I titled today's episode From Couch to Coach, as a nod to my eight week group coaching program that's called, you guessed it, From Couch to Coach. I'm actually really excited about this because it is the first time in almost four years that I have run a cohort of From Couch to Coach. In fact, From Couch to Coach was my very, very first group program. I had been working as a coach for over two years, and had really honed my practice into supporting therapists and healthcare professionals who were in private practice. So I did a lot of business coaching, a lot of business mindset work. And interestingly, what I found was that as I continued to work with my clients, the more they became interested in the art and business of coaching. And a lot of them would ask me, “Hmm, tell me about this coaching thing. How did you become a coach? And can you support me in becoming a coach?” So what I found was that a lot of my one on one work started moving away from traditional business coaching for therapists and healthcare providers, and more into coaching and consultation around how to grow your own coaching practice. I started seeing patterns and commonalities and similar questions among my clients. And it was at this point that I decided I might be ready for a group program. I think I can take everything that I've learned from working with my clients one on one, and create a program that would serve a larger audience in building and growing their coaching practices. 

 

So I'm pretty sure it was 2018 when I launched my first ever cohort of From Couch to Coach, and I ran that program several times. Ultimately, it became the inspiration and even the foundation for what is now the Coach with Clarity Collective. And honestly, I think that's probably why it's been four years or so since I've run a cohort of From Couch to Coach, I really focused my time and energy and resources on building the Collective up. And then also at the same time, I was getting my certification program up and running. So my attention was pulled to some of the other group programs that I offer. And then something really interesting happened earlier this year. If you are on my email list, you probably received an email from me asking you to complete a survey. Survey may be generous, really, I was just asking you to click a link to let me know where you fall in your coaching journey. And if you are one of those people who responded to the survey, I just want to say thank you because your feedback gave me so much insight into what it is you're looking for. And over half of the survey respondents stated that they are interested in coaching, but they've not yet started, or they're very early in the process. Maybe they've worked with a client or two, but they haven't really established a strong foundation for their coaching business. So when over half of my survey respondents let me know that they're still early phase. It got me thinking, how am I meeting them? How am I meeting you where you are now? Now hopefully you are finding this podcast to be an incredibly valuable resource as you build out the fundamentals of your coaching practice. But I want to make sure that you have everything you need so that you can get started quickly and easily and feel super confident about what you are offering the world as a coach. And I realized that's exactly what From Couch to Coach does. In eight weeks, we walk you through the fundamentals of creating a strong business and more than that, a strong approach to coaching; so that you feel confident about the services you're offering to your people and you've got solid business structures in place to support you as you build, grow and even scale your business moving forward. 

 

So based on the feedback that I received from you, my listeners, my clients, the people on my email list, I realized, it's time. It is time to bring From Couch to Coach back as a program offer. And so today, I want to give you a high-level overview of exactly what it is we explore within From Couch to Coach. I'm basically giving you a sneak peek inside the curriculum for this program because you may find all you need is that outline and you are going to be good to go. You can take it and run, and if that's the case, I am so excited for you, I'm in your corner cheering you on every step of the way. Or perhaps you may want a little bit of extra support as you build out your coaching philosophy, your offer, your marketing plan, everything that goes into running a successful practice. And if that's the case, then From Couch to Coach is the next logical step for you to take. And I want you to make sure that you have all of the information you need to make a decision about whether it's right for you. So that's why today I'm taking you behind the scenes of From Couch to Coach and I'm showing you what we cover to help you start or build upon your coaching practice. 

 

One of the reasons I love small group programs so much is it allows a certain level of personal support as you are doing the work. So in From Couch to Coach, I have incorporated all sorts of touch points where you can get feedback and guidance directly from me around how to grow your coaching practice. We have weekly calls where I am going through one key part of the curriculum, which I'll share with you in a little bit. And those calls are a blend, I would say they're one part instruction, one part group coaching and one part actually getting the work done. So we'll be carving out time every week for you to not just learn but actually implement and take action on the pieces of the From Couch to Coach framework. In addition to those weekly calls, I'm also holding live office hour calls every other week, so that you can get your questions answered. And if there's anything specific to your business you want feedback on, you can come to those live Q&A calls and get my support. And then for this next round, I'm doing something I have never done before and I'm really excited about it. As an added feature, I am offering what I call Copy Audits. So essentially, if you are working on something for your business, whether it is the copy for your website, or perhaps it's an email sequence, maybe you're working on some social media posts, whatever it is, if you have written work that you would like me to review and provide my feedback on, you can do that through a weekly copy audit. So all eight weeks of the program, you are invited to submit your written work up to 1500 words and I will review it and give you my high level feedback on it. So kind of some developmental editing of your works in progress. And that includes the work you are doing as part of the From Couch to Coach curriculum, because every week I am going to be giving you some prompts and some written exercises to do in order to help you solidify the foundation of your business. And you can submit that to me for my review so you can get my eyes and my thoughts on your business at every stage so that you feel confident about moving forward. 

 

There are all sorts of other bonuses that come with From Couch to Coach including my collection of coaching scripts and templates. So you'll never wonder what to say or how to structure a coaching session ever again. I'm also including access to a wonderful program called Irresistify from the team at Funnel Gorgeous. So inside Irresistify you get access to some extraordinary training around creating your offer, creating a funnel, you've got templates and slide decks, all sorts of things to help you build out your offer. Plus a valuable workbook that helps you measure your key performance indicators. So again, all of these tools that are really designed to support your business structures, you get that as part of From Couch to Coach. 

 

And then once you graduate from From Couch to Coach, if you want continued support you can find that inside the Coach with Clarity Collective and as an alum, you will get $500 off your Collective registration. So I'm hoping you're already feeling like From Couch to Coach is a huge value, you get eight weekly group coaching sessions, four office hour calls, we're going to have a pop up private community just for the members of From Couch to Coach, you get the coaching scripts and templates, the weekly content audits, Irresistify from Funnel Gorgeous, and $500 off your Collective registration. And honestly, when I total up the value of everything that's included within the program, I come up with a figure over $13,000. But that seems a little high for an eight week group coaching program. So that's why I am thrilled to offer it at a fraction of that cost, you can opt for a single payment of $1,950. Or you can take the three payment plan of $650 each month for three months. And I hope you notice that there is no additional cost to take the payment plan over the pay in full. I don't think it's fair to penalize people with outrageous interest rates to take advantage of a payment plan. So I tried to structure it so that my payment plans are roughly the same cost as my single payment option. And then I offer a bonus to people who are able to pay in full. So if you choose to pay in full, you will also get a one on one call with me included in your tuition. So you and I will meet for 45 minutes to discuss whatever it is that's on your mind, and you have up to a year to redeem that call. So you don't even have to use it during the eight weeks we spend together in From Couch to Coach. You can save it, you can pop it in your back pocket and then pull it out whenever you need me over the next year. So that is a huge value that I offer to people who are at a point where they're able to pay in full. 

 

So From Couch to Coach is loaded with value. It's under the $2,000 price point. I did that intentionally because I want to make it accessible, I want you to feel like you can get a return on that investment relatively quickly. My goal is to help you land your first or your next coaching client. And ideally, that will more than cover the cost of your enrollment in From Couch to Coach. So you can learn more about From Couch to Coach by going to coachwithclarity.com/fromcouchtocoach, we will make sure there is a link to that in the show notes. All of the details about the program are there, including what it is we cover, everything you get. There's a really helpful FAQ section at the bottom of the page that answers a lot of commonly asked questions around the program. Again, my goal is to make sure you have all of the information you need to make an informed decision about whether From Couch to Coach is right for you. And that's also why I want to spend the remainder of today's episode walking you through the curriculum and letting you know exactly what it is that we cover week by week within From Couch to Coach. So this really is the outline of my curriculum, it'll give you a great idea about the things that you might want to focus on as you are building your program out, regardless of whether you choose to enroll in From Couch to Coach. So let's dive in. Let's explore week by week point by point exactly what it takes to move you From Couch to Coach. 

 

I designed the curriculum of From Couch to Coach to be relatively straightforward. We have four modules, each with two topics. So we cover one topic a week for eight weeks total. And these modules are foundational concepts to help you build and grow your coaching practice. Now we talk a lot about client centered coaching, that all of the work we do as coaches really places our client at the center. We are following their agenda, we are working towards their desired outcome and we are ensuring that the questions we ask, the interventions we introduce are all done so from a client centered perspective. We are doing so with the client's agenda in mind. And I would argue that in order to have a truly client centered coaching practice, we need to actually start by going within. We need to make sure that our business reflects who we are and what we value most. So it might be a little bit of an oxymoron but stay with me because I would argue that to have a truly client centered practice, we actually first have to anchor it in our own identity. And that is what we look at in the first week of From Couch to Coach. I really take the stance that you are the heart of your coaching practice. And so we want to make sure that we build a practice that reflects you, that we are clear on your vision for your coaching work, your mission for your coaching practice, and the underlying values that support you as you build out your business and start connecting with your potential clients. 

 

We also want to explore what makes you in particular, so perfectly suited to be a coach, and specifically to coach your ideal clients, and we're gonna get to them next. But before we even start thinking about our clients, we want to make sure we're really clear on our own vision for our coaching work, how we want to bring that to life, why it matters to us, and what strengths, talents and experiences do we bring to the table that can enrich our clients experience. So that's what we focus on all during week one. And what I love most about this is that even though I will be walking you through how to do it for yourself, these are concepts and even activities that you can use with your own clients. Regardless of your niche or who you serve, much of the work we do as coaches is around identity and mindset. So when you have done the work yourself, you can then take some of those tools and activities and incorporate them into your own coaching practice. So I really see week one has been this lovely blend of both the business side of coaching and making sure we are fully anchored in to our own identity as a coach and business owner. But it also brings in some coaching skill set work as well and we can explore how you might take these concepts and use them in your own coaching work with your clients. 

 

So speaking of your clients, that is exactly what we dive into in week two. To be a client centered coach, you need to be crystal clear around who it is you want to serve. So this is the week where we're going to dive into audience and niche, we'll explore the age old question of whether or not you really need a niche. And we'll start looking at how you might want to define the audience you most want to serve. So I will walk you through three different ways that you can define who your ideal client is and spoiler alert, you're probably going to want to incorporate all three of those into your process as you refine your ideal audience. We'll talk about what it really means to have a niche for your coaching practice and some of the misconceptions that are out there around creating a niche. And we'll look at the things you need to know in order to attract the clients you most want to serve. So week two, this is where we really take the spotlight and we shine it on your client, and we get really clear around who they are, what they want, what they've already tried, and why coaching and specifically coaching with you might be their next right choice. So this first module is comprised of weeks one and two and it really focuses on the who of your coaching practice. And we're answering the question, “Who do I serve as a coach?” We are anchoring into our own identity, and then getting clear on your ideal client. 

 

From there, we move into module two, which is the what of your coaching practice. And this is where we're looking at the question, “What do I really do as a coach?” So we're going to break this down into two topics. Week three, we are going to talk about approach. And week four, we're going to talk about your offer. So let's start with your approach. Now that you know who you are as a coach, and who you support, because you've done all of that foundational work in module one. Now it's time to get really clear on your coaching philosophy and your approach to client work. So in week three of From Couch to Coach, this is where we start building out your personal coaching framework. And this framework is anchored in your unique coaching style. It's developed so that it really speaks to your ideal client. And we can talk about the different concepts, theoretical orientations and other things you may be pulling into your approach. We talk about approach at this point because I see it as being one part of defining your niche. So your niche is really about who you're serving, that's audience from week two, but also what it is they are facing and why they are pursuing coaching in the first place. So we're addressing the need that they have and that's where your approach comes in. This also helps differentiate you from all of the other coaches out there who are doing work in your field. We talked several weeks ago about how 2023 is the year of the coach, and we're seeing a lot of new coaches enter the industry, which I think is really exciting and it's also understandable if that prompts the question, “Well, how do I set myself apart? In this field where there are so many different kinds of coaches, what makes me different? Why would someone choose me over someone else?” Well, the answer to that question likely lies in your approach. And so that's why we take an entire week to really dive in, and help you create that personal coaching philosophy that you can anchor into, and use to describe who you are as a coach. So that's also going to help attract your ideal client to you. 

 

So once we are clear on who you are, as a coach, who you serve, what your coaching approach is, now it's time to get clear on what it is you specifically offer as a coach. So in week four, we are going to look at offer creation, because now it's time to build out that offer. And I have a six step formula that I will share with you to help you develop your own irresistible coaching offer. Because really, what it comes down to is our clients are facing some sort of challenge or obstacle, or maybe they have an opportunity that's presented itself to them, but they're not quite sure how to take action on it. We want to make sure our coaching offer meets the needs of your client, right where they are. We want to develop this offer in such a way that it really is a no-brainer for your client to say, “Yes, you are clearly the next step for me in my journey. How do we work together?” So creating and refining that offer is what we focus on in week four. And that takes us to the end of the module all about the what of your coaching practice. 

 

So we've explored the who of your coaching practice who you serve as a coach, we've explored the what of your coaching practice, so what you actually do as a coach. Module three is all about the why of your coaching practice, and specifically answering the question, “Why work with me? Why out of all the coaches out there do you want to work with me?” So in module three, we are looking at two very important topics, one each week, and you may have guessed it, we are looking at marketing, and we are looking at sales. So I know that marketing and sales can sometimes feel a little intimidating. And that's okay. So take a deep breath, I'm going to walk you through exactly what we explore over those two weeks to help you feel more confident about your abilities to talk about what you do, and to move a potential client from a “Tell me more” position into a “Sign me up” position. 

 

So week five, this is where we really dive into your marketing plan. Now that you've got this solid offer that you've created, it's time to connect your offer with the people who need it most. And that's what marketing is all about. Marketing is simply sharing who you are and what you do in such a way that it piques interest and curiosity in the people you most want to work with. It invites them to raise their hand and say, “Hey, I'm interested in learning more about you and your work.” That is all marketing is. And so when we approach it from this perspective, marketing is about building relationships. And here's the great news, as coaches, we are experts in building relationships, this is what we do day in and day out with our clients. So we're going to take those skills, and we're going to integrate them into our approach to marketing. And I've done so by creating a super simple, streamlined approach to creating a marketing plan that you will actually want to implement. This is not some cookie cutter, one size fits all approach, I'm not telling you that you have to post on a specific social media platform a certain number of times a week, none of that, I promise. Instead, I am going to walk you through my process for creating a marketing plan that feels good to you, that leverages your existing strengths and preferences. So I'm not asking you to do anything you don't want to do or that you're not willing to do, and will do so in a way that encourages a diversified approach to marketing, so you're not putting all of your eggs in one basket. And I'm also not asking you to do all the things. And that is definitely something that I have observed in many of my coaching clients and the members of the Coach with Clarity Collective. And to be truthful, it's something that I can fall into as well. This idea that I have to be doing all the things and I have to be in all the places in order to have a successful business. And that is just not true. In fact, when we try to do too much with our marketing plan, we wind up diluting our efforts and we spread ourselves too thin. So our message isn't really taking route in any of the places where we're showing up. Instead, I want you focusing on a small number of marketing strategies that are going to work, that feel good, and you're going to want to take action on. And that is what we explore in week five of From Couch to Coach. 

 

So ideally, once we have your marketing plan dialed in and you're taking action on it, you are going to start building steam. And people are going to start recognizing you as the expert in your field, as a resource, as a powerful coach, and they're going to be interested in working with you. And that's the point at which we need to talk about a sales strategy. And that's what we cover in week six of From Couch to Coach. So I know the word sales can create a little anxiety in some of us, myself included. But I firmly believe that sales doesn't have to feel scary. And it absolutely doesn't have to feel sleazy, provided we are coming from a place that honors our client, centers our client, and focuses on building a deep relationship with them. Again, marketing and sales is all about relationships and so that is the approach that we are taking. And in week six, we are going to explore how to create an ethical sales strategy that feels good to you, that you know how to guide your client through, that is consent based at every turn, and at the end creates a natural next step for your ideal client to say yes to working with you. So that takes us to the end of module three, which is all about the why of your coaching practice: why people should work with you. 

 

From there, we move into the fourth and final module of From Couch to Coach, which is the how of your coaching practice? Or specifically, “How do I actually do this? How do I actually coach my people and run a successful business?” So this is where things get really fun, because in week seven, we are looking at service. How to show up and serve your coaching clients powerfully. Because honestly, it's one thing to know how to get clients, it is quite another to serve them powerfully. And I know we've talked about this on the show in the past, but I have certainly encountered situations where I've looked at a given coaching program or business program, the marketing was great, the sales process was so smooth, then I get into the program and it's like, “Wait, what are we doing here?” There's no structure, there's no support. And it seems like the person behind the program is really good at sales, and maybe not as good as implementation. It doesn't feel good to be in that situation and I know you don't want your clients feeling that way either. And so that's why we take an entire week to really explore how to show up as a powerful coach, and how to support your client in each and every session. 

 

I'm really excited because for the first time ever, I am sharing a proprietary piece of my curriculum from my certification program with my From Couch to Coach students. So I will be introducing you to what I call the Locks Coaching Method. Again, I've never shared the Locks Method outside my certification program. So only Certified Clarity Coaches know about the Locks Method and I will be sharing that with you as part of From Couch to Coach. It is such a powerful way to structure your coaching sessions. And I really believe that once you've mastered the Locks Method, you will never wonder how to lead a coaching session again. And I know that's a bold claim, but I am willing to stand behind it. So you will learn all about that in week seven of From Couch to Coach. And then we wrap things up in our eighth and final week looking at systems, what systems do you need in place in order to run a successful coaching practice. This is all about developing protocols that work for you. So that way, you are not reinventing the wheel every time you have a new prospect or a new client. So we'll look at software and other programs, we'll look at systems that you may want to develop inside your business in order to streamline things, save time, save energy, and create a lovely experience for your clients as they enter your business. 

 

So I just want to recap everything we've gone over because honestly, what I just shared with you is essentially a step by step plan for starting or refining your coaching practice. So we start with your identity and getting really clear on who you are as a coach and why you are so well suited to serve your people. Then we talk about who those people are and we look at three different ways of defining your ideal client. From there, we're going to look at your coaching approach, and specifically what your framework is and how you support your clients. Then we look at the specific offer. So what is it actually that you are providing to your clients when they agree to work with you? With those things in place, we're then ready to go out and share it with the world so we need a strong marketing plan to support that. And then as potential clients express interest in working with you, we want to make sure we have a really strong, ethically oriented sales process that we can walk them through. At that point, ideally, they are saying yes, you are ready to bring them into your business and onboard them. So we need to take a really close look at how you serve them as a coach and some specific coaching techniques and strategies that can support you in your process, and how you can build out systems in your business to make that onboarding process as smooth as possible. So those eight things, identity, audience, approach, offer, marketing, sales, service, and systems: those eight things are the key to having a robust coaching practice. And that is exactly what we are going to explore in this next cohort of From Couch to Coach. 

 

And I would absolutely love to welcome you inside this next cohort of From Couch to Coach, we get started March 21st. You can find all of the details and register at coachwithclarity.com/fromcouchtocoach that is all one word coachwithclarity.com/fromcouchtocoach. And when you go to that website, you'll see all of the information, definitely check out the FAQ section at the bottom of the page. And then go ahead and secure your spot. Now because of the high level of support that I am providing each and every member inside the program, I am going to limit this cohort in terms of the number of participants. Right now I'm thinking somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 feels good. And I'll share with you that already some of those slots have been taken. So if you would like to partner with me to build out your coaching practice, then I would love to welcome you inside From Couch to Coach. Again, just head to coachwithclarity.com/fromcouch to coach to learn more, and to secure your spot. 

 

Alright, my friend. That's it for this week's episode of the Coach with Clarity podcast. And I hope that regardless of where you're at in your coaching journey, you have found it helpful to hear the walkthrough of From Couch to Coach because those eight components we've talked about, those are necessary factors for any coaching practice. And no matter how long you've been in business or how long you've been a coach, it's always a good idea to periodically go back and check on our fundamentals. So I hope that this episode has inspired you to do that. And of course if you'd like support, you know what to do head to coachwithclarity.com/fromcouchtocoach to learn more and join. That's it for me this week, but I will be right back in your feed next week with another episode of the Coach with Clarity podcast. So until then, my name is Lee Chaix McDonough encouraging you to get out there and show the world what it means to be a Coach with Clarity.