But before I get there, I want to remind you that if you are listening to this episode, the day it drops, which would be January 23rd, then today is the very last day that you can get your copy of the Coach with Clarity Kickstart Bundle. Now if you are a regular listener, you heard me talk a bit about this last week. But let me give you a quick summary. I invited 29 of my colleagues and friends to create a bundle just for you. It's filled with workshops and trainings and templates and toolkits and all sorts of products designed to help you in your coaching practice. It covers five main areas, content creation, marketing and visibility, sales and revenue, systems and organization, and the all important wellness and self care. I spent a lot of time curating this bundle because I wanted to make sure that each and every resource in there would serve you as both a coach and as a business owner. Now the total value of all of these products together is over $3,000. But when you get the bundle, it's only going to cost you 99 bucks. That's right for under $100 you're getting 30 resources. And I know in that bundle, you are going to find something you love. And I do want to make the point that I recognize sometimes bundles can be really overwhelming. I have participated in bundles and I have purchased bundles where there have been hundreds upon hundreds of products and I have felt completely lost and overwhelmed. It's almost made me not want to engage with the bundle at all. And that my friend is why I limited the bundle to 30 of my most favorite resources that I know will help you see results fast. And I am one of those 30 contributors. I have included my very special system, You've Got a Lead, Now What? that is designed to help you take a potential client all the way to becoming a paid client and beyond. So normally, I sell this resource for around $99. So for the price that you would be paying for You've Got a Lead, Now What? you can get access to the entire bundle, but you have to purchase by January 23rd. And again, that's the day this episode drops. So hopefully you are listening on Monday, January 23rd. So you can head to coachwithclaritybundle.com, coachwithclaritybundle.com and pick up your very own bundle for $99. And I cannot wait to hear how the resources inside it help you grow and scale a profitable and fulfilling coaching business. 

 

Alright friends, let's get to it. Let's talk about why I am making the bold declaration that 2023 is the year of the coach. So I'm going to be completely honest with you. I was brainstorming topic ideas for this very podcast. And I'm really excited about some of the future episodes we have in store for you. And one of the things I wrote down pretty early on in my brain release process was the year of the coach. And I'll admit that one really caught my attention. But because I was in brain release mode, I didn't stop, I kept going, I kept thinking of more ideas. And then when I was done and I went through and I looked at my list, that one really drew my attention. And in fact, I have to admit it even startled me a bit because I thought, “Well that's a bold statement. Who are you to make that statement Lee?” But when I really got quiet, and I checked in with my intuition, I thought or rather I sensed. No, this is true. This year is filled with potential and opportunities for coaches. But here's the thing, and we've talked about this before. You know that I am a firm believer in the power of our intuition, and we need to pay attention when our inner wisdom shows up and sends us a message. And we need to look for the ways that we can pair our inner knowing with external knowledge. So sure, I could come on this podcast episode and declare that 2023 is the year of the coach. But to remain in integrity with how I operate my business and how I work with my clients, I want to make sure that I have some information, some research to back that up. So imagine my delight and surprise when I went to the US Chamber of Commerce website, and specifically their blog. And yes, the US Chamber of Commerce has a blog, it's actually really, really good. I'm subscribed to it, I suggest you do too. And you can do so by following the link in the show notes to this article, this blog post that I found, entitled 6 Small Businesses on What They Predict for 2023. So the US Chamber of Commerce reached out to business leaders, people in the know and asked them, “What do you predict is going to be forthcoming in 2023?” And there are three predictions in this article that I want to share with you, because these are directly related to us as coaches and small business owners. 

 

So the first prediction that they made is that we are going to see a rise in founder led brands. And I think this is fantastic news, because a founder led brand is essentially what many of us as small business owners are. We have our businesses, many of us are companies of one, we are the founder. And so this means that people want to connect with the person behind the brand. I think people are craving a personal connection, they don't just want to buy from some nameless, faceless company, they want to develop a relationship with the person behind the brand. So the fact that we are going to see a rise in founder led brands, I think, is a real opportunity for those of us who operate what I like to think of as boutique coaching practices. It is not a liability to be a company of one, it is not a liability to be a small upstart boutique coaching practice, if anything, there's more opportunity for us than ever before, because we are going to see this demand for personal connection, for relationships, and the consumer, your clients are going to want to feel that deep sense of trust, and belonging with the people in the companies they're supporting. And that is you. So the fact that one of the predictions is a rise in founder led brands, I think could not be better news for coaches and is one reason why 2023 is the year of the coach. 

 

So the second prediction that really caught my eye in this article is that we are going to see an increase in customized offerings. Again, just like the consumer wants that personal relationship with a brand, they also want to feel like what they are investing their money in is specially curated just for them. So we're really looking at very personalized services. And I can't think of anything more personalized than coaching. Because as the coach, it is our job to center the client's agenda to help them discover not just what they want, but why they want it. And then to help them create a plan to get them closer to their vision in a way that's in alignment with their personal goals, their personal values, and how they want to live their life. There is no more customized offering than coaching. So again, the fact that this is a demand that we are seeing from the market means that we coaches are perfectly suited to meet our clients where they are and to provide that customized offering. 

 

So let's talk about the third prediction and then we're going to talk about “Alright, these are great, these predictions are great, but how can I leverage this? What do I need to do to make sure that I can respond in a way where my business is going to see growth?” So we're gonna get there, I promise. But first, let's talk about this third prediction. And my goodness, if you thought the first two predictions were spot on, wait until you hear this one. Literally, in the article one of the predictions is that we are going to see a trend of small businesses working with coaches. Literally, that is the subheading in the article, we are going to see an increased demand for coaches, certainly in the small business sector. And again, this is the US Chamber of Commerce blog so I expect them to focus on business and specifically small businesses. But I also know that business does not exist in a vacuum. And if we are seeing a demand for coaching in the small business sector, we are going to see it in other arenas as well. Whether it's health, relationship, life. A rising tide lifts all boats. So as we see coaching on the rise in one area, I think we're going to see it on the rise in all areas. So even if you don't see yourself as a small business coach, I think this really predicts good news on all fronts. 

 

So these are three of the six predictions; half of the predictions in here I see as being directly related to a successful and thriving coaching practice for 2023. Number one: a rise and founder led brands. Number two: an increase in customized offers. And then number three: a trend of small businesses working with coaches. So you can check out these recommendations and the other three at the article, we're including a link in the show notes. And when you're on that page, you can also subscribe to the US Chamber of Commerce newsletter, I highly recommend it. 

So this is why my friend, I feel more confident than ever, declaring 2023 is the year of the coach. It's not just this gut feeling I have, although it is a gut feeling, and it is strong. But it is also supported by other information we are seeing from reputable organizations like the US Chamber of Commerce. So I'm pretty excited about this. I hope you are too. 

 

So let's talk about what we can do now to take advantage of these opportunities. How can we ensure that even though the environment is right for a coach that we are well suited to take advantage of what is about to come our way. So let's start with that first prediction about seeing a rise in founder led brands. What that says to me is that we as coaches, more now than ever before, need to show up in our branding. Okay? We need to be clear on the core pieces of our brand and our messaging. So that looks like being upfront about who you are. And I'm not talking like the simple resume bio, where we're looking at certifications and degrees and experience. Don't get me wrong, that has its place, and it can help build trust and credibility with potential clients. But I want us to go deeper, I want us to really look at that identity piece because that is the foundation of everything we are going to build our businesses on. And we need to be sharing that with our clients and with the community. So we want to be upfront about our business values and our core values. We want to be sharing what it is we believe in, what we stand for, and how that influences the way we operate our businesses, and how we show up as coaches. So in our messaging, we need to be super clear about what we believe, what we value and who we are, then we also need to be clear about what we specialize in as a coach. Now we can do that a few ways. We can talk about who our ideal client is. So we can kind of name our audience as a specialty. We can also look at themes that we coach around. In my case, it's helping people become masterful coaches and strong business owners. For someone else, it might be more of a health and fitness theme. Or maybe it's general small business, maybe it's relationships. But we want to be really clear and specific about what we specialize in as a coach, and how that connects with who we are on that deeper values and beliefs level. When we are clear about who we are and what we specialize in, and what makes us special as a coach, then we want to talk about how we approach our coaching work. So we can certainly talk about theoretical foundations. Many of you know that in my past life as a therapist, I specialized in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy or ACT, and ACT as a modality is still something that I anchor much of my coaching and today. So my approach is very much informed by ACT but it's also informed by the value I place on intuition, on integrity, and on helping coaches find their own path. While I am happy to share my experiences, my wisdom, my thoughts with my people. And that's what I do quite often in the Coach with Clarity Collective. I also want people to always feel free to take what I share, keep what works, modify it, release what doesn't resonate. I don't want anyone thinking they have to be a carbon copy of me, or they have to follow my directions to the letter or they won't be successful, because that is not how I roll. I want every coach I work with to feel like they have a sense of agency and that they are encouraged to make their coaching approach their own. Because when you're able to do that, when you're able to talk about how you approach your work, and what makes it unique and different and what how it sets you apart. That's where the magic happens. 

 

So then we're really taking it a step further. It's not just about how you approach our work, but it's also about how your approach is unique and, this is also really important, how it gets results. Clients are looking to you because there's something they want, they want to achieve something, they want to feel differently. And we need to be explicit in how our approach to coaching and how the work we do with our clients helps them achieve that result. And we need to be really clear about how we help them achieve that result more quickly, more efficiently, and hopefully, with a little more fun. So in order to take advantage of this prediction of seeing a rise in founder led brands, now more than ever before, we need to be extremely clear in our messaging, and we need to be willing to show up in our brand. Even if your business name is a brand such as Coach with Clarity. That doesn't mean everything has to be about the name of that business. Even though I run Coach with Clarity, I like to think that I am still very much a part of my brand, and that people associate Coach with Clarity with me, and that you know what it is I believe in, what it is I stand for, how I work with my clients, what my approach is, and how I help people get results. Now, these elements are very much a part of the work that we do inside the Coach with Clarity Collective. So if you would like additional support on getting really clear around your message, and how you serve your people, then this is a great time to head on over to coachwithclarity.com/collective, where you can learn more about it and join because I would love to welcome you as our newest member. 

 

Okay, so that's my first recommendation, show up in your brand. My second recommendation has to do with the second prediction where we're seeing an increase in customized offerings. And so here as coaches, what we want to do is create our offers in a way that maximizes flexibility, while anchoring them in results. So customization requires us to be adaptable, we need to be flexible, we cannot have a one size fits all, or even a one size fits most offer when it comes to coaching. We need to not simply be willing to adjust our offers but we need to know how to do it in a way that will benefit the client without causing too much strain or headaches or heartaches on our part. So for example, if we're looking at one on one coaching, I would say this is probably the easiest area to develop flexibility, because we can look at different formats. So are we offering our services as a VIP day, or perhaps we're offering a retainer package, maybe it's Voxer coaching, maybe it's kind of the traditional face to face, whether it's in person or Zoom coaching, but we can really tailor the way we serve our clients through different formats. And we can adapt them in order to meet the needs of the clients where they are. To do that, though, we need to have a deep understanding of what our client needs and what our client wants. That's why it's so important to have these conversations before you agree to work with the client. This is actually something I talk about in You've Got a Lead, Now What? which is part of the bundle. So if you'd like a little support on that, definitely pick up that bundle at coachwithclaritybundle.com.

 

So with one on one offers, we really need to be looking at flexibility of the format. And we need to ensure that we have a process where we're connecting with the client before we agree to work with them. And we understand how to tune in to what they're saying. So that we can help them determine which offer and which format is going to work best for them. Now, admittedly, this is easier to do with one on one offers than it is with one to many, because it can be difficult to customize an offer when you're making it available for dozens, hundreds, even 1000s of people. So I would suggest then that we look at being flexible in the way our clients can consume the information and the coaching that we're sharing. So in a lot of group programs, including my own, we incorporate live calls so people can show up live, they can be a part of the action, maybe they can ask questions in real time. So that's one way that they're able to consume the coaching and the information. 

So how can we develop other ways outside of a live call to support our people? Well as an example inside the Coach with Clarity Collective, I make the recordings of those live calls available. And we are having transcripts so that if someone prefers to read versus listen, that's an option. If someone doesn't really want to watch the video, but they do want to listen to it, we also make the calls available in a private podcast feed. I have other supplementary materials available. So I'm really trying to offer different paths for each person so that they can choose how they want to receive the coaching and the information. 

So if we can look at creating more flexible ways for people to consume what it is we're offering, I think that really allows us to provide that more customized approach, even in a group program. If you are offering a course, and it's a static course, kind of a DIY, you might also want to consider offering the occasional live call or q&a, you can have those recorded as well. So again, we're just looking at ways that we can customize and enhance the experience for our clients. So based on that second prediction of seeing an increase in customized offerings, we coaches can respond to that both in our one to one and our one to many offers, by really thinking about what it is the client needs, how we can meet that need, and how we can create different pathways for them to consume our coaching and the information we're sharing. 

 

So let's talk about that third and final prediction, which admittedly is my favorite one, this trend of small businesses working with coaches. So the best thing that we can do to be ready for this is to ensure that we are the very best coach we can be. So I know this one is not exactly business related. We've talked about marketing and visibility, we've talked about offer creation, all the business side. But for this one, I want to encourage us all to really focus on honing our coaching skills, certainly this year in 2023 and beyond. We want to ensure that we are up to date on current and ethical coaching practices. We want to know that our toolkit is filled with tools and resources and approaches and ideas that we can use inside our coaching sessions with our clients. We want to make sure we understand how to create a strong secure coaching container with the client, and that we understand how to structure a session so that it maximizes the client's opportunity for growth, and for success. So all of these things are skills that we can continue to hone and develop as a coach. One of the pillars of my approach to coaching and to mentoring and teaching coaches is that education needs to be a pillar of your coaching practice. We will never know everything there is to know about being a powerful coach. And so that's why investing in your education is so critical. 

 

Now, we've talked on the show before about what that really means. And I believe again, in a personalized approach to coach education. For some people, a full coach training program, where they receive training and mentorship and peer coaching and supervision, that might be the right path for them. And if you sense that that's the right path for you, reach out and let me know, because later on this year I will be opening another cohort of the Certified Clarity Coach Training Program. That is my program that is accredited by the International Coaching Federation to help you become a masterful coach. And if you do want to become an ICF credentialed coach, my program will help you do so. And even though I believe strongly in my program, and I do believe strongly in the ICF credentialing process, I also know that that is not going to be the best path for every person, and that other people might benefit from continuing education programs. For example, the Coach with Clarity Collective is a continuing education program. It's not a full on certification, but within it we do provide education and modeling of coaching skills. So workshops, webinars, paid trainings, books, podcasts, are all perfectly viable and acceptable ways to build your education as a coach. And of course, you may also find that working with your own coach will help you build your coaching mastery as well. I believe that great coaches have great coaches, and I have always invested in my own coaching, because it has helped me become a better coach as well. In fact, in 2023, I'm not only investing in personal coaching, but I'm also taking a course on somatic coaching because I want to improve my skills. I want to continue to show up for my clients and my members and feel confident that I am offering them the very best coaching that I can. So I promise you I am walking the talk on this one. And I am committed to deepening my own mastery as a coach through my own education, mentorship and coaching as well. 

 

So my friends, here we are. It is still the start of 2023, it's still January when this episode goes live. And now more than ever before, it has never been a better time to be a coach. And it's never been a better time to be a Coach with Clarity. So I would love to support you in your coaching journey this year and beyond. And there are so many ways that we can work together to grow your coaching practice, so that you have a business that supports you, and you're doing work that you believe in, and that lights you up. You've already taken the first step simply by listening to the Coach with Clarity podcast, which is such an honor, and I am just so grateful that you choose to tune in and listen week after week. And if you'd like to go even deeper than I encourage you to check out the Coach with Clarity Collective, if you're looking for a group program that focuses on both the business of coaching and the practice of coaching. And if you're ready to really deepen your coaching mastery then the Certified Clarity Coach Training Program might be for you. You can go to coachwithclarity.com/certification to get on the waitlist and you will be the very first to know when applications are available for the next cohort. 

Alright, my friend, that is it for me this week. But I will be right back in your feed next week with another episode of the show and until then, my name is Lee Chaix McDonough reminding you to get out there and show the world what it means to be a Coach with Clarity.