Cautions of Consulting and coaching programs

I agree, and it's a shame that >99% of the marketing of this business is money-focused, not help-focused. In just the few OPs I've read over a 48 hour period, the Newb questions are money money money, not "how can I learn to help people".

The caveat is that the potential $'s are such a powerful lure.

Agree with point 1, 2 & 4. as for point 3, price helps target the market that you are specifically going after. Just because you valued your time, knowledge and effort at a certain price doesn't mean others should do it at the same price or lower.

My tip would be to find someone who has successfully built a business outside of the IM/MMO space, following the model I want to follow, and then has a business coaching program using that success. There are many such people out there, some of who come to mind are Ryan Lee, Eben Pagan, Andre Chaperon, Rich Schefren, Russell Brunson, Jeff Walker, among others.

For Newbies, you'd be served well by reading some excellent free resources out there (I wish I had found them when I was floundering):

1. Need To Know by Paul Myers (TalkBiz News: What you really need to know to succeed online - Online business building newsletter),

2. Before You Buy Anything by Gordon J Alexander (Fly Low And Collect The Dough),

3 . The Best Damn Internet Marketing Book Ever by Eric Louviere (Best Marketing Book Ever For Free – Eric Louviere – The Million Dollar Marketer),

4. Terry Dean's blog posts and ebook (Internet Business Posts : Internet Business Coaching With Terry Dean & http://www.mymarketingcoach.com/free...yle-manifesto/),

5. Andre Chaperon's Frank vs Matt, affiliate bully & LLB (Frank vs Matt — The Entrepreneur's Journey by André Chaperon & Affiliate Bully — New CRUEL Rules for Success! & LUCRATIVE Email List Building (Monster Profits from Tiny Lists))

and

6. go through and finish the free Perfect Biz Finder by Steve Little (Download Now: The Perfect Biz Finder).

These should get you going and once you have gotten something going and are bringing in some cashflow, you can join coaching, consulting and mentoring programs as you need them.

All the best

SCH

Why did you get the email ? because the price you quoted was to small ? I had similar last year when I was coaching the only difference was i did not charge I did it to help some of the newbies

And I got an email giving me shit because i was upsetting the other coaches ( read into it this email was from one person who should never coach) anyway I would think to say FU and do your own thing

Jason

Most of your advice was decent, but this was just ridiculous lol.

What if someone only wants to take on 3 people for coaching at a time? What's wrong with that? What if they run a 7 figure business that keeps them busy? What if they'd like to limit coaching students so they can spend more time with their family?

With your reasoning, that would make them a bad coach since they don't want to take on 20+ people? Come on..

The *best* coach could be someone who rarely opens any spots for coaching, because he's too busy making money with his own campaigns.

This is garbage. Why should someone be forced to enter a business model that they don't agree with? Some people would rather work with fewer clients and charge more money.
Nothing wrong with that. If someone gets massive results, it's their right to charge whatever the heck they want.


What if Mark Cuban, Tony Robbins, or Elon Musk opened up 3 spots for coaching and what if they charged $200k for it? Would you fault them for it, too?

Maybe they charge a lot of money because they are looking for a certain type of person to work with. Someone who is already successful, dedicated, and has money to spend.

who is doing this kinda of coaching stuff ? i wonder who ..hmmm

Hi, I like the point that coach should care for you and make sure that you are not in-debt when you decide on making an investment on them..

Ramit Sethi is a perfect example of this. Even if someone with loads of credit card bills manages to slip inside his course, he immediately makes a refund and bans the person from his courses forever. Instead, send him an ebook on how to clear your debts.
This is how a true coach/mentor works. He is not hungry for your money. He is hungry to give you his kind of success.

Thanks
-J

Hi,

My advice: look at people who generously offer value. Through here on Warrior, through their blogs, through social media.

I spent months of my life writing helpful, bite-sized eBooks. 126 of them, actually. I give one out for free every single week to my list and Push subscribers. It's the smart thing to do, to grow business. Seeing beyond the sale, planting seeds for something bigger, helping people for free, increasing my exposure, landing more clients as when I give freely, I receive with greater ease.

Learn more about coaches; if they are transparent, they have nothing to hide. Look for social media accounts, email, and multiple channels of communication open. They should be easily accessible.

Connect with them. Ask how they can help.

If you feel good about the service being offered feel free to hire them.

Red flags include: guaranteeing money outcomes (most people have all types of zany beliefs about money, this one is a tough promise to make), traffic outcomes, etc, especially with a heavy emphasis on hype. Because if you're a coach who uses hype you fear losing a sale, or losing clients, or losing everything, and that very same fear eats into the quality of your product or service offering, so you render less value.

It also makes the coaching bit all about you versus the client.

I recall speaking to a coach - he pitched me, I was a fool for picking up the phone - nearly a decade ago when I was an online newbie. He bragged about being a million dollar earner and all his accomplishments for 2 minutes straight. When he was done, I simple said:

"You haven't even asked me about my problems yet? Kinda tough to help me when you only talk about yourself."

He stammered. I hung up.

I don't doubt he made millions swindling people but he's since disappeared, and I'd not be surprised if he wound up in prison or at least, broke. Money seems to sprint from folks who may make a fortune, but are secretly terrified of losing the money.

Note; the client is as responsible for successful coaching as the coach.

Here's why: one must follow good advice, persistently, to yield beneficial outcomes.

My successful clients dive into action immediately, learning, studying and implementing their way to success. Total 2 way street. Of course, the coach should provide a kick in the tuckus when needed but baby sitting is not allowed.

You can tell so much through the generosity factor though; if folks are offering hundreds to thousands of dollar's worth of value through their free blog posts you better believe they will deliver when they charge $500 or $5,000 or more.

I spent many, many hours on my last 2 blog posts. I mean, a ton of time. Because I genuinely want to help ease my reader's pain points.

Each post reached page 1 of Google for the following competitive keywords:

"how to submit a guest post"

"how to rank on page 1 of google"

It's just smart marketing to do a phenomenal job whenever you create anything online to gain credibility, to earn trust and to grow your income through both your products and services.

Ryan

So - one person posts a disagreement and you are angry and defensive?
I also disagree with SOME of what you said - a coach doesn't owe it to anyone to take on as many students as possible or to set prices low enough for everyone. A COACH is running a business and can set up that business however he wants.

You mentioned your coaching - but you have posted here more than once about quitting IM because you aren't making enough money and once said you can't make "any money". Maybe you took on too many students or your fees were too low? Maybe you could profit from other perspective on the BUSINESS of offering coaching? Sometimes "standing by what I say" should give way to "seeing it from a different perspective".

A good coach will be up front about financial requirements of the training - the costs of coaching AND the costs to follow advice given for advertising or setup or software or whatever.

This idea that a coach is required to be be all things for a fee - financial adviser/confidante/momma - is ridiculous to me. If I pay a coach I want him to teach me what he knows. He doesn't have to be a high earning guru - just has to know more than I do. I expect a friendly business relationship but I don't want a therapist.

When I was 4-5 I began taking music lessons...at age 8 and 11 and 15...my music teachers (coaches) told me to find a new teacher because they had taught me all they could. I needed more advanced training so moved up to higher priced lessons. I didn't need a professional musician to teach me at age 5.....but at 15 I was ready for that.

Same is true in business. Find a coach that knows more than you do and can teach it - and that you can afford. Then, as you progress, move up to better and more expensive coaching programs.

I'm not trying to give you a hard time, SweetCrabHoney. I appreciate you trying to help people and share advice. You made some good points about going with someone who has a reputation, cares about you, and doesn't make unrealistic claims.

Those are all great points, and I agree with you there!

But some of the other stuff you mentioned was flat out bad advice, which is why I brought it up.
It's nothing personal. I just hate to see people who are already lost and confused, get further led astray.

There's nothing wrong with someone who only wants to take on a few coaching clients. That person could be the best coach in the world for all we know. As long as the coach is the real deal and gets massive results.. Who cares how many students they take on?

Personally, I would RATHER work with someone who only takes on a few coaching students at a time..
Because with them, you are much more likely to get more personal 1-on-1 attention.

If someone has 200 students at once, that kind of 1 on 1 support and personal attention is just not possible.

Also running a big coaching program is demanding. And if you did offer coaching in the past, then chances are you already know this, right? lol

Believe me, I've been there. I ran a very successful coaching program for years. I averaged mid 7 figures with it.

And having done it, I won't ever do it again lol.

Honestly, it's too much work. It's exhausting.

And as much as I LOVED helping people get massive results and breakthrough.. It just wasn't possible for me to give them my full attention and pursue my own business/passion at the same time.

So as a result, my personal business (and family life suffered). Which is why I won't do it again.

If someone runs a big coaching program and has tons of students, there's a good chance it takes up most of their time, and it may even be their main source of income.

So who would you rather learn from? Someone that actually walks the walk and makes most of their money by actually doing this stuff or someone that just teaches it?

Which is exactly why someone that only takes on a few coaching clients, may actually be better.


(Note: I'm not knocking everyone that runs a big coaching program. There are some people out there like Chris Farrell, Taki Moore, or Igor who find a way to balance it all. but they are a very rare breed, and are more likely an exception to the rule lol)

And same with going for a coach that charges less money. I disagree. If someone is charging a low rate for their coaching program, then that is a big red flag for me and makes me skeptical.

Successful people have a high value on their time, because they know that time is their most valuable resource.
Time they spend coaching with you is time they could spend on their own business, or time they could spend with their family. That's priceless and time is the one thing that you can't get back. True professionals are going to charge good money for their services. Bottom line.

If someone is really tight on money and wants to get to the next level.. Then by all means, do whatever it takes.
And if that means hire a cheap coach to help you make some money that you can keep investing back in your business.. Then go for it!

(I still think you would be much better off saving your money and working with the best.. But that's another story)

I agree with Kay King. Any coach that knows a little more than you do is qualified to sell you coaching.

I find that people long for the old days of customer service. When you put relationships and adding value first the money will follow...always does. Thanks for sharing this.

Since this post is directed at newbies I will offer this. Do NOT get a coach or mentor. There is so much free and low priced info available you should stick with that.

Then once you have your plan in place and are ready to roll you can get a mentor or coach. But, by then you will probably realize that you do not need one

al