Why You Need A Coach

Tuesday, March 25th, 2008 at 11:30 PM

Business can be a daunting world at times. If you are one of my long-time readers, you will recall the several times I reference the staggering statistics that illustrate a steep and steady attrition rate in business.

Getting started can be intimidating. Knowing what to do first, understanding the ins and outs of your chosen industry, and figuring out how to market yourself are all daunting tasks, especially to the “newbie”.
It was the same for me when I first stated Navy flight training. There was so much to know, so many high expectations, and when it came to attrition…well, lets just say most did not make it. I struggled at times, and other times I excelled. I can tell you with all honesty, that I would not have made it through without the compassion and honesty of a great mentor.
The same has been true in my business career.

In flight school, I had a friend who had been through the whole experience. His name is Noah Bellringer. He gave me pointers on what to expect during certain phases of training. He gave me insight on how to prepare for each flight; what to concentrate more heavily on and what to take less seriously. He guided me along the way, and in the end, his sage advice assisted me in earning my U.S. Navy “Wings of Gold” as a Navy pilot.
Now YOU need to consider the importance of having a similar resource to guide you in building and growing your business.

Why Have A Coach?

Tiger Woods has one. Oprah has one. Even Donald Trump has one. So why don’t you?

Well, business has been very similar to flight school for me. I have had several mentors, but my coach, Patrick Combs, has helped me understand the many phases of business. You have heard me talk about Dave Stech, Larry Benet, and Gene McNaughton…just a few of my mentors. Patrick Combs has been a valuable asset in assisting me in finding my path in business, mold my business style to match my personality and talents, and to bolster my weaknesses and develop my strengths into a complete package of success. The results have been unbelievable.

What Is A Coach?

First things first. When I first met Patrick, he was giving a talk as a guest speaker at a company-sponsored training event for one of our network marketing businesses. The talk revolved around the topics of mindset, passion, and motivation as it applies to business.

Now, something you should know about Patrick is that, while he is very energetic and inspiring, he is also very down to earth. He is not as much the “in your face” or “rah-rah-rah” type of speaker. Instead, he is the engaging type of guy you would want to have over for dinner.

Patrick, I later found out, offered a coaching service. I thought, “What the heck. I’ll give it a shot”. Looking back on it, I can’t believe how fortunate I was to have jumped at the opportunity to have Patrick as my personal coach, because “What the heck, I’ll give it a shot” is a very weak mindset to be in when it comes to business or any other exciting endeavor.

Patrick has helped me overcome that type of thinking. He also showed me how to be a more effective entrepreneur.

Patrick wasted no time in breaking down my concerns about business. He got straight to the root of a lot of hang-ups I had with calling prospects, generating leads, and closing sales.

Patrick has a passion for assisting people. He also has a knack for knowing what makes people tick. And that is the whole point behind having a mentor and a coach.

A coach is someone who can guide you and empower you to build yourself into your business’s strongest and most valuable asset.
How Do You Find A Coach?

Research. Ask a lot of questions. Basically, ask the questions of your prospective coach that you imagine they should be asking you. What is it you are in business to do? What are you passionate about? Where did you get your start? What caused you to get into this business? Do you have any references?

Coaches are great. But as the old saying goes, “When the student is ready, the teacher appears”. Please do not take what I am saying as gospel. Do not assume that by plunking down some good money that a business coach will make you rich over night. It takes work. It takes study. It takes an open mind. And it means letting go of the old (or current) you.

A coach is a necessary business expense, in my humble opinion. In fact, I’ll go as far to say that if you are not investing in some sort of coaching program, you are not taking your business seriously enough, and you are probably setting yourself up for failure.

Get a good coach and watch your skills blossom and your talents grow. I am telling you, this is important and crucial to your success.
To learn more about my coaching program, email me at jt@shiftofmomentum.com or call me directly at (208) 939-0279.

I look forward to hearing form you soon, and can’t wait for you to see massive growth in your business!

See you in the next post…
~JT