The danger of being exploited creates the value inherent in trust, giving it its power. Always give folks the "Narc Test," mentioned in my last book, and heed your intuition to stay safe. Not opening up prolongs minor illnesses, increases the chance of a first heart attack, and doubles the likelihood it will be fatal. The next question is where do you find friends:

•Use apps such as Meetup, Bumble BFF, Timeleft (for group dinners), Hey Vina!, etc. to find, swipe, and meet potential friends.

•Join interest-based Groups like social clubs, running clubs, book clubs, cooking classes, recreational sports leagues (like pickleball), volunteer activities, networking events, etc. to meet people with similar hobbies.

•Ask current acquaintances or colleagues to introduce you to new people.

Don't wait for invitations. Suggest plans, such as grabbing drinks, coffee or lunch, watching films, etc. Do not take lack of reciprocation personally; look for people who are available for friendship. Accept invitations, even if you are tired or nervous, to foster connections.

Now go out there and make friends like your life depends on it, because it does.

What was Comedian Buddy Hackett's secret to success onstage?

For him, the key to a great performance was the ability to "turn down the monitor." The monitor was the part of his mind that continually watched how he was doing during a performance. How can we apply this?

The key to social confidence is put the majority of your focus outside of yourself and onto the person or the people you're with. You must be comfortable in your skin. For many, this seems daunting, but they're already doing so, but not realizing it.

Right now, there are folks you already know that you don't feel anxious around like your parents, close friends, etc. So it is possible to have the same comfort and ease with strangers.

One must adopt what psychologists call the "field perspective," a technique, often used in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), where individuals are trained to see situations through their own eyes rather than from an "observer perspective" in which one is viewing themselves, usually with hypercritical eyes.

Imagine you're a cameraman, or better yet, watching a film. When seeing a good movie, you're captivated by the characters in the story. You pass judgment on the ones you like, typically the protagonist, and the ones you dislike, usually the villain or the bad guy. You aren't thinking about yourself or obsessing over what they think of you, while being comfy in your seat.

This is the way Sures see the world around them. They simply assume they will be accepted and approved of. Conversely, Shys automatically believe folks will reject them.

The next time you feel nervous around others, turn your mental camera around. Give yourself full permission to be judgmental. Begin forming opinions about them, instead of fretting about what they think about you. Notice what folks are wearing, how confident they look, what their personality type is, etc. This compels you to ask "What do I think of them?," not "What do they think of me?"

By being present, Shys can engage and listen more, while socializing with others, strengthening relationships. This approach not only develops confidence but helps build awareness, which keeps you safe, and enjoy the many benefits of mindfulness. Win-win-win.