by David Wood

Flaven Clayton from Hawaii is a new life coach. And when she said she booked 16 sessions at once, all paid for by a corporation, I had to ask how she did it.

So I interviewed Flaven to get the scoop; let's find out how she did it!

Booking 16 sessions at once

'I've been putting myself out there!' says Flaven. She let's people know what she is up to and invites others to join her.

In this particular instance she had been talking with a friend who is a real estate agent and invited her for a coaching session.

Tip: Coach as many people as possible. They become referral engines for you.

Her friend was so thrilled with the session that she asked her to do a demonstration at a real estate meeting that was coming up.

Tip: Ask your friends and colleagues if they are interested in introducing coaching at work. Offer to do a free demo for their boss.

The owner of the real estate company was so impressed he signed up the agents and paid for the sessions - all 16 of them!

16 sessions just because she chatted with a friend and invited her to a session. Is your brain ticking?

Start with people

Flaven has been a coach for just a few months. She doesn't even have a web site up yet! But, she has paying clients.

Too often new coaches spend months developing web sites and brochures, instead of actively reaching out for clients.

Flaven says she gets most of her clients by word of mouth. She gets out into the community and lets people know what she is doing.

Tip: Offer people a session, and let them know it will be inspiring, and fun.

Get emotions out of the way

It's not always so simple though, is it? Flaven offers this message to other coaches trying to expand their practice - get your emotions out of the way.

It's OK to have them, just get them out of the way. Focus on following the next step. Then the next step. Then the next step.

Don't let the big picture loom over you and halt your progress. Paint the big picture, then set it aside and do the next step.

What's your next step?

Action: Put Yourself Out There

1. Ask yourself if you have been actively inviting potential clients to sessions or if you have been relying on passive measures.

2. How are you going to put yourself out there? What's your next step?

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David Wood is a Professional Life Coach, and author of the powerful Free Download: '50 Life Coaching Questions to Take Control of Your Life and Help Your Clients'.

He helps coaches, consultants, speakers and trainers to build their businesses via his popular ebooks: "10 Super Coaches Share Their Secrets" and The CoachStart Manual.

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