Business Coach Dan's Best Advice On Living Life To The Fullest

Recently, I was interviewed for a well-known on-line business magazine and the result was a great conversation/interview about the coaching industry and how someone who might be looking for a coach can make a better decision about who they hire. Here is the complete transcript of that interview and I really hope that you find the information useful!

Q: What sparked your interest in this line of work and what were you doing professionally prior to this firm?

I’ve owned FocalPoint Business Coaching of Arizona for over 10 years, and my business mentor is, among others, the legendary Brian Tracy. Prior to this I was a start-up junkie, involved with 13 startup businesses. Along with this, I participated in nearly 400 turn-around projects doing coaching and consulting.

Q: What qualities do you seek in your potential clients and on the flip side, what qualities do you and your firm possess that prompts potential clients to select your services.

We have had the greatest success working with Business Owners, Executives and Entrepreneurs who are already successful and know that they are successful, however they just can’t seem to get to that sometimes-elusive next level of success. I’m an expert at getting them there.

These clients already know how to work and are open to change and coaching advice. They know that they can’t simply work MORE but that to Be, Do and Have what they want, they’re going to need to add, learn and improve on their foundational business knowledge.

In turn, I’m selected by my clients, both locally and worldwide, because of my REAL-WORLD experience. Many people in my business don’t have the experience base to assist clients on expanded levels.

I’ve over 14,000 accumulated and logged hours as a Business Coach, Consultant and Trainer. As I have mentioned earlier I’ve been a part of over 400 business TURNAROUNDS and have been involved with 14 startups.

There are always challenges, but this is what I was born to do. Even in all my life experiences prior to becoming a Business Coach, I utilized business coaching skills. This includes the things that I’ve learned through the years that have been incredibly successful, as well as those big mistakes that I’ve committed and hopefully learned from as well.

Q:You’ve helped hundreds of Business Professionals get re-focused, re-inspired, and re-engaged to take their businesses, and personal lives to the next level. Do all your clients share a commonality?

Yes, my clients do all share a commonality. They understand that the glass is never half full or half empty. They understand or are open to the idea that the glass can always simply be refilled. I look for clients who believe that no matter how bad everyone says it is, that in their world, there’s only possibilities. They have a burning desire to improve their lives and their families lives and the lives of all that they serve.

Q: What solutions and workshops do you offer? How do you decide which program is right for them?

I specialize in three areas. One-on-one, face-to-face business coaching, Key Note speaking both domestic and internationally, and I offer a wide array of of small business/corporate and personal improvement workshops.

My one-on-one coaching programs are based on first listening to client’s needs and creating a customized coaching plan with curriculum that will help the client get a big win quick, then more wins as we progress.

Workshops are specifically selected based on client needs. Currently these workshops range from Priority Management & Time Management, to Grass roots Leadership; Executive Goal Setting and Achieving; Marketing; Superstar Communication; and Sales Training just to name a few.

I already have several Keynote Speaking Engagements scheduled for 2018 and enjoy getting on a plane, sometimes to another country and through my speech motivating entrepreneurs and business professionals alike to move towards realizing their dreams.

Q: Explain how you provide your clients with the practical business support that gives them the business skills they need to build a strong business & career?

I’ve found that most Business Owners, Executives and Entrepreneurs aren’t prepared for the rigors of running or owning a business. As the saying goes, they spend more time in their business than on their business. That’s why nearly 90% of businesses started today will be out of business in two years. The most valuable support that I try to give is simply giving them day-to-day HOPE that they can make it and the skills to do it. That I’m here to help, and moving towards success doesn’t have to be a lonely proposition.

I give them support with equal parts PASSION and ACCOUNTABILITY, inevitably becoming a Trusted Advisor for their business. This straightforward support results in increased revenues, improved productivity and a new quality of life.

Q: To achieve new levels of success, people must routinely re-focus their efforts, develop a clear vision of where the want to go and learn new skills to get them there. As a Master Coach that’s worked with thousands of people, explain your step-by-step approach aimed at getting the results your clients want and need?

I believe that the very first step necessary in helping a client get the results that they want and really need is in the act of defining success. We will work together to understand and with clarity define their version of success. Not how someone else defines success for them but what it means specifically for them. I always start my relationship with a client by working to understand this definition.

Once we’ve uncovered their definition of success we plan goals, strategies and tactics to achieve their definition. I once worked with a client who was told by all previous coaches that they would improve his bottom line and profitability…and that’s the reason he should work with them. I asked him what his definition of success was, and he said no one had ever asked him. He went on to say that he had wealth, he was profitable, and his bottom line was healthy.

His major issue was that he hadn’t taken a vacation with his children in 7 years. We explored the reasons why he didn’t feel good about scheduling time to do so. After hiring me we went to work on what we discovered, his trust issues; leadership issues; delegation skills…and he was finally able to feel good about going on vacation and achieving his goal.

In short, it’s ultimately important to UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF THE CUSTOMER FROM THE CUSTOMERS POINT OF VIEW and then create all strategic plans from that!

Q: Communicating can be challenging, how do you help people insure plans stay on track, establish expectations and teach them to deal with unforeseen circumstances?
I meet with all my REAL-WORLD COACHING clients on a weekly basis, face-to-face or by phone. We set success metrics and have clear expectations and goals, based on how we defined success.

The important thing is to know exactly WHAT GOOD LOOKS LIKE! No fuzzy edges or grey areas, CLARITY is the name of the game, and we track all we do so we can celebrate successes and know when we’re off track. We’ll always design contingency plans…a Plan A, Plan B and a Plan C. Since we intentionally create clarity, if an unforeseen circumstance comes up, we won’t make any critical mistakes by panicking. We adjust and shift, adjust and shift.

Most big businesses will stop and form a committee to discover what to do. A true entrepreneurially-minded company will barely slow down, and they’ll shift to the next option which brings about peace and certainty.

Q: Times are changing. Explain how you’re taking a more proactive approach to encourage strong business leaders to become even stronger performers?

I emphasize, from the beginning of each new relationship that business owners must be open to and ready for change. Little change or big change. Change will happen, and their willingness to change, adjust and adapt is directly related to their ability to Survive and Thrive.

We constantly monitor their mindset to make sure it’s thriving and not just surviving. The difference is HUGE and directly attached to success or failure. Sam Walton was reportedly once asked how the terrible economy had affected Walmart. And he promptly said it had not…they chose not to participate. Now that’s the mindset of Possibility and one of Thriving.

Q: As in the case of many small companies and large corporations, cultural change has become a big area of concern influencing organizations and many different industries. Explain how challenging it is to provide services to help build a culture or mold an existing one within a firm or business.

That’s a tough one. For me, and based on my experience, the entire culture of a company, whether it is one of an existing culture or one that needs to be created, always starts from the top down. I’ve never seen one as a grassroots creation.

It always must be exemplified and nurtured from the company ownership and leadership. It’s planted and developed and grows OR NOT based on the vision; passion; ethics and attitude of the ownership and leadership. If they nurture an attitude of fear, loathing, unprofessional practices, scarcity or fear it gets passed throughout the company and the company has a very hard time succeeding. If, in turn, there is a Thriving, Positive Team Mentality then growth will always be exponential.
I know of companies whose entire culture is based on spending hours and untold dollars, forming committees just to uncover the cause of a mistake and the person who made the mistake. While others simply make sure that the lesson is learned and then they move on, don’t make the mistake again and charge forward towards greater success.

Q: What needs to fundamentally change in the coaching industry that you feel has been missing in the dialogue and approach for people today?

Business people should get smarter about how they hire a coach when they think they need one.

Unfortunately, today, ANYONE can call themselves a coach, and they do. The consumer must ask more questions from prospective coaches and have a clear understanding of what kind of coach they need. Do they need a life coach to help them with personal issues or do they need a business coach to help them start, build or grow a business? When a person interviews coaches, and you should interview them, here are a few of the very necessary questions they should always ask.

7 Questions to Ask When You’re Looking for a Coach

1. BRAND: What brand do they represent?
2. CONTENT: What kind of content or curriculum do they offer?
3. SYSTEM: Do they follow a proven and replicable system?
4. TRAINING: What do you require of themselves each year and what is required of them?
5. QUALIFICATIONS: What have they done that might help them help you? Have they ever owned a business?
6. SUPPORT: Do they have a support mechanism in place in their business?
7. TEAM: What kind of team do they offer?

And so on…be smarter so you can hire a qualified coach that will help you with what you need.

Think about this, if you needed a triple bypass heart surgery would you go to your Veterinarian because he or she is a doctor? Or, would you go to a Cardio Thoracic Surgeon for the best result? In other words, whose hands are you willing to put the future of your business in?

Q: One more question, I know that Goal setting is a big part of what you help people with. So, what are your goals for the future?

My goals are very personal but in general they are to continue working with business people, entrepreneurs and executives and help them achieve their dreams and desires, and at the same time travel the world as a Keynote Speaker and Workshop Leader. With the end goal of inspiring and educating thousands more people. I live by, and I paraphrase, the timeless words of Zig Ziglar who said, “Help enough people get what they want, and you’ll get what you want.” It is a great code to live by.

So, if you’re looking for a Business Coach, and are about to invest in a Business Workshop for yourself or your team, or you want to bring in a highly qualified Keynote Speaker to engage and train your audience, always remember to ask the right questions, take your time and select the most qualified person, for your specific needs that you can find and you will surely find your success.