Lean on Me, Learn How to Win Business, Optimizing Marketing Funnels, and Tips
Even though there is an “i” in independent consulting, it cannot exist without “co.” In “How to Cultivate a Peer Coaching Network,” Stewart Friedman states, “No one gains real success, in business or in other parts of life, without the support of other people.” We need the help of others–it’s a fact. The savvy reader might be thinking, Then how in the world does independent consulting work? True, it is a tricky profession, but have no fear because there’s a pretty neat thing called Peer Coaching. And it gets better: just about anyone can do it. Friedman explains that a peer-to-peer coaching network is a “small group of trusted people whom you help and who help you by providing encouragement, ideas, a different perspective on obstacles and opportunities, and social pressure to actually do what you know you need to do differently.”
What you gain from peer-to-peer coaching:
Accountability: You now have a group of people who you feel obligated to report your progress, or lack thereof. It may sound daunting, but it works.
It’s two-sided: “People find that when they are trying to help someone else produce change they themselves gain useful insights on their own problems, just by listening to someone else’s.” Sounds like a win-win situation.
Check out the full article for some helpful tips on how to improve your peer coaching skills, but ignore the advice on how to create your own peer-coaching network. Just join CoSolo, it’s a whole lot easier! Not totally convinced? Take Fortune 500 CEO, Indra Nooyi’s word for it. She recently had a conversation at NYU Stern discussing the necessity of having unbiased advice and how it drove her to create a closed group of CEOs from J&J, GE, IBM, and American Express who meet privately every quarter to connect and seek advice on pressing challenges.
In the wise words of Bill Withers: 🎵We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'll understand
We all need somebody to lean on 🎵
🎉Live Learning Event - Webinar and Q&A with David A. Fields
Join us next Tuesday, February 25 from 2:00 - 3:00 PM EST for a special webinar and Q+A with David A. Fields–consulting firm expert, author, speaker and adviser to boutique and solo consulting firms. David will share a bevy of tactical skills that listeners can apply immediately that will create a noticeable and positive change in their ability to win business. For more information and/or to register for this event, please follow this link.
✍️Content from CoSolo Members: Optimizing Marketing Funnels
CoSolo’s very own member, Dave Anderson, recently wrote a great article on optimizing marketing funnels. Dave has spent nearly 20 years helping companies grow via strategic B2B marketing such as demand generation, inbound marketing, SEM, marketing automation, and much more. Dave explains that “optimizing the marketing funnel is key to the success of any web-based or lead-based company.” He tackles the very question that may be floating in the back of your head, But how do you know where to start optimizing your funnel and help your company grow? To help break it down, Dave provides a clear and concise explanation of Lead Funnel Maturity. To make life even easier for you, he has a video (a very professional one, at that) of himself talking through it step by step. This is some really valuable content, Dave! Thank you. Fellow CoSolo Members, do you have any content that you’d like featured in our newsletter? Please email your material to staff@cosolo.co.
Helpful Tips from the Community
In our members-only Slack community, our members engage regularly to discuss and share knowledge. Ideas, tools, resources, and the like are circulated on an ongoing basis. Below are just 3 of the many interesting items shared over the past few weeks. Hopefully, they are as helpful to you as they have been for our members. 📧 Cold Emailing Formulas: It’s the new decade. So, cold calling is now cold emailing. Sadly, it’s still tough. Thankfully, one gracious member shared a great PDF guide that has 10 failproof cold email formulas to include in your campaigns. Happy emailing! 💆♀️ Electronics Insurance: For those of you who lose or break electronics frequently, this is a MUST purchase. You only pay $2 per month, and it covers anything up to $500. Plus, it's a blanket insurance, so you don’t even have to specify which products you want to insure. So, you’re technically insuring anything in your household for $2 per month. However, there is a caveat: it’s only available in NY and TX. 🎧 BiggerPockets Business Podcast: This podcast has great episodes for small and growing businesses. Every Tuesday, J and Carol Scott ask entrepreneurs of all stripes, What does it take to start, scale, and sell your own business? Each week they delve into stories that go beyond the launch. Topics include converting customers into fans, choosing the right niche, balancing work and family life, and leveraging your network.