Coaching in business? We've all heard of a coach, in terms of a football team, an Olympic athlete, or a golfer; but for a business owner? That's a new one. "Besides, I'm doing well in my business. What can a business coach do for me?"

Think about the top athletes in the world. What separates the elite individuals and teams from the good? Certainly the element of God-given talent is a factor. However, think about those many athletes who have amazing gifts, but lack the desire, the smarts, the knowledge, the belief or the discipline to excel. In addition to possessing all six of these characteristics, the athlete or team must have an exceptional plan coupled with exceptional execution to have any hope for a championship.

When athletes are interviewed after a noteworthy victory or championship, to whom do they many times give credit? Usually they give credit to: one or both parents, God, their teammates, and/or their coach. Michael Jordan never won an NBA championship until Phil Jackson became head coach of the Chicago Bulls. Tiger Woods credits his father (his first coach) and two other coaches for being the top golfer in the world.

A business coach serves business owners similarly to how an athletic coach serves athletes

First, understand the "why." Just as a sports coach, the business coach helps the business owner create, reinvigorate, or crystallize a vision of what is going to be and why that destination is so important. Then it's time to assess the current competencies, skills and assets available to deploy, as well as the obstacles and challenges that must be overcome. A detailed plan is the outcome. Our focus is on the five fundamental building blocks of a successful business:

Sales

· Marketing and advertising

· Team building and recruitment

· Systems and business development

· Customer service

Now the fun starts. The execution of that plan is an iterative process involving conditioning (acquiring the knowledge and skills needed), disciplined focus, passion, drive, assignments, accountability, mid-course corrections, teamwork, motivation, re-planning, victory celebrations, belief and persistence. All are guided by the coach, who has become a confidant for the business owner, working on attitude and leadership development, as well as negative self-talk.

Business coaching has become mainstream across America as multitudes of business owners and executives are embracing the value provided by a business coach.

"As a $100 million business, second only to the IT industry in its North American growth rate, coaching is the latest, must-have lifestyle and business accessory -- the solution to both workplace under-achievement and premature stress burnout." -- Vive, Summer 2000

"The Executive and Business coaching industry is growing by about 40 percent a year." -- The Economist, November, 2003

I'm already successful