- What attracted you to coaching
About 2 years ago I started to hear about coaching from reading articles in magazines and receiving marketing emails from companies. I run a training company and felt that the delegates on my training courses would benefit from something a little bit extra from me. Coaching seemed the most logical addition to my business to complement my skills as a trainer/mentor. The Coaching Academy had been sending me emails for months about their introductory weekend to coaching and in December 2008 I took the plunge and went along to one of the weekends. It was the best thing I ever did as it has really enhanced the way I train, mentor and coach people.
- What was your profession before becoming a coach
I worked in recruitment and human resources for over 13 years before starting up my training business 4 years ago. I still operate my training business where I train people in the art of recruiting. I also work with a government agency to help young people find employment as well as running my coaching business.
- Why did you choose The Coaching Academy
After attending the introductory weekend I was impressed by the level of professionalism the coaches showed running the weekend and the structure of the company. But what really sold it for me was that The Coaching Academy was running The Diploma in Youth Impact Coaching. Seeing youth succeed in life and be given every possible chance of success is a real passion of mine. I have been working with young people for the last 4 years helping them to build confidence and self esteem to gain employment and helping them through the whole process of getting a job. The Youth Impact course was perfect. I could see how the modules would help me get the best out of young people.
- What is your coaching niche and why did you choose it
My niche is coaching youth to build confidence and self esteem so they can secure the college or university place they deserve or find the job they really want. I also coach adults in making career decisions. I chose these niches due to my recruitment and human resource experience which certainly adds credibility. But it is the love I have for helping people become fulfilled and happy by getting the job they really want, college or university place they deserve and seeing them succeed in life.
- What is your favorite coaching question
If time, money, people, external influences were not an issue, what would you like to be, do and have in life?
- What do you enjoy most about being a coach
I really enjoy seeing young people I coach flourish and develop into confident, self aware, motivated people. I get great pleasure and satisfaction when they call me to tell me how they have got a job and really love it or secured the university place they really wanted.
- What success have you achieved so far with your coaching business
Having been inspired by Duncan Gee when I attended his M.A.G.I.C. youth impact coaching accelerator day and learnt about BE, DO, HAVE and watching Bill Glazer and Peter Thompson talk about how information products are the way to reach the masses with your message, I decided to bite the bullet and produce my own product! It was a major challenge and a big investment of time and money but I had a real bee in my bonnet about reaching as many young people as possible to help them realise their full potential and help them write their personal statements and CVs. I really wanted to see all young people be given the same opportunities of success at interviews. After only two and a half months I went from an idea to a final DVD/CD set product which launched on 15th December 2009. It is being advertised on Amazon, Ebay, my website (Paypal) http://firebirdtraining.com/shop.aspx , on Gumtree, FridayAd and I have three YouTube clips running:
How to write your CV http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuEWAaSWjZ8,
CV Writing to get an interview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-iN5JM5CbA,
How to get an interview – writing a CV http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B64sPWEks2s.
I am not technical at all so all of this has been a major uphill struggle but it has been worth it. I have had some fantastic reviews of the DVD from parents, youth workers, young people and fellow coaches. I have created my own coaching tools using Be, Do, Have and used these with the young people in the first half of the DVD to get them to think about what makes them great. These worksheets are available on the CD along with a 46 page step by step guide, CV templates and CV examples. Without attending Duncan Gee’s accelerator day I would not have thought about getting the best out of young people using this method.
You can read the comments, watch the video clips and get a copy of the DVD from http://firebirdtraining.com/shop.aspx.
- What is the best thing that could happen to your coaching business in the next 2 years
Over the next two years my goals for my business are to produce a series of coaching/instructional DVD/CD sets for young people on helping them get college or university places and jobs. My vision for this side of my coaching business is to reach as many young people aged 16-24 in the UK as possible so they all have the same chance of success whilst generating me passive income. I am also focusing on getting 8 youth coaching clients and 2 adult coaching clients a month by the end of 2010. The best thing that could happen for my business is that I get a number of affiliates to promote and sell the DVD/CD sets, which in turn convert product sales into coaching clients, generating so much work that I will need to employ associates to help me coach my clients.
- What are your favorite personal development books
I love Brian Mayne’s Goal Mapping book and tools. He truly inspired me when I attended his accelerator days with The Coaching Academy on Goal Mapping and Sam the magic genie. I did a goal map on how I was going to go about producing my new DVD/CD product back in August 2009, by October 2009 I had started filming the product and by December 2009 it was produced and ready for sale.
- What are your top five tips to new coaches just starting out on their journey
- Just get out there and do it!
- Believe in yourself and others will believe in you.
- Set specific dates and targets against your business goals.
- Specialise and get a niche.
- Surround yourself with positive people.
Qualifications gained through The Coaching Academy in 2009:
- Advanced Diploma in Coaching
- Diploma in Personal Performance Coaching
- Diploma in Youth Impact Coaching
Contact: Alison Mannell
Tel: 01892 549651 or 07982 055715
Email: Alison@firebirdtraining.co.uk
Website: www.firebirdtraining.co.uk
Link to DVD/CD product page: http://firebirdtraining.com/Shop.aspx
