Australia's Best Business Coaches Magazine winter edition by Read Publishing

AUSTRALIA’S BEST

Business

C oache s UNCOVERED - AUSTRALIA’S BEST BUSINESS COACH

TIPS FOR CHOOSING A BUSINESS COACH

WHAT YOU NEED TO ASK YOUR BUSINESS COACH

Want to grow your business? Need to build a stronger team? Want to raise your bottom line? Need to generate more revenue?

! t a h t r o f h c a o C a t o g We’ve You face business challenges every day. And today, those challenges can seem overwhelming. For more than 25 years, business owners worldwide, like you, look to ActionCOACH for honest, straightforward, and practical business solutions. ActionCOACH Business Coaches assist you in streamlining operations, creating new growth strategies, and implementing cost-effective strategies to raise your bottom line. It’s time to invest in your business’ future. We guarantee it.

Milton R Collins B.Ec CPA Certified Business Coach

Visit miltoncollins.actioncoach.com

Mobile: 0419 464 444 miltoncollins@actioncoach.com

CONTENTS 06

Milton Collins: Delight, Disrupt, Deliver

Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Best Business Coaches

How Having A Business Coach Can Make You A Great Leader

7 Reasons To Get An ActionCoach Today

How To Screen Your Business Coach

Improve Your Bottom Line

Why You Need A Business Coach

Business Goals: Know Your Why

AUSTRALIAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BEST Advertising Enquiries: READ PUBLISHING Published By: READ PUBLISHING Distributed By: READ PUBLISHING Designed By: READ PUBLISHING

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EDITOR IN CHIEF Welcome to the inaugural issue of Australia’s Best Business Coaches magazine. 2020 has brought with it a renewed importance on business and financial security from the smallest sole trader to publicly owned companies. Australia’s Best Business Coaches magazine has been created with the intention to help business owners look toward the future and what it may hold The business horizon is changing, which can be challenging for everyone. Do you know who to turn to in these times? Where to go to get help with the next step? The business coaches featured in this issue have been hand picked by our team and asked these questions and more.

Jo Wilson

If you have never had a business coach or are wondering if you should get in touch with your old coach, you must read How To Screen Your Business Coach on page 17 where we explain why it is so important to choose the coach who understands you and your business.

With all businesses it ultimately comes down to the bottomline, but the question is, can you afford not to have one of Australia’s best business coaches in your corner? Our article on page 19, Improve Your Bottom Line, explains how and why a business coach is money well spent and what you should expect from them. If you are ready to take the next step and consider a business coach, this is the place for you.

Milton Collins:

Delight, Disrupt, Deliver 6

A U S T R A L I A S B E S T. C O M . A U

ilton Collins is no stranger to business. With a proven record of delivering exceptional results in all areas of business, he possesses an intuitive capacity to identify key drivers and successfully implement plans and strategies, leading many businesses to sustained success. From winning the inaugural Business Excellence Awards in Tourism and Hospitality, he and his team at Campaspe Country House went on to be finalists on 10 occasions and winners of 6 Awards including Business of the Year. Since selling that business, Milton has continued his involvement with the Business awards as a Mentor, Judge and Sponsor. He is also currently a Judge of The Victorian Tourism Awards. Milton’s experience is diverse; After completing his Economics Degree he started with PriceWaterhouseCoopers as an accountant, he then progressed to partnership in his own accounting firm which he grew to 8 partners and 200 staff. He has owned an Importing and Distribution Business, a Cattle and Horse Stud, an Equestrian Centre and competed at National level in 3 Day Eventing. He also had a stint as CEO at Federation Square in Melbourne running the Transport Hotel Group and Taxi Kitchen. This broad experience has led Milton to his current passion as a sort after Business Coach with the world’s leading Coaching firm Action Coach. It’s a role in which he has helped hundreds of small business people to meet the challenges and maximise the opportunities of their enterprises. Let’s explore Milton’s approach to coaching on a deeper level.

MILTON, WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING BUSINESS OWNERS CAN DO TO ENSURE SUCCESS? Set specific goals and be accountable. Ensure that your team understands your vision and business culture. Have a quantifiable and measurable plan. MILTON’S STRATEGY As a coach, I work on your own personalised needs. I will learn your business inside and out, and the advice and guidance you receive will be tailored to your business’ unique circumstances. I will not only provide you with the advice that you need, but will continue to follow up with you and evaluate your progress. Your personal growth will be nurtured and fostered as you grow and flourish within the program. Having access to ActionCOACH I will construct an Action Plan that will put your goals and plans onto paper and hold you accountable for your own actions. No matter how long it takes, we will not leave your side until we know you are ready to soar. WHAT MAKES YOU STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD? I am highly qualified, professionally, with diverse experience as a business owner in a variety of businesses, so I am able to draw on the vast experience and expertise of the world’s largest and best Business Coaching organisation, ActionCOACH. I am prepared to share knowledge and contacts to help propel a business toward achieving far more than they would have by themselves.

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WORDS OF WISDOM

DELIGHT, DISRUPT, DELIVER

More and more in today’s business environment, Business Coaching is becoming a necessary service. Like having an accountant or legal representation, a business coach helps you meet goals, holds you accountable and provides practical solutions for everyday challenges.

In my book, I share my business expertise and guide you step-by-step so that you can:

One-size-fits all training programs and expensive consultants no longer suit the rapid growth of business and technology needs. Only through a customised and personal approach with an ActionCOACH Business Coach at your side, will your business see real results.

miltoncollins.actioncoach.com

A U S T R A L I A S B E S T. C O M . A U

• DELIGHT your clients each and every time. DELIGHT your team every day. • DISRUPT your competitors without blowing your budget. DISRUPT your industry. • DELIVER impeccable service every time. DELIVER results! My easy-to-implement methods will DELIVER you RESULTS and PROFITS beyond your wildest dreams. Whether you’re a community-based business or an established international firm – this book is for you. Use the QR code below to grab your copy now.

Milton Collins

AUSTRALIA’S BEST

Business Coaches

Most business owners and entrepreneurs want the same thing — a thriving, successful and happy business that operates like a well-oiled machine. To make this happen, many believe they need to have big budgets, big marketing campaigns and big teams. But they’re wrong! Milton Collins has built thriving, successful, big businesses using the simple power of small surprises. His unique approach involves maximising extreme customer service with the unique surprise experience. His business strategies have seen him reinvent and create iconic businesses in Australia and coach other business owners to do the same. Milton’s approach allows any-sized business to DELIGHT, DISRUPT and DELIVER. A U S T R A L I A S B E S T. C O M . A U

After what Jim likes to call his “quarter life crisis”, he began his journey as a coach, his mission, to impact as many lives around the world as possible. While completing his Master Practitioner of Coaching, Jim was amazed by the amount of talented coaches that were failing in their businesses, usually due to lacking the right mindset and not understanding the sales and marketing strategy needed to grow a business. With over 15 years experience in Sales and Marketing across several industries it was then that Jim decided he had found his calling, to coach and guide fellow coaches and other experts to help their future clients find them, “I believe there is a massive amount of talent in the world but its lost due to people being stuck in overwhelm, fear or lack of clarity”.

Jim Cocks

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Doug Downer

An experienced business developer with an impressive 20+ year senior management history in developing and leading businesses within the Retail, Hospitality and Franchising sectors, Doug specialises in SME Business Development and Growth, Coaching and Facilitating, Operations, Recruitment, Training, Supply Chain, Marketing and all aspects of Franchising. He is proud to have worked with and helped well over 1000 small business owners throughout his career and in 2018 & 2019, he helped franchise businesses grow on average by over 200% and non franchised businesses grow by more than 50%, which is 15 times the Australian average.

Paul Manning

Paul has unique skills to assist local SMEs and brings a wealth of hands-on and real-world practicality for leadership in business transformation and change management. He holds an MBA (Finance), B.Sc. (AgEcon) from UWA, Dip. Proj. Mgt. and is an experienced mentor and Approved Advisor, MD, GM and COO. As Director and at Board Advisory level, Paul has shaped and driven the delivery of strategic plans and innovative change management solutions in multiple disruptive markets. Paul has three decades of collaborative leadership experience and has lived and worked in six countries across three continents, helping to grow businesses of all shapes and sizes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from listed companies, to multinationals, to family business and SMEs.

Having commenced his career in technology sales and marketing Graeme has spent the last fifteen years as a Senior Executive working for both international organisations and as a Director on a number of Not for Profit Boards. Combining both his business acumen and inspirational leadership style Graeme has been instrumental in both business turnaround and change management. As the P&L owner, he has prepared operational business plans/ budgets and managed stakeholder expectations ensuring successful outcomes for all. With over 40 years of experience in the commercial environment, Graeme has a wealth of knowledge to share with his clients, especially in the area of Lead Generation and Conversion.

Graeme Ridler

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Dee Joma

Dee is an International Coach Federation (ICF) Professional Certified Coach, signifying high coaching competence and her commitment to professional standards in the coaching industry, earning the credibility conferred by the only globally recognised professional coaching credential. Dee is also a member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) - Acceptance & Commitment Therapy and Positive Psychology Groups, where continuous professional development is sustained and applied with all clientele. Dee has worked with numerous organisations on complete culture change and skill development of executives and staff, employee and customer-focused rewards programs, company vision and mission statement development, one-on-one executive coaching for personal and professional development, as well as a multitude of life coaching clients, to enhance certain life areas and achieve personal goals. 12

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Success is rare without a plan

business certaintyÂ

- it is possible ... get your 100 day a The 5P's: Professional Practical Planning Produces Prosperity THE PLANS YOU MAKE IN THE NEXT 100 DAYS COULD DETERMINE WHERE YOU WILL END UP 10 YEARS FROM NOW Your plan to con#uer the highest pinnacles of success include professional e*perienced people, and the right practice, process and preparation. You would not attempt to reach the summit without meticulous planning. Apply the same principles to your usiness.

Paul Manning :

Strategic Insight And Implementation

ith over three decades of collaborative leadership experience Paul Manning has lived and worked in six countries across three continents, helping to grow businesses of all shapes and sizes.

exposed to - and my lessons from these events were valuable to a broad range of businesses. I hope that as a coach/ advisor/mentor, I can assist far more people than if I just worked for one business alone.â&#x20AC;?

With his unique skills to assist local SMEs and ability to bring a wealth of hands-on and real-world practicality for leadership in business transformation and change management, Paul prides himself on ensuring he has repeatable successes that come from a repeatable planning process.

Paul shares about his process, driving force and getting through the currently evolving financial climate.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I realised that I had a great deal of experience arising from unlikely scenarios that I could apply to situations many people had simply never been

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ENSURING SUCCESS The golden nugget you will hear from me for anyone suffering from lack of success is: Did you ask the right questions? Or is it just FTI? In fact, it is such an obvious suggestion and secret to success that I feel sure every coach will talk about it. FTI simply means: Failure To Implement. Take Action!

After all, Tiger Woods was blessed with a talent. The only reason he uses a coach - is to iron out the minor swing changes that make him a champ. Identifying and implementing a little change is sometimes all that is needed. FOR THE LOVE OF IT It’s extremely satisfying to be able to see real tangible results that impact livelihoods of people involved in smaller businesses. When SMEs can grow enough to hire new people, or when they launch a new product line that customers love, then it is far more personal and heartwarming, than when a global corporation does it. PAUL’S PROCESS Through my network and access to resources, there is an enormous vault of tools, templates and content to draw on, as well as over 30 years of management experience. But that is never the starting point. Business owners do not wake up one morning and Google the nearest coach or advisor. If anything, they seek solutions to a particular pain point. This can be misleading... Business Owners are busy people, they may have a real nagging issue to resolve, but often they get caught up in other things until the pain of that issue becomes too much. What they may not realise is that the solution to their sore knee issue is in fact a stone wedged in the heel of their shoe. That’s what I mean when I talk about asking the right questions! Clients in the SME space want value for money. They would rather not part with A U S T R A L I A S B E S T. C O M . A U

cash until they know that the solution will be provided. To get over this there is a free program delivered online that we call the 30DayChallenge. It is designed to help business owners to make a start. They will find some solutions to common SME problems and usually find enough money from the simple exercises they complete in those 30 days to prove that there is money leaking out of the business. Often it is more than enough to cover a couple of months worth of service. We can then work together to find more leaks and fix those pain points together! GETTING THROUGH UNCERTAIN TIMES It has never been more important to be prepared for the unexpected. We have seen how rapidly events can evolve. Opportunity abounds in unpredictable and uncertain times. Most of the working population in Australia has not experienced an economic downturn in their entire career (at least the last 29 years). Right now, every business is going to be thinking “what comes next?” This is probably the most important next 100 Days in your business so far. What you do in the next 100 days will likely impact where you end up in the next 10 years. All the greatest athletes and stellar performers in any field achieve their best by surrounding themselves with a specialist team of advisors, coaches, mentors and support staff. Elite performers are too smart to waste

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time making mistakes that others have already learned. They draw on people with skills, knowledge, experience and connections to close gaps and move faster. Now is the time to align yourself with a mentor who has been in business through major business-disruption events (political, hyperinflationary, economic and corporate). Someone with unique experience and strategic insight - that is unusually valuable right now. It has never been more urgent and important for business owners to be prepared for a range of possible outcomes. This focus on Strategic Planning, to identify options, and implement actions is summed up in Paul’s 5 Ps: Professional Practical Planning Produces Prosperity Let’s get in touch now.

paul-manning.com

Take a 3 minute survey and mini plan “Business Continuity Plan Next 100 Days” and find out how your business is tracking.

HERE

HOW H AV I NG A BUS IN E SS C OA CH CAN M A K E Y O U A G REAT LE A D E R

A U S T R A L I A S B E S T. C O M . A U

he world of business is a competitive place. The moment you let up, there’s another organisation willing to work harder for a bigger slice of the pie and leadership is no exception. If you lift your foot off the accelerator, there’s someone else, either from within your organisation or from within another, waiting to replace you. As they say, it’s a dog eat dog world. But, surely business leaders, have limits for growth, right? While this is true, there are ways to stretch those limits. One of the most effective is through engaging a business coach. There are two kinds of leaders who need business coaching - the overwhelmed leader who’s backed up with roadblocks, and the proactive leader who has a stable footing right now, but wants to improve innovation and streamline strategies. You don’t want to be the first one. But if you find yourself in this situation, a business coach can help you navigate your way through it. They will look at your business from a different perspective, which allows him or her to share insights that you may not be able to see. Sure, you can navigate your way through it on your own. But, at what cost? Time is money, as they say, so trying to experiment your way through these roadblocks can cost you hours and precious resources. If you’re the second leader, a business coach’s experience of both working with their own business and for other clients, makes them a great tool during brainstorming sessions. You can bounce 18

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ideas off them and merge your expertise to get a broader perspective in crafting action plans and business strategies. Even resilient people get discouraged and disheartened by their failures or other types of disappointments from time to time. Captains of industries aren’t immune to this. They may be considered even more susceptible to this because of the scale with which they’re trying to operate a business. In times like these, a good nudge in the right direction from a business coach that you respect can help you get out of your slump and get your entrepreneurial mojo back. Sometimes, all that’s needed is a little encouragement. Over the years, we learn how to react to situations instinctively. If someone greets you ‘good morning,’ you say ‘good morning’ back even if there isn’t anything good about the morning you’re having. It’s basic human conditioning. Business situations can be awfully repetitive, so your response can become automatic too. But, if we can just adjust our response to each situation with more intention and focus, the problems might not even recur. A business coach recognises these patterns and points it out so that we, as business leaders, can craft more personalized solutions. Recognizing detrimental decision-making habits like these isn’t easy especially if you have no one to reach out to for guidance.

FREE STRATE GY SESSION VALUED AT $995

In the past 2 years we have helped develop and launch over 25 franchise brands into the Australian market. These businesses have grown by over 200% year on year.

STRATEGY We develop your business model

I went from an idea, to a food truck, to a store, to franchising. This was all in the space of 2 years! People thought I was crazy!

Helping you go to market

I have the utmost respect and I am eternally grateful for Doug Downer. He believed in my vision and understood my entrepreneurial mindset from the outset of my journey as a small business owner. By nature, I’ve always been about creation & opportunity. Doug has helped me understand and appreciate the importance of becoming franchise ready. He helped me build this brand into a franchise and brought with him a bucket load of professional experience and most importantly to me, passion!

SUPPORT

Doug has provided my brand with support 100% of the way, through our transition from a small business to full blown franchise. Our business would not be where it is today without him!

CREATION Operations manuals, tools & systems

LAUNCH

We become part of your leadership team Working with Doug Downer from franchise ready changed the direction from our small restaurant into a national franchise company. Learning how to systemise our business processes in order to operate with higher profit margins and real scalability has led to the success that Milky lane is today.

Pete Haselhurst Managing Director Milky Lane

Exarhos Sourligas Founder lukumades

GET “FLIPPING OUT” AVAILABLE NOW W: www.franchiseready.co E: doug@franchiseready.co T: 0413 284 824 2019 & 2020 Top 30 Franchise Executives in Australia

Doug Downer:

Plan And Execute D

oug Downer has helped launch and support over 25 new franchise brands in Australia over the past two years. In 2018 and 2019, he helped franchise businesses grow on average by over 200 percent and non franchised businesses grow by more than 50 percent, which is 15 times the Australian average. We chat with the Senior Business Developer about how he became recognised in the top 2 percent of business coaches, globally, with The Alternative Board for client attraction and client retention and how he was recognised in the ‘Top 30 Franchise Executives’ in Australia, 2019 and again in 2020. “No two days are the same. I get to make a difference in the lives of business owners and their businesses,” says Doug. He has always been a coach, starting with sporting teams many moons ago, he then began working in the franchise sector in 1983, moving into leadership roles responsible for the development of people and businesses. “Today, I coach 12 businesses with revenue between $5 million and $55

million, and also coach 12 franchise brands that I helped launch into franchising and they average over $10 million in annual turnover each,” he says. It’s a competitive industry and Doug’s personal attachment to his client’s makes him stand out from the crowd. “I have an ownership mindset, I treat my clients business like it’s my business and treat my clients like they’re family.”

And, when it comes to choosing your own coach, he recommends good old gut instinct. “Go with your gut- if it doesn’t feel right, then it won’t work. Talk to their current and past coaching clients, talk to as many of them as you can so you can see what value they brought. “You really need to understand what a coach is and what a coach does, many business owners have the wrong expectation of what they might get.

“A coach is someone who tells you what you don’t want to hear, who has you see what you don’t want to see, so you can be who you have always known you could be.” There are four elements to a modern day business coach - that is Coach, Mentor, Advisor and Consultant. “You need to know the difference and know what you actually need. The best coaches can fulfil all four roles but the majority of their time will be spent ‘coaching’ which is asking questions, facilitating answers, getting commitment and holding you accountable. “Go with a coach that has a proven track record with coaching businesses to success and ideally one that has done the same for themselves. I believe they need to have owned and operated businesses themselves.” All coaches use a different strategy to lead their clients toward their goals. It is an individual process which Doug has well-honed. “Through ‘The Alternative Board’ I use their proprietary strategic planning tools,

but I have also been accredited as a ‘Triadic’ business coach, Accredited DISC Behavioural profiling expert and continue my own personal development through coaching and training programs myself. I am always learning and adjusting my coaching approach. “I don’t lock my clients into contracts, we work month to month, so the onus is on me to deliver value every month. If I don’t, the client can leave at any time. When asked why a business should consider having a business coach, Doug refers to a quote by the great USA football coach Tom Landry: “A coach is someone who tells you what you don’t want to hear, who has you see what you don’t want to see, so you can be who you have always known you could be.” He says having someone look at you and your business objectively, who gets you to create and execute a plan by holding you accountable, ensures a greater chance of success. “If you want to be better, you need someone objective that can help you be better. It’s not all about financial returns, although a good coach will help with this, it’s about helping you achieve what’s really important to you and your loved ones.”

franchiseready.co

REASONS TO GET AN ACTIONCOACH TODAY By Milton Collins

1. You’ll get to work less and relax

more … The ActionCOACH business coaching program is like having a marketing manager, sales director, training coordinator, partner, confidant, mentor and friend all focusing on the success of your business…

2. Your ActionCOACH will hold you

accountable and keep you focused on your goals and objectives. No excuses. You will finally get that list of “to dos” done.

3. You’ll learn the easiest and fastest

ways to get your business making more cash and how to turn that cash into bottom-line profits.

4. You’ll learn the most effective team

recruitment system ever designed – guaranteed to give you passionate and dedicated team members. You will then have the best people building your business’ future. 22

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5. You’ll get a new perspective on your

business and use data to make decisions that will change your future trajectory. Learn the “rich” mindset, why it is the most powerful strategy we teach and how to get it working for your business.

6. You’ll learn before you earn. We

will instill a passion for learning throughout your entire organization that will raise the level of engagement with everyone in your company. Learning will lead to the mastery of new skills which will increase the organization’s performance.

7. You’ll get to harness the power of our

sales and marketing systems to take your business to the next level. These proven processes and strategies are not only fundamentally sound, they have been tested in thousands of businesses.

HOW TO SCREEN YOUR BUSINESS COACH I

n business, the buck stops with you, the business owner. The decisions you make every day can make or break the entire operation and it can get lonely at the top. Therefore, getting insights from someone who’s already been there and done that has become a valuable resource. If you’ve been in a leadership position for long enough, you may have already found yourself in a situation where you didn’t know what to do. This is where business coaches come in handy. Business coaching is a process that can take your business from where it is now to where you want it to be, but choosing the right person can be a tricky task. They all have their own strengths and weaknesses and it’s your job as a coach seeker to find out how you can maximise your experience with your coach.

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It’s a low-risk, high reward deal. If you do your homework right and find the best fit for you, you can find a coach to help you and your business experience significant growth. To help you to thin out the everthickening field of business coaching services, there are a few questions you can ask to help clarify what you need and what you don’t need. HAVE YOU STARTED YOUR OWN BUSINESS? You will need someone who’s already walked in your shoes. There is no point in getting a business coach who’s never had to talk, eat, and breathe business like you probably have as a startup. It doesn’t necessarily have to be in the same industry. In fact, getting someone from a completely different industry can help broaden the conversations between you and your coach, so look for a coach who personally knows about business start ups. WHAT’S YOUR EXPERIENCE IN COACHING OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS IN YOUR INDUSTRY? Doing business and teaching business are two completely different things. You can have someone like Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos in your ear while still not getting the coaching that you need. Your prospective business coach is going to be limited in the specific industry that they’ve already worked in, so it’s important to gauge how much he or she knows about your industry to make for an effective back and forth between you two.

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HOW DID YOU PUSH YOUR PREVIOUS CLIENTS OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONES? Being complacent could mean the death of your business. There’s no place where business owners get more complacent like when they get stuck in their comfort zones. There are decisions in business that we may not be comfortable making. Layoffs, for example, are difficult to do but are sometimes exactly what is needed. But, communicating this need is not a straightforward task. Some business owners tend to retreat into their shell when hard decisions are presented to them. Finding a business coach who naturally connects with you in a way that makes you respond positively right off the bat will ensure a fruitful business relationship. They can bring out the best in you to navigate the uncomfortable tasks.

WHAT CAN YOU HELP ME ACHIEVE? Most business coaches talk in generalities. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it can be less effective than coaches who can give you specifics. In this case, the “how” is more important than “what”. In a way, this question is more of a test. Usually, a specific plan of action is a good sign. This ensures that they’re in sync with you in working towards your goal. CAN I GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU FOR CLARIFICATIONS AND SPOT-CONSULTATIONS? IF SO, WHAT IS YOUR AVAILABILITY? Business coaching is a product. Like any product, you should also ask about after-market servicing and warranties. Knowing that your coach can make himself or herself available during crucial moments for you should be a priority. Remember, decision-making in business is a solitary affair. If your business coach isn’t available for a quick consult then, why bother getting them?

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you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Steve Jobs

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Improve Your Bottom Line T

he business coaching industry has become one of the fastestgrowing service businesses in the world. For an industry that didn’t even exist a couple of decades ago, it’s now raking in billions of dollars every year and taking on a coach has become the norm for a business. Have you ever asked yourself why? The short answer is that it works. Businesses simply do better when management engages the services of business coaches. More specifically, business coaching services improve the bottom line for organisations in various ways. While some coaches have an immediate

impact, others tend to have a more subtle effect on business results. Boardroom meetings, especially ones with plenty of influential voices, can easily turn into echo chambers that are blind to certain factors. It doesn’t even have to be a boardroom scenario; the echo chamber can just as easily happen in sole proprietor businesses. Coaches can provide insights from an outsider’s perspective that can expose vulnerabilities that you might have missed. For some leaders, it’s also reassuring to know when business coaches agree with the planning they’ve already envisioned. A U S T R A L I A S B E S T. C O M . A U

Your strategies guide where your business is going, so it’s important to get it right. Hiring a business coach can help you avoid some fatal mistakes that can potentially sink your business. Marketing can be an absolute money drain. In an ideal world, your product would sell itself. However, the world isn’t ideal. Your competitors might have value propositions that you just can’t compete with. A business coach provides leaders with unbiased insights on how both your and your competitor’s products are perceived. This gives you a better perspective on how to spend your marketing budget more efficiently. Small failures and other hurdles can become larger when leaders dwell too much on them. The opposite can also happen when leaders are too focused on the long-term goals that they tune out what’s currently going on around them. A business coach serves as your conscience when you’re getting too preoccupied with certain goals and neglecting the others. So, they’re pretty important if you don’t want to drop the ball because you’re momentarily distracted. We’re all human. Stress and anxiety can bring anyone’s productivity down and can even bring leaders to a complete halt, endangering the bottom line in the process. Some business coaches specialise in keeping clients mentally prepared to face the challenges of business ownership. This is an invaluable specialisation that can potentially save companies a lot of money by preventing an executive-level meltdown. 28

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While there many leaders who use their business coach as their confidantes, it is actually the employees who make his life easier. Business coaches, since they’ve presumably had experience with their staff, can help executives traverse the murky waters of employee management and help you to retain your best employees. Want to know how to inspire your workers to be more productive? A business coach has a wealth of experience to share with you about this. This is an extremely important aspect of business coaching as a new employee is only 60% as productive as an experienced one. So, a high turnover rate isn’t ideal for any bottom line.

Personal Development Program • Strengthen your mindset and resilience. • Improve your relationships and communication skills. • Learn how to effectively set goals. • Learn the principles of peak performance thinking. • Work with practical tools to improve your skills and achieve the goals you have in all areas of your life. • Fully supported with your own professional coach. • Delivered online for flexibility and working at your own pace.

Professional Development Program • Learn Coaching - to use personally and professionally. • Understand the psychology of human behaviour. • Strengthen your mindset and resilience. • Learn effective communication skills for connection and leadership. • Learn how to effectively set goals. • Learn the principles of peak performance thinking. • Work with practical tools to improve your skills and achieve the goals you have for yourself and your organisation.

Professional Collaboration Program

D-R-I-V-E YOURSELF AND YOUR BUSINESS FORWARD

• Become accredited with BE UNSTOPPABLE • Learn and competently use the trademarked BE UNSTOPPABLE D-R-I-V-E Coaching Model. • Learn and use the ‘drivers’ for peak performance. • Access to the ‘Drivers Diagnostic Tool’ and understand how to use it for yourself and with those you coach. • Access to an extensive list of resources and tools. • Continuous professional development delivered online.

You may be experiencing challenging times … but never let that stop you. Focus on what you want, get the right coach and BE UNSTOPPABLE

1300 33 COACH or 1300 33 26 22 coach@beunstoppable.net.au W W W. B E U N S T O P PA B L E . N E T. A U

Dee Raquel Joma:

BE UNSTOPPABLE

esilience is something business coach, Dee Raquel Joma, has built up through navigating multiple personal tragedies and career curve-balls. Finding her way through hardship, armed with the strategies she learned throughout the process, inspired Dee to help others develop a strong state of mind, to be a product of choice, not circumstance, and work with individuals and organisations on achieving personal, professional and business goals. Out of this calling, came BE UNSTOPPABLE coaching. After studying a Bachelor of Coaching and Counselling with a focus on Positive Psychology, at the Australian College of Applied Psychology, in Sydney, Dee discovered that coaching came naturally to her. 30

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Dee is an International Coach Federation (ICF) Professional Certified Coach, signifying high coaching competence and her commitment to professional standards in the coaching industry, earning the credibility conferred by the only globally recognised professional coaching credential. Taking on a business coach can be a huge turning point for any business. Dee believes the right coach will bring the missing pieces to a business strategy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A coach can be used as a sounding board, to bounce ideas, to facilitate a space for the decision makers and/ or the people who run the business, to be challenged on thinking, leadership styles, communication, processes and

models, and to be kept accountable to progress and goal achievement,” Dee said. “These powerful elements are rarely achieved when organisations ‘try to do it internally’. The coach brings the missing pieces and a multitude of strategies, to educate and activate within the business.” The impact of a coach extends beyond the business. “The individuals being coached experience a positive shift in all life areas, as a result of heightened self-awareness, more effective communication and the ability to consciously control their mindset to make better decisions. This outcome results in the business developing through staff and bottom line, achieving its goals.” With coaching becoming one of the biggest growing industries in the world, Dee knew that to succeed in doing what she loved, she was going to have to find her point of difference and stand out from the crowd. “I have over two decades of experience working with businesses. I also own the trademarked BE UNSTOPPABLE D-R-I-V-E coaching model, enabling coaches to follow an insightful, systemised approach to coaching. This model, along with the BE UNSTOPPABLE DRIVERS, create a powerful framework for peak performance thinking, mental conditioning, personal and professional development for individuals, teams and organisations,” Dee said.

“No two clients will ever need or want the exact same things, to achieve the ‘vision’ they see in their minds. Understanding the client’s version of success is key to starting the coaching relationship in any business, enabling collaborative working on the most effective strategies to achieve that success.” “When looking for a business coach it is important that you feel comfortable with them, as you are trusting this person to help develop and make changes to you and your business. Be assured that the coach is professionally trained and credentialed with extensive experience in people development, having the ability and strategies to most effectively bring out the best in ‘your people’ and achieve your goals.” Dee, and the team at BE UNSTOPPABLE work collaboratively with their clients, helping them ‘drive’ to their own destination of success.

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In ensuring a client’s success, Dee says it can be defined in a number of different ways. It all comes down to what success means for her client. A U S T R A L I A S B E S T. C O M . A U

Why You Need A Business Coach T

o last long in business, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to have an entrepreneurial fire strong enough to weather the storms. Your business idea is going to be tested from the moment you come up with it. The list of potential problems is endless; from constant bouts of selfdoubt to crippling financial issues and everything else in between. 32

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No matter how strong your entrepreneurial spirit is, these tests can make it hard to keep going. It is in these moments that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to need some help to continue moving forward. This is where business coaching comes in.

YOU CAN’T BE PERFECT AT EVERYTHING The human brain can only handle so much information which makes us excellent specialists and, at best, only adequate generalists, meaning some parts of your business might not be up to scratch. This shouldn’t be the case if you choose the right business coach. He or she should be able to cover the areas that you don’t have the interest or proclivity to learn for yourself. So, if you excel as a marketer, then it might be best to find yourself a business coach who can help you with workplace optimisation. THEY WILL CORRECT YOU WHEN YOU’RE WRONG Business owners tend to have absolute authority over their businesses. This means employees, who sometimes might know better than the owner, aren’t keen on raising their concerns in terms of business decisions. Employees wouldn’t risk stepping on your toes because you’re the one paying their wages. While technically, you’ll also be the one paying your business coach, they’ll remain outsiders to your business because they don’t depend on you for their living. Business coaches usually have other clients or have their own business to rely on. This is a huge part of why great coaches are such an important asset to any entrepreneur. They have an outsider’s objectivity while still remaining invested in your success.

LEARN FROM EXPERIENCE WITHOUT ACTUALLY HAVING THE EXPERIENCE A business coach usually has experience in starting up his or her own business. This is an invaluable learning tool for you. Since they’ve experienced first-hand how to build their own business, they’ll be able to relate their experience to the advice that they give you. With their help, you’ll be able to anticipate birthing pains for your business and know exactly what you need to get through them in the best possible way NETWORK WITH OTHER BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL Looking for a decent supplier? Your business coach might know someone, or better yet, have a client who fits perfectly your requirements. The important thing here is that business coaches can open new networking avenues for you without much work. Remember, networking is an essential part of business building too. This way, you wouldn’t have to build rapport and awkwardly introduce yourself to others. In most cases, just an introduction from your coach helps you make a good first impression. Overall, a coach will help you to see how customers - current and future view you, your team and your services and will help you retain and attract the right customer for you. They can help improve your image, fill in the gaps where your business is lacking, guide you through the tough times and in turn, increase your sales or longevity in business.

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Jim Cocks:

YOUR JOURNEY TO SUCCESS

Jim Cocks was experiencing what he refers to as a ‘quarter life crisis.’ It was working through this chapter of his life that he began his journey as a coach, with a mission to impact as many lives around the world as possible. While completing a Master Practitioner of Coaching, Jim discovered there were too many talented coaches who appeared to be struggling within their own businesses, or struggling to start at all. He noticed a pattern, the lack of an entrepreneurial mindset and not understanding the sales and marketing strategy needed to grow a successful business.

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With over 15 years experience in sales and marketing across several industries it was then that Jim decided he had found his calling to coach and guide fellow coaches and other experts to help their future clients find them amongst the crowd. “I believe there is a massive amount of talent in the world but it’s lost due to people being stuck in overwhelm, fear or lack of clarity,” Jim says “My mission was always to impact as many lives as I could through the power of coaching, so by helping coaches build their businesses, I am impacting even more lives than I ever could on my own.”

Finding the right coach is key to bringing growth and success to your business. “The professional relationship between a coach and their client is paramount. Always seek a coach that you believe you would not only be able to confide in about your business, but also about your personal life, as the two are always intertwined.” Jim says it’s so important to ensure your prospective business coach is focusing on your own individual needs. “Your coach needs to understand your top challenges and provide you with feedback on how they can specifically help you before they are hired to be your wingman. If you are simply being run through an online course and not getting personal attention, you might learn a lot, but information is everywhere,” he says. “A good coach will provide clarity and accountability to take action, that will bring you success.” When you are overwhelmed or your business is struggling, it can be difficult to see the value in reaching out for help, but taking your business to the next level is not a one man job. “Successful people don’t do it alone, a business coach can ask you powerful questions that you have never asked yourself. They are on the outside looking in, and can help you see things you might neglect while in the thick of it,” Jim says. “Success is personal, it is not defined by comparison. It comes only when you understand failures are simply learnings that move you towards your goals, rather than away from your fears”

“Confidence does not come when you have all the answers,” Jim says. “It comes when you are ready to face the tough questions and create action.” So, what does a success story really look like? Recently, Jim was able to lead Chapel Fitness in Melbourne to achieve more sales and maximise their reach. “Together we increased their membership base by 30 percent, we then built and launched their first online portal and 12 week coaching program. This not only attracted even more new clients to the business but expanded their audience beyond their geographical location.” Jim offers a tailored coaching pathway to help coaches, trainers and other experts grow their business in the online space, whether you are in the start-up phase or as an already established coach. He combines both one on one and group coaching components, the focus is on marketing, sales strategy and the ability to scale quickly. “I only work with a limited number of clients at a time to ensure they get the attention they deserve. To get started I always offer a complimentary strategy call to ensure we are a perfect fit.”

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Business Goals:

Know Your Why By Milton Collins

BUSINESS GOALS: WHY START WITH WHY? One of the first things you learn in business coaching is to find your ‘Why’. It’s the same for any business owner. It is not so much about what you want to achieve but why you want to achieve it. This leads to setting clear and significant goals which are easy to quantify, understand and communicate.

To achieve success, you must start with the end in mind. You will no doubt have heard the analogy about driving. You would not set off in your car unless you had set the destination in your sat-nav or consulted the map to confirm how to get to the selected destination. However, there is another more important question that should also be asked– why am I going to this destination? This is the same ideology that should apply to your business – clarifying your ‘Why’ will inform ‘Where’ you take it.

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BUSINESS GOALS: STARTING WITH WHY IN TERMS OF CUSTOMER COMMUNICATION Business author Simon Sinek talks about starting with ‘Why’ in terms of customer communication. This is the external ‘Why’ and enables you to link it, through how you do things to what you do and create better marketing messages to be used to acquire and develop customers. This external ‘Why’ is a fundamental requirement for achieving business success. However, the internal ‘Why’ should be clarified and understood to ensure your commitment to achieving success remains high and to create the drive and direction for your business. This is exactly why it is so important for setting your business goals.

BUSINESS GOALS: SET CLEAR ‘TOWARDS GOALS’ The only way to get out of or to avoid entering the comfort zone is to set clear, significant and relevant ‘towards goals’. These may be financial, material, experiential, or emotional. Your goals also may be targeted towards improving the lives of others or impacting your community. Whatever form these goals take, understand that it is the manifestation of your internal ‘Why’. So, how well do you understand your ‘internal’ business goal and how well is your business aligned to achieving it? A good Business Coach can help you discover your ‘Why’.

There are two types of goals. ‘Awayfrom goals’ are those created by dissatisfaction at where you are now – or desperation; and ‘towards goals’ are those created by a vision of where you want to be – or inspiration. History shows that where ‘away-from goals’ are the main reason why one does something there is likely to be a decrease in drive or enthusiasm towards the activities required to maintain improvement once initial gains or successes are made. This is because the situation has improved and so the goals are not so strong. This leads to entering the comfort zone. When in the comfort zone no long-term improvements are made. Usually, shortterm gains are followed by short-term losses and status quo is maintained, or a gradual decline over time is observed.

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Graeme Ridler:

K NO W Y O UR PA I N P O I N TS GRAEME, WHY DO YOU STAND OUT IN THE COACHING INDUSTRY?

uilding solid foundations and managing the diversity within changing business environments over the past 40 years, Graeme Ridler understands the challenges business owners face. His wealth of experience covers both operational and strategic issues when faced with meeting corporate governance issues and managing key performance indicators. Graeme has successfully applied his skills across a broad range of industries and “walks the walk”. “If a business owner or leader does not acknowledge that they have ‘pain points’ or are in denial when it comes to correcting them, going into a coaching program is likely to be unsuccessful,” Graeme says. “A positive Mindset is one of the most important attributes a business owner can have to ensure success.” We talk with Graeme about how he defines success and what he considers to be a business’s most valuable asset. 40

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Over the past 40 years businesses have had to change and adapt to increasing demands from consumers, fast-paced evolving technology and increased competition. Increased regulatory and governance processes have also taken a role in building successful businesses. Having worked as an operational leader in this ever changing environment, I understand the challenges that business owners are facing. Moving from operational and strategic leadership roles to a coach has given me the opportunity to work with business owners and guide them through the myriad of challenges faced on their road to success. Success is based on keeping abreast and ahead of the pack - being part of a global thought-leader coaching group allows me to provide the best and most appropriate advice from subject matter experts to my client.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS FOR YOUR CLIENTS?

WHY DO YOU THINK A COACH IS SO IMPORTANT TO A BUSINESS?

Success is defined differently by each client. Initially it can be defined as an increase in revenue, gaining market share, entering a new market or expanding locally, nationally or internationally.

As the business owner you are the business’s most important asset. What are you doing to invest in developing yourself? Our top athletes and sports teams have coaches to assist them in being the best even when they are at the top of their game. They continually strive to be better. As a business owner and leader, you have invested time, money and effort into being successful so having a business coach is common sense. A business coach will ensure you stay on track with your goals, be unbiased and help to push you through the pain points with the implementation of effective strategies and planning.

My responsibility to a client is to assist with the development of a clear definition of success with their input. This can cover a number of factors and it is always important to include personal success. Success definitions must be reviewed on a regular basis and must align to goals and vision for the business owner on both the business and personal level. Measuring success through hitting milestones to increase revenue, profit, growth and market share is great, however to me the biggest measure of success for a client is the insight they develop in their own skill set and their ability to acknowledge roadblocks and develop programs to meet and overcome these. Success is watching them grow into powerful leaders who meet their challenges head on with confidence. WHAT IS YOUR AREA OF SPECIALITY? Manufacturing, distribution, IT and telecommunications were my starting point when I first went into coaching, however, like all business owners I expanded my market share and have used my transferable skill set to add other industries. I enjoy working with all businesses particularly start-ups, high growth and those that need “rescuing”. Each at a different phase and have challenges specific to their foundations.

HOW DO PEOPLE GET STARTED WITH YOU? Reach out - my program starts with two in-depth sessions either face to face (dependant on location) or by using Zoom/Skype. We will start with a Discovery meeting about company history, issues, pain points and successes. The next meeting will be a Diagnostic meeting. I call this a deep dive on the business. If there is synergy, a desire and agreement from both parties we can enter into a coaching contract. Remember - as a business owner you need to find the right business coach for your business as this will be one of the best investments you will make for yourself and your business.

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