6 Ways to Feel Confident When You Don’t Think You Have It in You
11 Apr
Confidence Culture, Grow Your Expertise, Inspiration

6 Ways to Feel Confident When You Don’t Think You Have It in You

Confidence is just something you have or don’t have, right?

Wrong! Confidence isn’t something you’re just born with. It’s a skill that is developed with time and intentional practice.

If you don’t feel confident, don’t worry – you can learn to become more confident and influence people in business and in life.

1. Practice Self-Love

If you want to be confident, you need to love yourself first. When you love yourself and all that you are – flaws and everything – you’ll have confidence no matter what comes along.

Before you can master the art of confidence, you must master self-love, self-respect, and self-awareness. Be proud of your values and your strengths, and commit to working on your weaknesses. You can acknowledge your flaws and still appreciate what makes you, you.

2. Conquer Your Self-Limiting Beliefs

People without confidence are prone to unconsciously adopting limiting beliefs about their capabilities or what they deserve. Then, as they self-sabotage, they reinforce the beliefs that were there all along.

Overcoming these self-limiting beliefs is a major step toward true confidence. Consider the thoughts and beliefs that diminish your confidence, such as self-doubt, anxiety, and insecurity. Replace them with empowering beliefs – you CAN do it and you DO deserve it.

3. Align Confidence with Your Goals

Why does becoming more confident matter to you? Are you a leader in your workplace and you need to project confidence to run your team? Do you present at conferences and need confidence to conquer your fears?

Knowing the purpose behind seeking confidence is the first step to realizing your goals and taking concrete steps to achieve them. Once you know the purpose of building confidence, it’s about training your brain to be more confident and secure.

4. Change Your Body Language

Confident people exude confidence before you ever speak to them – it’s all in the body language. They make eye contact, stand up straight, and shake hands firmly.

Fortunately, this is one you can “fake until you make it.” Lack of confidence takes a toll on your body language. Stand up straight, take purposeful strides, focus on eye contact, and make your presence known. You’ll naturally feel more confident, which can change your mindset.

5. Shift Your Perspective

If you’re feeling down or discouraged, a shift in your mindset can do wonders. Change your perspective on failure or loss. Remember, every misstep is creating a foundation for learning and future successes.

See failures as opportunities, rather than challenges. Focus on the positives of the situation – what did you learn? How can you grow? Success isn’t as sweet without failure.

6. Use Goal Visualization

Positive visualization can help you build confidence and create an environment of positivity. When you visualize something positive over and over, you start to believe it’s true. When the success finally arrives, such as getting that raise or promotion, you mentally pat yourself on the back.

Confidence Building with Allison Todd

Confident people aren’t born – they’re made. If you want to build your confidence and put your best self forward, coach Allison Todd can help. Her business coaching programs teach you how to have decisive confidence and make better and more strategic decisions within your business. Contact Allison Todd to learn more about coaching services!

What is Confidence Coaching?
16 Nov
Business Coach, Confidence Culture, Entrepreneurship, Grow Your Expertise, Inspiration

What is Confidence Coaching?

In a world where there seems to be a coach for every career, sport, hobby, and life pursuit, the coaching industry is becoming more and more saturated. It seems like nearly everyone has their own “coaching hustle” as a side pursuit, making it harder and harder to differentiate between the kinds of coaches and what value they claim to bring to the table.

One of the newer kinds of coaching is confidence coaching. While at first glance it may seem cheesy or gimmicky, this kind of coach is someone who could potentially turn your life around and help you establish successful habits in the long term, so it’s nothing to thumb your nose at.

Instead, read on to learn more about what they do and why you may be a good fit for a future coach. 

What is Confidence Coaching?

The coaching profession has made a marked increase in popularity and acceptance in recent years. While many people think of coaching as something confined to sports, there are actually many areas of coaching that most people could benefit from, whether in their personal or professional lives. 

Though coaching is more varied and expansive, coaching typically falls in these three categories:: 

Career Coach

A professional coach who is skilled with helping individuals navigate their careers, whether they’re just beginning, stagnating, or transitioning. These coaches may help with career planning, interviewing, resume building, or negotiating to develop strong candidates and employees. 

Executive Coach

A professional coach skilled at developing future leaders and influencers. They help clients and teams increase awareness of their brand, set up business goals, and unlock their true potential.

Life Coach

A type of wellness coach who helps individuals assess their present state in life and determine their next best steps to reach their personal goals. They help clients clarify their goals, identify the obstacles that are keeping them from them, and develop a plan to overcome them. 

While all three of these kinds of coaches will work with you to help you get back on track professionally or personally, there’s another kind of coach that can benefit people in a variety of circumstances.. Before we dig fully into this kind of coaching, let’s look at the definition of the main focus of their guidance: confidence. 

“Confidence: The feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something; firm trust. The state of feeling certain about the truth of something. A feeling of self-assurance arising from one’s appreciation of one’s own abilities or qualities.”

While it may be easy to define the word “confidence,” it’s not always as easy to clarify what it means for an individual or how to attain it. That’s where a confidence coach comes in. And really, how many people could better themselves from partnering with one?

A confidence coach is someone that helps an individual move past their lack of self-esteem, fear, and limiting self-beliefs. They work to help a person overcome their doubt and empower them to trust their own abilities and reach their potential.

Coaches typically accomplish this by finding out what is triggering the person’s insecurity and strategically working with them to identify and overcome it. 

What Does a Confidence Coach Do?

While the basic definition and career description likely sound all well and good, you may still be wondering what a confidence coach actually does. This process will vary based on an individual’s background and how deep their client’s insecurities lie. 

In general, a confidence coach will work with someone to quiet the voices telling them they’re inadequate and find the freedom to live fully and confidently. 

This may be accomplished in one of several ways. Let’s explore the primary methods a confidence coach will help their client move forward. 

Finding the Next Best Step

Instead of focusing on the end goal, which may feel insurmountable, a confidence coach may work with their client to decide what the best small (or baby) steps are to avoid becoming overwhelmed. By defining and achieving these small goals, the person will gain confidence every step of the way, and their coach will be there to cheer them along and offer guidance as needed. 

Banishing Limiting Beliefs

Oftentimes, a person’s lack of confidence comes from a limiting belief that’s rooted deep in their psyche. A confidence coach can help their client identify and eliminate these beliefs one at a time. The coach may help them challenge assumptions they have by asking them questions that shine a light on the falsehoods plaguing them. Once the truth is revealed, it’s easier for them to move forward and gain confidence along the way.

Some beliefs that confidence coaches often have to work past include:

  • – I’m not enough to deserve good things in life. 

  • – I’ll never be good enough at my job to get a promotion. 

  • – I’m too stupid or ignorant to express myself to anyone. 

  • – If I show up as my authentic self, I’ll never be accepted or loved. 

Cross-Reference Areas of Confidence

This approach can be more abstract, but still quite effective. A coach may take an area in which the client lacks confidence and channel it into an area in which they exude confidence. By doing this, the focus is switched to the aspects of themselves they’re more comfortable with, and the area of doubt can take a backseat. 

Characteristics and Skills Needed for a Confidence Coach

While one may think that the biggest qualification for a confidence coach is to be confident, that’s not the most important aspect. Plenty of other characteristics and skills are equally, if not more, essential for a person to possess to have a successful career in this field. 

If you’re considering a career as a confidence coach, you should take an honest assessment of yourself to make sure you have most, if not all, of the characteristics and skills needed. Keep in mind that some of these skills can be developed. Read through the following list to see if you have what it takes!

The Ability to Build Rapport 

In order for a client to feel comfortable opening up, a coach has to be able to build rapport with them quickly. This means the coach has to be able to put people at ease and make them feel as though they’re in a safe place to open up about their insecurities, which are at the core of confidence coaching.

Realize that your new clients will come in feeling awkward and shy, so this is an important part of your job as a coach. Work with them to find something in common, approach their insecurities with openness and acceptance, and then build your rapport from there. 

Patience

As you’re likely aware, coaching isn’t typically something that’s finished after one session. Depending on the client, coaching can often take months or even years to complete.

Because of this, a confidence coach has to bring a healthy dose of patience and perseverance to their practice to stick with a client until they reach their goals. Coaching is not the place to bring judgment or a deadline mentality. It takes time. 

Strategic Mindset

In order to navigate the client’s insecurities and deeply rooted triggers, a confidence coach has to have the ability to strategize and plan the steps to overcoming insecurities, addressing setbacks, and gaining confidence.. This plan is crucial to the client’s success and must be achievable and thoughtfully executed. 

In addition to having a plan for your client, you also need a plan for your business that you can commit to. Building a brand and client base as a coach takes a lot of drive, determination, and business acumen. It doesn’t happen overnight!

Confidence

While it’s not the only skill needed, it’s definitely a top requirement that confidence coaches have a healthy level of confidence themselves. Whether this is a quality they were born with or something they acquired over time, it has to be understood and present to be taught to others.

With confidence coaching, you can’t just talk the talk – you have to walk the walk. Aside from the fact that you can’t teach confidence if you don’t possess it, being a coach in general and promoting your services takes confidence. Let your clients see the confidence in you that they’re wanting to build in themselves. 

Reasons Why People Hire a Confidence Coach

Now that we’ve covered what a confidence coach does and what they need to be successful at it, you may be wondering why a person would need one in the first place. The answer is simple: we’re human. In other words, it’s only normal for a person to go through periods or experiences where they lack confidence in themselves, either personally or professionally.

Confidence is something that can either make or break you, especially in some professions, so hiring a coach to help you find it again is a wise decision that more people should be making. 

For example, people may turn to confidence coaches when they’re up for a new promotion at work or they just got promoted/hired and are feeling inadequate.

Other people may come in after going through a divorce and are now questioning their worth or how to move forward. Many clients are finally ready to face a deeply rooted fear and are simply needing the push to conquer it. 

Benefits of Working with a Confidence Coach

The main benefit of working with a confidence coach is the most obvious one: you’ll gain confidence like you’ve never had before. What is it in your past or present that is holding you back from going after the goals or desires in your heart and mind? Chances are, a confidence coach can help you recognize what’s holding you back, face your fears, and reach your goals.

Beyond gaining confidence in yourself and your abilities, you can expect to walk away from your time with a confidence coach with one or more of the following benefits:

  • – You’ll be a better leader, both professionally and personally.

  • – You’ll become a more courageous member of society as you feel more confident to speak up about the causes you care about and reach out to contacts in your life. 

  • – You’ll be an empowered individual, ready to push past your comfort zone and live life to the fullest. 

Becoming a Confidence Coach

If you already have the confidence that others are seeking, perhaps you should consider becoming a confidence coach. The pay scale for Confidence Coaches varies widely from anywhere around $26k to over $200k. Since a degree and certification aren’t required to enter the field, you’ll see that coaches come from all types of backgrounds and offer a variety of services, all at different price points. 

While certification isn’t required to be a confidence coach, there are several courses available that may be beneficial for someone looking to start their career in the industry. These classes will walk you through how to handle the typical situations you’ll see as a coach and give you the best practices to have in place for your business.

These courses aren’t required, but they do add a level of credibility and legitimacy to your coaching business and help you learn how to run a successful business. 

The best way to ensure  that you have a successful career as a confidence coach is to do everything that you can to get favorable word-of-mouth referrals. Since this is a newer field, clients will feel more comfortable hiring you for your services if they get a referral from someone they are personally connected to.

If that person used your services in the past and had positive results, they can expect the same for their own experience. Referrals build confidence in your skills and gets your working relationship off on the right foot. 

Calling all Coaches

Today’s world is driven by social media influencers selling a lifestyle that seems unattainable, leading many people to feel insecure and inadequate. People’s confidence in their abilities has taken a major blow, but hiring a confidence coach can be the key to getting it back.

For anyone that has moved past their season of doubt and is now walking confidently and living an empowered life, it may be time for you to share your wisdom. 

Almost anyone with confidence and drive can start a career as a confidence coach, but only the ones that have a clear vision for their coaching business and a strategic plan of action will be able to make it in the highly competitive field.

By bringing your own confidence and patience to the table, you’ll be setting yourself (and your clients) up for success. One thing is for sure though – the world needs more confidence. Luckily, there’s a coach for that. 

Why You Should Always Look For New Clients
14 Nov
Business Coach, Confidence Culture, Grow Your Business, Grow Your Expertise, Marketing, Productivity

Why You Should Always Look For New Clients

If you’re in the middle of a successful season in your business, you may find yourself coasting along and neglecting prospecting for new clients. After all, it’s only natural that you don’t feel the need to look for future customers when you have plenty of work. It simply doesn’t feel necessary when you’re up to your ears at work!

In reality, you should always be on the lookout for new clients even when you’re busy and your books are full. Why? Because finding and nurturing clients requires time and proven methods so by the time you’re needing them, it’s too late to start if you’re behind the ball.  

You may be busy right now but you can also bet there are people out there, right now, who need and want the services you offer and are a perfect match for your business. Now is the time to connect with people online and start interacting with them. 

Another reason to always be on the lookout for clients is the likelihood that, at some point, you’re going to lose a client that you depend on. What would happen to your business if you lost one of your biggest clients? Would you be able to manage the gap in income? Do you have prospects to pursue if you need to bring in more revenue?

So, how do you maintain your current business while always looking for more? The key is being organized. Here are three easy tips you can use right away: 

  • – Come up with a strategy for finding new clients and then systematize it so you don’t have to think about it.

  • – Create regular content to post on other people’s blogs as well as your own. 

  • – Search regularly for new people to connect with on social media.

Take these tips or choose a few simple strategies of your own for finding new clients that you can do on an ongoing basis while still performing work for your current clients. Then, spend a bit of time each day on client acquisitions using your chosen strategies. By investing even just a half-hour into this goal daily, you’ll be on your way to stockpiling your leads for a rainy day. 

Signs It’s Time To Exit: Leaving A Hostile Work Environment
28 Oct
Business Coach, Confidence Culture, Grow Your Expertise, Inspiration, Productivity

Signs It’s Time To Exit: Leaving A Hostile Work Environment

Finding fulfillment in your job is a nearly impossible feat if you are in the midst of a hostile work environment. You can be leading the best projects and interacting with the clients of your dreams, but none of this will matter if the workplace environment is harmful to your mental health and wellbeing. 

In fact, a shocking 50% of employees in the United States workforce are unhappy with their current jobs. This number can be greatly reduced if more individuals have the tools to understand the signs of a hostile work environment.

4 Signs That It’s Time To Leave Your Job 

When the downsides of your workplace environment begin to outweigh any of its benefits, it might be a sign that it’s time to leave. Here are 4 of the most pressing signs that a workplace is no longer serving you: 

#1: People Don’t Listen To You

Whether it’s a fellow coworker shooting down your ideas on a project or your supervisor ignoring your input at a meeting, one of the first signs of an unhealthy work environment is when your opinions and ideas aren’t being considered. Each and every member of a team brings a different perspective to the table, and if yours isn’t valued, you should probably look elsewhere for a team that values collaboration and open communication. 

#2: It’s Difficult To Focus On Tasks

If you find yourself struggling to focus on the tasks of your job, it might be a sign that you are no longer passionate and motivated to accomplish the objectives of your position. Trouble focusing can also occur when the stressors of the workplace’s culture are at the top of your mind instead of the job itself. Either way, be mindful when this feeling starts showing up more often than not.  

#3: Your Identity Is Marginalized

Even in 2021, marginalization in the workplace is still a pressing issue that many people in underrepresented communities (LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and people of color) face. Some of the biggest signs that you are being marginalized in the workplace are when your work is accredited to someone else, not getting a promotion or raise despite your accreditations, or not feeling as if people have confidence in your abilities. 

#4: Stress and Sadness Is Taking Over Everything 

When an employee is undervalued and overutilized, the stress in the workplace can easily take over. While any workplace is bound to have periods of busyness, if extreme stress and pressure are commonplace even in the slower months, it is probably a sign that your company’s culture isn’t taking your work-life balance and mental health into account. 

Find Your Dream Job With Coach Allison Todd Today 

You deserve to be in a job where you are heard, seen, and valued for who you are and what you have to offer. If you’re ready to improve your business’s workplace culture and environment, or perhaps want to quit your job and start the business of your dreams, I am here to help you get started today!

Sales Success Part 1: Building The Know, Like, & Trust Factor
18 Oct
Business Coach, Grow Your Business, Grow Your Expertise, Marketing, Productivity

Sales Success Part 1: Building The Know, Like, & Trust Factor

Attention sales teams: want to be let in on a little secret? Relationship building is the key to sales success. You can have the best product or services in your marketplace, but if you don’t create an authentic relationship with your audiences and prospective customers, all of these traditional factors become obsolete. 

While product might have been the draw that brought new clients to your door, it is your personality and customer service that keeps them coming back. 

What Is The Know, Like, & Trust Factor And Why Does It Matter?

To put it simply, having the know, like, and trust factor are the three secret ingredients to becoming a more personable salesperson. Achieving all three of these “it” factors will allow your customers to feel more comfortable and confident with their purchasing decision. This is because these factors will help them… 

  • – Know who you are and what you care about
  • – Enjoy your personality and like spending time with you
  • – Trust your judgement and recommendations 

3 Steps For Building The Know, Like, and Trust Factor 

Let’s dive into tangible ways to build your companies know, like and trust factor: 

#1: Build The Know Factor By Honing In On A Unified Brand Message

One of the most effective ways of showing consumers who you are is through maintaining a strong and unified brand voice before, during, and after the sales process. This is because a brand voice communicates your brand’s values, beliefs, perspective, and overall personality. 

#2: Build The Like Factor By Being A Good Listener 

Let’s face it: who doesn’t love feeling seen and heard? Showing interest and listening to your customers needs and goals is especially important for increasing likeability and closing your sales. One insightful statistic revealed that 68% of B2B consumers are lost from a salesperson with indifference or perceived apathy, not from making a mistake. 

#3: Build Trust Factor By Creating Killer Content 

One of the best ways for winning prospective clients over is establishing your credibility as an authority in your industry. When you position yourself as an expert, they are more likely to trust your product and believe its benefits once they get to the sales process. 

Content marketing is one of the best ways to accomplish this goal. In fact, 96% of the most successful content marketers believe their audience views them as credible and trusted. Some of the best pieces of content for establishing trust and credibility include in-depth blog posts, articles, and podcasts. 

Elevate Your Sales Strategy With Allison Todd Today

If you are ready to nail your next sales pitch, I would love to help you reach all of your goals. With 20+ years of experience helping businesses hone in on an effective sales strategy, I am ready to take your business to the next level. 

For even more dynamite tips and tricks on building the know, like and trust factor for sales success, click here to check out part two of this blog series today! 

Sales Success Part Two: More Tips For Building The Know, Like, & Trust Factor

Are you sick of prospective clients slip through the cracks? If so, it might just be the perfect time to focus on the personal component of sales. While it can be all too easy for an eager sales team to see dollar signs when looking at clients instead of a person in front of them, it is crucial to look at them as human beings first and foremost.

In fact, establishing WHO you are as opposed to WHAT you are selling in the sales process is crucial for keeping customers coming back for more. So much so that 42% of consumers would pay for a more welcoming experience and another 65% find positive customer experience more influential than advertising! 

This is where the importance of building your know, like, and trust factor comes into play. 

3 Bonus Steps For Building The Know, Like, & Trust Factor

In addition to part one of this blog series, I’m back more ideas for helping you increase your know, like, & trust factor to create a more personable sales process: 

#1: Build The Know Factor By Putting Your Name Out There 

The more often someone has heard of you and your brand, the more likely they are to feel confident in what you have to offer. Some of the best tactics for boosting your brand awareness and know factor for your target audience are by snagging guest blog post slots on credible sites, creating content with other businesses in your industry, and appearing as an interview guest on a show or podcast whenever possible. 

#2: Build The Like Factor By Finding Shared Interests

While the majority of the conversations with your audiences and clients should be focused on the business side of things, creating more real human connections will make the interaction more memorable. Within the small moments of chit-chat and building rapport, try to find a shared interest or belief to keep you connected and build up your like factor.

#3: Build The Trust Factor By Staying Authentic To Yourself

If a salesperson or company isn’t being open and honest about their true thoughts and opinions with prospective clients, it can lead to feelings of distrust. On the other hand, maintaining authenticity will remind clients that you are more than just a business trying to make money. 

Some of the easiest ways to stay authentic are by answering questions transparently and avoiding overtly salesy language. In fact, 61% of consumers report that one of the top ways to create a positive sales experience is when companies aren’t pushy. 

Don’t Wait To Achieve Your Sales Goals With The Help Of Allison Todd

By putting these ideas into action, you’ll be well on your way towards better customer service and increased sales in no time. Whether your business is in the stage of ideation, launching, or scaling, business coach, I cannot wait to help you bring all of your business ideas and dreams to life. 

To learn more about what a partnership with an experienced business coach can look like for your company, don’t hesitate to get in touch to get started today! 

6 Ingredients For Building The Know, Like, And Trust Factor

  • Step #1: Build The Know Factor to show customers who you are 
    • Action Step #1: Hone in on a consistent brand voice throughout your messaging 
    • Action Step #2: Put your brand name out there as much as possible 

  • Step #2: Build the Like Factor to create strong relationships and rapport with clients 
    • Action Step #1: Actively listen and show excitement for who your consumers are
    • Action Step #2: Find a personal connection with customers through shared beliefs and interests 

  • Step #3: Build The Trust Factor by establishing credibility 
    • Action Step #1: Create online content that shows your brand’s authority on a subject matter
    • Action Step #2: Maintain authenticity in every client and audience interaction 
The Lean Growth & Scale Plan by Coach Allison Todd
17 Oct
Business Coach, Entrepreneurship, Grow Your Business, Grow Your Expertise, Productivity, Team Management

The Lean Growth & Scale Plan by Coach Allison Todd

  • 1. How To Grow Your Brand Without Losing Its Voice Or Values
  • 2. The Simple Way To Grow Your Brand Without Losing Touch With Your Values
  • 3. Don’t Focus On Brand Growth Without Reading These Essential Tips First

Want to grow your brand but struggling to figure out the best way to go about it? Developing and expanding your business should be an exciting time. But often, information overwhelm turns it into a stressful one. 

By getting back to the basics of who you are and what you want your brand to stand for, you can create a growth strategy that feels authentic and real—two things customers love. 

Sometimes Less Is More 

These days we want everything all at once. When it comes to business, this translates into developing a blog, building up social media, starting a podcast, creating a YouTube channel, and writing a book. 

It’s easy to convince yourself that you need all the bells, whistles, and TikTok followers to be successful online. But ditching some of the “clutter” will help you focus. 

Growth by subtraction helps business owners zero in on the areas they want to develop.By taking some of these plans away and focusing on one step at a time, your business will grow at a steady rate. 

Make Technology Is Your Friend—Use It Effectively

There many intuitive tools and platforms out there that can help your business. But not all of them will suit your business needs. So choose the software wisely by only using technology that: 

  • – Segments leads and customers so you can create highly targeted marketing content and campaigns.
  • – Measures prospect engagement with your website and marketing campaigns to focus resources on those prospects showing “buying signals.”
  • – Generates leads with premium content offers embedded on your website and marketing content.
  • – Tracks your sales activity and follow-ups with CRM software.
  • – Manages and monitors your sales pipeline to keep you on track towards your business goals.

Tech makes growing a business easier if it fits. It should never make life more difficult. 

Turn Your Website Into Your Online Sales Guru

Humans ask Google a LOT of questions. So if you want to get discovered online, invest in a decent website. Make sure it has strong SEO and the copy and content are well written. 

To grow a business, it’s not enough to leave a website to stagnate. It needs to be updated regularly and checked using online analytics tools. If it’s not working, figure out why and make it right. 

Mix It Up With A Variety Of Marketing Channels

Cold-pitching may have worked 10 years ago, but unless you’re at the top of your game on how to cold-pitch, it’s a limited marketing strategy.  

And when it comes to blogs, writing generic listicles bombarded with CTAs and hoping they’re going to bring in leads isn’t going to work. Get creative with your blogs, mix it up with education, entertainment and value (hey, just like this one.) 

Evolve your business development approach to keep up with the evolution of the buying process.

Embrace Video Marketing

Cisco predicts that “by 2022, online videos will make up more than 82% of all consumer internet traffic — 15 times higher than it was in 2017.”

Miss out on video, and you’re missing out on a HUGE number of marketing opportunities. 

Not a fan of being on camera? Good news. Not all videos have to feature you. They can be: 

  • – Tutorial videos
  • – Case studies
  • – Customer support and how-to videos
  • – Social media posts like reels and IGTV

Get Yourself A Business Coach And A Supportive Community 

Business can be a lonely old world sometimes, especially if you’re the one at the top making all the decisions. 

Reaching out and joining a community of other entrepreneurs provides a system of support. And hiring a business coach shows your keen to invest in yourself and your business. 

The Business Growth 90-Day Plan is an effective way to boost your brand without losing its integrity. Click here to learn more and discover if it is a good fit for your business.

What Is A Life Coach? How 1:1 Coaching Can Help You Move Forward And Crush Goals
08 Oct
Allison Todd and Friends, Business Coach, Confidence Culture, Grow Your Business, Grow Your Expertise

What Is A Life Coach? How 1:1 Coaching Can Help You Move Forward And Crush Your Goals

Have you ever found yourself stuck in life? Whether you’re at a loss for what you want to do or you have an end-goal in mind but no clue how to get there, feeling stuck in life is all too common. And chances are, a life coach is someone you could benefit from greatly to provide that necessary nudge in the right direction. 

Life coaches are specialists who help their clients analyze where they are now, where they want to be in the future, and how to connect the two. They help people who aren’t sure how to move forward or what their next best step is by looking at what obstacles are getting in the way and helping an individual find solutions to overcome them. 

How Does it Work?

While the process of working with a Life Coach is similar to how therapy works, it differentiates itself by focusing more on the future rather than looking at your past and understanding your present. Life coaching is more direct in nature and gives individuals the encouragement they need to move past any resistance that’s keeping them from their goals. 

Typically, a coach will begin your relationship with a discovery call during which they’ll ask questions to get to know you a little better and to figure out how they can best help you.

You’ll discuss the frequency of your meetings and if there is any “homework” that they may want you to do before your time together. More than likely, they’ll send you some paperwork to fill out that will help them identify your current obstacles and background. 

Once your sessions start, your time together will be spent discussing what goals you have for your future and the things that are keeping you from achieving them. While your coach won’t tell you the exact roadmap or steps to take, they will help you define them for yourself. At the end of your time with a life coach, you’ll walk away with actionable steps to get you on the path to where you want to go. 

Work with Me

I’m a Life Coach based out of Atlanta and I have over 15 years of experience in the coaching industry. I like to call myself a “confidence coach,” because I feel like my mission is to empower driven, passionate entrepreneurs to launch, grow, and scale their businesses and achieve the success they deserve. 

I found my way into the coaching industry after serving in several leadership roles including my current position as Corporation Relations Manager for United Way of Greater Atlanta.

I earned my Masters of Arts in Human Resource Management and Development from Webster University and my Bachelors of Arts in Communication Theory and Rhetoric from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

In conjunction with my coaching business, I created a Business Clarity Mastermind that’s open to the public and teaches practical strategies and tools to take action and grow your business. 

If you’ve been spinning your wheels about where your life is headed and still haven’t found any traction, I would love to talk about how I can get you back on track and moving towards the future you envision. Your path to progress is just one click away. 

Paid Advertising Specialist, Silvia Coletto: Because You Needed Results, Like, Yesterday.
04 Oct
Allison Todd and Friends, Grow Your Expertise

Paid Advertising Specialist, Silvia Coletto: Because You Needed Results, Like, Yesterday.

In Position2Profit, we’re all about partnering and shining the light on vetted professionals that rock their industry. Why? Because we’re all committed to growing and scaling our businesses. How do we do this? By consistently learning. 

Whether you’re ready to hop on a call with Silvia after reading through this post, or you simply want to check out her website, you’ll find your business will be in a better position after reading this than it was before. Because Silvia Coletto, founder of Paid Ads School, is an online advertising witch, casting up ads that genuinely drive results. 

Who Is Silvia Coletto? 

Silvia Coletto is the proud founder of Paid Ads School. She creates and launches paid advertising campaigns to generate interest, leads, and sales from your products or services. 

Paid Ads School Takes The Guesswork Out Of Paid Advertising 

Customer Journey Map - Part 2
14 Sep
Business Coach, Confidence Culture, Grow Your Business, Grow Your Expertise, Productivity

Customer Journey Map – Part 2

A few months ago, we talked about what it means to have a [customer journey map] and how to create a customer journey map.

Today, we’re going to unveil the five stages of the consumer decision process so you can include them in your customer journey map. Then, you can build your business, increase your conversion rate, and, ultimately, succeed as a brand owner. 

Quick Re-cap: What Is a Customer Journey Map?

As we defined in Part 1, a customer journey map is a diagram – or many diagrams – that show each of the stages your visitors go through when interacting with your brand. This can be from visiting your website for the first time to interacting with your brand’s business Instagram page, to even buying a product or service. 

What Does Any Good Customer Journey Map Need? 

The main contribution to any functioning customer journey map is research and data. Without data, these are simply drawings without any underpinning evidence. 

The customer journey maps need to reflect the customer’s search intent and sentiment, individual goals, and touchpoints. 

There should be multiple customer journey maps to cover all bases. That means having a single customer journey map for your website will not suffice. Instead, you need to consider the different directions and journeys each individual will take. Use a heat map to determine the patterns and trends of the activity on your site.

It also demands journey maps for your other platforms. Think about how someone may navigate through your social platforms or blogs. Customer journey maps are effective but only when they’re used properly. 

What Are The Five Stages Of The Consumer Decision Process?

Customer journey maps rely on understanding the lead. The first factor in determining is where the lead is within the five stages of the consumer decision process:

1. The Awareness Stage

At this point, the lead becomes aware of your brand. This could be through a search engine, word of mouth, or any other marketing platform you’ve been using to advertise and promote your business. 

2. The Consideration Stage

This stage includes careful consideration of your product or service and often demands intense research. The consideration stage lasts longer depending on the price of your offer. The higher the price, the longer this phase lasts. This is down to the price being more of a risk. Competitors will be considered at this stage, too. 

3. The Decision Stage

Your prospect makes their decision at this stage. They will either purchase from a competitor, move back a stage, or purchase from you. 

4. The Retention Stage

If a purchase has been made, this stage is where the magic happens in terms of ROI. Research proves that if someone has already made an initial process, they’re more likely to purchase again. Adobe has demonstrated that 8% of website visitors who are existing customers constitute 40% of overall revenue.  

5. The Loyalty/Advocacy Stage

This phase takes the retention stage to a whole new level. This phase includes writing reviews and spreading positive comments through word-of-mouth. This phase encourages new leads to enter through the first stage, and so the cycle repeats once again. 

Why Do I Need To Consider The Buyer’s Stage In My Customer Journey Map?

As mentioned, the most effective customer journey maps are deeply rooted in research and data. But it’s also fundamental to understand your audience in depth.

The buyer’s stage will help cater to your customer journey maps with their current stage in mind, allowing you to personalize strategies to help each lead climb up the ladder, phase by phase, until they reach stage 5. Once there, they can help bring in new leads for you, playing their own part in guiding new leads up the ladder. 

How To Use The Buyer’s Stage In My Customer Journey Map

Now you’re clear about why you need to include the buyer’s stage within your customer journey maps, let’s consider how you can do this in practice. 

As with many marketing strategies, the key lies in understanding your target audience well. Once you are able to track data and view the common patterns and trends, you’ll be able to sort and categorize this data into buyer’s journey sections. 

This will allow you to consider the best methods to help them move up a stage. 

You will need various methods for each individual stage, focusing on techniques and elements that will help them up a level. 

For example, consider the consideration phase. At this point, your leads are locked in an internal battle trying to make a choice whether to spend money on your product or service, take their business elsewhere, or simply not buy anything at all. Therefore, you need to consider techniques that will help bring them over to the right side: purchasing from you. 

Some strategies that could help with this are using social proof or offering a discount. 

Implement The Buyer’s Journey Into Your Customer Journey Maps Today

As you can see, the buyer’s journey is absolutely critical when mapping out the navigation journey of your lead. By incorporating it, you can tailor your strategies to help them reach the top of the tower. Without it, though, you’re shooting blind, and you’ll find it challenging to achieve stage 5 status. 

15 Tips For Building The Confidence To Be The Brand
23 Jul
Business Coach, Confidence Culture, Grow Your Expertise, Inspiration

15 Tips For Building The Confidence To Be The Brand

So, you’ve taken that leap and built a business. First, congratulations. Not many people have the mental and emotional fortitude to pull off what you did. 

But…

Being an entrepreneur comes with a unique set of stressors.

While you’re steadily growing, it’s common to worry that you’re not getting the traction you need to really take off. 

As brilliant as many business owners may be, many lack the confidence to fully show up as the face of their brand. But confidence is a key component of success in business. The more confident you are, the more people will be attracted to your brand and want to learn more about you.

15 Tips For Building The Confidence

These 15 tips will help you build the confidence to become the brand so you can attract more prospects and scale to the next level. 

1. Know Your Brand 

You can’t begin to show up in a way that inspires others to follow if you aren’t clear on who you are and where your brand is going. Start by defining your purpose. What are you here to do? Who are you here to serve? How do you want to make people feel? 

When you know that, you can begin to embody the real essence of your brand. 

2. Do What You Say You’re Going To Do 

Nobody likes flakiness—especially in business. Whether it’s working 1:1 with a client or something you push out on social media, hold yourself accountable for the things you say. People will begin to associate that respect they have for you with your overall brand. 

3. Get Clear On Your Values & Beliefs 

This is a crucial step. Values and beliefs are so important to the foundation of who you are and what your brand stands for. They need to be deeply ingrained in your messaging and interaction with others. 

4. Share Your Story

In uncovering your values, belief and mission, start to weave a story about your experience in relation to those—and then share it! Especially if it’s messy, real, and shows your audience that you know first-hand what they’re going through. 

5. Use Your Voice 

Social media makes it easier than ever for brands to have a distinct voice. Make it a priority to be active on your favorite platforms and speak up about the things that matter to you. Don’t be afraid to show multiple facets of your personality, even if they don’t relate directly to your brand. 

6. Show Enthusiasm

There’s nothing as contagious as enthusiasm. If you’re excited about something, show it. Chances are, you’ll attract some people who are just as excited about it as you. 

7. Share Your Passions 

Don’t keep your interests to yourself — share them with the world. Be open and honest about what you’re into so your audience can get to know you better. 

8. Get Visible and STAY Visible 

So many founders and CEOs love to hide behind their businesses. But if you want people to trust you enough to buy from you, you have to be willing to come out and show your face every now and again. 

9. While We’re Talking About Visibility…Keep A Visible List Of Accomplishments 

Sometimes, we forget how awesome we are. Displaying a list of all the things you’re proud of will come in handy when you’re feeling down and insecure. 

10. Practice Positive Affirmations 

Positive affirmations are the new “fake it till you make it.” Write down a few things you hope to be and repeat them to yourself every day as reminders of where you want your brand to go. 

11. Be Consistent  

While you’re an ever-evolving human, it’s important to keep your brand consistent. Some change every now and then is great, but try to stick to some consistent themes so people know what to expect from you. 

12. Get Vulnerable

One of the best ways to connect with your audience is to show them that you’re human. Businesses need not be totally above board and professional all the time. Get real every once in a while so you can connect with your audience on a deeper level. 

13. Stop Falling For The Comparison Trap

It’s so easy to get caught up in where you are now and compare yourself to other people. But when you start going down that Instagram rabbit hole, remember that no one can do it like you—because there’s no one like you. 

14. Be Kind To Yourself

Putting yourself out there is hard, and it’s not always going to feel good. When you’re feeling insecure, practice self-compassion and give yourself a little break. 

15. Stay Authentic & Transparent

And finally, build your brand based on the person you authentically are—and don’t let anyone tell you that’s not enough.

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​​If you want help increasing your confidence so you can elevate your brand, click here to learn more about working with Alison Todd. 

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