| President's Message
Have you felt impacted by the economy? I've been talking to a number of coaches lately who find it difficult to generate new business in this economic climate. And while I recognize and appreciate the difficulties that exist for almost any small business to grow in these times, I want to also challenge you. As I said to my business partner recently, "we are the solution." A number of successful businesses do quite well despite a challenging economy and, in fact, some businesses do their best in a challenging economy. As you might expect, sales are up for Wal-Mart and McDonalds. But did you also know that sales are up for cigarettes, alcohol, and gourmet chocolates?
So why is this? I believe it is because people are looking for relief. We are the solution. As coaches, we are trained, experienced and naturally poised to help people work through difficult times and achieve the greatness that they would have not achieved on their own. Companies who are laying off hundreds or thousands of workers must invest in the workers they retain, who will be working harder for less. Small business owners need to tap their creativity to discover innovative products and services. People need to turn to healthier approaches to manage stress. We are the solution. Many business owners know this. For example, Zappo's, a shoe company headquartered in Henderson, NV provides life coaches for all their employees, because Zappo's understands the value of coaching.
What about the fact that people are less likely to take risks when they are struggling financially and/or emotionally? Share the risk. Make it easy for someone to benefit from your coaching. There are numerous ways to do this -- offer a money back guarantee; offer to coach for value (i.e., set the price according to the perceived value); offer lower cost levels of service (e.g., 30-minute biweekly sessions instead of weekly 60-minute sessions); offer a payment plan; or consider bartering. Not all of these ideas are for everyone, but if you believe in the service you offer than make it easy for those who need it to receive it. We are the solution.
A large international study of coachees conducted by Price Waterhouse Coopers and commissioned by the ICF reported that the cost of coaching was a much less significant factor than the coach's self-confidence, coaching effectiveness, and approach to coaching. The level of coach specific training and having a coaching credential were important for half of the clients. We are the solution.
Before signing off, may I ask, have you registered yet for the hottest, biggest event in ICF Philadelphia/PACA's history? It's on 11/11/11 - ICF Philadelphia's Regional Coaching Conference -- will help you build your business and gain skills and confidence. We have an international slate of respected speakers, cutting edge topics relevant to all coaches, and a lot of fun activities planned for the day. The conference is at Penn State Valley Great Valley (this is in Malvern -- just 27 miles west of Philadelphia). The breakouts have limited attendance and selection is based on first come first serve at the time of registration. Register today and you just might get your first or second breakout session choices.
I look forward to seeing you at this month's dinner meeting and at the November conference. Please say hello to me and the other Board members and continue letting us know how we can serve you better.
With gratitude and respect,
Jeff Kaplan, 2011 ICF Philadelphia President
president@philadelphiacoaches.org
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Consider all the benefits
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Benefits of attending Coaching Excellence," the ICF Philadelphia Conference at Penn State Great Valley (Nov 11)
- Opportunity to earn up to 6 CCEUs
- Local, national and international speakers
- Keynote by the dynamic Dr. Annie McKee
- Sessions on building your business, coaching tools & techniques, and the science of coaching
- Lunchtime panel discussion on mental, spiritual, emotional, physical and technical aspects of coaching
- Excellent opportunity to network with leaders in coaching and fellow colleagues
- Observe Veterans Day with like minded people (and remember to bring your Toys for tots)
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October Dinner Meeting
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Date & Time:
Thursday, October 20, 2011
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Topic:
The Three-Step Process to Creating Confident Client Connection... and begin heading down your path toward coaching mastery
Speaker: Ben Dooley
Location: Double Tree Guest Suites, 640 W. Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA (610) 834-8300
AGENDA 6:00-6:30 pm New Member Pre-Meeting 6:00-6:30 pm Registration 6:45-7:00 pm President's Remarks 7:00-8:30 pm Dinner Presentation: Michelle Schnubel 8:30-9:00 pm Informal Networking CEU Credits: TBD Ben Dooley is a PCC coach ("but I roll like an MCC") who facilitates the bi-weekly COACHING SKILLS FORUM telecalls, is the author of BeDo Bits Newsletter for Coaches and the eBook "Finding Your First Five Clients", as well as also President of the ICF Chicago Chapter. In fact, with just about everything he does in the coaching world, he demonstrates his overwhelming commitment to coaching coaches and helping them discover their powerful coaching magnificence, coaching confidence and coaching success. His experiences as a professional actor, clown, restaurant reviewer, waiter, and just about every other temp job in town has taught him some powerful lessons about authenticity and personal power. His coaching is a delicious blend of playfulness and wisdom, packed with creativity and learning. He is committed to filling in as many of the gaps that coaches struggle with, playing the Bigger Game of helping 2012 coaches by 2012. And you can be one of them. What You Will Learn: - A deeper knowledge of some of the common traps that most coaches unknowingly fall into. And (more importantly) how to get out.
- Three powerful. Easy to apply tools that create instant connection with their clients.
- They'll know the common and fatal flaw that causes coaching sessions fail, and they'll know how to avoid that trap.
- They'll be reminded of the coaching power that they already have, but don't know how to properly access.
Really? Do you need more? Well, in that case, you will also gain insight into some of the powerful tools that Master level coaches use (usually unconsciously). They'll have the upper hand because they'll be able to consciously practice these tools to rapidly increase their coaching impact. |
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One Month Left: Let's Have a Sell Out!
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We've got one month left to promote the ICF Philadelphia Conference on November 11, 2011. You can help us promote "Coaching Excellence" by sending this flyer to your network of coaches and those interested in coaching. Post the flyer or a link to the flyer on your website and social networking sites, print it and distribute at work, or in other venues where you encounter coaches or those planning to enter the field of coaching. Thank you, ahead of time, for your help making this event a sell out!
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ICF Philadelphia and Philadelphia Business Journal Launch "Ask A Coach"
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It's out there, complete with a credit line! We now have a column in the electronic edition of Philadelphia Business Journal. The column is the brainchild of Suzanne Perry, ICF Philadelphia VP for Communications. "When I pitched the idea to Craig, I was delighted to find that he is enthusiastic about coaching." The inaugural monthly column was written by member coach Colleen Bracken. Thank you Colleen! PBJ readers can send their business, career or life-related questions to PBJ Editor Craig Ey who will forward them to Suzanne Perry, who will tap an ICF member to write a response to the question.
Here's a link to the inaugural column.
Please check it out and "like" us (click on the "like" icon at the bottom of the article). The more fan mail we get, the more effective we will be at raising the visibility and credibility of professional coaching.
Just in case you don't read all the way to the end of the column, here's the "credit line" paragraph where we get our two seconds of fame:
This column is provided by the Philadelphia Chapter of the International Coach Federation (ICF). ICF Philadelphia provides the region with a centralized directory of business, career and personal coaches and is dedicated to supporting the coaching community through its monthly meetings, networking events and continuing education opportunities. For more information, please visit our website
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Coaching Excellence:
Foundations and Frontiers
Conference, 11/11/11
Volunteer Opportunities
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Would you like to:
- be part of the excitement
- be engaged and feel connected with other ICF members
- make memories for yourself and others
Then what are waiting for? We have some great ways for you to get involved...
- Be a "Host" one of the eighteen session speakers. Hosts are responsible for ensuring the speaker has what s/he needs. You get to introduce the speaker to session attendees, and at the close of your assigned session, you will manage the CCEU credit process. It's a chance to interact with one of the speakers behind-the-scenes.
- Or, you can "Facilitate" the vendor and sponsors. Facilitators are responsible for ensuring the vendors and sponsors have what they need. It's a chance to interact with all of the vendors and sponsors and build a connection to their products and offerings.
- Or, be a "Liaison" with the food service provider. Food service liaisons are responsible for ensuring the caterer is ready when the breakfast, lunch and breaks are scheduled. It's a chance to sample the food before anyone else gets to even see it.
- Or, help prepare for the conference. Pre-conference responsibilities include assembling welcome packages, creating name badges and other short-term projects. It's a chance to partner with other ICF Philadelphia volunteers prior to the conference.
To get involved, please contact
Becky Scott, 610.783.5676 or
Helen Morris, 215.439.1809
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Member Profile: Ginger Jarrett
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 Many of us know Ginger Jarrett as an active member, serving this year as VP of Corporate Affairs of the ICF Philadelphia Chapter and also as the Chair of Speakers/Programming Chair for the ICF Philadelphia Conference Planning Committee. More than ten years ago, Ginger completed her graduate studies in organizational development and wondered "what's next?" She met with the director of the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching, Bruce Schneider, who engaged her in understanding coaching. She then applied to the first coach certification program IPEC offered.
From there, coaching fulfilled her "what's next?" question, building on her work in leadership and organizational development. Over time, Ginger has believed in a profound truth: the power for personal change lies within the client. Coaches draw from their experience and skills, knowing, ultimately, that the decision to change, grow, or behave differently and more effectively is the client's. Ginger believes that the goal of effective coaching is to empower and help clients be self-sufficient.
Ginger's coaching focuses in two areas: first, in a corporate environment, looking at what leaders do and how they do it, helping them progress and become more effective. Second, she hopes to work more with people who don't always have the opportunity to engage a coach, those in nonprofits or in transition.
Granted one professional development wish, Ginger would spend two weeks at some site near water, reading, learning, and writing. She finds it relaxing to be near water, where she can gain a better perspective and coalesce her learning.
Hands down, Ginger's biggest and proudest accomplishment is raising her 2 daughters. The youngest is now a senior in college. Everything she does rests on how to be a model to help her daughters grow up as beautiful young women, on a solid path to a rewarding life. She believes that knowing about the processes of change and development has made her a better parent.
Ginger is looking forward to the upcoming ICF Philadelphia Conference on 11/11/11. Along with other volunteers, she has worked many hours to produce a spectacular program with excellent speakers and topics that she believes will leave all participants in a better place as individuals and professionals. She urges all to attend.
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Our Newest Members
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Please give a warm welcome to our newest members
- Stephanie Vincent
Radical Hateloss
- Abe Zubarev
Center City Coaching & Consulting
- Brenda March
AAcoaching.com
- David Wilson
Destiny, Inc
- Robin Rodin
The Rodin Group
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ACPI Presents:
Future Trends in Career Management -
A Unique Conference on Career Coaching
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Date/Time: October 21, 2011, 8 am - 4 pm Place: The HUB Cira Centre Philadelphia, 2929 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 Speaker: Richard Feller, Ph.D. Professor, Counseling and Career Development, Colorado State University Key Topics will include: - Changing Workplace Trends: What it Means for Career Development
- Latest Tips, Tools and Techniques in Career Development
Dr. Feller is President-elect of the National Career Development Association. Having consulted and presented worldwide, his publications include three books: Career Transitions in Turbulent Times, Knowledge Nomads and the Nervously Employed, and A Counselor's Guide to Career Assessment Instruments. He also co-authored the Career Decision Making System and the www.cdminternet.com program used by 14 million. Please visit www.acpi.groupsite.com for detailed information and registration |
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Please join us!
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By Marjorie Johnson, ICF President-Elect and Co-Chair, Conference Planning Committee
Are you :
- Looking for an opportunity to be more connected with coaches in your area?
- Wanting to meet some well known experts in coaching and related fields?
- Wanting to increase your exposure to market your services and or products?
- In need of 6 CCEUs all in one day at a nearby, easy to reach location with on-site parking ?
Please join us for the ICF Philadelphia Conference on Coaching!!!!!
There's so much in store for all us, no matter how new or experienced we are as coaches.
As we get closer to the conference date, we are realizing the wonderful opportunities we have to involve YOU! In addition to attending your choice of 18 sessions on building your business and honing your skills, you can:
- Host a speaker and get the inside scoop on the speaker's area of expertise.
- Be a vendor and market your services to up to 300 attendees!
- Learn how to coach groups, lead webinars, understand and improve your emotional intelligence, reap the benefits of becoming more mindful and much, much more!
- Hear the President of the ICF Ed Modell speaking to us about the future of coaching.
This is your chance to help advance the field of coaching. We hope you will embrace the opportunity and join us!
If you've already registered, please sign up to volunteer and you'll get even more out of the experience.
And we need everyone to help make this conference a sell out by encouraging your friends, classmates, and colleagues to attend. Please post information about the conference on your web page and social networking sites; provide it to other organizations (HR, OD); post our flyer in your conference room; and send out an e-mail blast with a link to the ICF Philadelphia website.
I hope to see you at Penn State Great Valley on 11/11/11 for "Coaching Excellence: Foundations & Frontiers!"
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StyleMatters Steps Up to be Conference Event Sponsor
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StyleMatters is proud to be sponsoring the ICF Philadelphia Conference on Coaching, November 11, 2011 in Malvern, PA.
We believe no market opportunity today offers as much potential energy and raw possibility for creative-minded entrepreneurs as the explosive evolution currently underway in the world of publishing. From books to video to interactive content, this evolution is being driven by the creative energy of the individual - and their desire to reach audiences in effective and compelling ways that are unbound by the old rules and increasingly outmoded economic structures of traditional media.
What's emerging is a chaotic, constantly redefining market nexus where technological innovation, information flow and aesthetic design meet - a market space some are now calling transmedia.
At the same time, the world of coaching is also bursting at its seams! We are very impressed with the event you have planned for this region on 11/11/11 and are very pleased and proud to be your sponsor. The synergies of our two organizations offer great opportunities for all of us.
Through the development of transmedia content products, such as blogs, books, eBooks, video and mobile media apps, combined with the market intelligence and strategic frameworks for how best to deliver them, our Philadelphia-based StyleMatters team is ideally positioned to channel your ideas and those of your clients to an increasingly wide array of audiences just waiting to learn about them.
We look forward to this great event and to meeting you. For further information about our company, please visit us online at www.style-matters.com or contact us directly at info@style-matters.com.
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Your Success T.E.A.M
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by Yoon Cannon
 We all know the benefits of a T.E.A.M. -- Together Everyone Achieves More! Well, being a solopreneur doesn't have to mean that you are a lonely island plodding through it all by yourself. Every month, the ICF Philadelphia special interest group on corporate coaching gives you an invaluable opportunity to
- build camaraderie
- develop potential partnerships
- utilize your peers as your sounding board and
- get insights into what is happening in everyone else's world of corporate coaching.
This group is geared for the practicing corporate coach willing to give and share.
We meet the 4th Friday of the month from 9-10 am.
Our NEW bridgeline is (209) 647-1000 Participant Code: 531-842#
Past topics and issues we've discussed:
1.) Business Development
A.) Pricing strategies
B.) Networking strategies to connect with the key
decision makers
C.) Best practices in entry point offerings
2.) Challenging Coaching Clients
A.) Coaching the procrastinator
B.) Coaching low flyers
C.) Coaching high flyers
3.) Addressing Challenging Situations
A.) Getting buy-in from C-suite
B.) Challenges in creating successful joint venture
partnerships
Of course, we also spend some time sharing our "wins" which is always encouraging and inspiring!
Some of us are leadership coaches, some business growth coaches, executive coaches, but we all help the business owner or corporate executive. If you know of a coach in this type of space please do forward this resource to them as we are committed to building stronger coaches, and building a stronger coaching community through our Corporate SIG.
Any questions or suggestions please email: Yoon Cannon or
call (215) 292-4947 |
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Advertise with ICF Philadelphia!
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Advertise your workshops on ICF Philadelphia's home page, monthly newsletter or on ICF Philadelphia's Calendar of Events. And ICF Philadelphia Members receive special discounted rates! Check out your options and rates from ICF Philadelphia's home page. For more information, contact Suzanne Perry, our VP of Communications at communications@philadelphiacoaches.org.
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Connect with ICF Philadelphia! | |
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Interested in Being Interviewed for Our Member Column? Please contact
Pat Weeks at:
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Display Your Products And Promotional Materials At Monthly Meetings
Did you know?
ICF Philadelphia members are welcome to bring and display their coaching products at all monthly dinner meetings. A long-standing member-only benefit, a table will now be available just for ICF Philadelphia members to display their items.
So bring your coaching tools, books, flyers of upcoming events, etc. and share with our community!
For more information, please contact Clare Sautter at Claresautter@comcast.net or 610-304-5829.
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Good News
Have you been:
- Covered in the news
- Published in a magazine
- Quoted as an expert?
Then we want to know! Send your good news links to communications@ philadelphiacoaches.org so we can share with the whole ICF Philadelphia community. |
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Yahoo! ICF Philadelphia Discussion Group: | |
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