When you start something new there’s always a fear.

A total lack of confidence.

When I was planning the online School Owners Coaching program I was thinking “I know I can do this.  But there’s no way anyone is going to pay $500 for it. It’s crazy.”

Everyone else was saying “Don’t be stupid. You’re talking about doubling their income.  Everyone wants that.”

Of course I didn’t believe them.

But I’d committed, I’d told everyone we’d be doing it and it was the cheapest price we could do.

I took a very deep breath and hit the “publish” button.

And you know what happened?

No one cared about the price.    Everyone signed up and not one mention of how much it cost.

But ……  there was a totally different response to what I expected.

It wasn’t price.

It was something I’d never even thought about.

The biggest objection was:

“I’d love to join the program.  But I don’t think I can increase my amount of students.   I certainly can’t increase my prices.   I’m just not confident enough to join you.  But good luck for everyone else.”

I’m a lot like you …..

To say the least that did take me by surprise.

Not least because it was from some really amazing teachers.

But I guess we really are just alike! 🙂

The key to getting confident is ……

Now I’m not here to persuade you to join the Coaching Program, there are amazing people signed up and it’s going to be very intense with lots of cool ideas.  (And we’re closing registration on Friday so by the time you read this it’s probably closed.)

But I do know that you *can* do all of those amazing things.

And just like we say to the kids, the easiest way to get confident is to just do *something.*

Small, little steps, that’s all it takes.

So if you’re not confident yet, forget about the program and I just want you to set yourself a goal of getting 1 new student this month.

Just 1.

You know you can do that. 🙂

So how do you do it?

When we asked the teachers in the live School Owners workshop, the most popular response (from people with *lots* of students!) was ….. volunteer in the community.

Now most of the teachers who weren’t doing this said “Oh, I’ve tried that, it doesn’t work.”

And you know what, all the teachers with the biggest schools said “Just try it.  Give it one more go,  let’s see what happens.”

They believed in the other owners.

Some of the places suggested were:

• Volunteer firefighting
• Volunteer beach clean ups (either join or start one)
• Volunteer to clean up the local park
• Volunteer radio shows.
• Volunteer at local schools or retirement homes.
• Join your building or community associations.

And we had one girl get on the radio the next day and got two new students!

Do that twice a month and that’s 48 new students in a year.

Now think how that would change your life?

 

Don’t be “salesy”.   Don’t take pamphlets or expect to sign anyone up there and then.

It’s just to get your face (or voice!) known.

People buy from people they know and like.

So eventually they’ll ask you what you do.

And they’ll tell their children and grandchildren about you.

After all, that school down the road, they have no idea who the teacher is this week.

But you,  they know you.

So they’ll come to you.

 

It all starts with one small step.

When I did my first TEDx talk I was just the same.

I was thinking “OK, I can rock a workshop with teachers.  Kids are no problem.  Business people, no worries at all.  But TEDx ……… dude this is TEDx!!!!!!!!!!!!   Underwater divers, famous artists, Nobel Prize level scientists!  How on Earth are they going to react to me???”

I was terrified.

But I’d committed, so had no choice but to do it.

So I took my now fiancee away for the weekend and I think she was thoroughly  sick of me going round and round and round rehearing and rewriting the speech.

And on the day I was up second.  After a movie director!

When the video finally comes out you’ll see how nervous I was.

But after that first laugh,  that first smile form the audience, the first time they stood up and became superheros for me,  I was on top of the world.

It was so good.

But it took that one first step to start.

Before I took that step I knew I couldn’t do it.

Afterwards I knew I could.

 

Over to you ……..

In the Coaching Programme I’m going to be here for you,  you’ll get all my attention in August and July and I am very confident that we can increase your prices, get more students and bring you a wonderful work life balance.

I’ve seen it change so many lives.

But if you aren’t ready to join us yet, no worries.

I want you to pick just one thing you want to change, one thing you want to improve.

Whether that’s getting paid more or getting more students, starting your website (not not!)  or even how to get your very first student like I did aged 16 just pick one of the Start Your Own School Tips and give it a try.

On your own, nothing to pay, and no one watching.

Just give it a try.

You are great!

The world will always need *great*  teachers.  (Average ones will be replaced by tech.)

And by far the biggest way for you to have a huge impact on exactly the people you want to help is to Start Your Own School.

So if you want to join us in the Online Coaching Program you’re going to find yourself change in so many amazing ways.

But even if you don’t join us I’m still always here for you.

Even if you don’t see it yet yourself, I believe in the greatness in you.  (Hey, not many people read blog posts right down to here 🙂 )

Let’s all work together.

You can do amazing things that you never dreamed of.

Just.

One.

Step.

At.

A.

Time.

 

Be genki,

Richard