“Get clear on who your ideal client is and focus on the benefits you offer.” — Stephanie Ward
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Transcript of the Questions & Answers
(1) Have you always wanted to be a coach or was there a PIVOTAL moment in your life that prompted the shift?
It was a pivotal moment for me. I was working at a job that I didn’t find meaningful and was commuting almost 2 hours each way each day and I desperately wanted to find work that mattered to me. I couldn’t figure it out so I decided to ask for help. I had read a book by a coach and thought maybe she could help. I hired one of her coaches and discovered that coaching was a perfect fit for me. So I went to Coach U at night while working full time and then left my job and started Firefly Coaching in 2002.
(2) Who is your IDEAL client and how do you support them?
My ideal clients are service-based solopreneurs and small business owners. I’m a marketing coach and I help them design and plan a marketing strategy that fits for them so they can have a steady stream of cool clients. I also give my clients unique ideas for their businesses and suggest additional ways they can be more profitable by adding new revenue streams.
(3) What advice do you have for NEWBIE COACHES just starting out their coaching journey?
Get clear on who your ideal clients are and focus on the results you deliver for them. Coaching is an intangible service and the more concrete you can make it the better. People don’t care about what coaching is or how it works, they just want help getting their problems solved. Also, it is a business and you will have to spend more time than you probably think on marketing your business. So get comfortable with that and create a process that you enjoy.
(4) If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your younger self?
Things that I know now that would have been great to know at an earlier age are: Don’t take things personally and don’t make assumptions (2 of the 4 agreements from Miguel Ruiz), Live in the Present Moment (great book by Eckhart Tolle: The Power of Now, and Investigate Stressful Thoughts – the Work of Byron Katie (book: Loving What Is). Now, having said all that, I also believe that you learn the things you need to learn right on time and that the entire journey is what brings you to the point where you are today.
(5) We all have times in our businesses when things get tough. How do you deal with challenges?
It’s OK to feel whatever you’re feeling so I don’t try to deny my feelings if I’m frustrated. And I don’t stay there for long because it’s hard to find a solution when you’re not clear. It’s helpful to get some perspective so I ask myself, will this matter one year from now? Another thing I do is to focus on what is going well, gratitude. It really does work wonders. And of course it’s always helpful to talk with someone and ask for their viewpoint.
About Stephanie Ward
Stephanie Ward is the Marketing Coach for Entrepreneurs who want to create a meaningful and prosperous business. Stephanie helps her clients attract and maintain a steady stream of cool clients.
She helps small business owners get clear about their businesses and find marketing ideas that are a superb fit.
You can connect with Stephanie here:
- www.fireflycoaching.com
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/fireflycoaching
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/fireflycoaching
- Linkedin: nl.linkedin.com/in/stephaniewardfirefly
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/fireflycoaching
- Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/fireflycoaching
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