Choosing an Apprentice

Along the path from where you are now to millions in revenue, thousands in readers, tens of thousands of prospects, or hundreds of clients -- whatever criteria you use to define success for your coaching...there us is one key speedbump which is seldom talked about.

That is capacity.

This is especially true as your revenues grow up to six figures and you set your sights on building a seven-figure legacy business with a global impact.

How do you get your head around this problem? What secrets will ease your way through the growing pains?

In all the many thousands of hours of consulting, coaching and training I've done, there is only one key I've found to date that doesn't require significant cash investment. And that is the concept of apprentices.

Several years ago I was one of those apprentices.

I'd been running my own recruitment business for some time, and had become disgruntled by putting great people into heirarchical organizations that stifled creativity and disregarded the whole person.

I decided to take a sabbatical and paid for supplies to begin volunteering with the Coaching Scoop's Real Interviews project for Steve Davis and Thomas Leonard of CoachVille.

Some might say I had found myself a real winner of an apprenticeship program.

I tell you this story for two reasons.

(1) You may find yourself wishing for an apprenticeship for yourself, from time to time. It's a great way to move quickly into new areas by finding a mentor who will trade you a lifetime of wisdom for your legwork.

(2) Regardless of where you think you 'are' in your work, you are ready for an apprentice. Because the benefits of an apprentice are in fact much greater to you than just the added pair of willing hands.

What you teach, you become.

And what you teach, also becomes your legacy.

As you mentor your apprentices, there is a point at which they become your proteges.

This is a tipping point that occurs when the apprentice graduates from learning to creating.

A few things to bear in mind as you prepare for apprentices:

(1) Don't change what you do.

Design the apprentice relationships so that it doesn't disrupt your productivity. Allow your apprentice to come into your existing set up. The key at the beginning is to increase your capacity, not add capacity.

Your apprentice is someone you invite to your house without cleaning up first. Soon enough, they'll be helping you tidy things.

(2) Pick certain people for your apprentices. There are two main criteria.

You must like and respect them.

They should be entrepreneurially minded, meaning either they have run a business of their own OR they were brought up by familiy who did.

The latter covers just about every other characteristic you could want: loyalty, hard work, a sense of urgency, and a problem solving orientation.

(3) Use technology and systems to support the addition of new people to your business.

The most basic and essential way to induct an apprentice is to set up a system of shadowing. The simplest way is to set up your email so that a copy gets sent to your apprentice.

That's a natural part of the selection process because the apprentice ? mentor relationship can rely quite a bit on personal chemistry and whether or not the visions align.

Andrea J. Lee coaches entrepreneurs and online business owners. As Thomas J. Leonard's General Manager, she helped build and manage the largest network and trainer of personal and business coaches in the world. Now the CEO of Andrea J. Lee Group of Companies, she writes, speaks and consults on Marketing, Internet and Business systems. This is an excerpt from the her NEW BOOK - Multiple Streams of Coaching Income, http://www.multiplestreamsofcoachingincome.com

---

The Real Truth About Working Smarter, Not Harder

Running a business or department can often stretch you to... Read More

The Role of Grief Group Facilitators

Technically, there are two types of grief groups. Informational and... Read More

Making Communication Effective: 4 Language Filters

Language is a challenging way to communicate. It allows us... Read More

Reduce Anxiety About Decison Making

What's the alternative to making decisions?Allowing someone else, or circumstances,... Read More

Whats in it for me if I Hire A Coach?

1. An unshakable foundation:Create and build your life from the... Read More

Building a Strong Coaching Practice

As a person who has been around the coaching profession... Read More

Coaching: YOU Can Improve Your Organizations Performance

GOOD BUSINESS COACHING: Clearly, the right kind of coaching can... Read More

Mind the Gap

The underground train in London can get you anywhere when... Read More

Sheep Do Not Start Out Lost

Have you ever thought about how sheep get lost? Even... Read More

Friends?

I met my friend when we were in graduate school,... Read More

Secrets of Creating Interpersonal Power

If you work with people, as a company owner, manager... Read More

Make a Decision and Take Action!

How are you progressing with the goals you set yourself... Read More

Using Audio Programs to Increase Your Knowledge and Productivity

If you do any significant amount of driving, a simple... Read More

Anger: To Control or To Learn

Many of us will do anything to avoid another's anger,... Read More

The Adventure Attitude

Of the 60,000 people who lived to be over 100... Read More

Invest Your Inner Wealth

It started out like any other Wednesday - reports to... Read More

Feeling Self-Conscious? 6 Tips to Turn it Around Fast!

When you feel self-conscious it means you are putting too... Read More

Moment of Magic

Laughter may or may not be a shock, relieved, but... Read More

Finding a Mentor in the 21st Century

Traditionally, mentors volunteer the wisdom of their experiences to help... Read More

Coaching Skills and Positive Motivation

There is one important point that is often missed in... Read More

Training is Not the Same Thing as Exercising

What it takes to GROW!In almost every workshop we deliver,... Read More

Truth About Life Coaching School Accreditation

With life coaching becoming "the" career choice in this millennium,... Read More

Be Better at Business ? And Lose Weight, Too!

In business, individuals often secure the services of a success... Read More

Strategic Checklists

I've been through a couple of checklists in the past... Read More

That Little Bit Of Extra

The "little bit extra" is a very powerful concept to... Read More

5 Keys to Powerful Communication

As a coach that specializes in marriage, couples and family... Read More

The Harvest: Shared Power

The fall harvest comes upon us once a year. The... Read More

Why Don?t You Just Stuff It ALL?

You got busy at work, got busy in your marriage,... Read More

How To Increase Your Coaching Record By At Least 25%

"How can I become a better and more effective coach?"... Read More

Let?s Say You?re a Dog. Are You So Competitive You?d Eat a Carrot?

Seems like a gal always learns something out on the... Read More

Managing Your Perfectionism

What Is Perfectionism?This is the first of two newsletters that... Read More

101 Winning Choices

Personal missions statements (PMS) are just nothing but the winning... Read More

What is the Success Lesson in this Story?

One of my clients gave me permission to tell you... Read More