How to Market Test your Business Idea in Under Ten Minutes

Hi there!

I hope you had a lovely long weekend.

Sometimes on my blog I like to have imaginary conversations with imaginary people who appear to be very interested in what I have to say.

If one of these imaginary folk were to ask: 

Hey JJ. So what’s are the real steps involved in this setting-up-business / coaching / mentoring lark of which you speak?

Then I would be able to show them checklists, flow diagrams, lightning-bolt-strewn process maps. They would be impressed.

I like to call this my methodology, because I am fancy like that.

This methodology is the foundation of all my work with folks who want to set up their own little businesses. It’s the main reason that my mentoring service is so totally brilliant, and why this website is too. Even if you’re only here because you like my hat.

Earlier today I was doing some ad-hoc coaching with a friend of mine who is looking to start an online business. I ran him through a quick set of tests he could use to determine whether there would be a market for his business idea.

That’s cool, I thought to myself. I should share this on my blog and add it to the methodology.

And that’s what I’m doing here. 

I made a quick 7 minute video to explain the process. It’s a long way from being slick – and if you’re not interested in internet business then frankly it’ll bore you to tears – but the information in here is fantastic.

I think everyone would benefit from following along with this one. I should really sell this information for a gazillion dollars or something, and I probably will one day, so watch it now whilst I am still outrageously generous!

Enjoy! And if you feel like telling the rest of the internet how great you think this is then please go ahead and Digg, facebook, mixx me and generally shout messages of love from the rooftops. I won’t mind!

See ya’ tomorrow.

JJ Jalopy.

Get Paying Clients from Free Coaching Sessions in 7 Easy Steps

Hi there!

Just when you think you don’t have to listen to me anymore…

I have a REAL treat for you today.

If you’re struggling to fill your coaching practice with clients then you have to listen to this.

I run through a simple 7 step process that you can use in your free trial coaching sessions to get more people to sign-up for coaching with you on an ongoing basis.

It’s 100% content and value packed. I hit this one out of the park!

The 14 minute podcast is below. Click the Audio MP3 icon to make it play. Or select the link below.

Get Paying Clients from Free Coaching Sessions in 7 Easy Steps

Would you like more cliches? More hyperbole?

Good.

This 14 minute recording is an extreme injection of value packed information into your brain. I go into brain-hemorrhaging detail and define a clear cut strategy to turn your free trial coaching session into a gold mine of happy paying clients.

This time there’s no B.S., no cowboy hats, no larking around – just clear, applicable strategy. I’m really pleased with it, and I hope you will be too.

If you’re a visual person, you might like to look at this as you listen to me explain the process:

 

I hope you enjoy it and get as much value from the process as my clients do.

NOTE: In the latter part of this podcast I mention setting up coaching sessions 4 times a week. That’s an awful lot of coaching. I meant 4 times a month. Thanks Mrs. Jalopy!

See you tomorrow!

JJ Jalopy.

P.S. I’ll doubtless post some larking around for you again soon! My buddy Duane and I are planning to do a podcast together. And who knows what might happen…

Podcast number 1 – JJ’s Warm Call Confidence Blaster Reloaded!

How to become a coach. With Coaching Marketing Expert JJ Jalopy.

Hi guys!

This is a repost of my first podcast, featuring my extraordinarily awesome Warm Call Confidence Blaster Visualization.

Podcast 1 – JJ’s Warm Call Confidence Blaster

I’m reposting it:

1. because it’s totally brilliant and…
2. so my shiny new RSS feed that I whined about yesterday will pick it up so that…
3. iTunes users can learn of my magnificence! 

It’s a Podcasting masterstroke. 

I’ll let you know how I get on.

Fingers crossed!!!

JJ Jalopy.

What is Coaching? And are you a Coach, JJ?

How to become a coach. With Coaching Marketing Expert JJ Jalopy.

Hi there!

Did you have a good weekend?

I’m glad. I’m recovering from some karaoke over-exhuberance. I almost have my voice back now.

When I mentioned yesterday that I was going to do karaoke, Super Chef Christian Haller left a comment on my blog explaining that he would rather have his finger nails pulled out with pliers!

Well, Christian, I’m afraid my singing last night would have done nothing to change your mind on that one.

We did have a lot of fun though.

I also received my favorite ever comment yesterday from Central Oregon Expert Don Shepherd. 

JJ, you are the King of shameless self promotion.

This is so beautiful that I want to frame it and put it up on my wall!

I’m going to have to get that in some of my marketing literature. Thanks Don!

Last night, I was talking to a friend of my friend Steve. He’d been introduced to my website here at www.jjjalopy.com and he told me:

I love reading your articles. It’s my favorite lunch time reading; your writing is really entertaining and I’ve been learning a lot about starting a business. But I’m not quite sure what it is that you do. And I’m not sure I fully understand what coaching really is.

And I realized that I have never really discussed that with you.

Let’s have a look at the various ways coaching authorities describe Coaching:

an … ongoing relationship which focuses on clients taking action toward the realization of their visions, goals and desires.

– Personal and Professional Coaching Association.

Coaching involves holding out a possibility in front of others whilst coaching them to move to the next level with relentless compassion.

– Robert Hargrove.

Coaching is a collaborative process that amplifies and accelerates self-discovery, promotes clarity, creativity and choice, and helps people achieve – and often exceed – their goals more quickly and more efficiently than they would without the partnership of a coach.

– The Academy for Coach Training.

Effective coaching challenges limiting assumptions embedded in our viewpoints about self and others in a way different than teaching or training… coaching is a unique form of dialogue that expands an individual’s capacity to transform his or her limiting beliefs.

– William Stockton.

So what does this mean in the real world?

Well coaching is really a conversation between the coach and client with the goal of helping the client lead a happier, more awesome life.

 This is achieved by:

• increasing the client’s level of self-awareness
• setting goals which will add to the client’s quality of life
• achieving those goals.

Simple, right?

So what does the coach contribute in this process?

Clarity - The coach asks questions to help the client build up a clear picture of what they really want.

Ideas - The coach may lead the client in exploring options they may not have considered before

Accountability - The coach will hold the client accountable for their actions. The coach may give the client homework to complete between sessions.

Brainstorming and Collaboration - The coach acts as a non-judgmental sounding board for new ideas. She creates a creative and supportive brainstorming environment.

Support – The coach provides encouragement for new ideas and supports the client in their decisions.

Challenge - The coach may challenge the client to expand their comfort zone, break old habits and pursue new beneficial directions in their life.

Validation - The coach may provide validation, support and encouragement.

Direction – The coach helps the client to gain perspective in times of overwhelm or confusion. She may also voice her opinion or give advice if it is necessary to move the conversation forward.

This last point, about advice, is a controversial one. Many well-respected coaches and coaching academies will disagree with me on this, stating that coaching should be entirely non-directive. 

My view is that clients will often get overwhelmed and confused. And when we get overwhelmed our minds and bodies can shut down and ideas can appear out of our reach. Figuring it out becomes very difficult for someone experiencing overwhelm. In my opinion a suggestion or piece of advice can work wonders to give the client the support, structure and confidence they need to move forwards.

Now, if you are observant you’ll notice that I do not describe myself as a coach, but rather as a mentor (or sometimes as a consultant, if  I’m in that kind of mood.)

My clients are coaches, consultants, home business owners or managers within larger corporations. My work with my clients is directive.

I work within a framework similar to the one I’m sharing with you on this blog here and I give specific advice and guidance – lots of it. I am an expert in this area, and I would be doing my clients a disservice if I did not.

To avoid confusion within the industry I do not use the term coach to describe what I do, even though I like it!

Coach JJ just sounds cool.

Now as we get to know each other better, you’ll begin to see that I fit a lot of different things under my coaching umbrella. I like it that way and I hope you will too.

Now go enjoy the rest of your day. I’m going to have a cup of herbal tea, then off to bed!

See you here tomorrow.

JJ Jalopy.