Issue #79 - April, 27  2001 <<Business Building Tips:Getting Started>>

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
brought to you by Laurie Riddell Geary, M.Ed., PCC.
Coaching you to get your life IN GEAR by making shifts, getting
unstuck, finding balance, accelerating your growth, and mapping
the best route to your chosen destination: a life filled with
passion and purpose.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
In this issue:
        1. Welcome!
        2. Reader Feedback
        3. Weekly Article:  <<Business Building Tips: Getting Started>>
        4. Recommended Tasks
                5. Recommended Books
                6. Upcoming  Teleclasses  and local Workshops
                7. Subscription information
 

1. WELCOME!

Welcome to <GEAR UP FOR SUCCESS!> and a warm welcome to all
my new subscribers!  I really appreciate your forwarding my newsletter
to all your friends and colleagues. I now have over 500 subscribers!
Your recommendations help me grow and develop as a coach. Anyone
can subscribe by going to my website @ www.ingearcoaching.com.
Thank you so much for your support!
 
 

2. Reader FEEDBACK:

<Hi Laurie, I thought you would be interested in this punctuation lesson:
An English professor wrote on the blackboard the words
 "A woman without her man is nothing" and directed the students to punctuate it correctly.
The men wrote: "A woman, without her man, is nothing."
The women wrote: "A woman: without her, man is nothing."
Like grammar, punctuation is everything!>
submitted by Gail Burchard from Gloucester, MA

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

3.  **Weekly Article:  <<BUSINESS BUILDING TIPS: GETTING STARTED>>

        As many of my readers are coaches or entrepreneurs, and many of
my clients are new coaches building their business this month's newsletter
will be devoted to business building techniques I have used successfully in
building my own coaching and training business over the past 5 years.

<Top Ten Tips for GETTING STARTED in Building your Business>

1 - TELL EVERYONE!

        a. Send out a LETTER* to everyone you know (at least 100 people) describing
            your new venture.  Ask for their help in telling their network about your services.
            Enclose your new business card; other enclosures may include a complimentary
            coupon for free services, articles, testimonials, a brochure...
          *Be sure to follow-up your letter with a phone call.

        b. Develop your U.S.P* (Unique Selling Proposition), otherwise known as
           the "elevator speech" or "30 second commercial."  This U.S.P. is what
           you say when someone asks you what you do...it should provoke them
           to want to ask you more about what you offer.
          For information on developing your U.S.P, contact me.
        *Make a list of 10 reasons a client would want to buy your services;
          identify what is unique and special about YOU!

        c. Create a LIVING BROCHURE: Rather than a written brochure, be prepared
           to describe your business, and the value people can expect (respond to the
           most common question: WIFM (What's in it for me?)

        d. Create a WRITTEN BROCHURE and/or a one-page BIO sheet with
             professional photo.

        e. Develop an INFORMATION PACKET describing your business to send out to
            interested, potential clients.  This information packet should include your bio,
            preferably with professional photo and/or a written brochure, articles you've
           written or other articles related to your business, testimonials, an offer for a
           complimentary session or a free gift, your business card, and your contact
           information, including website (if available)
           Develop a MEDIA PRESS KIT: announce your new business.

2 - Create a VISION of your business.  Be specific.  Set a DEADLINE for when
        you want your vision to be realized. Identify ACTION STEPS for getting there
        and establish a plan for action ACCOUNTABILITY.
        Create a PROFILE of your ideal client.

3 - Write a MISSION STATEMENT and a BUSINESS PLAN
        For a free teleclass on creating a Business Plan, see www.teleclass.com

4 - Create your professional BUSINESS CARD
        For a free teleclass on creating a great business card, contact Michael Losier
        at www.teleclassinternational.com

5 - Create your professional LETTERHEAD STATIONERY

6 - ASK for help!  Find other people who have created businesses like yours and ask
        them for tips, helpful hints, necessary information.  Find ROLE MODELS,
        MENTORS, TEACHERS;  hire  a COACH!
        To find a coach, go to www.coachfederation.org or www.icfne.org or www.coachu.com
        NETWORK with  professional colleagues and ask for their support; organize a MASTER
        MIND GROUP:  a group of colleagues in similar or related businesses who meet monthly
        to support each other in their business growth & development; ask your friends and family
        and significant others to support you in your business development.
        For a great book on the art of asking, read THE ALADDIN FACTOR*
        or see newsletter issue #46 at my website: www.ingearcoaching.com

7 - Create a TEAM 100: Compile a list of 100 professionals in your network whom
        you can call upon for professional services, either for yourself or for your clients.
        For information about Team 100, go to www.coachu.com.  *If you want to be on
        my Team 100, please contact me: laurie@ingearcoaching.com

8 - Get TRAINING; become certified;  learn necessary SKILLS and important information
        related to your business and to business building.
        For a great book on business-building, read the E-MYTH REVISITED*
        or  take teleclasses for business building tips: www.teleclass.com
        or www.teleclassinternational.com or www.teleclass4U.com

9 - GIVE AWAY your services!  People need to know the value of what you have to offer;
        experiencing your services is the best way to convince people of your value.
        Then ask them for their business or for referrals. Arrange to BARTER your services.

10 - Set Up Your OFFICE:  Buy necessary equipment (computer, printer, fax, phone, copier),
        office supplies, furniture (desk, chair, file cabinets;
        hire a VIRTUAL ASSISTANT: see www.assistu.com or www.julnet.com.
 

**copyright: all rights reserved: Laurie R. Geary, April, 2001
 

===== Do you have any business-building tips?  My readers and I would really appreciate
                hearing them.  Please send them to me.  Thank you! ================
 

Next week's issue: <BUILDING YOUR BUSINESS: Professional Growth & Development Techniques>
 

4. Recommended TASKS:

1. Follow any or all of the above steps for Getting Started in Building your Business.

2. Call or email me for a complimentary half-hour COACHING session to help you
get started in building your business.
 Voice:617-494-1422;  email: laurie@ingearcoaching.com

3. Go to my Website www.ingearcoaching.com for back issues of my newsletter to read
 more articles on taking risks, building self esteem, finding your passion, resolving conflict,
coaching...and much more

4. Read one of the books recommended below related to business building.
 
 

5. Recommended BOOKS:

*<E-MYTH REVISITED: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It>
 by Michael Gerber
http://amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0887307280/gearupforsuccela

*<THE ALADDIN FACTOR> by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN/7183101300/gearupforsuccela

<The Magic Lamp: Goal Setting for People Who Hate Setting Goals> by Keith Ellis
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/060980166X/gearupforsuccela

<Success is Not an Accident>  by Tommy Newberry
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0451167724/gearupforsuccela

<Life Strategies> by Philip McGraw
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0786884592/gearupforsuccela

Order my new workbook:
<RISK TO GROW! CREATE the LIFE YOU WANT through RESPONSIBLE RISK-TAKING>
a collection of articles, top tens, models, poems & quotes, and exercises on Risk-Taking....
or
 order my other booklet on experiential activities for trainers: 75 of my favorite activities
learned from years of working as an instructor for Outward Bound Professional Development
Programs. <GAMES & INITIATIVES for NETWORKING, ENERGIZING, & TEAM-BUILDING>.

Both booklets now available...hard copy ($20) or pdf. file ($15)
Send check to Laurie Geary, 4 Canal Park, PH9, Cambridge, MA 02141;
email request to: laurie@ingearcoaching.com or
order at my website: www.ingearcoaching.com
 

6. UPCOMING <TELECLASSES> AND <LOCAL WORKSHOPS>:

<TELECLASSES>

* RISK TO GROW! Create the Life You Want through Responsible Risk-Taking.
Learn the 3-Step Risk-Taking Process. Identify Risking Motivators & Blocks,
Resources and more.
Tuesday, May 15th @ 9pm - also: Wednesday, June 13th @ 9pm EST

*BUILDING YOUR SELF ESTEEM with the 8-A SYSTEM
North Shore Community College
 4 Thursdays, September 6-13-20-27 @ 8pmEST

<LOCAL WORKSHOPS>:

RISK-TAKING: The Path to Personal Growth:
*Boston Center for Adult Education
Thursday, June 7th from 6:30-9:30 pm
*North Shore Community College
Wednesday, September 12th from 9-3pm

BE A PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL COACH
*Boston Center for Adult Education
  6:30-9:30 pm; Tuesday, June 5, 2001
*North Shore Community College
Wednesday, September 19th, from 9-3pm

BUILDING YOUR SELF ESTEEM with the 8-A SYSTEM
North Shore Community College
Wednesday, September 26th from 9-3pm

MBTI - Myers Briggs Type Indicator
Beverly Hospital
August 2, 12-4pm

TEAM BUILDING TRAINING
Bevery Hospital
Friday, May 18th, 9-12
 
 

8. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
Please  forward your copy of this newsletter to anyone you think might enjoy reading it.
I appreciate your support. I just request that you keep the broadcast intact...
nothing changed, added or deleted,including subscription information and my contact
and copyright information. Thank you
For back-issues of my weekly broadcast go to my website @ www.ingearcoaching.com
To subscribe or un-subscribe go to www.ingearcoaching.com/newsletter