Life Coaching Blog - By Drayton Boylston

Crisis in the Boardroom: Not Enough Coaches

Bill@CoachTrainingAlliance.com (CTA Admin) — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 12:03:51 -0700

by A. Drayton Boylston, Executive Coach

As I talk with coaches from all over the world, the most consistent comment I hear is, "Where can I find great clients for my practice."

Crisis Management
What does your practice look like? Do you have high paying executive clients? Do you wish you had? Do you wonder why you don't?

Most every coach I know wants executives as clients and for good reason:

Executives pay well ($350-1000+ an hour- yes, that much!)
Executive coaching impacts many lives (the trickle-down factor)
Executive coaching engagements last longer (average 14 months)

What's Not to Like?
According to the U.S. Department of Labor there are over 30 million upper managers and executives in the United States alone. 30 million! Do you think there are enough clients out there to fill up all of our coaching practices?

I hear many self-imposed hurdles from coaches. "I don't have business experience, I don't speak their language, I don't have the same schooling they do," and so on.

Confidence is High
What it boils down to is confidence. If you have confidence in the work you do and the positive impact you have on lives, then you can coach executives. They are no different than your other clients except for the fact that they pay better and last longer.

Carpe diem!

A. Drayton Boylston is one of the top Executive Mentor Coaches in the country.
He is a speaker, trainer, and the author of Coming UnScrooged! Drayton is facilitating
an Executive Coach training course for CTA starting September 5th. See Below...

Add Executives to Your Practice

You've thought about it. You've talked about it. Now it's time to step up!

Learn the exclusive process and the proven techniques for coaching executives in the Executive Coaching QuickStart™ course.

Former Fortune 100 executive, Drayton Boylston, shares the secrets that enable you to land your first executive clients before this class ends! Starts Wednesday, September 5th. Learn more...

Are 30 Million Clients Enough?

drayton@coachtrainingallaince.com (Drayton Boylston) — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 08:05:07 -0700

Drayton Boylston

by A. Drayton Boylston, Executive Coach

As I talk with coaches from all over the world, the most consistent comment I hear is, “I can’t find real executives to coach.” Hmmm…

What does your practice look like? Do you have high paying executive clients? Do you wish you had? Do you wonder why you don’t?

Most every coach that I know wants to have more executives as clients and for good reason:

Executives pay well ($350-1000+ an hour- yes, that much!)
Executive coaching impacts many lives (the trickle-down factor)
Executive coaching engagements last longer (average 14 months according to Linkage)

What’s not to like?

According to the U.S. Department of Labor there are over 30 million upper managers and executives in the United States alone. 30 million! Do you think there are enough clients out there to fill up all of our coaching practices?

I hear many self-imposed hurdles from coaches. “I don’t have business experience,” “I don’t speak their language,” “I don’t have the same schooling they do,” and so on.

What it boils down to is confidence. If you have confidence in the work that you do and the positive impact you have on lives, then you can coach executives. They are no different than your other clients… only they pay better and last longer.

Carpe diem!

A. Drayton Boylston is one of the top Executive Coaches and Mentors in the country. He is a speaker, trainer, and the author of Coming UnScrooged! Drayton is facilitating an Executive Coach training course beginning on August 23. See Below...

Add Executives to Your Practice

You've thought about it. You've talked about it. Now it's time to step up!

Learn the exclusive process and the proven techniques for coaching executives in the Executive Coaching QuickStart™ course.

Former Fortune 100 executive, Drayton Boylston, shares the secrets that enable you to land your first executive clients before this class ends! Starts Wednesday, August 23rd. Learn more...

Is There Litter Along Your Path?

drayton@coachtrainingallaince.com (Drayton Boylston) — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 10:19:22 -0800

Drayton Boylston

by A. Drayton Boylston, Executive Mentor Coach

As coaches we are blessed with solid values, a sense of caring and a desire to “do good.” It is our duty to use these gifts that have been bestowed upon us to assist as many as we can.

Until I crystallized my mission I must admit that I was tripping over obstacles along my coaching path. I thought I was doing the right things but I was not completely fulfilling my duty because I didn’t really know what it was.

Once I truly defined my mission of “rescuing 1 million executives from the lives they’ve created” I realized I had a duty as a coach to fulfill this mission. It became my obligation, my duty to accomplish.

“Happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected.”
~ George Washington

You also have a duty to assist as many people as you can. The more people you reach the more you can help. You must take the steps necessary to attract more people to your work. That means marketing and selling yourself, not for ego or monetary purposes, but to fulfill your duty. Once you find your mission and embrace your duty you will overcome any obstacles that litter your path.

It is your duty as a coach to reach more people and do more good. I am duty bound to fulfill my mission—my rescue effort. What’s your mission?

I wish you the happiness that comes from knowing, and fulfilling, your moral duty.

Carpe diem!

Drayton Boylston is one of the top Executive Coaches and Mentors in the country. He is an author, speaker, and developer of the Rescued Executive™ program

Continue reading "Is There Litter Along Your Path?"

Write Your Own Eulogy

drayton@coachtrainingallaince.com (Drayton Boylston) — Mon, 07 Nov 2005 07:38:27 -0800

Drayton Boylston

by A. Drayton Boylston

There�s an old saying, �An old man can see backward better than a young man can see forward.�

The last words of Queen Elizabeth I were, �All my possessions for a moment of time.�

What can we learn from the old man and the Queen? How does writing your own eulogy sound?

How would your eulogy sound if you died today? �He had such promise.� �She wanted to be president, but...� �She dreamed of ____, too bad she died before she could do it.�

How would your perfect eulogy read? What would your legacy be? How many lives would you want to positively affect in your life? Could you say that you achieved the dreams you had when you were young?

Stonewall Jackson said on his deathbed, �Let me cross the river and rest under the tree.� What would you most regret not doing before you �rest under the tree?�

I submit that nothing, absolutely NOTHING, is stopping you--but yourself!

Here�s an action item for you - make a list right now of 10 things that you really want to do before you die. The items on the list could be as simple as �inspire one person� or as noble as �start a non-profit foundation.� How would it feel to leave this kind of mark before you go? Now write your own powerful eulogy based upon this list. Remember, IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO WORK ON YOUR DREAMS!

One huge item on my list is my mission to save 1 million executives from the lives they�ve created. I�m working on things today that will make that achievable by the time my real eulogy is read. Are you working on your list?

May your real eulogy be long in coming! Carpe diem!

A. Drayton Boylston is one of the top Executive Coaches and Mentors in the country. He is an author, speaker, and developer of the Mastermind Executive Coaching Process�.

You Are An Imposter!

drayton@coachtrainingallaince.com (Drayton Boylston) — Tue, 30 Aug 2005 07:32:13 -0700

Drayton Boylston

Do I have your attention? Yes, you are an imposter- just like the executives you are coaching (or wish you could be coaching).

I�ve spoken with so many coaches that feel they don�t have the background or credentials to coach high level executives. They say they haven�t lived in the corporate world and therefore don�t believe they can (or should) work with executives. Dare they say that they feel like an imposter? Here�s my response- hooey!

When I was appointed Vice President of a Fortune 100 company at a very young age I kept waiting for the memo from my boss that said- �Just kidding! Do you think you are really V.P. material?!� Yes, I was that insecure. I felt like an imposter. Guess what, many (if not most) executives out there feel the same way.

But what does that have to do with you being an imposter? Everything!

Your executive clients (or prospects) are just as insecure than you may be feeling. They feel inadequate, overwhelmed and in over their heads. They don�t feel like they belong and/or deserve what they have achieved.

Rest assured, these people and the companies they work for need you!

Knowing this important fact should put you on equal footing with your executive clients. This should liberate you from feeling like an imposter. Be bold in marketing your services and know that what you bring to the table is sorely needed by countless executives and managers worldwide.

Carpe diem!

Uncovering Opportunities in Executive Coaching

Bill@CoachTrainingAlliance.com (CTA Admin) — Mon, 06 Jun 2005 10:26:35 -0700

by A. Drayton Boylston (Guest Author)

Does it all seem so hidden and mysterious?

You hear of executive coaches making excellent money, engaged with great companies, doing substantial work. It may even seem like they're in an exclusive club that you're not allowed to join. Establishing and growing a successful Executive Coaching practice can appear daunting (or even out of reach), but it doesn�t have to.

Let�s see if we can uncover a couple of secrets that will lead to great opportunities for you, right now!

1. Define. Understanding the true definition of Executive Coach can help you to hone in on ways to differentiate yourself from the pack. The sad fact is there are not many people who call themselves Executive Coaches that really are. Executive Coaching is working with business leaders on issues related to their performance and leadership in the business world. Yes, the work can address many �whole life� related issues as it affects their business performance, but the real focus is on values based (my bias here) business success. In the purest sense, Executive Coaching focuses on �profits through people.� Does this define what you do?

2. Refine. Once you determine that you are really committed to focusing on the Executive Coaching space, drill down further to a defined niche. The key here is to design a practice focused on your interests and skills. Figure out what really thrills you and have that determine what specific area to focus on. If a niche does not exist in an area that you really love, fill that need! Design and implement a personal leadership plan that defines a niche that you can call your own. Be bold. After all, isn�t that what you inspire others to do?

The key starting point to this journey is to know yourself extremely well BEFORE you package yourself for the marketplace. Play to your interests, your experience, and your passion. Uncover the opportunity and success will follow