Coach Pony

Wonder what it takes to go from being a coach who dabbles to a coach who thrives? If you want to pay the bills (and more!) with your coaching, you need to build a REAL business. Coach Pony has helped thousands of life coaches, dating coaches, money coaches, and business coaches build businesses that make them good money and live a successful life—on their own terms. The Coach Pony podcast can help you do the same. Each season, we tackle a different aspect of building a real coaching business. You’ll learn about marketing, sales, client experience, time management, pricing, packaging, and more! Our approach is always honest, transparent, fun, and full of chocolate.

 Welcome to the first episode of Coach Pony Podcast, where our goal is to help you learn the critical business skills you need to succeed as a coach. And it all starts with learning how to get paying clients. In this first season of the podcast, we are interviewing experienced 6 and 7-figure coaches from different niches, delving into how they got that very first client and what they’d do differently today. In today’s episode, we are going to peer into the world of career coaching with me! Christie Mims. Before Coach Pony, I founded, and still own and operate, a career coaching business called The Revolutionary Club. Named a Forbes Top 100 for Careers, and featured on sites ranging from Business Insider to the Fast Company, I can honestly say I’ve learned a few things. My work both at the Revolutionary Club and Coach Pony has reached millions of people, and I’ve served literally thousands of paying clients. But, my journey to my first client was a rocky one. When I first started out, I can remember thinking to myself that I would do almost anything to get someone to tell me how they got their first clients. I wanted to know two things: 1) how they did it so I could do it and 2) that there was hope for me to succeed at this coaching thing! So if this is you, allow me to share how I got my very first paying client in the hopes that it helps you land your first client—or your next client. Listen to the full episode to hear:What an encounter in an elevator was proof that I should think bigHow a systematic plan of attack helped me land my first paying clientWhat I learned during this journey and what should have done differentlyAnd what you can do to never feel alone in your career journey Book Recommendations:The Murder of Roger Ackroyd Agatha ChristieEssentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less - Greg McKeown To learn more about Christie Mims:FREE 26-Page Guide On How to Land Your First ClientsCoach PonyThe Revolutionary ClubInstagram @christiecoachpony

Your story matters. It’s powerful. And one of the keys to a successful coaching business is focusing on and developing your personal story so that you can share it with the world. Samantha Gilbert, the founder of Eat For Life, truly embodies this wisdom. Her story of healing is an inspiration but her journey to becoming a successful coach wasn’t always easy. She’s spent most of her life battling severe depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and body image dysmorphia. Since finding her own path to wholeness, she’s dedicated to helping others find this same healing path. Building her health coaching business took some time. It took tenacity, patience, and perseverance but she knew that people, especially women, were struggling terribly. And she could use her skills to help. For 12 years she’s helped couples, women, and children from 13 countries heal their minds and body. She’s an expert in creating customized therapies so true healing can begin and continue with love, empathy, compassion, and biochemical individuality. The story of how she found her first paying client, and what she does differently today is one that every coach needs to hear. Listen to the full episode to hear:Why she decided to move into her childhood home as a brand-new coach--plus, other difficult decisions she made early onHow Samantha helped her very first client completely eliminate the symptoms of her chronic conditionHow she set up those first engagements and what she chargedThe role that referrals have played in her career and how she finds her clients todayHow Samantha helps clients see the light at the end of the tunnel Book Recommendations:Nourishing Wisdom - Marc DavidPolyvagal Theory In Therapy - Stephan W. Porges To learn more about Samantha Gilbert:Eat For LifeEat For Life PodcastFacebook: @samigInstagram: @samignutrition To learn more about Christie Mims:FREE 26-Page Guide On How to Land Your First ClientsCoach PonyThe Revolutionary ClubInstagram @christiecoachpony

You don’t have to build the perfect sales funnel to have a thriving business. You don’t have to have the perfect lead magnet or the perfect email automation behind it. It’s not necessary to schedule another amazing photoshoot or to build an immaculate sales page. What makes your business work is keeping things simple. A clear offer and good relationships with both your clients and the people in your network can be all you need. Over-complicating things can actually make it harder for you to succeed, not easier. In season one of our podcast we have been talking with experienced 6 and 7-figure coaches from different niches about how they got their very first paying client. Today, we're going to peer into the world of business coaching with Tara McMullin. Tara is a coach, community builder, podcaster, and writer. She’s the founder of What Works, a digital platform for small business owners who are building strong, resilient, and sustainable companies. She’s also the co-founder of YellowHouse.Media, a podcast production agency that helps entrepreneurs create standout podcasts that grow their businesses. Tara has a ton of wisdom. Her podcast, What Works, has been downloaded over 2 million times and boasts over 300 interviews with small business owners. I love how both of her platforms are helping clients build strong and resilient companies. Listen to the full episode to hear:Why her very first client is still one of the things that she is most proud of in her business careerWhat she used to charge for her services and what she charges nowThe story of her absolute worst moment as a coach, and how she got past itWhy she is taking a break from group coaching and moving back to her first love–private coaching Book Recommendations:The Art of Gathering by Priya ParkerThe Book of Help: A Memoir in Remedies by Megan Griswold To learn more about Tara McMullin:What WorksWhat Works PodcastYellow House MediaInstagram @tara_mcmullinTwitter @taragentile To learn more about Christie Mims:FREE 26-Page Guide On How to Land Your First ClientsCoach PonyThe Revolutionary ClubInstagram @christiecoachpony

 It can be hard to imagine that someone would pay you money to help them. It's not just the lack of confidence in making a living. It can also be about the lack of confidence in really being able to help people. In the beginning, getting over your questions of self-worth and imposter complex can be the hardest part. And being able to push through and learn the value of how you can help other people can be a painful journey. But it is also a rewarding journey. In this first season of our podcast, we have been talking with experienced 6 and 7-figure coaches from different niches about how they got their very first paying client. In this episode, we are peering into the world of date coaching with Bobbi Palmer, founder of Date Like a Grownup. As an internationally recognized dating coach for women over 40, Bobbi delivers compassionate, real-life advice with a side of sass. After becoming a first-time bride at age 47, Bobbi said “see ya’ to the corporate world and founded her company, Date Like a Grownup, beginning her mission to help women do what she did: find a magnificent, grownup man to share the rest of their life. Over the last 12 years coaching, Bobbi has certainly experienced feelings of doubt, but she has been able to push through to a thriving coaching business. And it all started with her first client. Listen to the full episode to hear:How a blog that she thought no one would ever read led to her first clientHow much she charged that first client and what she charges nowHow she still, 12 years later, reaches tens of thousands of women every month through her blog postsAnd what Bobbi has done to get past the hardest part – believing in herself Book Recommendations:Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find--And Keep-- Love by Amir Levine and Rachel HellerBuddhism Without Beliefs: A Contemporary Guide to Awakening by Stephen Batchelor To learn more about Bobbi Palmer:Date Like a GrownupFacebook @DateLikeaGrownup To learn more about Christie Mims:FREE 26-Page Guide On How to Land Your First ClientsCoach PonyThe Revolutionary ClubInstagram @christiecoachpony 

 How did Jodi Flynn land her first paid coaching client? Networking, networking, networking. This can apply to any business but especially when you’re coaching in the corporate executive realm, it's all about relationships. Getting clients is all about who you know and being brave enough to put yourself out there. You have to get in front of potential clients, get to know them, and let them know what you can offer. All this season we have been chatting with experienced 6 and 7-figure coaches from different niches about how they got that very first client and what they might do differently today. In this episode, we are continuing our series by peering into the world of corporate coaching with the Founder of Women Taking the Lead, Jodi Flynn. For over a decade, women leaders have been hiring Jodi to develop the skills needed to thrive in Senior Leadership. She is the host of the critically acclaimed Women Taking the Lead podcast, and an Amazon bestselling author with her book, Accomplished: How to Go from Dreaming to Doing. She is the President of the board for The Maine Women’s Conference and has been featured in Entrepreneur and Forbes Magazine. Jodi is more than a decade into her career as a corporate coach and is still loving it! And funny enough, after all these years of experience, she is still getting her clients the same way she got that very first paying client–networking, networking, networking… Listen to the full episode to hear:How Jodi’s first corporate coaching client was the biggest package she ever soldHow the industry has changed in the 12 years since she started her business and what predictions she has for the corporate coaching worldWhy, when you're in the corporate and executive realm, it's all relationships–being willing to get to know people and be of service to themWhat Jodi teaches her clients about taking on more responsibility and rearranging their lives, all while taking care of themselves Book Recommendations:How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back from Your Next Raise, Promotion, or Job by Sally HelgesenIn the Flo: Unlock Your Hormonal Advantage and Revolutionize Your Life by Alisa Vitti To learn more about Jodi Flynn:Women Taking the LeadFacebook: @womentakingtheleadLinkedIn:n @jodiflynnTwitter: @jodimflynnInstagram: @jodimflynn To learn more about Christie Mims:FREE 26-Page Guide On How to Land Your First ClientsCoach PonyThe Revolutionary ClubInstagram @christiecoachpony

 We became entrepreneurs so that we can do the work that we love. If you're going to have a crappy job and be miserable, have a regular old jobby job! There is no reason that you have to build a business model that makes you miserable. A lot of people want to get out of doing client work because it’s a model that they don’t love or they have just gotten tired of it. There is no shame in looking for a change. And for some, teaching online courses is just the change that they are looking for–a way to start fresh and rediscover the love that brought them to coaching in the first place. Today, we are continuing our series of conversations with 6 and 7-figure coaches about how they got their first paying client and what they would do differently today. And this episode is a little different: I’m talking with the founder of Paperbell Coaching Software, Laura Roeder. Laura is a lifelong entrepreneur and founder of several multi-million dollar bootstrap companies – MeetEdgar, Marie Forleo’s B-School, and LKR Social Media. Here’s the thing: Laura didn’t get started coaching. She started as a web designer and realized that coaching and consulting on social media was a better model for her than running a design agency. But she didn’t choose a conventional coaching path. Instead, she discovered online courses and the rest, as they say, is history. Or rather, the rest is in this episode of Coach Pony! By simply following a business path that excited her she has been able to build a business model that she loves. Listen to the full episode to hear:How a client in the fashion industry led her to discover the world of online business coursesHow Laura has built up an audience through guest posting, blogging, newsletters, and social mediaHow Laura’s lowest moment as an entrepreneur involved trudging through blizzards to brave chamber of commerce meetingsWhat Laura sees as the top pitfalls with online courses and membership sites Book Recommendations:The Road Less Stupid by Keith J. Cunningham.Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman To learn more about Laura Roeder:Paperbell Coaching SoftwareTwitter @lkrMeetEdgarMarie Forleo’s B-SchoolLKR Social Media To learn more about Christie Mims:FREE 26-Page Guide On How to Land Your First ClientsCoach PonyThe Revolutionary ClubInstagram @christiecoachpony 

 Know your power. Know your worth. When you’re first starting out, it feels amazing to get paid at all, but amazing can turn into agonizing when you’re taking on the wrong clients just to get paid. Your worth isn’t just about the number of clients you have or the size of your bank account, it’s about making sure you have the right clients for you. Attracting the right clients means getting clear on what you offer, how you work, and the personalities and projects you want to work with and on. All this season we have been chatting with experienced 6 and 7-figure coaches from different niches and delving into how they got that very first client and what advice they might have for you today. In this episode, we are going to peer into the world of business coaching with Shenee Howard from HeyShenee.com. Shenee is a brand strategist and writer living in sunny Long Beach, California. I love her because she's created so many interesting products and programs in her business. And when she's not helping businesses create their own content, she's walking her dogs and talking about K-pop on Tik Tok. So listen in, as Shenee talks about one of her big struggles, which may sound familiar to you, as well as offers incredible words of wisdom to any new coach who's starting out. Listen to the full episode to hear:The biggest mistake Shenee sees new coaches make when they’re developing offersHer top advice for dealing with social media platform fatigueHow she follows her gut to know when it’s time to move on from a product or offeringLeveling up your business by being strategic about networking. Book Recommendations:Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip Heath and Dan HeathEssentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown To learn more about Shenee Howard:HeyShenee.comInfinite Content AgencyThe Done Club To learn more about Christie Mims:FREE 26-Page Guide On How to Land Your First ClientsCoach PonyThe Revolutionary ClubInstagram @christiecoachpony 

 Specificity is everything. Knowing who your client is inside and out connects you with the right people. The ones who you know you can really help. The ones you’re excited to work with. The ones who will tell their friends about how you’re a total game changer. It’s more than demographics. It’s knowing their pain points, their worries, their fears and how you’re the best person to help them fix it. Sometimes you know it because you lived those same paint points, worries and fears. And if that’s you, you are not alone. All season, we’ve been talking to experienced 6 and 7-figure coaches from different niches about how they got that very first client and how they attract new clients today. In this episode, we're going to reenter the world of health coaching with Steve Adams from Tiger Performance Institute. He's a former corporate banker and veteran entrepreneur whose passion lies in helping high achieving entrepreneurs, professionals, and CEOs achieve sustainable peak performance through his hyper-personalized precision health optimization system and performance training. Listen in to hear about how Steve got his start in health coaching, his biggest mistake in his first year, and his simple ways of getting clients today. Listen to the full episode to hear:How his own experience with burnout showed Steve who is ideal client isWhy you need to ask your clients for referrals, and EXACTLY how to do itHow he realized he needed to make a major pivot in his first year and how getting hyper-specific helped him do itSteve’s top two tips for entrepreneurs and their health Book Recommendations:Game Changers: What Leaders, Innovators, and Mavericks Do to Win at Life, Dave AspreyThat’s a Great Question: Are You Asking the Right Questions In Business? In Life?, Greg Bustin Resources:HeartMath InstituteInstitute for Functional Medicine To learn more about Steve Adams:Tiger Performance InstituteSteveladams.comSteve’s Book: Unleash the Peak Performer Within You: A Guide to Lowering Stress, Eliminating Distraction, and Massively Expanding Your ProductivityFacebook To learn more about Christie Mims:FREE 26-Page Guide On How to Land Your First ClientsCoach PonyThe Revolutionary ClubInstagram @christiecoachpony 

 As a life coach, one big question you've got to answer right away is how will you make money? Should you coach privately, group coach, write a book, host a retreat or something else? Frankly, it's an important question because if you choose the wrong money path, you could waste time, energy and money. For instance, you don't want to spend months trying to write a book only to discover you hate writing and you won't make enough money to pay your rent when you're done. So, how do you figure it out? How do you choose which money path is right for you? Well, don't worry; we'll tell you. In season two of the Coach Pony podcast, we'll dive into all of the different ways coaches make money–everything from private coaching to retreats. And we'll look at the pros and cons, how much you can expect to make on each path and what you need to do to get started. Along the way I'll share personal stories of my own journey on each money path, including the good, bad and ugly, so you know, you aren't alone. Bottom line, our goal with this season of the podcast is to help you figure out which business path is absolutely right for you. Let's get you some paying clients. To learn more about Christie Mims: FREE MARKETING MASTERCLASSCoach PonyInstagram @christiecoachpony 

 Low overhead, high profit potential. Private coaching can sound like a dream. But is it your dream? In season two of the Coach Pony podcast, we’re exploring all of the different ways coaches can make money. And we’ll take a brutal look at the pros and cons and how much you can actually expect to make as a coach on each money path. If you’re debating between group coaching and private coaching, writing a book or hosting a retreat, but you’re not sure how much money you can make at any of them? This is the season for you. In this episode, we'll take a close look at private coaching. We’ll dive into the pros and some unexpected cons, break down how much you can really expect to make as you’re starting out, and if you should even do it in the first place. And of course the tools you need to get started! Listen to the full episode to hear:What’s to like about private coaching, from low cost to entry to building your confidenceWhat’s less rosy about the private coaching picture, from hitting your client capacity to hiring legal helpSome money math on costs of doing business so you know what you can expect to earnSimple steps and essential tools to get off the ground as a private coach! To learn more about Christie Mims:FREE MARKETING MASTERCLASSCoach PonyInstagram @christiecoachpony And if you have some chocolate worth reviewing on the show, we are easily bribed! You can send it to us at: Christie Mims, 3630 High Street, #19286, Oakland, CA 94619 

A private hotel suite, room service, a $5000 client… That definitely sounds way dirtier than I thought it would. But it’s part of the story of how I grew my business to six figures all those years ago. In the last episode, we talked about the gritty details behind the private coaching business model. Today, I’ll share the inside story of how I got to a stable six-figure income from just private coaching, and the ah-ha moment that changed the game (plus what I actually did to - you know - change the game!). We’ll also talk about why if you’re curled up in the fetal position on your couch worrying about doing your best for your clients, it probably means you probably already are, why you should give your packages an extra session or two, and why you should probably raise your rates! And you’ll get that whole hotel story... Listen to the full episode to hear about:Raising your rates and adding value in a way that feels right and ethical to youKeeping your client pipeline full without relying on social mediaThe top 5 lessons from my journey to six figures in private coaching To learn more about Christie Mims:FREE MARKETING MASTERCLASSCoach PonyInstagram @christiecoachpony Resources:Coach Pony S01E01: How I Got My First Paying Client And if you have some chocolate worth reviewing on the show, we are easily bribed! You can send it to us at: Christie Mims, 3630 High Street, #19286, Oakland, CA 94619

I personally love group coaching. There’s something magical about working with a group.The community that grows in a session, the support and validation participants get from each other–these programs fuel me in a special way. And group coaching was how I first reached multiple six figures in my business and beyond seven figures now. Group coaching programs are the backbone of my business for a reason beyond how much I love doing them. But that’s me. Group coaching may not be for you, and that’s okay. To help you figure it out - let’s dive in! Here’s a big pro: Group coaching can give you room to become an even better coach. Working with a more diverse group of people can present you with better questions and new challenges that really hone your programs and skills in ways it might not with private coaching. It also has tons of flexibility in schedule, size and pricing, and the scalability makes it a very profitable model. But it does have its drawbacks...one of which is that the market has changed, and it’s not quite as easy to stand out if you want to do a big group program. Today let’s take a closer look at group coaching and some of the pros and cons that come with it, some of which might surprise you. Listen to the full episode to hear about:How flexibility and accessibility in group coaching can help you beat burnoutWhy you have to be even more comfortable with marketing yourself and facing rejection with group programs than one on one coachingSeven steps to build your curriculum and sell your programUpfront costs and money math you might not have consideredThe top six tools you need to get a group coaching program off the ground To learn more about Christie Mims:FREE MARKETING MASTERCLASSCoach PonyInstagram @christiecoachpony And if you have some chocolate worth reviewing on the show, we are easily bribed! You can send it to us at: Christie Mims, 3630 High Street, #19286, Oakland, CA 94619

Our story today starts, like most of my stories, on my couch. In the last episode, we talked about the gritty details behind the group coaching business model. Today, I want to tell you the origin story of my very first group coaching program–one that eventually grew to over 500 people! Our story begins with another company. It’s true! Because besides Coach Pony, I also own and operate a career coaching business called The Revolutionary Club. It was my first business, and it still exists today. That’s where I fell in love with group coaching. So, there I was on my couch. I knew that private coaching wasn’t going to be for me long-term, and I also knew I wanted to build toward group coaching, but I was also incredibly unsure. My coaching business was still so new –only a few months old! Who I was to be launching a group program with very little experience?!@! So how did I get off the couch and get started without making myself feel like a fraud? Listen to the full episode to hear about:Why I did my first group coaching session for free–and also what I asked for in returnAdapting a private coaching program for a group settingBalancing structure and flexibility so you can hone your program as you goAdding value–and upping your price–through each iteration of the programLessons learned from growing from a free program with five people to $1200 and 500 people To learn more about Christie Mims:FREE MARKETING MASTERCLASSCoach PonyInstagram @christiecoachpony And if you have some chocolate worth reviewing on the show, we are easily bribed! You can send it to us at: Christie Mims, 3630 High Street, #19286, Oakland, CA 94619

A retreat can sound like an absolute no-brainer for you to do as a coach. Taking your business on a fabulous vacation? Yes, please. And they do have some fabulous pros. You get to do intense hands-on work with clients, some of whom will even become retreat regulars, which makes it easier to sell out your retreats over time. There’s group bonding and the magic of taking yourself and your business out of your regular routine. New locations and new people can revitalize you and your business, and your attendees aren’t the only ones who will leave with new ideas and insights! There are also some potentially steep upfront costs and other downsides. Hotel rooms, meals, AV equipment, conference room fees, your own travel–it adds up quickly. And what happens if you don’t sell it out? A retreat for twenty could turn into a retreat for two. Yikes. Today we'll be taking a much closer look at hosting retreats, and we'll unpack some of the pros and cons, some of which will surprise you, and to close out we’ll give you a basic road map for hosting your own. Because they can be so worth it. Listen to the full episode to hear about:How retreats can scratch the itch for hands-on client work if you’ve transitioned to larger groups or evergreen coursesWhy retreats can be a great add-on for private clients who have graduated from your programsThe realities of the upfront costs of hosting a retreat, and how they can make retreats the least profitable money pathSeven steps for planning, launching and hosting a retreatSix tools you’ll need to have in place to host a retreat To learn more about Christie Mims:FREE MARKETING MASTERCLASSCoach PonyInstagram @christiecoachpony And if you have some chocolate worth reviewing on the show, we are easily bribed! You can send it to us at: Christie Mims, 3630 High Street, #19286, Oakland, CA 94619 

Do you enjoy embarrassing stories? How about learning from my mistakes so you don’t have to? Then this is the episode for you! I’ve done several retreats now in my business and in hindsight, they were super fun. However, two of them started out as absolute disasters. So I want to talk about what happened and, more importantly, what I did to fix them. Our story begins back in 2013 with my first retreat attempt. I had seen a lot of people doing retreats, and I thought they looked like so much fun. Who doesn’t want to get paid to go on vacation with their business? Not this girl. I love the idea of getting paid to go on vacation! (!!) With that in mind, I randomly decided to have a retreat. So I booked a place in Costa Rica because I really wanted to go there. I threw up a very simple webpage with limited information, and I chose a whole lot of lovely photos of parrots to sell the idea that Costa Rica was a place that was going to be super fun to visit. You can already tell this is going to end well, can't you? Listen to the full episode to hear about:Why a great location isn’t enough to get people to pony up to attend a retreatHow to use multiple marketing approaches to fill spaces if your initial outreach fails to sell outWhy selling a retreat will almost always require a more hands-on, personal sales processFour lessons for planning and hosting a successful–and super fun–retreat To learn more about Christie Mims:FREE MARKETING MASTERCLASSCoach PonyInstagram @christiecoachpony And if you have some chocolate worth reviewing on the show, we are easily bribed! You can send it to us at: Christie Mims, 3630 High Street, #19286, Oakland, CA 94619

There’s nothing like waking up to money deposited overnight in your bank account and knowing you’ve been helping people while you were sleeping, no? Online programs offer you that satisfaction and more. But as always, there are drawbacks too. In this episode we’ll be taking a much closer look at online DIY coaching programs, because who doesn’t want to make passive income, right? DIY online programs offer passive income, freedom, flexibility, and they can scale like nothing else. Once they’re up and running, everything is automated. Your course content goes out without you having to lift another finger and they’re available whenever, and for as long as you want them to be. Sounds great! But – you know there’s a but! – it takes a lot of work to get to evergreen while the deposits roll in. Listen to the full episode to hear about:Why online programs are almost infinitely scalable, and therefore very profitableThe infrastructure and tech you’ll need to support your curriculum, from design to sales to distributionMarketing math and considerations so your course offsets your initial investmentNine to steps to get your online course up and running, plus the top five tools you’ll need To learn more about Christie Mims:FREE MARKETING MASTERCLASSCoach PonyInstagram @christiecoachpony And if you have some chocolate worth reviewing on the show, we are easily bribed! You can send it to us at: Christie Mims, 3630 High Street, #19286, Oakland, CA 94619

  I have so many online course stories for you guys!   My book, Zero to Passion, was my first real online DIY program, because I offered several different tiers of learning beyond just the book. (Fun fact: I still sell plenty of them today).   But that’s a story for another time…   Let’s get to the good stuff!   In this episode, I'll share the inside story of how I got paid $7,000 to build my first, truly real and purely online course, from a random idea. Plus I’ll also reveal the big mistake I made almost immediately.   The course is called The Networking Masterclass, and I created it for the Revolutionary Club because I knew that networking was a huge key skill related to building a career and finding your passion.   What I didn’t know was if my audience also understood that, or if they did, if they would want to spend money for online networking help.   If they did, I thought this would be a wonderful way to help serve my community and add a DIY course to my arsenal.   But before I poured tons of time into building the course, I wanted to see if I was right that my community would be interested.   Turns out I was!   But also being right wasn’t enough...   Listen to the full episode to hear about: Why it’s worth it to vet your audience’s interest in your course idea before you commit to creating content Why audience interest is not the same thing as a funnel or sales strategy How to reframe a failed launch as good data   To learn more about Christie Mims: FREE MARKETING MASTERCLASS Coach Pony Instagram @christiecoachpony Zero to Passion   And if you have some chocolate worth reviewing on the show, we are easily bribed!   You can send it to us at: Christie Mims, 3630 High Street, #19286, Oakland, CA 94619  

 Writing a book is a great way to create some passive income while you also cement your coaching knowledge and life experience into one lower-cost, marketable item that you can sell for years to come. Books are great tools to help people get to know you and enter your coaching world, and build the trust that can ultimately turn them into a client. Your book can also help raise your profile and bring you visibility as a thought leader, which can lead to wanting to book you (see what I did there?) for speaking engagements. It’s also fantastic when you can codify your expertise as a coach, and really refine your system (writing makes you focus!). So: You’ve got the skills, the knowledge and the desire, but where to start? And what does it take to go from page one to published? In this episode we are looking at how to make money writing a book, and I’ll share the story of my first book–which you may think was wildly overpriced, and still is!–and how I made that decision and why it worked. Listen to the full episode to hear about:How books build trust and credibility with your audience and potential clientsWhy codifying your system by writing through the process makes you a better coachBook sales math and why your book is probably a marketing tool, not how you’ll fully support yourselfNine steps to plan, write, market and launch your bookFive essential tools to create a polished, professional book To learn more about Christie Mims:FREE MARKETING MASTERCLASSCoach PonyInstagram @christiecoachponyFind the book I talked about here: Zero to PassionAnd here’s the book pricing model that got me inspired! If you have some chocolate worth reviewing on the show, we are easily bribed! You can send it to us at: Christie Mims, 3630 High Street, #19286, Oakland, CA 94619 

Do you ever worry about making mistakes in your coaching business? Of course you do! Everyone makes mistakes. No matter what level you’re at– whether you hung up your shingle yesterday or you’ve been at this for years– mistakes are a normal part of moving your business forward. Welcome! And not only are they normal, but coaches in all niches, at all revenue levels make many of the same mistakes. So, you aren’t alone! This season, we’re diving into the mistakes coaches make when building their businesses. From contracts to relationships, to websites, we’ll cover it all to save you time and stress, and most of all, to remind you that everyone makes mistakes so you are in good company. To help me with that, I’m teaming up with Bobbi Palmer from Date Like a Grownup. We have VERY different businesses, but we’ve made a lot of the same mistakes. And one of the mistakes that we have both made in our businesses is in our relationships. Whether it’s mentors, friends, family, peers or partners, you’re going to need people to rely on along the way. And if your priorities are out of line, you might find yourself without those people you need in your business, your life and your heart. Listen to the full episode to hear about:How prioritizing your business over your relationships can actually hurt your businessQuestions to ask yourself about how you want your work-life balance to lookStrategies for communicating with your loved ones early and often in your business journey3 tips to build better relationships as you build your business To learn more about Bobbi Palmer:Date Like a GrownupFacebook: @DateLikeAGrownup To learn more about Christie Mims:Build a Real BusinessCoach PonyInstagram @christiecoachpony If you have some chocolate worth reviewing on the show, we are easily bribed!  You can send it to us at: Christie Mims, 3630 High Street, #19286, Oakland, CA 94619