20: How to Stop Saying Yes to Bright Shiny Objects

Notes for this episode can be found here.This episode is part 1 about how to selectively and wisely decide where and when to invest your time, energy and money in opportunities that come your way as a coach. Opportunities such as:more skills traininghow-to programs that teach a marketing tactic offers to send you leads or promote youoffers to partner with another coach or expertToday, we'll dig into the bright shiny object syndrome. That's when you have a incredibly strong impulse to invest money in training, apps - all sorts of bells and whistles - for your coaching business.Have you ever taken expensive training or a mastermind and, though you enjoyed the experience, you didn't forward in your business? You couldn't apply what you learned.There's a simple reason for that ... you may not have been developmentally ready for that program yet.Spending like can quickly eat up your profits! So I have tips and mindset mastery coming your way here.Before we dive in, I want to thank you.With your support, Prosperous Coach Podcast has surpassed 4000 downloads with just our 20th episode. A shout out to Kate in Basel, Switzerland. Kate said:"I've really been enjoying your podcast and want to thank you for the really helpful, clear, and good vibes content that you are sharing. I always look forward to hearing your intro music!"Thank you, Kate!I put my heart into these episodes. And coaches need clear guidelines. Very soon I'm launching a Facebook group for subscribers of the podcast. All coaches are welcome. More on that next week.Okay let's breakthrough the bright shiny object pattern ...Why does this syndrome exist?When your coaching business is new and you've not yet filled your time serving clients, you're in a vulnerable place.You're vulnerable because you are yearning — for more coaching clients, for higher revenues, or simply for recognition that you're valuable — and you're looking outside yourself for answers.So you go surfing and get on a bunch of lists or click a bunch of ads.All manner of offers and opportunities are dangling like glittering diamonds in front of you.And your credit card is in hand. Maybe you've even memorized it.I've been there. Much less than I used to thanks to the tips I'm going to share, but it still snags me occasionally.I'm Not Skilled EnoughAs a coach, sometimes there's this voice saying "I'm not skilled enough yet" that has you reaching for more training to learn different types of coaching skills, get more certifications, to pile up credentials.There's a learned belief under that, that what you know now isn't enough for where you are now developmentally. And that's where the deepest wisdom is -- where you are now.Obviously, there are times when learning more skills will be right for your current situation. But I wonder ... how many purchases for more skills training are driven by a rational decision?Think about it this way, if you are endlessly in student mode, how are you ever going to succeed in your coaching business?Learning is a lot like breathing. The breath in is followed by the out breath. It's a natural rhythm. But if you breathe in and hold your breath, your lungs start to wither. And eventually the organism that is you forces your lungs to let out the CO2 so you can breathe in again.So the metaphor is this ... Read about the metaphor and how to stop buying training here.