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Cost-effective Online Tools for Success

By linda · Comments (2)

Sunday, April 25th, 2010

While putting together a list of free and low-cost tools on the web, I checked in with Beth Cole of www.thewebservant.com to include her expert input. Later this week I’ll be posting a brief interview with Beth about cost-effectively creating websites. In the meantime, we have compiled a list of tools for you to investigate.

Many of these online tools have free trial periods so you can try them first:

To offer group coaching via telephone: For the bridge line, I’ve recently had good connections with www.freeconferencecall.com . Beth says try Whistletree for bride lines also. To help facilitate your groups (up to five for $27 per month with no long term contract) look into www.groupcoachingmanager.com .

For an online scheduling tool: I just started using www.timedriver.com and so far, I’m really impressed. Simple to set up and after the generous 90 day trial the cost is $29.95 for a year. Beth says also check out Genbook, or Acuity Scheduling (allows payment) .

To create surveys: Use www.surveymonkey.com to create surveys to engage your potential clients and invite them for input. The basic account is free.

To covert a document to pdf: Try www.pdfonline.com to convert documents to pdf format. Beth’s additional recommendations include www.freepdfconvert.com and Adobe’s PDF tool (subscription).,

For email marketing and list management: I use www.constantcontact.com . Beth recommends another popular possibility, www.icontact.com . Both offer free trials.

To request money and facilitate client payments: Until you obtain a merchant account and shopping cart which is more costly, www.paypal.com will facilitate invoices and requests for payment. Clients can use their credit cards or bank account to make payments.

More on managing client billing: Beth uses www.freshbooks.com and says other popular solutions are BlinkSale and Harvest.

For delivering ebooks: Beth recommends www.ejunkie.com .

For delivering ecourses: Beth recommends www.icontact.com.

What recommendations for free and low-cost online tools do you have? Let us know! Leave your recommendations in comments below.

Finally, a strong recommendation from me: To contribute to your success, go order Beth Cole’s ebook, Essential Web Marketing. It’s a great investment at only $19.95. Click here to learn more.

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Categories : Christian Coaching, Establishing your business, Marketing your Business, Uncategorized

Woodstock and the Truth

By linda · Comments (0)

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

Last week I saw an internet story headline that caught my attention:

”I Was At Woodstock. And I Hated It”*

Wow. After all this time, the perceived social pressure had diffused enough so someone felt safe to tell the truth about his experience. Or maybe it took all these years for the writer to muster the courage to express a story that went against popular opinion.

The headline itself started me thinking about how many times we hold back from telling the truth. It’s not that we’re necessarily lying or deceiving. I’m referring to the times we don’t share our true thoughts or feelings. We avoid sharing our opinions or insights. We may keep silent out of laziness or perhaps we’re fearful. Whatever the reason, the result is that the popular opinion of those around us determines how we live.

As coaches we are responsible to face what’s true and real in our own lives respond accordingly. And we are responsible to help our clients do the same.

I challenge you with these questions. What truth do you need to face? What is real about your circumstances that you need to acknowledge, own and address today? What will happen if you don’t accept and face this truth? What will happen if you do? What will happen if you pray about this? Of course, I encourage you to find out what will happen if you do pray about it!

Whatever your answer to these questions, I also encourage you to bravely tell someone – be it your coach, a trusted friend, or your pastor. Ask for accountability and support to face the truth and step into that truth.

Of course the Woodstock article I’ve mentioned is one of many in the current media, referencing the event’s 40^th anniversary. Don’t take forty years or forty days to tell your truth. Do it now. “The truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

*If you’re interested in reading the Newsweek article “I Was At Woodstock. And I Hated It” here is the link: http://www.newsweek.com/id/211496

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Categories : Christian Coaching

Christian Coaching Community Connections: the antidote to isolation

By linda · Comments (0)

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

Recently, a question about the isolation factor in coaching and the need for connecting with other Christian coaches was posted at a Linkedin online discussion forum. Here, I’m reposting a modified version of my response:

The key to dealing with isolation is to step into relationships. Email and phone conversations (often phone calls scheduled via email, because we’re coaches, right?) are a great way to get to know fellow coaches.

Feeling isolated and alone is so common among coaches. Without active, healthy relationships our perspectives can become skewed and we can become self-critical and depressed. If we are truly pursuing balance and health then we must make healthy relationships a priority. That involves putting time on the schedule to connect with others. And there is the problem – we don’t take the time to make the connections.

I have found great Christian coach connections within the Christian Coaches Network . When I think of my key connections – collegues who have become friends, I think of CCN.

There are many ways to connect with other Christian coaches; here are a few:

Put the time on the schedule and “just do it!”
Check with your training school for online, phone and in person groups.
Go to the online communities and participate (i.e. don’t just sign in and read – you must participate). Try the Christian Coaching Center and sign up with one or more community groups there.
Use Linkedin and Facebook, etc. Try the Christian Coaching Magazine group at Facebook.
Become a member of the Christian Coaches Network (CCN) and call in on Judy Santos’ monthly CCN calls.
Look on the CCN website – in the referral listings – to find a coach near you – and schedule coffee.
Definitely use email and phone calls – regularly – i.e. put the calls on on your calendar – and have fun!

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Categories : Christian Coaching, Christian Coaching Community

“Breaking the Silence About Coach Training”

By linda · Comments (0)

Monday, July 6th, 2009

Recently Milana Leshinsky sent out an email with the subject line “breaking the silence about coach training.”

She makes the following statement:

“There is NOT a single coach out there who is successful because they went through coach training or received their certification.”

Many of you know of Milana, but since this post is written to prospective and new coaches, let me clarify. Milana Leshinsky is widely known as a consultant to coaches on setting up successful businesses – go to http://www.accpow.com/, for example – to see some of her work.

So back to Milana’s statement: “There is NOT a single coach out there who is successful because they went through coach training or received their certification.”

I agree with her.

In her email, Milana goes on to market her products that address business success, making the point that if coaches don’t manage their business well they won’t be successful. I certainly agree with her point. And what she’s suggesting can certainly apply to those who want to run a successful coaching ministry as well.

Coach training and certification alone will not make anyone successful in business and ministry. While important components of success for a coach, training and certification will not guarantee success. Business management, effective marketing (branding, target marketing, list building, web marketing, i.e.), and multiple streams of income are just a few of the business practices to master for success.

Acknowledging the importance of effective business management doesn’t devalue coach training or certification – both are essential components to excellence and success for a coach. In fact, many coach training programs address the business skills necessary to set a foundation for success. However, it can be difficult to effectively master these skills during the training. Excellent options for help in generating business success include hiring a mentor coach or participating in a practice building coaching group after you complete training.

So does training and certification plus business savvy equal coaching success?

No.

There are other components of success as well. I invite your comments here at this post with your thoughts and questions on success factors. Share your thoughts. And then check back for a future post with my thoughts on remaining success factors.

Until then, don’t forget the most important success factor - your dynamic relationship with God through prayer, attentiveness to Scripture and worship. There is nothing more important to the true success of your business, ministry or your life than making choices based on your relationship with Christ – as you consistently acknowledge and live in God’s presence, wisdom and love.

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Categories : Christian Coaching, Starting the Journey, The Training Decision

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