Are You Ready for a VA?

I’m A New Coach. How Would a VA Assist Me?

This is one of our most common questions and one of the biggest problems that new coaches have to face. Throughout coach training, you heard that you need a VA to help you with your new practice. However, you didn’t understand what that meant. Maybe the following questions crossed your mind:

1. How do I get my coaching business up and running with a VA? Or without?
2. What would a VA be looking for from me? Am I ready for a VA?
3. What do I want from my VA? What should I be looking for?
4. What other systems, applications, or processes do I need?
5. Will a VA be worth my money and time investment right now?

In this article, we will explore Question #2.

What Would a VA Be Looking For From Me? Am I Ready for a VA?

THINK ABOUT YOUR CURRENT RELATIONSHIPS: Look at your friends and family members that you cherish. What types of people are they? What about them is attractive to you? If you had to describe their qualities to someone else, what would you say? On the flip side, what do your friends and family say about your qualities that are attractive? If they had to say only one good thing about you what would it be? Remember that YOUR ideal VA will be attracted to you if presented correctly.

Have you ever watched the show “Bringing Home Baby”? Well, the new parents are chronicled as they make the transition into parenthood, bringing home their new baby. The first week of their life is shared across America from their joy down to their sleepless nights. Those of us who are mothers know that no one can truly be ‘ready’ for a new baby. Each one is slightly different. The same is true about being ready for a VA. You could have the funds to afford a VA and not be ready to handle the relationship. Or you could be ready for the relationship but not able to afford the commitment.

Another good way to get answers to these questions is to join us on August 18 from 5:00 – 6:00 PM Eastern for our next Keys to Success Call: Am I Ready for a VA. On this call, we will discuss some critical steps to take before you work with a VA.

Your facilitator will be Kim Gray, our Certified VA liaison. She has been piloting our newest program, the Inner Circle, with a select group of new and emerging coaches. This pilot group has produced some amazing results and given her some valuable feedback. By attending the call, you will learn about our next Inner Circles scheduled to start in September.

Next month, we will address Question #3: What do I want from my VA? What should I be looking for? So, take the time to reserve your seat on August 18 for our next Keys to Success Call and learn the answer to ”Am I Ready for a VA?”. Who knows? You might be one of our next Inner Circle participants in September!

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Six Impossible Things

Alice Kingsley claimed that she sometimes believed six impossible things before breakfast. By doing so, she had great adventures, far beyond the limitations and possibilities set out for her by other people’s beliefs.

In Tim Burton’s fantastic re-make of the classic Alice in Wonderland story, Alice is portrayed as a ingénue who is caught between two worlds: the staid expectations and beliefs of her Victorian era social structure (as lived and endorsed by her family), and the world of the possible, as taught and demonstrated by her late father, a man with visions of grandeur and adventure in far-off lands.

We each have this same tug-of-war inside of us. Our biology drives us in two directions at once: toward the secure, same, and known on the one hand, and toward the new, novel, and unknown on the other. We live inside this tension, and we make our lives work – or not – by how we deal with these opposite forces within us.

Why is it important to believe in six impossible things before breakfast? Because belief in the impossible creates the possible. Every great invention was once an impossible dream. Every great adventurer was once a crazy dreamer. Martin Luther King believed that there could be peace between the races. Impossible. John F. Kennedy believed that we could land a man on the moon within ten years. Impossible. A few German citizens believed that the Berlin Wall could be brought down. Impossible.

In Burton’s new film, Alice is a teenager who has lost her “muchness” by the time she encounters the White Rabbit. In the midst of her family’s and society’s expectations, she has lost her self-possession, independence, and belief in controlling her own life. When she falls down the hole and enters Wonderland, she regains her ability to believe and imagine the impossible. She remembers her True Self, and re-gains her ability to create from nothing (which is where all true creation comes from). Doing so, she become a heart-based hero, choosing her own path, making her own dreams come true.

Have you lost your ability to believe the impossible? To dream impossible dreams?

Don’t give up hope. You can restore your own ability to live your own Truth. Begin by removing the overlay of other people’s expectations and dreams for you. Eliminate the beliefs you have been indoctrinated with. They keep you small and limited. Decide what you want to create, without limitations. You may encounter people who do not want you to become your full and glorious self. They are afraid you will abandon them. They are afraid of being reminded of their own limitations. Leave them behind as you blaze your trail forward. Set torches along the way, so they can follow later, if they dare.

Those in power do not want you to remember your infinite capacity. You might become difficult to control with their weapons of mass distraction, fear and lack. You will not find much support for believing or doing the impossible. Walk away from those who would kill your dream. People who do so dedicate their lives to proving the dream-killers wrong: Olympic snowboarder Sean White with his Double McTwist; Candidate Barak Obama in the last Presidential election; James Cameron with his breakthrough movie Avatar, who pushed technological limits to create impossible beauty.

You can achieve your own brand of glory — if you will but believe. I speak as one who has done so, having believed myself into many impossible successes, including numerous money “miracles” that produced hundreds of thousands of dollars.

There is work involved in creating the impossible. Magic isn’t created by saying affirmations or believing in the Law of Attraction. It does starts with a belief — but then the real work begins. You must remove all of the limiting beliefs stored in your subconscious. You must muscle the energies down through the chakras from crown (thought) to ground (actions). The art of manifestation begins with an idea, a vision, a belief in the impossible, but it doesn’t end there. Alice has to do battle with the nasty Jabberwocky. Martin Luther King did battle with both police and the public. Presidents do battle with politicians on the other side of the aisle. There is no “free ride” to manifesting the impossible. But it doesn’t cost anything to begin.

What six impossible things can you believe before breakfast?

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Lion Goodman is the creator of The BeliefCloset Process, a methodology for permanently eliminating negative and limiting beliefs from your life, and utilizing new empowering beliefs for creating your dream life. He teaches this methodology to therapists, coaches, and facilitators of transformation through monthly teleclasses. He also teaches his manifestation workshop, “Creation is Ecstasy!,” with his partner, author Anodea Judith, on both coasts. For a limited time, you can download a free copy of the BeliefCloset Process by signing up for his BeliefCloset Jump-Start Kit on his website: www.BeliefCloset.com.

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The Coaches Console Certifies VAs

My journey with The Coaches Console began as an interested virtual assistant in support of coaching professionals. One of my first coach clients used The Coaches Console and was gracious enough to let me ‘play’ with it. Of course, I ‘played’ with it on my own time and had so much fun, that I started to attend every Tuesday@ 2 call I could. I found those calls to be so informative, and I loved being able to ask a live person questions. After a while, Melinda got to know me as the inquisitive virtual assistant, always present and ready to contribute. I was even one of the first VAs certified in 2007, I believe. Then in 2009, something amazing happened.

Melinda called and asked if I would be interested in redesigning the VA Certification Program with her! After I pulled myself off the floor, I gave her a resounding ‘Yes’. We set to work and created the Certified VA Boot Camp and the Certified VA Team. Since May 2009, we’ve certified 15 virtual assistants and served over 100 members of The Coaches Console through the Certified VA Team.

In November 2009, The Coaches Console launched a new release with state-of-the-art functionality and presence. Since then, our membership has grown which means there are more coaches using the system without a VA.  Since we know how valuable our certification is, we want to be sure that more VAs can participate. So, we have revamped our original  Certification Program to include two levels: Novice and Master.  The Novice Certification takes only four weeks, whereas the Master Certification takes eight weeks.

On May 12 at 3:00 PM, we will be hosting a FREE Information Call for all VAs and Coaches who want to know more. We will be sharing the new structure of the programs, what benefits are gained by certification, and let you hear from our current Certified VA Team.  Let me share just a tidbit of information with you so you can decide if the call will be beneficial for you.

Why should you want to be certified? Most VAs aren’t skilled at using The Coaches Console, so they can’t adequately support their coach. As I mentioned, with our membership growth, there will be more coaches needing quality support. By certifying through our VA Boot Camp Certification Programs, you will increase your comfort level, confidence, and value in working with coaches.

Hear what our Certified VAs have to say about the benefits they’ve received:

“Coaches were not my niche but I got to work with a variety of coaches from new to established. I’ve learned about coaches and now like working with them.”

“By attending the Certification Program, I’ve had the opportunity to learn new ways to support coaches.”

“Using my certification lets me work with different types of coaches and helps me determine which ones are ideal for me.”

“I am finding out ways to market my services more attractively so I can help my clients.”

Here’s something else to think about for your own VA Business:

* Have you wished for an all-in-one system for managing your VA business?
* Would you like to save time by using one comprehensive system to perform basic tasks?
* How about increasing your availability to work on revenue-generating projects?
* Would you like to save money by preventing expensive mistakes and pursuing useless trial offers?

If so, then The Coaches Console VA Boot Camp Certification programs will be perfect for you! If you’d like to know even more, visit our event page at http://tccbootcamp.eventbrite.com to view the full invitation. You will be able to register on the spot and save your seat.

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There’s A New Day Dawning At The Coaches Console for New Coaches

The Coaches Console knows that most new coaches have to face similar anxieties and challenges as they build their practice. You know you need help, but the costs may seem overwhelming and coming from every direction. Where should you invest your monies and energy? Who can you turn to for guidance?

Well, our Certified VA Team is ready to help with a NEW Support Group called, The Keys to Success Inner Circle. We will be running a 2-month pilot starting on May 5 for new coaches. You could be part of the pilot if these statements ring true for you.

* You aren’t sure what a VA can do for you and your business
* You know you need a VA but don’t have the funds to pay for a retainer
* You need help with where to begin to find clients for your new practice
* You need to know what systems and standards you should put in place
* You are stuck in this loop of not having clients and no income so you can’t afford a VA to build your practice
* You want to know how to move your practice forward to generate revenue streams for sustainability

Do any of these statements ring true? If so, then Keys to Success Inner Circle Pilot may be the solution for you.

Here’s what you’ll gain from participating in this 2-month pilot:
* peer support for you to learn from new coaches and share your experiences
* advice from a TCC Certified VA on the exact steps you need to take to build your business versus having enough work for the CVA to do
* group rates that allow you to afford reliable and professional CVA support
* rich association within an exclusive community of new coaches
* marketing strategies customized for your coaching practice
* revenue streams that focus on your unique selling position
* exposure to working with a TCC Certified VA and an understanding of how to work within a VA relationship for the future

Why not join us on our Thursday@3 call on April 22. Click here to register. Come and ask questions and decide if we can help you. The call is free, and the opportunity is priceless.

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Virtual Assistants Work Smarter – Certified VA Boot Camp

Virtual assistants who support coaches can help them work smarter in 2010.

If you are a VA or you know a VA who wants to increase their revenue, add an additional stream of income,  enhance the level of service they offer clients, and get more clients,  The Coaches Console’s powerful  VA Certification Program is a valuable investment for your business.

VA’s can help their coach maximize their investment by taking some tasks off their plates!

Starts March  23 through May 19 (eight weeks)

Get the tools you need and the support to succeed  by attending our Certified VA Boot Camp!

• manage coaches scheduling by automating the process
• learn effective invoicing strategies and get your coach paid on time
• customize an impressive Welcome Package
• standardize email messages

Coaches can stop “leaving money on the table” by having a system for following up with prospects. A certified VA can help Coaches who are offering group coaching in 2010 by coordinating the entire process so all the Coach needs to do is “show up”.

Learn to strategically use The Coaches Console.  Join us for our Certified VA Boot Camp . During our 8-week course, virtual assistants will learn much more than how to set up a console. They will also learn how to manage their business, proactively brainstorm and share ideas, and design a process for handling their prospects and clients. Meet like-minded virtual assistants, mentor with a Certified VA, and become part of an elite group. Join us and see that supporting a coach can be fun when you know how to use The Coaches Console effectively.

Classes start  March 23 so click here to learn more and to register for our upcoming class.

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There’s a New Day Dawning at The Coaches Console for New Coaches

The Coaches Console knows that most new coaches have to face similar anxieties and challenges as they build their practice. You know you need help, but the costs may seem overwhelming and coming from every direction. Where should you invest your monies and energy? Who can you turn to for guidance?

Well, our Certified VA Team is ready to help with a NEW Support Group called, The Keys to Success Inner Circle. We will be running a 2-month pilot starting on May 5 for new coaches. You could be part of the pilot if these statements ring true for you.

* You aren’t sure what a VA can do for you and your business
* You know you need a VA but don’t have the funds to pay for a retainer
* You need help with where to begin to find clients for your new practice
* You need to know what systems and standards you should put in place
* You are stuck in this loop of not having clients and no income so you can’t afford a VA to build your practice
* You want to know how to move your practice forward to generate revenue streams for sustainability

Do any of these statements ring true? If so, then Keys to Success Inner Circle Pilot may be the solution for you.

Here’s what you’ll gain from participating in this 2-month pilot:
* peer support for you to learn from new coaches and share your experiences
* advice from a TCC Certified VA on the exact steps you need to take to build your business versus having enough work for the CVA to do
* group rates that allow you to afford reliable and professional CVA support
* rich association within an exclusive community of new coaches
* marketing strategies customized for your coaching practice
* revenue streams that focus on your unique selling position
* exposure to working with a TCC Certified VA and an understanding of how to work within a VA relationship for the future

Why not join us on our Thursday@3 call on April 22.  Click here to register. Come and ask questions and decide if we can help you. The call is free, and the opportunity is priceless.

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15 Business Building Strategies for Coaches

During The Coaches’ Edge Extravaganza I had the pleasure of spending the day with 100 successful coaches and 18 industry leaders. Part of the day was devoted to small group networking in which we were grouped into 8-10 coaches per group.   Viki Winterton, co-founder of the Extravaganza and founder of The Coach Exchange, assigned each group to share the best business building strategies that had brought them the most success in their coaching business.

I share a few strategies for business building in this video.

Here is the collection of the Top 15 Best Business Building Strategies that were reported by each of the small groups during the Extravaganza.

1. Treat coaching like a business, not just a hobby.
2. Go with what life brings you rather than what you think it is “suppose” to look like.
3. Leverage your time and energy through creating strategic relationships.
4. Know your target market as well as your niche, they are two different things.
5. Integrate social media strategies, especially a Fan Page on Facebook.
6. Create value add products and tools that create additional revenue streams to compliment your primary services.
7. Always remember that you are not alone; you don’t have to do it all. Leverage the tools, people and resources around you to leverage your way to success.
8. Be true to yourself.
9. Create your “A-team” and use the technologies to help you do so; technologies such as e-lance.com; o-desk.com.
10. Networking. networking. networking. – get out of the house and get face-to-face with people every week.
11. Follow your passion, do what you love.
12. Create powerful conversations with prospect groups – workshops, seminars, retreats in which you can speak to many people in your target market at once.
13. Always do values driven work: values-based marketing, values-based promotions, etc.
14. Go for it!
15. Have fun!

Being one of the panel experts that was presenting later in the day on the topic of “Leveraging the Business Success Formula for Massive Success,” I was thrilled with this topic and actually a bit surprised by the results.  I had anticipated that the groups would share specific marketing strategies, specific types of networking groups, various promotions that were successful for them, or even listing the types of marketing that worked for them (print vs. word of mouth vs. public speaking, etc).  I was so thrilled to see that not only did some of the groups report on these types of tangible strategies, but the list included what I would consider to be part of the attitude or mindset of a business owner.  Creating a thriving business is not always about the strategy, the promotion or the event.  While those are vital and crucial, the mindset and attitude of the business owner is what is the fuel behind the success.

The common theme that permeated throughout the coaches and industry experts participating in The Coaches’ Edge Extravaganza was that in order to be successful doing coaching, you must treat it like a business.  This top 15 list gives a coach a hint at what that statement means.

So what have been your best business building ideas?  We’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment and let us know what has created success in your coaching business.

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Spend Wisely…Take Back Your Time

“You will never find time. You must make it.” —Charles Burton

The two excuses I hear most from my coaching clients for not accomplishing more and greater things and having a life and business that they love are: “I don’t have time, I’m too busy”. We all get the same amount of hours in a day: 24. We all get the same number of hours in a week: 168. Why do some people have what looks like “it ALL”?

A Scenario:

If you sleep a healthy 8 hours a night you have 112 left.

If you take 30 minutes a day for breakfast and an hour each for lunch and dinner you now have 94.5 left

If you drive 30 minutes to and from work, you now have 89.5 left.

If you work 45 hours a week you have 44.5 left in your week to take care of yourself, your family, your health and your spirit.

The problem is not the time. The problem is what we are doing with it. If you spend from 8pm to 10pm watching TV, you now have just 30 hours left. What could you have done with those precious hours? How much of your day and week is being spent on things that help you grow: in your business, your relationships, with your significant other or children, in knowledge, in fun, in health or in spirit?

Take a look at with whom you are spending your time.  Are they people that are supportive and energizing, or do you feel drained at the end of your time with them? Are they people you are striving to emulate and can bring out your best?

Our time is the one commodity we each get a fixed amount of. We do not even know exactly what that fixed amount is.  It makes sense to use it with wisdom, joy and for the growth of ourselves and those around us.  To Life!

COACH’S CHALLENGE: Look at where you spend your time and evaluate if it is truly being well spent on what you consider priorities for your life and your families or are you giving it away unnecessarily?  This month review who you give your time to and how you are using it. Make one change that will take back time from the mundane and help you grow where you believe it will truly count!

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