« August 2009 | Main | October 2009 »
Just a few more hours left to sign up for the 2009 Fall Blogger's Boot Camp! The first call starts tonight at 10 p.m. eastern (if you can't make it, don't worry. We record and post all of the calls). Once the Boot Camp begins, registration will be closed!
If you haven't gotten around to signing up, but would still like to, you can go to http://bit.ly/4mZXka.
In about a week, our year will be 3/4 of the way over. Are you 3/4 of the way toward accomplishing your goals for 2009? Have you created the business you want yet? If so, congratulations. If not, let's get started!
I've spoken to a lot of stamping business owners who've told me they resolved to create their ideal business in 2009. They tried to do it on their own, but haven't been able to make it happen. Sometimes, they aren't sure where to get started. Sometimes, they aren't sure of the next steps to take.
If you feel you could benefit from the guidance of a professional, independent and CERTIFIED Coaching program to help you create the unique business that meets YOUR needs, then I invite you to step into Small Group or 1-on-1 Coaching.
We have the following openings beginning in October (some sessions begin next week) -
GROUP COACHING
:
- Tuesday mornings at 9:00 a.m. Eastern - 1 space available
- Wednesday evenings at 10:00 p.m. Eastern - 1 space available
- Thursday mornings at 10:00 a.m. Eastern - 2 spaces available
- Thursday evenings at 10:00 p.m. Eastern - CLOSED
To learn more, or sign up for Group Coaching, you can go to http://www.stampingismybusiness.com/GroupCoaching.htm
1-ON-1 COACHING: We have just TWO openings available for a BI-WEEKLY 1-on-1 Coaching client. If you'd like to be in one of those spots, please e-mail me AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! Anyone who e-mails me after the space is filled will be placed on a Waiting List.
To learn more, or sign up for 1-on-1 Coaching, you can go to http://www.stampingismybusiness.com/OneOnOne.htm
The Groups meet via conference call once per week. On the call, each member has time to talk about their personal business and receive personal coaching from me, as well as helpful guidance from the other Group members. Following that, I then cover our topic of the month.
1-on-1 Coaching is a more intense Coaching model. It's for those stamping professionals who would like to see speedier progress, or feel like they would benefit more from the individual format.
All openings are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Once a slot if full, I will start a waiting list for future openings.
To learn more, or sign up for Group Coaching, you can go to http://www.stampingismybusiness.com/GroupCoaching.htm
To learn more, or sign up for 1-on-1 Coaching, you can go to http://www.stampingismybusiness.com/OneOnOne.htm
If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me.
I've had a handful of questions recently about how everyone seems to be calling themselves a "Coach" lately, and I thought this might be a good time to talk about the difference between real, Certified Coaches and people who like to call themselves, "Coaches."
First, the title, Coach, is an earned, CERTIFIED designation:
- Certified Coaches are NOT people who decided one day to 'put out a shingle' and start calling themselves that.
- They're not people who are trying to capitalize on their name in a certain field to make some quick, extra money or prop up a waning business.
- Under the auspices of the International Coach Federation, Certified Coaches go through very specific training:
180 hours of coach-specific training in an accredited program
- 500 hours of coach experience obtained AFTER completing at least 60 hours of training
- 20 hours of mentor coaching
- Successful passing of an oral examination
- Successful passing of a written exam administered in a proctored environment.
As you can see, it's not something you do overnight. The key to being an effective Coach is to have the proper training.
Without the training, it doesn't matter how successful you were in other endeavors. It doesn't mean you can just become a successful Coach. Because real Coaching isn't about saying, "this is what I did. If you do it, too, you'll be as successful as me!"
In fact, the "just copy me" approach you often see "quickie coaches" employ is one a Certified Coach would NEVER take.
Why?
Because it doesn't take the individual into account.
The notion there's a cookie-cutter formula for success is the mark of someone who doesn't truly understand Coaching.
Coaching is about the individual... and Certifed Coaches know that.
- It's about knowing when to push... and when to hold back.
- It's about knowing how to quickly indentify an individual's strengths and weaknesses, and help that individual capitalize on, or minimize, them.
And the work of a Certified Coach doesn't end when the session does. Certified Coaches undergo rigorous continuing education, both on their own and in a more structured environment.
Why?
Because the Certified Coach understands their own continued growth and knowledge is key to providing the best possible service to their clients.
Coaching is a full-time job. It's not a hobby.
And it shouldn' be taken lightly... by the Coach or the client!
Tomorrow, I'll be sending an e-mail around with my openings for October (which start next Monday).
I hope you you can join us!
Just a quick note to remind you today is the last day to get the Early Bird Discount on the 2009 Blogger's Boot Camp.
For more information on the Boot Camp, or to sign up, click here.
A recent study by Hubspot.com showed that small businesses who blog receive:
- 55% more traffic than those with static websites!
- 97% more inbound links!
- 434% more indexed pages!
Why is this important?
More inbound links and indexed pages mean you rank higher in search engines... which drives more traffic to your site.
More traffic means more leads, sales and profit!
Now, this study talks about BUSINESS blogs. A business blog is not the same as a personal blog. The majority of stamping business owners who blog have a personal blog.
As a result, the majority of stamping business owners who blog are NOT
getting the most traffic or seeing the most sales and profit!
However...
- If you currently have a personal blog you'd like to convert into a business blog...
- If you don't have a blog, but would like to start a business blog...
- If you have a business blog already, but would like to improve it and increase the business you're seeing from it...
I'm happy to announce the long-awaited opening of Early Bird Registration for the 2009 Blogger's Boot Camp - the premier Boot Camp for blogging stamping business owners!
This Boot Camp will feature ALL-NEW videos, featuring the new TypePad
interface AND (for the first time) videos to show you how to set up and
maintain your Blogger blogs!
Of course, we'll also incorporate all of the latest rules and regulations into the Boot Camp to keep you compliant, as well.
Early Bird Discounts are available now. For more information, visit:
http://www.stampingismybusiness.com/2009blogboot2.htm
Many of you have e-mailed over the last couple of days asking what I thought of the new IDA.
I've intentionally refrained from commenting publicly because, frankly, there was enough commentary out there already.
Now that the dust has settled somewhat, there are a couple of things I would like to say:
First, IF YOU'RE THINKING OF QUITTING SU... DON'T!
Take a pause. Wait and see what happens. There have already been significant changes to the initial announcement. I'm sure that some of the Demos who resigned Tuesday are regretting that decision today. (By the way, if you're one of those Demos, you can probably call SU and get reinstated) You have until September 30th to sign the new IDA. Take that time. Weigh your options. Then, make the decision that you feel is best for you.
Next, MAKE SURE YOU'RE COMPLETELY FAMILIAR WITH THE NEW IDA AND ITS REVISIONS!
As I mentioned, there was a significant pullback from the intial position of what you could and could not do yesterday. Make sure you understand those changes before you make a decision. It may be that the changes bring the new IDA back into your comfort zone.
Finally, TALK TO YOUR DOWNLINE!
Whatever the changes end up being in the end, they'll be somewhat moot if you don't retain your downline. It's vitally important you get on the phone with your downline and make sure they're making well-informed decisions, as well. Don't be passive and just wait for your downline to opt back in. Be actively involved in the process of getting them to do so.
At the end of the day, you have to do what's best for you. But make sure you truly know what that is! You've been given the time to determine what, exactly, your course of action should be. Take that time! Use it to work through your feelings about the situation, as well as the practical implications of leaving or staying. Use that time, as well, to help your downline work through the same process.
That way, when decision time really does come, you'll make it knowing you gave it the time and thought such a major decision deserves.
