Everyone tries and Fails the first time. But why?

blog 2016
Written By Andrew Ford

This morning I was talking to a business coach and friend that I respect. We were chatting about some mutual clients of ours who were struggling in their business and wanted to quit so we were exploring solutions to help them. After our chat he sent me a text message that got me thinking, it said 'everyone tries and fails'. What he meant was everyone tries to do it alone and without support and coaching they often fail the first time they try. This got me thinking - why do people not seek help and invest a little money and time in coaching when the difference could be success or failure? I'm hoping that the professional coaches out there can give me some tips.

I know from my own experience that I am reluctant to pay for coaching in certain areas of my life but will happily invest in others. For instance I don't ever get a Personal Trainer at the gym, but happy to pay for running advice. I have never had a life coach, but recently employed a business coach. For my kids I will pay for all sorts of coaches! Swimming, music lessons, sport and reading - basically anything they need. So perhaps I am not reluctant to pay for coaching, it just depends on my values to where I invest the money and time.

Values 

In my business coaching I work with clients to analyse their core values. That means prioritising; business, money, family, friends, spirituality, health and learning to discover what is driving their behaviour. It's important to understand where are they are currently investing their time, money and effort. Then we compare that to where they would like to spend their time and look to fill the gaps. Often we find many clients are prioritising their values according to someone else's agenda. Partners, kids, family, work or society can all impose their values on you which creates angst and dissatisfaction. Then we work to change this situation.

Ask for Help

So in regards to coaching and asking for help, I believe people will ask and invest in help when it relates to their highest values, but they don't if it doesn't. I will hire anyone for my kids that will help them for instance, but not for me personally unless it relates to something I find important, like my business.  

Therefore, my team who are facing challenge and wanting to give up in their business is not a question of should they ask me or others for help. The real question is does this business matching to their highest values. Sometimes it simply isn't a great fit, but other times they haven't connected how this will assist them in getting what they really want. For instance, working hard might seem to be the opposite of spending time with family, but if the greater goal is a long term better lifestyle, then it is easier to put the time in now. 

Coaching would help them see the bigger picture, connect the value dots and help them persist and get where they are wanting to go. The dilemma is only when they feel that this activity will reach their goals will they seek and respond to coaching and advice, but they need the coaching to see how it connects to their values! Chicken and egg situation right there.

Advise from the expert coaches welcome!

Regards,

Andrew

Andrew Ford
Marketing expert Andrew Ford, the founder of Social Star, has discovered the secret of ‘Powerful Branding’. With a fire for unleashing people’s inner brand and developing business models to generate profit from an individual’s passions, Andrew leverages ground-breaking digital and social media marketing techniques to create digital strategies for clients to attract maximum opportunities. Having established a strong name for himself in the field, Andrew blends traditional business techniques with now-necessary tools for entrepreneurs to achieve scale, quality, and influence in their niche. Andrew’s comprehensive business background and qualifications consist of a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) (RMIT 2003), a Graduate Certificate in Management (MBA Executive Program, University of Sydney 2005), and a Masters of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Swinburne University 2011). Continually on the cutting edge of his own education, Andrew has tested his marketing theories in forums such as the BCG Business Strategy Competition, which he won in 2005 against all Victorian MBA schools, and the Venture Cup Business Plan Competition (Swinburne University 2003), which he won in the Masters category. With experience working at Hewlett-Packard, Sensis (Telstra) and IBM, Andrew also has mentored dozens of junior staffs to help them achieve their professional goals. Meeting and influencing high-profile public figures helped Andrew to realise just how many professionals require more understanding and control of their public brands or appearance, and need help with the skills to use the many amazing free tools at their disposal to generate success. At Social Star, Andrew consults with clients to uncover their personal brand – both where it is today and where it can be tomorrow – and refine and define how that should be displayed in social media in order to attract their perfect target audience. Andrew mentors his clients to rapidly grow their business’ audiences, resulting in larger potential client bases and higher revenue. Applying formulas that integrate over twenty years of Andrew’s business experience and fifteen years of formal business education, Social Star specialises in building clarity and velocity for clients’ brands using the ‘Understand, Build and Leverage’ methodology. ‘Having a Personal Business enables people to have an authentic, congruent connection with their valued clients and partners, using their brand as the bridge,’ says Andrew. ‘I’m highly driven to work with the new breed of entrepreneurs and small business owners – people who have a passion for making the world a better place. Traditional business models are stepping aside as people follow their innermost dreams and my role is to see them operate within their values while creating wealth. Some people think you have to sacrifice what you love to be successful in your business, yet it is actually the opposite. Follow your passion and success will come.’ Lecturing at Swinburne University from 2009 to 2011 on brand dynamics and digital marketing, presenting at numerous conferences, and consulting to hundreds of clients, Andrew has seen his philosophy work that if you follow your unique path, based on your skills, experience, values and goals, you will automatically attract the opportunities you desire and achieve the success you deserve. Living his mantra, Andrew has created a successful business and attracts high-profile clients including musicians, athletes, authors, models, entrepreneurs, professionals and small business owners, helping them find their ‘why’ in their business and fulfilment in their lives. Business for Andrew is more than work, it’s personal. Running a personal business means that he is able to fulfil all of his values rather than separating his life from work. It supports his two boys while providing social opportunities, educational development, fitness opportunities, spiritual fulfilment and many valuable friendships. Social Star has now become the vehicle for Andrew to crystallise his mission in the world, to help people love what they do, supporting his ‘why’, that if more people loved what they did, the world would be a better place.
http://www.andrewford.com.au/
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