To succeed in business, you need to have the confidence to make tough calls, the discipline to stick to your guns, yet the knowledge to know when to take a different route. That's where people like Jerome Shore come in. "The biggest issue blocking people's paths is the fear of failure," says Shore, co-founder of The Coaching Clinic in Toronto. "In fact, that's often the only issue."
Shore teaches executives how to conquer doubts, eliminate distractions, and be more productive, both at work and at home. Shore honed his mentoring skills during an advertising career, dealing with heavyweight clients that included Coca-Cola, American Express and General Foods. His work-based philosophy — 'working intelligence' - trains execs to "do more of the right stuff and less of the wrong."
Mr. Shore was here to discuss how achieve your goals, break bad habits and overcome other work-related stresses. To join the conversation, please click here
Noel Hulsman, globeandmail.com, writes: Hi Jerome, thank you so much for joining us today. One of the first things that most successful entrepreneurs say, when asked how they made it in business, is that they were prepared to take risks, and despite doubts that they, or others may have had, they persevered. I know that overcoming the fear of failure is one of the most common issues you address in your clinic. I look forward to reading your thoughts on the subject this afternoon. On that note, I will turn it over to the readers.
Paul Quinnell from Calgary writes: My coaching business is one in which I feel technically capable. I am also acting on my business plan. My fear is about risking. I'm acutely aware that I'm the 'risk' due to my lack of financial intelligence (investing, buying real estate, etc.). It's knowledge and experience that builds confidence and success. I would welcome a mentor as a guide, but that notwithstanding, what resources would you recommend for me to become more savvy?
Jerome Shore writes: Hi Paul. Firstly, to the degree you are a Financial Subject Matter Expert as a coach, it's important to actually believe you're know more than your clients. I imagine you do almost all of the time. So you ought not to be the 'risk' in reality. So the first resource is the belief you know what you're talking about.
Secondly, whether being an Financial SME is necessary or not in your coaching business, coaches do many other things. I generally think that as a coach I'm helping my clients 'polish' and 'sort' many skills they have. I've determined more than 25 elements of coaching that I use as any time. Some of these are; radar, beacon, confrontation, helping hand, director, gardener, weeder, mirror, patience, cheerleader, optimist and others. It's knowing that I can use many of these elements when I'm coaching that gives me confidence. The second resource is a variety of techniques.
Thirdly, make 'persistence' a resource for yourself. Figure out what you really do to make money and set aside time to be doing that early every day. In my work the thing I really do to make money is 'start and cultivate relationships with people who can write me a cheque'.
Harry Schmidt from near Shanghai, China writes: I lecture student at this large university how to become successful 'business women/men'; that their speak. To first think of what growth business will suit them in the future. Then research as best as they can how much or how big the market will be. Write a business plan not only for potential investors, but for themselves as well. Stick to it, and not get sidetracked by other quick moneymaking deals, and hence abandon their discipline. Don't take money out of the business for two years.
What can you add to that?
