The Benefits of Coaching

One of the hardest parts of entrepreneurship is creating a viable product. It should be simple right? You have a great idea, convinced that it will change the world, so what could go wrong?

The reality is that a lot could. Great products, one that people don’t just purchase, but actually use and eventually rave about, all have one thing in common: they solve problems.

One of the most common things I tell my clients, and any would-be entrepreneur, is that if people aren’t buying your product, you aren’t solving a problem. This is true whether you have a tangible product like a phone case or a conceptual one like coaching. Whether I physically give you the product or I am the product, a viable product will always solve a problem.

Creating A Viable Product

I’ve found that the easiest way for me to understand product is to get back to its original meaning. A product is a predictable unit of value.*

Great products, as I’ve already said, solve problems.

Marcus Whitney says that they provide a predictable unit of value.

We see this in everyday scenarios. I need the internet to publish this post. Currently, ATT has solved that problem with reliable internet in my home office. I know exactly what I will pay for this service every month.

If, however, that internet starts to fail and I only get internet for fifteen days of the month, or ten days out of the month, I don’t get that predictable unit of value. Now all of a sudden, I’m looking at other competitors to see if they can solve my problem – internet – at a predictable (and reliable) price.

This works with service-based products as well. I could tell you how the average coaching client saves time and money while improving performance. People engaged in coaching relationships also show higher levels of emotional intelligence, grit, and overall life satisfaction. They also tend to make more money – for their companies and for themselves. The Benefits of Coaching

So if I could, through data and research, show you how paying $10,000 for coaching could, on average, make you $100,000 … would you sign up for coaching?

I’m sure you would.

And the great news is, I don’t charge 10K. In fact, if you’re wanting to know more about coaching, you can read my ebook for less than a cup of coffee and get a head start on it.

Increasing Production

I’m no manufacturing genius, but I do understand human performance. There are some certain elements we have to have in order to nail our own growth, our own optimization, our own viable personal product.

Here are three ways to improve your own performance in your quest for growth.

1.) Tie Your Problem (And The Solution) to the Desired Effect or Feeling.

Recently, I was having a conversation with one of our children about exercise. We talked about why it’s important to do, even when we don’t feel like it. We get emotional, physical, and mental advantages. It gives us energy, improves overall performance, and is a key aid in living longer.

I shared how one of the struggles I’ve had recently is the desire to workout. Honestly, I don’t remember the last time I wanted to workout. In spite of that, I’m outside six days a week doing it anyway.

The shift was tying it to the desired outcome. I wanted to have the energy to play with my kids, build science projects, complete a full day of work, and a whole variety of other things. It’s those goals that keep me going.

Similarly, there will be an aspect of your own growth where you need to do it, even if you don’t want to. Maybe you hate networking events. Find a way to tie the task you don’t want to do (networking) with something you do (a date night, new video game, or your favorite caffeinated drink). 

2.) Give Yourself Some Accountability.

I recently printed and published my 2021 goals for my vision board. As I’m slowly assembling them into the final product, it’s become a visible event to everyone in the house. They know exactly what I’m committing myself to.

They have permission to ask me how I’m doing at any time.

Additionally, I have a few people who know my goals and regularly check in.

It’s a key component to continued growth: the pressure of other people watching.

Whether you’re trying to start a product-based business or a service-based business, have some accountability. Share your goal with others and have them check-in to make sure you’re putting in the work.

3.) Don’t Be Afraid To Fail.

Most products don’t get it right the first time. Even those that we would consider a success (like the iPod) continually strive to get better.

Many of those will fail along the way. Failure is often a key component of learning.

In your own growth, personally or professionally, don’t be afraid to fail. That’s how you get better, gain clarity, remain focused, and achieve excellence.

Eight Core Concepts

This list is updated as the blog series continues. Click on any live link to go to that post in the series. Create and Orchestrate Book Cover

  1. Leadership
  2. Finance
  3. Operations
  4. Growth
  5. Product
  6. Service
  7. Sales
  8. Marketing

* Whitney, Marcus. Create and Orchestrate: The Path to Claiming Your Creative Power from an Unlikely Entrepreneur (pp. 83-84). Creative Power. Kindle Edition.

Podcast Cover Art Episode 22 Interview with Gary Anich

Today’s interview is with Gary Anich of Aunt Mae’s Sweet Tooth in Bakersfield, Ca

Welcome to season three of the LeaderQuest Podcast! This season we are focusing on small business leaders who have had to pivot or transition during the 2020 Covid Economy.

Each interview was structured around three main questions: Podcast Cover Art Episode 22 Interview with Gary Anich

  • How did your business pivot during 2020?
  • What does the future (2021) look like for your business?
  • What is a current problem or question that your facing?

During each interview, you’ll hear real stories from real business owners. They will share their highs and lows, along with important lessons learned along the way. You’ll be able to take their knowledge and turn it into wisdom.

Today is Gary Anich of Aunt Mae’s Sweet Tooth in Bakersfield, Ca.

About Gary and Aunt Mae’s

Gary is a co-owner and partner of Aunt Mae’s which opened its first brick-and-mortar shop shortly before COVID hit. He was able to take a side family business and turn it into a full-time opportunity, even in the midst of COVID.

Listen to Gary’s interview and hear an inspiring story of overcoming the odds and the necessity for a positive mindset.

Visit Aunt Mae’s

If you live in or around the Bakersfield area, you can visit Aunt Mae’s and give their fantastic products a try.

Aunt Mae’s Sweet Tooth

830 18th St.
Bakersfield, Ca 93301

Phone: 661-725-5200

Social Media Aunt Mae's Sweet Tooth Logo

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Episode 18 - Leah Zimmerman

Episode 18 – My Interview with Leah Zimmerman.

Welcome to the Leaderquest Podcast. This season will consist of interviews conducted for the Building With Purpose Conference I held back in May. This is Episode 18 – My Interview with Leah Zimmerman.

If you failed to register for the full course, stay tuned for the rest of season two! I’ve got interviews coming up with each of the contributors. You’ll be able to glean wisdom from them and apply them in ways to grow yourself and your business.

For the conference, I assembled a diverse team of business professionals to examine the stay at home order and how we can achieve maximum productivity and success while in quarantine. The conference focused on the front of a newly issued stay-at-home order. Now, four months later, it seems all the more timely as the economy is looking to reopen.

This is Episode 18 – My Interview with Leah Zimmerman. Episode 18 - Leah Zimmerman

My Interview with Leah Zimmerman

In this episode, I’m having a conversation with Leah Zimmerman. She is a business coach focusing on family-run small businesses. Her specialty is crucial conversations, helping business owners, and their families, prosper during difficult conversations, transitions, and succession.

You can find out more about Leah here.

Be sure to subscribe, leave a comment, and share with someone who could benefit.

What’s one takeaway you have from Episode 18 and my interview with Leah from the Building With Purpose Conference? How will you take control of your business’s future?

I love the wisdom and sense of calm she brings to the table. In the midst of COVID, many businesses are struggling. This is especially true of family businesses. A change in finances and vision can affect many people in the same house. Each has stake in the game. Each needs to be heard. Yet every person can become defensive and make the attacks personal because they know the other parties well. Leah’s presence and wisdom are reassuring and helpful. As a trusted coach and guide, she can help business owners pivot and family members celebrate more wins by having productive “difficult conversations.”

Want more leadership tips? Be sure to check out the blogor #NextSteps Coaching on YouTube.

Steering the Ship - Setting Your Intentions Blog Cover Photo

Like a ship without a rudder is a leader without a compelling goal.

Steer the Ship

Next week, I will be teaching a master’s level course in ethical leadership. I’ve spent the last few weeks preparing for lectures, reading, assignments, and everything that goes into making a class like this successful.

Honestly, I think I’m the most excited to hear from everyone in the class. What their goals are, what their vision for the world is, and how they see themselves developing into world-changing leaders.

It’s also forced me to reflect on my own life.

That led me to the thought that just as a boat without a rudder is unable to steer or navigate, so too will leaders be incapable of change without a clear or compelling goal.

It is pointless for a captain to steer the ship if the rudder is broken.

It is similarly pointless for a leader to expect change without a target goal in mind.

Working Hard

This has been a frequent musing of mine lately. Some days, if I’m honest, I struggle to stay engaged with my work. I love what I do and it meets many of my deepest core convictions and desires in life. Steering the Ship - Setting Your Intentions Blog Cover Photo

Other days, I wake up with a fire in my soul. I spend the day fanning that flame and watch the world around me light up.

What’s the difference?

For a long time, I wasn’t sure. Recently, over a load of dishes, I made a discovery. That particular day, I had a clear goal in mind. I knew exactly what I had to do to make that day a success. It was quite clearly going to be a ‘win’ or a ‘lose’ kind of day.

In contrast to that, I had also been struggling recently. One day, in particular, was a real drag. The only thing that sounded remotely interesting was over-consuming food and seeing how many games of Madden I could paly in 24 hours.

That day, as you may have guessed, was one without a clear goal. I had hopes. Expectations. Longings. Things that ‘would have been nice’ to get done. What I didn’t have, was a clear, concise, or compelling goal to draw me forward.

Ultimately, that’s the mission. I want to fill my life with a clear and compelling mission. A vision of what the world could be if I were fully awake and engage. My desire is to create a series of goals that better me, my family, our community, and ultimately the world.

We can, only do that if we set a clear and concise goal each day. Otherwise, we drift like a boat without a rudder. We chase every mildly exciting thing that ultimately distracts us from our true goals, identity, and ultimate sense of accomplishment.

Set The Intention

My goal for this class is to help them further that voice inside of them that is urging them forward. I want to equip them as leaders to continue to make a difference in the lives of those around them. 

To help you, here are three things you can do to set the intention for each day.

1.) Set long-term goals … then distill them into short term ones.

If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know that I’m a big fan of Michael Hyatt and his Full Focus Planner.

(If this is your first post here, two things: 1.) Welcome and 2.) Now You Know)

One of the genius ideas behind his system is the goal breakdown. Yearly goals become quarterly goals become daily objectives.

Simple, but it works.

The point is to find something outside of yourself that allows you to wake up determined to reach a goal and hungry enough to get after it.

2.) Create an accountability system.

Hire a coach.

Find a mentor.

Seek accountability.

Join a group or mastermind.

Implement a system of rewards (or punishments) if goals aren’t met. I had a client once that kept neglecting an important task. I gave them a goal of completing it by our next session or paying me an additional $500. The ending? By our next session, their goal was completed. (And I was genuinely more excited for him to complete the goal than I would have been about the money).

3.) Keep a record of where you’ve been.

Just as important as looking forward, is reminding yourself where you’ve been. Just as a ship keeps logs and maps, we must do the same. Part of knowing where you’re going is to know where you’ve been.

What obstacles have you overcome? world map, cropped

How have your previous experiences been a blessing?

Where are there parts of your story that need to be retold or reexamined?

When was a time you felt most alive?

Conclusion

One of my wavering beliefs is that we have all been called to something great. I can’t count the number of times I’ve had a client say, “You don’t doubt that I can do this?”

Never for a second.

You were called to something great, something world-changing. Don’t lose sight of that and miss your goal. Set your intentions and make them clear.

I believe in you.

KC Chiefs Logo

Last night, the Kansas City Chiefs were crowned the champions of the NFL season.

As a lifelong fan of the Chiefs, I beyond thrilled. I’ve been able to witness the postseason droughts end for both the Royals and the Chiefs in recent years.

As a sports fan, what a game last night! An even chess match in the first half, a good third quarter for the 49ers and a steller six minutes for Kansas City that saw them storm back from ten down to win.

We threw a party last night with several families and their kids coming over. We at tons of food and enjoyed some laughs at the commercials as well.

Celebrating Championship win
(c) Kevin C. Cox | Getty Images

But enough of that, on this channel, we talk about mental performance and how to get better so I’ll keep my fanboy squeals to a minimum. Let’s analyze the game and use it to pursue our goals.

1.) Preparation is Key

There are two weeks between conference championships and the championship game. Each team spent time analyzing the other. Learning their tendencies. Scripting new plays. Figuring out weaknesses. They paid attention to detail.

We need to do the same thing. Life is a battle. There is a struggle going on inside of us. Preparation is key.

When I worked in the fitness industry, I did a lot of first day consultations for new gym members. I walked them through the gym, talk about equipment, and give them some tips and strategies for success.

One of the big ones was preparing food ahead of time. If you go shopping when you’re already hungry, it’s too late. You’ll make bad choices and not meet your fitness goals.

Life works in much the same way. Committing to self-improvement and success takes planning. We must look at the details of our life. Just like how the food we eat fuels us (good fuel equals good energy), our commitment to planning the details of our lives leads to breakthrough success.

2.) Unwavering Belief

Listening to the player interviews after the game is usually a fascinating experience. While some dislike their need for media appearances, most do it it willingly and provide great insight. One player, when asked about their fourth-quarter ten-point deficit how they handled it on the sideline. Their response? “We never lost hope or belief. We know what we are capable of.”

It worked. Multiple times in fact. The Chiefs were down ten points in all three of their postseason games. While nervewracking for a fan, it never was for them.

Their preparation (see point one) had given them one extra benefit: an unwavering belief in themselves. They were still positive. They knew how to handle this situation. The ultimate destination of the game was in their full control.

Confidence is key. But confidence comes from being ready.

When preparation and opportunity meet, success is bred.

3.) “Finish the Game!”

Late in the game, playing with the lead that would ultimately give them the win, the camera cut to the Chiefs sideline. Patrick Mahomes was imploring his teammates to, “Finish the Game!” The defense needed one more stop to all but ensure a victory. Though San Francisco had three timeouts, it was a two-possession game. One good stop could get the Chiefs the ball back where they could hopefully run out the clock.

Patrick Mahomes Scramble

(c) Al Bello | Getty Images

They did one better.

The defense did get the stop. Kansas City got the ball back with about ninety seconds left. I was on the phone with my dad and my brother at the time, anticipating the outcome.

“One first down,” I said, “That’s what we need to seal the deal.”

Instead, the Chiefs scored again on a run to the left side. Now, instead of a four-point lead, it was eleven.

From down by ten to up by eleven in six minutes.

Why?

Because they had a plan. They were committed, and they chose to finish the game.

Starting things is easy.

People start new years resolutions every year.

Very few complete them. I heard one report recently that suggested that 80% quit trying within the first month.

Combat that. With everything that you have.

Make An Action Plan

Pay attention to detail.

Have unwavering belief.

“Finish the game!”

That’s a recipe for success. For the Chiefs, and for us.