Episode 36

full
Published on:

4th Dec 2024

Should I Write A Book?

The Importance of Writing a Book for Coaches and Speakers

Summary

In this episode, Angie and John discuss why having a book is increasingly being seen as essential for coaches, speakers, and personal development professionals.

They explore the advantages of writing a book, both in terms of personal credibility and business growth. Angie talks about her long journey of writing her book since 2016, sharing insights on organizing thoughts and staying motivated.

John provides a guide on self-publishing versus traditional publishing, discussing the benefits and challenges of each route.

The conversation also delves into the potential distractions for new coaches and the role of AI in book writing.

Overall, they emphasize the value of a book as a powerful tool for positioning oneself as an expert in the industry.

Takeaways

It's important for coaches to have their own book.

Journaling can lead to valuable book content.

Self-publishing is more accessible than ever.

Books can serve as effective marketing tools.

Expert positioning is crucial for coaches.

Monetizing a book requires strategic marketing.

Ghostwriting can help bring ideas to life.

Books should not overwhelm readers with information.

Validating ideas through coaching experience is essential.

A book can enhance a coach's credibility and reach. Demonstrating experience is crucial for credibility in writing.

Perfectionism can hinder the completion of your book.

New coaches should focus on foundational skills before writing.

Blogging can help you find your voice and clarify your ideas.

AI can assist in the writing process but should not replace personal input.

Authenticity is key; your work should reflect your voice.

The creative process is personal and should involve your own efforts.

Valuing your creation enhances the connection with your audience.

AI's role in writing is evolving, but human touch remains essential.

Focus on what truly matters in your business before adding new projects.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: The Importance of Writing a Book

01:31 Angie's Journey: From Journaling to Book Writing

02:18 Challenges and Progress in Writing a Book

03:46 The Value of Self-Publishing

08:14 Monetizing Your Book: Strategies and Tips

26:13 The Role of AI in Book Writing

38:38 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Get in touch

Want to contact the show? You can leave us a voicemail. It's free to do and we might feature you on our next episode. All you need to do is go to https://speakpipe.com/thecoachingclinicpodcast and leave us your message.

Would you like to get coaching from John or Angie? Here's how you can contact us:

John's LinkedIn Profile or go to PresentInfluence.com

Angie's LinkedIn Profile

2023 Present Influence Productions The Coaching Clinic 36

Transcript
John:

Angie,

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Angie: John,

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John: do you have a book?

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Angie: are you asking if I can read?

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John: No, have you written a book?

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Angie: Oh, I'm thinking about it.

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Why have you?

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John: I'm writing one at the moment.

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I'm starting to think it's really

important for coaches to have one.

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Angie: All right.

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I'm hooked.

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Let's talk about books today.

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John: Angie, it seems like everywhere

I look at the moment, People are

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talking about how important it is to

have your own book for your business

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if you are a coach a speaker or any

anything in the Personal development

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I say information sector and personal

development industry that it's really

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important to have that and And it has got

me thinking and it has got me revisiting

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a book that i've been looking at But

have you been feeling the same thing?

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Angie: So I'm going to make you laugh.

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I've been writing my

book probably since:

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and it didn't, yeah, it's been a long

time and why am I still writing it?

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I just haven't gone back to it because

it didn't, I didn't start out with it.

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The idea wasn't to write a book.

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I started journaling and.

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As I was journaling at the time on this

topic of, what was going on in my life

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at the time, I started to realize that

wait a minute, I'm a coach, right?

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This could actually be useful, a tool.

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A guide for people.

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So I shifted it, but yes, so here I am,

though, all these years later, and I have

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still, I have not completed the book, not

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John: What sort of

stages are at the moment

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Angie: So I probably have like

a serious great three chapters.

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And it's not going to be a long book.

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This isn't going to be

a 500 page novel, right?

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This is not that.

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But what I did do recently, because

I do not just because I don't want

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to finish it just to finish it.

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But what I did do is I've actually

outlined the last the last six or

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seven chapters, like what I want

to talk about in those, so I'm I'm

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going from it being this natural let

me just get the thoughts on paper.

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To organizing it like in a

way that if I was a reader,

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it would actually make sense.

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So I'm treating it like a book, right?

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And not just the journal.

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John: Okay.

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But have you reinvigorated

your drive, your passion to

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move ahead with the book now?

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Angie: Yeah, because now it's in

my, it's like part of my practice.

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Like it's part of my vision for my

business because although it didn't,

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it wasn't born from, Oh, let me write a

book, that'll be great for my business.

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I can now turn it into that.

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I can take this other great idea,

this content and turn it into.

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So I do have more passion because

I actually think there's a lot of

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information that based on what I do every

day is a great supplement to what I do.

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I guess I could say it that way.

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It's a great supplement to what

I do every day, a great add on.

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And who

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John: So many questions.

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So many people say that the best business

card you can have is your own book.

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And I agree to, to a great degree and feel

like, I've, I say have I remember before?

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Yeah, but small, like really small guys.

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I've even self-published before,

but really like handbooks very,

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more like pamphlets, in the books.

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But not really related to what I do now.

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So I wouldn't, probably

wouldn't pull those things back.

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So I have.

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Published myself I have written books,

but but now this is what I'm working

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on is a much fuller book that really

is my whole framework and my whole

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philosophy principles around what I do

and how that's gonna help Others as well.

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So I'm excited for it, but I will say

this first time when I got somebody

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to take a look at my my framework,

the skeleton bare bones of the book.

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And they, the first comment

to me was this is four books

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Angie: Okay.

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Yeah.

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John: but then why not?

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It's okay, that's actually not bad.

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So that makes my life a bit easier now to

get that great feedback from someone who

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knows about these things and say okay,

it can be four books and this can be.

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Part one of those four books

or maybe becomes three books.

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Who knows but but not to really put too

much Into one book because that whole

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thing about talk about with speaking.

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We don't want to overteach.

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We don't want to overdo it whilst we want

to deliver value we want people to be

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able to absorb what they're delivering

and to be able to use and apply it and

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something that ends up being almost like

a Bible of presentation skills so to

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speak might be a bit overwhelming for a

lot of people and maybe even hard to use

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Angie: I was going to say, I

just was going to say that.

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I think that when there's too much

information that it just, what

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happens is the lessons get murky.

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They get lost and I actually

just had a session with somebody

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last night and I encouraged her.

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We're having this conversation

and I said to her, maybe what you

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should do because it was about

she was writing some things down.

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And I said I think that you

need to break those things down.

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I didn't say go write another

book, but it was interesting.

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It was really.

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When that person said to you, I have four

books, like this is four books, right?

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Don't overcomplicate it

because the lessons get lost.

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And, sometimes we have to

go back and revisit, right?

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That's it's okay.

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Because when people, if we have one book

and people want to come back and revisit.

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Maybe it's a workshop.

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Maybe it's if you want there

to be more tangibles, right?

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Maybe then you're creating a whole

different type of curriculum around the

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book, which again, what are we doing here?

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We're expanding our business.

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And it's funny because I actually have

two books going and it's, again, it's

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because to your point, and I didn't

realize it, and this just puts lights on

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light on it, that the first book really.

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Was more, it should be, I should keep

it where, what it was meant to be and

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then take specific topics that I touch

on and turn those into more, right?

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Because there is more to learn.

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There is more to say.

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Yeah, I think it's so much more

commonplace now to have a book

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than I don't know, 20 years ago.

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What do you think about that?

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I

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John: Yeah, it really is and I do think

that probably self publishing is so much

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easier now than it ever was that it almost

doesn't make sense not to and I have I

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have a connection who's a really good

marketing expert and he's turned out books

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like he'll spend three weeks working on

a book and then self publish it and he's

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done okay with that i mean i've read some

of the books and yeah they're littered

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with spelling mistakes and things like

that but There's good content in there

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and there's things that can be really

helpful you know if you're willing to let

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go of that sort of it needs to be perfect

and all the Syntax and spelling needs

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to be spot on If you can let go of that

to some degree like do you maybe want

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to spend a bit of money on an editor?

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Sure, especially if you're looking to

write take the book into the mainstream

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and maybe take it to a publisher at some

point, you may well want to do that.

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But really, could you move ahead

on a budget and maybe just self

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publish something yourself?

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Absolutely.

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And I've done it with smaller books and

to some degree, I will do that this, with

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this book as well, although I probably

will at least spend a couple of hundred

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bucks on getting it, getting someone

to take a look do a quick edit on it.

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Who has

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Angie: think it's important though

to try to identify that for like

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the people listening, right?

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Because there might be people here

listening to us right now saying.

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Self publishing.

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What is that?

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I think that there's not.

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It's not a natural place where people

who are building coaching practices

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or in personal development necessarily

say, Oh, that's a goal as well.

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There's going to be these

verticals within my business.

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And one of them is going

to be my book writing.

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So tell us tell our audience, right?

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What are really the big difference?

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You touched on a little bit, but

why would I or why would I not?

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Yeah.

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Self publish, specifically.

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John: Partly it's looking at the

benefits of each one that we do

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want to get the clear pros and cons.

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When you go to a publishers, if you

have a good concept for a book, and

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it has a very clear market and it's

clearly commercial for them, then they

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will be able to do things like offer

you an advance on the book and And.

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Maybe they will be able to have

better distribution than you might

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be able to manage by yourself.

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That doesn't mean that it's

gonna sell like hotcakes.

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It doesn't mean that it is going

to be a successful book for you and

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the chances of you making any money.

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With a properly published book, low it's

still going to be what we call a lost

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leader That you're not really going to

be able to make much money off it and

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unless you have a huge international

success, but so few people have that and

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that probably speaks to you really need

to be able to Tap into whatever zeitgeist

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is going on whatever's hot Right now, or

people want to get into you need to be

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right there with what you do at the right

time to some degree for that to really

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work and to have a really solid strategy.

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When you go to a publisher You have to

go with a book proposal First of all,

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you could you don't just go and throw

your completed manuscript at them and

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say here's my book you have to give

them a book proposal and we're talking

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we are talking Non fiction particularly

probably personal development of the

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likes books and so with that you have to

be clear on all the information they want

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from you in a book proposal that can be

Almost as much work as writing your book.

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So they want the outline, they

want the clarity of who it's for,

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what the book's going to do for

the audience, all of these things.

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And you can usually get the, you

can usually get all that information

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off publishers websites to be able

to, what they want information

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from you for a book proposal.

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They don't want to read

your completed book.

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They want to read your proposal and

and see if it's any good from there.

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Part of the reason is, They

actually do know a fair bit more

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about publishing styles and what

works well and what doesn't.

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So they may ask you to make changes.

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And that's much harder to do

if you've completed the book.

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They can sometimes, if they like the

concept and they think it's cool, Got

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good commercial value They may well

have someone work with you a bit on the

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structure and design and layout of the

book to make sure it's gonna fit with

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what they already have in their library

and with their audiences in the right

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way, so Yeah, there's things there that

could be beneficial to you but for most

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coaches and speakers Self publishing,

and there's so many different options for

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this as well from just like essentially

having a PDF version of your book that

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you can give to people or self printing.

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You can self print your books

and sell them at your own events.

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We talked about this with speaking, you

can include them in part of, as part of

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your negotiation for speaking events.

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You can use them as a calling card for

clients as a an introductory offer To

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bring people like a funnel to bring people

in deeper into your coaching world That's

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pretty low entry because if someone can't

even you know Someone's not even going

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to pay to have a book delivered to them.

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They're not going to pay

for your coaching either.

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So But yeah, these are some of the

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Angie: it's got ancillary

value to it, for sure.

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But here's the thing.

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I'm gonna sit here and say this to you

because this just like when we talked

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about podcasting you've already self

published, so you're ahead of me.

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You've done it before me.

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But I feel like, I would be speaking

for maybe the entire audience that's

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listening when I ask this question if

we, because I feel like most people

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are going to want to monetize where you

mentioned oh, you can bring it to an

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event and offer it and, promote it that

way and create this like collaboration

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and layers of what you're offering.

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And I think that's great.

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People love the stuff.

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Nobody wants to walk away with

a pen with your website on it.

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That's like a real value.

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But if somebody really wanted to

monetize a book because it's effort,

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it's, not something we're necessarily

going to be throwing gather, what's

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the what, again, I'm sure there's

a million perspectives on this.

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So I'm just asking John, by the way.

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In his, for in his experience or

in his opinion, what would be the

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best route for somebody to take?

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John: i'm certainly by no means an

authority on this but But what I do

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know is when you self publish You are in

control of your marketing when a book gets

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published through Mainstream publishers

it may get marketed the one time but they

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do still expect you to primarily take care

of the marketing strategy for that and You

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It's much like any information product.

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How do you sell any kind

of information product?

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That's what a book is

at the end of the day.

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How do you sell that?

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How do you market it?

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How do you promote it?

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You want to maybe build up your e build

up your email list and perhaps you're

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gonna maybe even utilize buzz around,

start creating some buzz around the

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book to build that up and going on.

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Going on podcast as a guest, we talked

about that recently going on talking

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about the book that's coming out, build

up some interest there, maybe even create

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a waiting list for your book so that

you can perhaps at least get onto an

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Amazon bestsellers list pretty quick.

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There are some pretty good

resources out there to help you

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know how to best market your book.

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But the good thing with that is

you can turn up the marketing,

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turn on the marketing taps for

your book anytime you want.

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And so I think that if you actually want

to make money from your book, great.

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You might just want it as a

tool, something you can sell at

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events and don't really care if

it's in book charts or whatever.

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That's fine.

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But if you do at least want to get it

onto an Amazon bestseller list, there

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are plenty of people who offer some great

strategies for helping you to do that.

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And it's really not, It's

difficult getting it onto

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the wall street journal, but

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Angie: new york times bestseller

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John: york times bestsellers list?

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That's a very different beast indeed

and requires a much more significant

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strategy But again, there are people

you know, if that's your goal There

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are people out there who could be

able to help you do that So it might

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depend on what level you're at.

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I certainly think the self publishing

route for most people Is the easier

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path to go down and there are So many

different levels though, like people

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will essentially some degree give you

the whole strategy for doing this There

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are some people who will do it along with

you And there are some people who'll even

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take care of it all for you And maybe

even ghostwrite your whole book for you.

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Angie: I

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John: All of that's out

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Angie: about ghostwriting because I yeah,

because I feel like this I feel like

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my perception of book writing, right?

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I wrote a small book in college.

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It was part of a class.

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I was taking little

novelette and it was great.

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A plus, this was amazing.

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I had to share with my colleagues

because there was some mystery in there.

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Who knew?

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I just love to articulate

and get things down.

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But it's so funny because my perception

was in order to have a book published,

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you had to be an author, right?

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That was your profession.

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And that's just not true anymore.

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It has, that whole space has evolved,

obviously since, I guess I feel like a

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little bit of a mini dinosaur, right?

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Because I'm talking about a time when.

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That was the truth.

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You had to be an author for the most

part in order to get something published.

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And that's just not the case anymore.

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So it is another viable

opportunity to get things done.

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If I had, listen, if I had three

weeks, you were mentioning something

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about a friend of yours that,

knocked it out in three, three weeks.

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If somebody locked me in a cabin, like

Stephen King does go lock me up somewhere.

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I could knock out the two books

that I have probably like pretty

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quickly, because I'd be having, I

would have the time and attention.

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And now because I am focusing on

the writing, it's, I need a couple

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of hours of, this is why it hasn't

been, why is it going on for so long?

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Why is it taking me so long?

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Because I don't feel like I've had.

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The time because I have to get into

this mental zone to create what

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it is or to reflect on what it is.

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I'm trying to say create a flow.

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It's not a 15 minute thing

unless it's just a quick idea.

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Oh, I want to throw this in there.

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It can be time consuming, but I think

if you outline things and you really

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decide what it is you want to talk about.

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It will probably happen a little

bit more quickly, but I just feel

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like and tell me do you agree?

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I think that the mindset is that it used

to be like you had to be an author But you

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don't and ghostwriting somebody just like

I don't know maybe the universe is talking

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to me somebody on LinkedIn was like hey

I'm a ghostwriter and I'm like, oh, maybe

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do you wanna talk about that a little bit?

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What'd you say?

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John: I said I don't believe in ghosts.

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Angie: Oh, you will, you come

to my house and you will . Okay.

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That's all I'm gonna say.

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John: But yeah I know that there are

people like with podcasts who have

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had somebody, handed the transcripts

of the podcast over to somebody to

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turn, have them turned into a book

formatted and turned into a book.

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And people have done that and sometimes

it's done really well with that.

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So I know that is also an option,

when I have nearly 200 episodes of

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my other show, that is an option.

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There's probably plenty of stuff in

there that would make valuable book

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content and would probably do very well.

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So that's another option

for the future as well.

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But the whole point of having the, in the

first place is that expert positioning.

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And that, I think that is, it's

not just to make money from it.

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Hopefully you can make some

money from your book as well.

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That's certainly a good thing to do, but

for coaches more than anything, it does

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give you a level of expert positioning.

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You can say podcast does

to some degree, but.

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Somehow it doesn't have the same

Gravitas as having a book published

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even if you've self published it

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Angie: I, I'm not sure that

everybody even thinks that a book is

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something that might be necessary.

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And if it was, why?

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So it's not just always about monetizing.

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It is about that expert positioning.

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It's about completing the package, so

to speak, and not necessarily a package

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that you're going to sell, but just

another piece of what you're doing

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and your mission and your passion.

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I love it.

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I think it's a great idea to add it on.

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John: Here's what I'll say

as well to add on to this.

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I don't think it's

something for new coaches.

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Angie: I agree.

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John: Unless you really have a specific

Point of view framework concept there's

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going to be really valuable to people

and is your intellectual property if

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you already have that Great, but I would

probably still look to take some time

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to validate it in coaching and to have

the case studies and the history and the

345

:

knowledge of working with it this is one

of the things that did come up for me.

346

:

And I had ended up having an

interview on someone with my show.

347

:

I'd mostly finished writing a book and

then had a professional ghostwriter

348

:

come and be a guest on my show.

349

:

She's written some great books.

350

:

I think I will share her name is

Ginny Carter and she's written.

351

:

But called like your business your book.

352

:

I think she had more recent ones.

353

:

I have to write a personal how

to write self help book Great.

354

:

She's really good really knowledgeable

on this stuff Super nice person as well,

355

:

and i'll put a link to that episode

if you want to listen to it Into the

356

:

show notes as well, but One of the

things she said that really hit home

357

:

for me was like you need to be able to

demonstrate that this has been In action.

358

:

Otherwise, it's just kind of conceptual

knowledge which I think is really

359

:

important and it's one of the reasons why

I held off On that particular book and

360

:

thought I don't have enough validation

In my work experience to be able to feel

361

:

confident going ahead and publishing

could you still go ahead and publish?

362

:

Yes, but Are you gonna feel like

you're on weaker ground if you do that?

363

:

Probably I would have And so

it felt like it would have been

364

:

a little you know whilst i'm

almost ready to push the button.

365

:

I realized the book was probably

only really half done and there was

366

:

a lot that needed to still Happen

Before it's ready to be published.

367

:

So this is one of the reasons why it's

like it is a slightly higher level thing

368

:

And yes, there is a certain level of

work and commitment involved in this

369

:

and you do need to figure out You know

the time isn't just going to appear to

370

:

write your book You do need to, you do

need to create the time, whether you

371

:

give yourself three weeks locked in a

cabin or whether you give yourself an

372

:

hour every morning or whether you join

one of these groups that are around

373

:

where people get together and spend an

hour on Zoom together just writing on

374

:

their books and have that check in time.

375

:

Of these things can help you,

but you ultimately done is . I

376

:

say, done is better than perfect.

377

:

Get your book done.

378

:

If you have the idea and you really want

to do it, and you wanna have a book as

379

:

to represent you and your expertise and

to give you that positioning, do it.

380

:

Get it done.

381

:

Angie: Yeah, I think to your point about

you know Also, I think there's that if

382

:

you're a newer coach, it is a just another

distraction You need to establish you and

383

:

you might have some really great ideas

on what a great book could be or a topic

384

:

that you'd want to talk about but I agree.

385

:

I think that you probably need to get

yourself into that space a little bit

386

:

to back up things a little bit more

depending on what the topic actually is.

387

:

But also for me, when I think about

productivity, is it a distraction?

388

:

If you're a newer coach, there's a ton

of things that you're working on and

389

:

you don't even know yet what it is.

390

:

You don't know what you don't know.

391

:

And you and I we've revamped recently,

we've been coaches for a long time.

392

:

And even with all the experience,

it's months, like in my mind, I'm

393

:

like, Oh, I can just knock this out.

394

:

It's months to structure or restructure.

395

:

And right now, throwing the book into the

mix is just not, it's not even on my list.

396

:

It's just not.

397

:

John: It's a point of overwhelm, right?

398

:

Angie: Yeah.

399

:

John: If you let it be that yeah I

wouldn't encourage anyone to ever put

400

:

themselves in that position of overwhelm.

401

:

It's always the case that you add it's

always add one more thing add one more

402

:

thing You do not need to be doing all the

things at once you do need to figure out

403

:

a logical order and if your business isn't

happening Maybe writing a book right now.

404

:

It isn't your biggest priority

maybe getting clients happening.

405

:

Another way is a better priority to have

But maybe if you are looking to head

406

:

on the road as a speaker It might be

a good idea to at least be working on

407

:

your book But Now maybe there's a middle

ground as well perhaps start writing a

408

:

blog maybe even start, just recording

some thoughts down do some off the cuff

409

:

relaxed youtube videos where you're just

talking about these things You'll start

410

:

to figure out what you want to say and

at least start finding your own voice.

411

:

I like the idea of Starting

a blog perhaps more.

412

:

Yes.

413

:

People do still read blogs and Newsletters

and people do still like them as well.

414

:

There's a huge market for them bigger than

big still bigger than the podcast market

415

:

and It will help you learn how to write As

well, if you don't already have that skill

416

:

and you'll get better at talking about

it, you can, you'll get more comfortable

417

:

explaining things, putting things down

on paper and getting out of your head.

418

:

Yeah, it can help you to start

to create your framework and your

419

:

points and principles and whatever

else you want to add in there.

420

:

Angie: I agree.

421

:

And I think to your point earlier, it

doesn't have to be like everything right

422

:

at the moment, but I also, I'm going

to counter something that you said.

423

:

I'm going to say that sometimes,

cause I love I still blog.

424

:

when I was blogging initially,

it was really more random and it

425

:

was just me getting to know me.

426

:

I needed to know and understand

my voice because coaching was

427

:

one thing, speaking is another.

428

:

And how I communicate with my

audience, how do I do that?

429

:

So I started the blogging piece

because it was just little things

430

:

that I had learned along the way.

431

:

And I felt let me talk about it.

432

:

Let's see how this goes.

433

:

And it might go really well.

434

:

I got really good response from my

blog, to be honest with you, it wasn't

435

:

just because I was so important.

436

:

It just started small and then

started growing, to snowball, which

437

:

is what we want to have happen anyway.

438

:

Your book is another way to

communicate with your audience.

439

:

It just is.

440

:

And I think it's so funny because you

and I both coached people who were

441

:

like, I want to go, I want to be a

speaker and I want to be a this and a

442

:

coach and I'm going to write a book.

443

:

And I what would you do yesterday?

444

:

Oh I was like, I was,

the CEO at such and such.

445

:

And I'm like, okay, wait,

let's take a step back.

446

:

You're laughing because you know how

many of those people we encountered,

447

:

but you have to really remember

that everything that you do.

448

:

To interact with the public is an

interaction and how you communicate,

449

:

I think it's really important

into to branding yourself and how

450

:

you're received by the audience.

451

:

John: Yeah, I think we do have to

bring up the AI thing as well because

452

:

it is possible to use AI tools to.

453

:

Potentially to write your book for you.

454

:

I don't recommend that.

455

:

I don't think AI is there yet And I don't

think yeah and you would still want it

456

:

to be at least trained on your voice

and your style before you did that there

457

:

would still be some work to do there But

you could probably at least get some help

458

:

from AI tools on creating your outline

Maybe even creating a book proposal

459

:

if that's if you want to go through

A traditional publishing route there.

460

:

There are a lot of things where it can

help Shortcut, or you can make sure

461

:

that you're covering a topic fully.

462

:

What are the things that you should

make sure that you're covering when

463

:

you're talking about this, to make

sure that you have exhausted the topic

464

:

and not left anything important out.

465

:

I think all that kind of stuff,

it can really help you there.

466

:

And so I would encourage you to use

AI to some degree, whether it's chat

467

:

GPT or Gemini, whatever it is that

they're great tools, but I wouldn't

468

:

Ask them to do the whole thing for you.

469

:

It's not there yet.

470

:

Even if you had even if you have the

podcast transcripts and hand, they

471

:

pump all those into chat, GPT or

whatever, and say, put them into a

472

:

book format, I still wouldn't trust it.

473

:

I still wouldn't trust it

to do that at the moment.

474

:

So so yeah use it as a tool to help

you develop this I would say hang

475

:

on other people may have different

opinions to be honest But I think it's

476

:

a great thing to help you It should be

your author helper if you're going to

477

:

do that rather than your ghost writer

478

:

Angie: Yeah, no, I think when you

mentioned that, when you were like,

479

:

wait a minute, we don't want chat

GPT to be writing everything I had

480

:

this flashback and I did interact

with somebody a short while ago.

481

:

Who was like writing everything or

creating everything through chat GPT.

482

:

And I was like, I've been working with

you and this doesn't, this is and I

483

:

asked, I'm like, are you using chat

GPT or something like AI on this?

484

:

And they were like

yeah, isn't it fabulous?

485

:

And I'm like, no, because I know you

and I, it doesn't even sound like

486

:

you, and so I had to pull the plug on

that a little bit with them and say,

487

:

wait a minute, it's a great tool.

488

:

Still need to be the human in the room.

489

:

John: I would say so if you just look if

you really just want to throw something

490

:

out there and you're not too concerned

You just want something there Maybe

491

:

give that a go and see what happens.

492

:

But yeah, I it wouldn't be the path that I

would choose to take I think it's you know

493

:

that's too much just trying to shortcut

the system and and take any level of work

494

:

Angie: I agree.

495

:

John: I can you I could have AI write

my blog for me But it's not going

496

:

to be in my voice unless I at least

start to train it in how I write

497

:

and how I speak and communicate so

498

:

Angie: Plus you lose your ability.

499

:

I have to say something, for me,

I, in my coaching practice and my

500

:

speaking practice, I don't love,

I do not love administrative work.

501

:

Let me just reiterate that

for the 9, 000th time episode.

502

:

What are we on?

503

:

37 today.

504

:

But

505

:

John: Something like that.

506

:

Angie: the, what I love about

being in business for myself.

507

:

Is my ability to be creative to bring

myself into this industry or these

508

:

industries My ideas even if it was like,

it's so funny You know somebody will hand

509

:

me a recipe and we all know I love to cook

love to cook I always have to make it my

510

:

own I have to you know I tweak I look at

the whole thing and say that sounds good.

511

:

I bet you this would be a great

addition To that let me try it this

512

:

way And it's not because I have to

be right or on my way is better.

513

:

It's my creative juices.

514

:

So when you're, and I'm not saying

that I don't use it because I just

515

:

started using AI for a couple of

things and it has worked for me.

516

:

I think it's great in the capacity

in which I'm working, I'm using it,

517

:

but I never want to lose my voice

as the speaker, as a coach, as a

518

:

personal development expert, because

that's what makes me, that's where

519

:

the, That's where the connection to

the people is really going to happen.

520

:

And I'm guaranteeing there are naysayers

out there that are going AI can do that.

521

:

It can learn you.

522

:

It can learn anything.

523

:

It's smarter than us.

524

:

Yeah, it's supposed to be, but it's

still never going to be Angie ever.

525

:

So you don't want to lose that

because as you are expanding and

526

:

growing, it's good to be able to keep

yourself present within your business.

527

:

Just saying.

528

:

John: That's part of this

writing process as well.

529

:

Like one of the reasons why I

never looked at ghost writers

530

:

before was because I want it.

531

:

I want my books, my

content to be my words.

532

:

I want it to come from me through me and

rather than just be perhaps editing or

533

:

altering something that has been created

by chat GPT, that may be as a personal

534

:

preference that perhaps not everybody

shares, but that's where I stand with it.

535

:

And I do think, I was just thinking

maybe 10 years into the future, it's

536

:

we're just, Towards the end of 2024

right now, maybe 10 years in the future.

537

:

Someone's listening to this old

episode of of the coaching clinic.

538

:

I'm thinking, but chat

GPT does everything now.

539

:

It knows my brain knows where I

know who knows where things will

540

:

be with AI by that time, given

how fast things tend to progress.

541

:

But right, right

542

:

Angie: We should fully expect

that AI is going to change the

543

:

landscape of all the things, right?

544

:

And, I think that we've

had look at the Jetsons.

545

:

Remember that cartoon from

I don't know, the 70s?

546

:

Who knew that we would be having AI?

547

:

There's George Jetson talking to his

boss, whatever the guy's name was on a TV.

548

:

And that's just seemed so futuristic.

549

:

And, I think the only thing

we haven't done yet, there was

550

:

Rosie the maid, she was a robot.

551

:

Now we have a robot that

cleans our floors for us.

552

:

Like we don't know what we don't

know yet, but for today, for sure,

553

:

it's still nice to be a human and

be creative and have our message.

554

:

Yeah.

555

:

Put out there, right?

556

:

Speaking our language in our way.

557

:

I don't even know if I'd

want to meet the robotic me.

558

:

I have to be

559

:

saying.

560

:

John: But here's a take I have on this.

561

:

If you create a book with using

artificial means and you haven't

562

:

written it You're always going to

know I think there's always going to

563

:

be that thing of you're not going to

feel completely in integrity with it

564

:

Because you didn't actually create it.

565

:

It didn't come from you and so unless

it has been pulled from If you've

566

:

pumped in a load of previous blogs

or podcast transcripts or whatever

567

:

else, then maybe there's an argument

that it has then come from you.

568

:

But you, if you haven't actually

been part of the creative process,

569

:

and you're always going to feel like

it wasn't really you that did this.

570

:

It's just something there that

speaks to what you speak to.

571

:

I do think there's a personal

integrity thing there.

572

:

And maybe even that sort of deeper

connection and empathy that You

573

:

know, AI can perhaps emulate elements

of that, but it's never going

574

:

to do it the way you will do it.

575

:

It's never, we're never going to

be able to connect human to human,

576

:

the way artificial intelligence is

never going to be able to do that.

577

:

However good it gets, we're always going

to know it's artificial intelligence.

578

:

Angie: Absolutely.

579

:

Absolutely.

580

:

And I do, I can see so many

people thinking I can do this.

581

:

I can make this happen.

582

:

That'll make this, that'll

shorten the journey for me.

583

:

I would be careful about it.

584

:

Anytime I use AI on anything now, of

course I go back and I rewatch or relisten

585

:

and then I go, Nope, that didn't work.

586

:

Let me change this.

587

:

John: Yeah I spoke to, I spoke

recently to someone who does have

588

:

some expertise in AI, who was

talking about AI hallucinations and

589

:

they are very real things through a

networking program that I'm in and.

590

:

One of the things she was saying with

that is that it's a very real thing

591

:

that it will, if it doesn't know

something, it will create something

592

:

that sounds good or that sounds

realistic that may not actually be true.

593

:

And this has happened a number of times

to a point where is given historical

594

:

historical events that never happened.

595

:

Things like that.

596

:

Or police arrests that never

happened or never existed.

597

:

Just data that he has actually created as

a hallucination that isn't actually real.

598

:

You do have to be really careful.

599

:

The very best, you have to, Pool stuff

but all this stuff of, I think there

600

:

is a degree to which we value something

more the Ikea effect if you've ever heard

601

:

of that, we value something a lot more

when we played a part in creating it.

602

:

Angie: Oh,

603

:

John: And for a book or something that

we've created that's like a it's like

604

:

it Could be a baby to some degree.

605

:

It's something you can create and put

out into the world and it's going to

606

:

help people you're going to value it a

lot more yourself if you have actually

607

:

Been the creator the person who birthed

the book I use that very intentionally

608

:

because I know there are people out

there who call themselves book midwives

609

:

as sort of book coaches To get your

book birthed and out into the world.

610

:

You Is that even as an audience there's

a level to which I think we appreciate

611

:

the effort that someone else has

put into Creating something as well.

612

:

We value that too.

613

:

So if we I think if we suspect

that someone has just Pulled

614

:

this together from chat gpt.

615

:

We're gonna we're probably going to make

some judgments on that as well Whereas

616

:

if we actually can be very clear that

someone clearly has done some research

617

:

and put a lot of effort and energy

Into this they put in case studies.

618

:

They've done years of work in this area

619

:

That has a lot more effect

and impact on people

620

:

Angie: Listen, I'm going to

bring in, you're so right.

621

:

And I was sitting here listening and

I'm thinking back to my, my love of

622

:

cooking and wanting to change a recipe.

623

:

And I think it like relates specifically

like that for me, if I serve a big

624

:

dinner that I have I've ordered in.

625

:

I don't care.

626

:

Like I, of course I'm happy everybody's

eating and they're fed, but there's

627

:

no pride in ownership, right?

628

:

It's not my food.

629

:

I didn't create it.

630

:

I didn't cook it.

631

:

I didn't plan it.

632

:

However, when I, cause I've had events

where I have a food truck and, it's

633

:

like, Oh my God, the food is so good.

634

:

And I'm like, Oh, that's great.

635

:

I'm happy that they enjoy the food.

636

:

However, if I'm the one that's

creating the meal and, think of

637

:

each part of the meal itself, right?

638

:

As like a chapter, right?

639

:

I created each of those.

640

:

So when I set it out there,

there is a different level

641

:

of commitment to is it good?

642

:

What could be changed?

643

:

Is this, how's it being received?

644

:

And it's really the same for me.

645

:

I don't know why it always goes

back to recipes and cooking for me.

646

:

But there's a different,

it's just different.

647

:

If I put somebody else's meatballs

in front of you and you don't

648

:

like them, I don't really care.

649

:

But if I put my meatballs in

front of you, I'm like wait

650

:

John: who do your family appreciate

more than they appreciate you more

651

:

when you put all that care and effort

into feeling them or when you've

652

:

just called up the delivery truck?

653

:

Angie: absolutely.

654

:

Food is my love language.

655

:

They know that, I make the

favorites, I do the things.

656

:

And if I go and I order

it, it is not the same.

657

:

Not just in the flavor and the taste, it's

how I, what the emphasis is how I feel.

658

:

There's a pride.

659

:

That when I put a spread out, John

says he's going to come and visit,

660

:

so I can't wait to do that for him.

661

:

But when I lay out that spread, a.

662

:

k.

663

:

a.

664

:

the book there's just this pride.

665

:

And I wouldn't say there's nerves,

but I'm always like, hey, I'm curious.

666

:

So what do you think?

667

:

I love the feedback.

668

:

Oh, it was salty.

669

:

It was this or it was perfect.

670

:

Don't change anything.

671

:

So it's that's how I relate to it.

672

:

Like you, it, there is definitely

more pride in ownership instead

673

:

of it just being like something

that you churn out some way.

674

:

I just don't, I don't go for it yet.

675

:

And I'm probably not going to even

be alive when all of this stuff

676

:

can be done 100 percent for us.

677

:

I don't think I'll be on the planet.

678

:

I'm not overly concerned about it.

679

:

But, because it's up and coming,

I do see so many people relying on

680

:

chat GPT to do the thinking for them.

681

:

And that's just

682

:

John: maybe we'll be, maybe we'll

be uploaded into the cloud and

683

:

we'll still be, a hundred years

from now doing our podcast.

684

:

Angie: ah, oh my gosh, I don't

even know what we would sound like.

685

:

I think we'd be like, in some type

of educational system, like back

686

:

in the day, this is how coaches

and speakers made their living.

687

:

John: It would be more

of a history podcast, at

688

:

Angie: certainly would be.

689

:

John: but other than other paths

being new or maybe not being

690

:

experienced enough in your area yet.

691

:

I can't really think of any other reasons

why you might not want to write a book

692

:

other than perhaps just being focused on

what actually really matters right now.

693

:

I'll say, definitely good advice not

to just add one more thing to probably

694

:

what's already a very busy to do list when

you are focused on growing a business.

695

:

But if you're at a point where you

think, I think I'm ready for this, it's

696

:

going to help you probably get if you

haven't already got your frameworks

697

:

and things like that figured out,

it's probably going to help you with

698

:

that and give you some great content.

699

:

If you are someone who's working

for a coaching company, looking

700

:

to perhaps strike out solo.

701

:

This could be a great way to help you

clarify that kind of information and

702

:

put things together so you know what

you're going to be offering and the

703

:

transformation, the clear transformation

you're going to be able to offer to your

704

:

audience, it could help you pull all

that together, at least, even if you just

705

:

outline a book and don't even get as far

as writing it, I think that would give

706

:

you a big advantage in moving forward.

707

:

But for those of you.

708

:

For those of you who are thinking

about that, yeah, it's time to do this.

709

:

Time to get ready for it.

710

:

Let us know commit to writing a book and

let us know you're committing to and tell

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us what your book's going to be about.

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We'd love to, we'd love to hear from you.

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And probably the, one of the best

you can contact us on LinkedIn.

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You can find both of our LinkedIn

profiles in the show notes.

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But you can also you can

also leave us a voicemail.

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You can go to www.

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:

speakpipe.

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com forward slash the coaching clinic

podcast and leave us a voicemail and we

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will most likely feature you on the show.

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But I think we've I think

we've pretty much covered the

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Angie: Yeah.

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I think so.

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Good information.

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And obviously we never, we're not

looking to make this like into

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a whole like teaching moment.

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If you have those

questions, definitely do.

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I've had several of you

reach out to me privately.

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So I love that.

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Keep that coming.

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Or just get in touch with us the

way that John just shared with you.

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I look forward to that.

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I love the feedback.

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John: Yeah, we love hearing from you.

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So have an amazing rest of your week

Everybody will be back next week

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with more great content for you.

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Hope your coaching businesses are growing

and thriving We will see you next time

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:

Angie: Bye for now.

Listen for free

Show artwork for The Coaching Clinic

About the Podcast

The Coaching Clinic
The HEart of Coaching from learning to client sessions, starting to scaling, we've got you covered.
She's direct and he's diplomatic but Angie Besignano and John Ball are both successful coaches with years of coaching experience and very different delivery styles.
Each episode will tackle a different coaching problem from both styles of coaching, with occasional guest coaches and audience interaction. We're going to have some fun digging into your biggest coaching challenges and helping you become an even better coach.

About your hosts

John Ball

Profile picture for John Ball
From former flight attendant to international coach and trainer, on to podcaster and persuasion expert, it's been quite the journey for John.
John has been a lead coach and trainer with the Harv Eker organisation for over 10 years and is currently focused on helping his clients develop their personal presentation skills for media and speaking stages through his coaching business brand Present Influence.
He's the author of the upcoming book Podfluence: How To Build Professional Authority With Podcasts, and host of the Podfluence podcast with over 150 episodes and over 15,000 downloads John is now focused on helping business coaches and speakers to build a following and grow your lead flow and charisma.
You can now also listen to John on The Coaching Clinic podcast with his good friend and colleague Angie Besignano where they are helping coaches create sustainable and successful businesses, and the Try To Stand Up podcast where John is on a personal and professional mission to become funnier on the stage and in his communication.

Angie Besignano

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With early beginnings as an entry-level manager in the sales industry, Angie has spent more than 3 decades building her knowledge and expertise to create her master coaching and speaking brand, AngieSpeaks. After climbing the professional ladder, she started her own company and decided to focus her practice on High Performance Coaching. In doing so, she challenges individuals to elevate and grow, no matter what level they are at currently in their personal or professional lives.
Angie has created a strong following through her “tough” but “pragmatic” approach and challenges her clients to find the space that is holding them back the most. In doing so, their outcomes not only compound, but take root, so that results can be permanent. The tools she provides work in the “real” world and show up in their first interaction.
Angie has an unwavering passion toward the journey that fosters a true transformation for those that work with her. She delivers her content and speaking engagements with an authentic enthusiasm and curiosity that creates trust and rapport, allowing for a heightened experience.