43 - Corporate to Coach Accelerator launch week has officially begun!

Hello and welcome to the Business of Executive Coaching podcast. So I am beyond excited to announce that the doors to the Corporate to Coach accelerator, which I've been telling you about for weeks now, are now open. So the new reincarnation of the Impact Coach Collective as the Corporate to Coach Accelerator has been a labor of love. I love this program. I think it's going to impact even more coaches and I'm so pleased that it is officially out there in the world and that over the next six weeks all of the new features that I have built are going to be added ready for our January 2025 cohort. So if you are an executive coach or you are just starting your executive coaching business and 2025 is your year to take the leap or to take your next step in business, then I really urge you to take the chance to join now because you are going to get the benefit of whole raft of launch bonuses that I probably won't offer again. But I'm so excited about this offer, I couldn't help myself adding more and more features. So before I share more about the accelerator and you probably have heard a little bit about it from me, but I want to go into a little more detail. I wanted to tell you about what is happening this week, launch week. So of course if you are listening to this episode later on, the offer may be different. But head over to the accelerator webpage anyway and you can always jump on the wait list if doors aren't open because we always have the very best offer and bonuses for anyone who joins the wait list. And so the webpage is@elliscarf.com CCA so check it out. And that's for everyone. So there are five big things that are happening this week. The first is that doors are officially open now and they will be closing at the end of this week on Friday 29th November at the end of the day. And it'll be at the end of the day for any time zone. So whatever the latest time zone is, that's when we're going to close the doors. So don't worry about time zone. If you join this week while doors for the January 2025 cohort are open, you are going to receive a US$500 discount. That means that rather than paying the full price, which is US4497, your price will be reduced to 4497. And of course you can pay with a 12 month pay which is also discounted. And you can see all those details on the website and if you Join this week. You will get instant access to the corporate to coach blueprint as well, which you can work through until your cohort officially kicks off in January 2025. The second important date this week, and I'm doing it in this order very particularly is that there is also a special early bird period and the early bird period has got extra bonuses. So if you join before the end of the day this Wednesday 27th November, you're gonna get the 500 discount and access to the blueprint. And you will also get free full membership access for all of December. So that's basically an additional month on your membership and it includes all of the coaching calls which are, you know, there are three of those per week at different times to work across all time zones. And you'll get all curriculum and you'll get access to the portal full of masterclasses and workshops and tools and templates. And you'll be invited to the 202025 planning intensive which is happening in the first week of December. So this is really exciting. The big event this week of course is that I am running a free webinar on Tuesday 26th November and the topic for the webinar is three LinkedIn strategies to get your next three corporate clients. And in this webinar I'm going to be sharing three of my best strategies for using LinkedIn as part of your holistic business development approach. Now, because I always like to make sure times are suitable for anyone in the world, this will also be offered at two time zones. So if you are listening before Tuesday you can sign up for that still@www.elliscarf.com class LinkedIn and of course I'll put that in the show notes. And even if it's past Tuesday, if you sign up you'll get access to the recording so you can still grab it there. I am also going to be offering some very casual free group coaching taster sessions slash open house experiences this Thursday and I think that's the 28th of November. But I'm only going to be offering these to people who are on my on my mailing list, so only offering it by email. So I would suggest heading over to my website and signing up for any of the free rate resources on my homepage. Or you can sign up just directly for the newsletter at the bottom of my homepage which is Ellis sky and you will get all those details later this week. I haven't offered this since earlier this year and many of the folks who came along to those sessions really Appreciated sort of the magic of the community and the work we do and the, you know, the, the ideas for their business and have chosen to join the community. So, you know, it's a great, no obligation experience to get a sense of whether, whether you like how it works and whether you think it would be helpful for you. And so then the final and probably the most important part of this week is that I have opened up lots of time in my calendar to talk to you. So if you want to have a deeper chat about the specifics of your business or where you're at, your challenges, your plan of attack, what you need to do in 2025, book a call with me. So I'm going to put the link to doing that in the show notes. If there isn't a time that works for you, just send me a message and we'll find something that does. Because I want to make sure I'm opening it up. Because we have people from around the world in the accelerator. And so I like to make sure that, you know, calls and, and things like this are always offered at times that work for everyone. So one of the questions that I get is whether the accelerator is the right step, right for. So I'm talking to coaches and they sort of want to know, well, you know, should I, should I make this leap? Is 2025 the year that I should invest in a program to grow my business? And I want to answer this question by letting you. It is for, right? And also who it's not for. So the accelerator is for you. If you are an executive coach or you are starting your executive coaching business, it's for coaches who want more corporate clients, or maybe if you haven't sold to corporate clients before, but you want that to be part of what you do. Or if you want to expand the way you work, you want to scale in new ways, it's for you. It's for new coaching businesses who want 2025 to be the year they go all in on their dream of building their business. And for experienced coaching business owners who are looking at that next step, like scaling or doing things differently, or if you are an experienced business owner, you might feel like you haven't quite achieved your potential, and perhaps that's because of a hesitation or a lack of inclination to focus on business development. So if that's you, then the program is absolutely for you. It's also for coaching business owners who want to be part of a community of coaches and who want a coach of their own to help them navigate, you know, the Unique complexities of their business. In this context of organizational coaching, who is it not for? Look, really, it is not for you if you don't want to work with corporate clients at all. So if you just want to work with individual clients, although a lot of, a lot of people in the accelerator do work with individual clients, our focus is on growing that corporate, corporate client side of your business. So, you know, it may not be, you know, it'll be helpful, but it won't be as transformative as if you are wanting to work with corporate clients. It's also not for you if you are not willing to take some action, right? So this is a program for action takers, for people who are ready to, to learn and to give things a go. So you have to have a mindset of, you know, being willing to experiment, to be uncomfortable and to really, you know, take, take quite a bit of action to, to make this transformation come to life. So if you don't have the time or the energy or the willingness or, or if you just really don't want, you know, you don't want to be coached, you're just not in the mode where you're feeling coachable, it's probably not for you either. But if it is for you, and if you fit into those categories, like you're ready to take action, you want to grow your corporate practice, and you are, you know, you're committed to 2025 being the year that you make some big, big leaps and big changes. Then the goals for the accelerator are that in the next 12 months, you will get your next 10 high paying corporate clients. And by high paying, I mean sort of over that $5,000 for an engagement point. And whether that's coaching or facilitation or training, so that you feel confident that this business can support you financially now and into the future, you'll also leverage your professional experience and your professional network to build your sales pipeline with more than a hundred of your ideal prosp. So we know that the depth of your pipeline is the biggest predictor of client flow. So you're going to learn how to grow your pipeline. And the more you focus on the pipeline, the healthier it will be and the more your business will grow. You'll also take the stress out of marketing by implementing a marketing and business development system that you can implement in five hours a week, right? So a really, a really reasonable and doable amount of time. And so that includes your content, your outreach, your network growth in five hours a week. Now, it doesn't mean you can't do more. And I talk about this a lot. You absolutely can. And the more you do, the more outcome you'll see. But I think this is really reasonable and we need to make it something that we feel good about. We feel like we can, we can do reasonably, you know, within our business. We will also build your key assets and that includes your website, your LinkedIn profile, your coach by coach bio and more. We'll build them or we will review them. If you are looking at that next step or transformation, we'll do that during your first 90 days. So you know, we'll, I'll provide guidance, accountability, advice, feedback so that you can avoid the common issues that come up in, in building or reviewing those assets which are procrastination and perfectionism. Right. So you're going to avoid those because I know that that can derail so many coaches and when we don't get those basic ass place in a quick period of time, it can be something that causes flow on delays. So we want to get that done really quickly. You will also be joining a global network of coaches and we're all working towards building businesses that are profitable and that are making an impact in the world. And this source of collaboration and brainstorming and support and encouragement is really going to provide an alternative community to the one that you might have lost when you stepped away from the corporate world. You're also going to build a flexible schedule, right? So we're going to spend some time thinking about what your schedule should be, what you want it to be in a way that suits your business and that allows you to show up for the priorities in your life that may have been pushed to the side in your corporate role or that you haven't been putting front and center. So, you know, if you want to take Fridays off, we're going to figure out a way to make it happen. You are also going to have a coach and mentor right on your side to help you as you go. Because so much of business building is regular course correction, is getting feedback in a timely fashion and is figuring out like knowing, learning what we need to know just when we need to know it. Because a lot of the time in business you're not going to know what it is you need to know until that moment when you're really, you know, having to respond to a client or put a pitch together or share some pricing or get yourself together for a massive meeting. Right? And that's what I'm there to be. And that's why we have so many calls each week so that we never want you to go without a way of getting your questions answered or getting moral support or feeling like you've got, you know, someone by your side. Okay, so what does it actually include in your 12 month membership? I've talked about the outcomes bill, but what do we actually do to, to get there? And the first one is that you and I will have a one on one kickoff session. And this is where we'll dive into your business, your professional background, your network, your ideal clients, your offers, your priorities based on your business and your preferences. Right, we're going to talk about what that is. Is there a particular transformation you're focusing on? Is it general business growth? This is where we get specific for you and we can sort of build a bit of a plan of what to prioritize. You also have access to weekly group coaching sessions. Specifically, there are three different time zones offered every week. And is something there that will work for everyone? Now let me tell you, it was not easy to come up with a selection of three times that would work for the most people. So I initially wanted to do two. I thought oh, two should be able to catch it. But it didn't. I wanted a time to be available that was sort of within easy business hours for everyone in the world. And so you'll find that wherever you are, there is a call that is, is a good time and there'll probably be another call that is an okay time, good or okay time. And then there may be one time that is, is not as good. So there will be something that works for you. And in these group coaching sessions, look, this is a, this is a time for you to bring what you need. So it may be that you come and you check in and that you use it as an accountability source or just to, to keep on track. Or you can bring specific questions for some hot seat coaching. You know, picking my brain, brainstorming with the group, getting unstuck when you're feeling pro, like you're procrast, even if you just need a pep talk, that's we can do all of those things. You'll also get access to the 90 day quick start challenge. And this is all about getting your key assets built and doing it at the same time as other people. So that will involve some curriculum. So there'll be a course to go with that. And then in the community, so the Facebook community will also be doing weekly check ins and progress checks and then also in, in the group coaching, in the group coaching calls, if you're working through your 90 day, quick start. That's when you'll all of your questions as well. You'll also get access to a business development accelerator framework. And this is all about what you need to do to grow your business in those five hours a week. Right. So what do you need to do in terms of content, outreach, engagement and network growth? So we're going to. This will be new curriculum and that'll be released in mid January for all of our January cohort members so that you have a couple of weeks to recover from the new year before you dive in. You will also receive reviews and feedback from me. So I will personally review any of your assets when you need me to do that. And that includes your website, your Coach bio, your LinkedIn. I'll record video feedback for you on whatever you need. And if you have a proposal that you need me to look at, I can do that as well. So I want to be able to give you feedback on your key assets. There's also. You'll also be part of this global network. Right. So we of coaching business owners. And this is based on Facebook at the moment. And look, honestly, I think a lot about what is the right place for this community. I could host it in Kajabi, which is where the course is, but people tend not to hang out there. I've considered a WhatsApp group, but for the moment it's on Facebook. And so far, you know, the engagement is really good and there's a lot of supporting each other, there's a lot of answering each other's questions. It's great. And, you know, I answer questions there when I can as well, but it's not just me, so there's lots of people in there to talk about it. And because we have a global cohort, I think the, the perspectives that people bring is, it's really, it's a really, a really great depth of experience and perspective. And, you know, we also will generally have someone who represents perhaps, you know, your ideal client as well. So we have people who've been in hr, we have people who've been in the C suite, we have people who' who've been in leadership of not for Profits. We have, you know, people who've worked in professional services, all of whom are, you know, really happy to sort of share and answer questions for each other. And then we have also an on demand portal. So when you join, you get access to the portal and that's sort of where you, through the library, you get access to all of the courses. But we also have this portal that's got all of the back catalog of masterclasses, workshop series, tools and templates and all of the coaching calls that have happened so far. So when you join you get access to all of those and there's so much content in there. If you ask me a question, I'll generally have some form of masterclass or guest expert session to refer you to, which is fabulous. And then one of the newest things we've added to what you will receive is the private podcast feed, which is that all of our coaching calls are going to be recorded, recorded and added to a private podcast feed which you access through your regular podcast player. But you can only access if you have been granted granted permission. And so then you can listen to the coaching calls. So the ones that you don't attend or if you can't attend one week or you know, and by the way, you don't have to attend every week, you attend at what, what rhythm works for you. So it's not expected that you're attending every week. But you know, if you're a person who lacks accountability then, then that will probably be best for you. Otherwise you come can and you know, all the recordings will be put on the private podcast. So there is so much value in here. And I think this is usually what would be called a high ticket program but we are offering it at mid ticket pricing so I suspect that next year prices will go up. But for now, as I've mentioned, the cost of the program is US4404 $4997. But if you join during this launch week it is discounted by $500 to that 4,497 point point. And of course there is a payment plan if you'd prefer to pay monthly. Okay, so I also want to answer some really common questions. So one question I get is do I have to have an established executive coaching business to get the most out of this course? And the truth is you'll get the most out of the accelerator if you have started your coaching business or are planning to do so in the next few months. It is suitable for coaches who work with corporate clients or who want to work with corporate clients and who are ready to work on their business. So you, yeah, I think you need to be either starting the business or have already started it. And then, and then the next question is, well, can I, can I join the accelerator? Is it going to be valuable for me if I've been running my coaching business for years now? And the answer is, is yes. And it's yes, on a number of levels. Firstly, a lot of experienced coaches experience many of the same challenges as those in the early years of their business and that tends to be things about growth. But they also have questions. You know, they may have been working as an associate coach and they want to take on more direct clients. That often comes up. Or they may have been working with individual clients and they want to work more with corporate clients. Or they may just be having a sort of a next phase growth plan which may involve things like bringing on associate coaches or, you know, wanting to scale in different ways, maybe building a digital program and wanting to incorporate it. So, you know, that is, I think that is what someone with more experience is going to be just working on different problems. It may be the same problems and the same challenges and opportunities, but it is, you know, if there is a goal that you're working towards or a shift that you want to make, I think that it's, it's perfect for that. So what is the duration of the membership? Your membership is for 12 months and that is from your starting date. And then once you finish your 12 month, you will have the option to renew at a very discounted rate or to join one of our mastermind groups. What I would say is that we, we have recently changed. It used to be that people could join for a month, you know, month by month, month. And there was no sort of suggested time. But what I found is that people who are willing to commit and say, I'm going to invest this year in achieving this next phase of my business, those are the people who are. And so I'm really, you know that that is what we're going to do, do now is that you join for 12 months and you then you also have a cohort that's coming along with you. The next question is, look, how much time is this going to really take? And the truth is that to get the most out of the accelerator, you're going to need time to attend calls. And as mentioned, you don't have to attend every week, but you come at the regularity that works for you. You're also going to need time to absorb the curriculum and you're going to need time to take action. And I'd say that's the most important part, right? To take action on the things you're learning. You're also going to need five hours a week for your marketing strategy implementation, but you're likely doing that already. So I would say that your success in the program hinges on your ability to work on your business. So you need to have some time to do that. And then the next question is, you know, is this program just for coaches working with C suite executives? Right. Is it just for, you know, if only if you're coaching the CEO or the cfo, cmo? And no, I want to be really clear about that and you might have heard me talk about this in a few contexts, but executive coaching is generally understood in the market to refer to coaching that takes place in a corporate or organizational context. So could be government, could be, you know, the for purpose sector. It just really means not directly with individuals. And it's not limited at all to people coach to coaches who coach C suite execs. So we could use the word leadership coaching or corporate coaching fairly interchangeably. But if you want to work or you do already work with corporate clients, then, then the program is a good fit for you. If you would prefer to just work with individuals directly, you will get some, still get a lot of value out of the program, but it won't be the same. And a lot of what we talk about is selling to organizations. And is there a payment plan? Yes, absolutely. You can pay for the program in 12 monthly instalments and the price of that will depend on any bonuses that are available for you. You. Will this program work for my time zone? I want to be really clear on this again. Yes, absolutely. This is a global program. We've got many timing options for our coaching calls just to make sure there's always a time that will work for you. So you'll always be able to make one or hopefully two or three of the options. And in addition, don't forget, all of the coaching calls are recorded and added to our private podcast. Okay. The last, last hesitation I know some people have when they're thinking about, you know, really investing in growing their business is this vague concern that they don't feel ready. And the truth is, no one, not a single coach I've ever met or even, you know, not a coach, but anyone starting a business or taking their next step in business, no one feels ready. It does. The feeling doesn't exist, I don't think. Or very, at least very rarely. And we have so many reasons why we feel we aren't ready. So we might think we don't have the perfect LinkedIn page, that our website is not professionally designed, that we haven't finished our certification, or we don't have, you know, a certain assessment accreditation, or that our coaching experience is mostly in our, in our corporate role or in a different field. We haven't got professional photos, the list goes on. But the truth is that. That this is a feeling of lack of readiness, not a fact. And often it's a bit of a smokescreen for what is really going on, which is that we are, in fact, ready. We're just really uncomfortable. And I think it's super normal to feel uncomfortable about this because it's. It's a big thing and there's often, you know, lots of it that we just don't know the answer to. Right. We can't predict how it's going to go with 100% certainty. So of course it feels uncomfortable. And in truth, the journey of business is all about getting comfortable, being uncomfortable. So you might feel uncomfortable about, you know, your next step in business today, but this time next year you could still be feeling uncomfortable, but your next challenge is, you know, much bigger or it's the next step. And so I guess the question is whether you would rather embrace the discomfort and make progress or find comfort in stepping back from the challenge. And I do wonder whether that situation really just involves a different type of discomfort comfort, which is the discomfort of not, you know, taking those values aligned steps that you want to. Anyway, I hope that's food for thought. And when I talk to coaches, you know, all of them are in fact ready and have been for some time. So if that's you, you know, book a call with me and I will reassure you that you are ready. And then finally today, I just want to extend a massive thank you for coming along on this journey with me. We'll be back to regular programming in about a week or so, but I can't tell you how much I love meeting people who tell me that they're podcast listeners. So thank you. You are why I do this work. Have a great week. I hope to see you at some of our launch activities and, yeah, all the best. See you next week.