2nd Payment received

As posted in my previous comment, I was paid for the first time. This client has now paid in full for another 4 sessions.

I did ask him for referrals as I'm hoping that he will be a good lead into the market that I'm trying to focus on. Which is mainly to coach men who work in the City of London area.

Yet another huge hurdle has been passed in having a client repeat purchase coaching from me. I'm absolutly delighted!

One small step, one giant leap!

I GOT PAID!!

Late Septmeber I completed a free trial coaching session for a client. As I do on a regular basis and have been doing for quite a while.

However this client contacted me a week later and confirmed that he would like to go ahead with a series of coaching sessions. We set up a schedule and he paid up front for all the sessions (4 in total).

We completed all his sessions during October and he seemed to be progressing nicely. During our last session we met and had the session face to face. Again the session went well and half way though he confirmed that he would like to continue with the coaching on a monthly basis starting again in Decemeber.

Re-launch of Website

After about a year of being up, I've now revamped my website. I'll be publishing it shortly and replacing the old one.

You can have a sneak preview no by going to http://wp.pgbcoaching.co.uk

It now has a fully intergrated survey and appointment scheduler. As well as Blog and comments/feedback functions.

Please have a look and leave a comment telling me what you think of the new design.

One way links?

I'm continuing to try and boost my websites rating and traffic. I'm currently trying out this link trinity website....

http://www.link-trinity.com/?http://www.pgbcoaching.co.uk

The idea is that you link to them using a clever bit of scripting and in return 1/3 of the sites link back to you. These sites are completely one way thus improving your ranking.

I've given it a go and so far I have noticed a slight improvement, although it's early days yet.

Give it a go and see if you think it helps.

IODA

How cool is this? I've been accepted by IODA so I now have access to hundreds of "podsafe" music files. Now I just have to sit down and present a pod cast. Mean while enjoy the music!

Download "Celestial Soda Pop / Ray Lynch" (mp3)
from "Deep Breakfast"
by Ray Lynch
Ray Lynch Productions

• Buy at eMusic


• Buy at Rhapsody


• Buy at Napster


• Stream from Rhapsody

More On This Album

It's very typically British to not celebrate your successes.

The underdog, or the person that just didn't quite make it is always the most real in a British persons eyes. So I put my British roots to one side and went to my graduation ceremony at the Coaching Academy last weekend. I was presented with my certificate and a cute pin/badge. I really felt that I had worked hard to earn this qualification and I was going to enjoy this period. It really was great to be able to walk and talk with the new students about my journey as I studied to be a life coach and see the excitement in their eyes.

I've still not lost that excitement but I am going through a bit of a low after working so hard these last few months and then the joy of qualifying and getting a distinction. Now I'm just feeling a little run down and a bit fuzzy on what to do next. Of course I actually know what I need to do, but it's just getting it straight in my head. I'm seriously thinking about getting my own coach soon so that they can help me clarify the next steps I need to take and put some time scales to them.

My website is doing OK, I've had a few enquiries but they haven't turned into anything yet. I've also added a new visitor counter from StatCounter.com they have a great free counter that gives the most amazing detail of where people came from and which pages they looked at, as well as if they come back again.

The two things I've found most interested from StatCounter.com was how FEW people actually view my website and how much time they spend on it. My old stat counter seemed to show over 100 unique hits per day, however it seems that most of these are search engines just scanning my pages. However the people that do visit my site, tend to come from reading their email and then spend about 5 minutes scanning a few pages.

It's kind of spooky what you can find out about people view your site!

I've recently applied to use some "pod safe" music for this blog. Once I have that then I may also look into starting some kind of audio blog or pod cast. I've tried before, but without some music it just comes out as very cold and harsh and to be honest forced/false.

I AM A QUALIFIED LIFE COACH!!!

I'm delighted to be able to post this.

On April the 25th 2007 I qualified as a life coach with The Coaching Academy

I initially started training in October 2004. Now for most people it doesn't have to take that long. However it's great to know that you can take time out if things in your life do not permit you to study.

Not only did I gain my qualification in coaching, but I was also awarded 82% which counts as a distinction. Which means I'm now able to use the following letters after my name LCA (dist)

I was so delighted at not only qualifiying but also getting a distinction, that after I finished speaking with the Coach Mentor on the phone, I burst into tears. I was such a relief that after all this time my hard work and commitment has been paid of, in full!

More Free 0845 numbers

It's amazing what you can find on the internet. I've now got no less than three 0845 numbers that are already working, the main one being the one that is directed to my Skype In telephone number so that I can now take incomming calls from pretty much anywhere that has internet access.

There is no cash back on this one but it gets set up almost instantly and you can choose your numbers, within a certain limit. They also allow you to change where the calls are directed to instantly using their web interface, which you can't do with the other one either.

So all in all it seems a much better service. As I'm not expecting masses of incoming calls I can forego the cash rebate, it would never make much anyway.

http://www.skycomuk.com/

My own 0845 local rate number

I've just signed up for a free 0845 number. Having a look around I was amazed to find this offer. No only is the set up free and there are no monthly charges, they also don't charge you for the incoming calls.

Then if that weren't enough to make you wonder what the catch is, they apparently PAY you for incoming calls!

I've ordered mine today, I'll update on here as to how I get on. You know what they say "If it sounds too good to be true then it probably is!"

But I can't see that I have anything to loose by giving it a go. So here goes nothing!

Paul G Bailey Online Life Coaching - Home

Paul G Bailey Online Life Coaching - Home

I've spent the last few days really working my website into the search engines. I can see why people are willing to pay thousands of pounds to have it done for them, it's a incrediblly manual process! For the most part any way.

I've manually added my new URL listed at the top of this entry to google and Yahoo!

Then using a program call WEO i've found other sites that relate to life coaching and have written to them requesting a reciprocal link. Basically it seems that if you have quality links to and from other coaching websites the search engines think you are a site that can be used as a resource for other related link and therefore rates you higher.

Some times you can do this automatically, I have also found a script that I have uploaded to my site that allows people to add a link TO their website by simple filling out a form. Of course for the system to work they have to have already added a link back to my site and the system automatically checks that this is in place.

I've already had a couple of other people add me to their sites and one person write back to say he has used my form. Even though the form automatically tells me when someone does this, it was very sweet of him to let me know.

The great thing about life coaches are they are really friendly helpful people and all to often are only delighted to do something like this, especially as it helps them as well.

New Web Address

I've asked a lot of my friends to review my website and give me some feed back. I've updated it a lot since it was first launched. I've also taken out a new web address as my original http://www.pgbailey.com was restricted due to me using it in the past for my own personal story. The http://www.pgb-life-coaching.info, way just too long! So I now also have http://www.pgbcoaching.co.uk which I'm a lot happier with.

I've registered it with as many search engines as I can so now comes the waiting game. Ah I so hate this bit. I wish there was some way to make this easier other that paying unscrupulous people to pretend to do it for you.

New Website!

I can't believe that I actually finished all my clients in Jan 2006, only now at March 2007 have I been able to get to the next stage!

I've sent in and had my Personal Development Journal marked and return. I've sent my final assessment paper in to be marked also. The only thing left to do now is to complete two demonstration coaching sessions. I have two new clients that I'm coaching for free who have age ed to do the assessment sessions with me.

With this new rush of enthusiasm, I've completely redesigned my website. I'd love to know what you think of it. Please feel free to point out any spelling mistakes as I can't see them any more as I've been working on it so much.

http://www.pgbailey.com or http://www.pgb-life-coaching.info

Coaching portfolio COMPLETED!!

I can't believe it, I now have received my 6th and final coaching feedback forms. I'm really delighted with the comments from this client and have added them to my testimonials page on my website. http://www.pgb-life-coaching.info/14001.html

I've checked the Coaching Academy website and all I need to do now is hand in all my summary notes along with the rest of my lessons learnt from the other course work I have already completed. I'll then need to do 2 demonstration coaching sessions whilst a mentor coach listens in. Finally then I need to complete a 3000 word assesment form.

I feel like I have now come so far a real fear has started to creep in that I'm going to fail at the last hurdle and just give up.

I think I may need a life coach myself to get me over this last section, luckily I know a few :-)

Just waiting for my last feedback form

This will be my last post for this year. I'm just waiting for the final client to send back his feed back forms and I will then be able to apply for my qualification. As yet, I haven't taken on amore more clients, free or otherwise. I'm hoping that in the new year it will be easier to pick them up, as people are less stressed and once the holiday period is over people can start thinking a bit more about themselves and what the want to do in the new year.

If you would be interested in being coached next year, I have several chargable slots available and at the moment 1 free slot. Please contact me via my main website and I'll contact you in the new year. http://www.pgb-life-coaching.info

Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year, I hope Santa brings you everything you want, but your friends and loved ones give you everything you NEED :-)

All six clients completed!!!!

Well it's been just over one year since I started coaching and I have now completed my 6th and final client required for my qualification. I just have to wait for them to send in their feed back forms and I will be able to apply for my coaching qualification.

I have decided to continue coaching 1-2 clients per week for free until I have received my qualification and for the foreseeable future. Even when I start charging next year I will still reserve a space for 1-2 free of charge clients.

When I do begin to charge I estimate that my initial charges will be £400 per month, this will include 4 sessions per month and unlimited email contact. I've come to this figure by looking around at similar personal services around the London area and also taking into consideration the type of client I wish to take on. The additional factor is that i wish to make enough money to cover my existing pay from my current day job.

Help! Need two more people!

Well it's been a year since I started my training and I have already coached 5 people through the full 6 sessions. Also numerous one off sessions. Sadly one of my 6 session clients has gone non-responsive with out completing the feedback forms :-( so I have to do at least another two people for the full course to complete my training.

I've posted a few comments from my previous clients on my website, http://www.pgb-life-coaching.info

If you know someone that would benefit from these free sessions, froma nearly qualified :-) coach then please either send me their telephone number so that I can have a chat with them, or drop me a line viaemail.

Thanks very much!

Paul Bailey
http://www.pgb-life-coaching.info

Progress update

I've now completed 4 clients. Two of them have already sent back their appraisal forms. Some really great feed back. I'll have to put up a couple of comments that they gave me.

I've booked an appointment with a new client that will start with me next week. So I still need at least one more to complete my portfolio, assuming that everyone else I have already completed sends in their forms.

If you know anyone that may be interested send them to my website so that they can contact me. Http://www.pgbailey.com

Halfway through!

I've now completed 2 more clients, I already have another one underway and have begun advertising for the final 2 clients. So I feel like I'm at the halfway mark.

After the Easter break I will begin to review my work so far and start to get my course work up to scratch so that once I complete my client portfolio I can apply for my qualification. I've had a couple of people contact me through my website as possible clients but until I speak with them and make sure they aren't completely barking I'll keep searching for more.

I'm almost thinking about what I will do once I have completed my course. I'm considering continuing the free sessions in the evenings, just so that I keep praticing and gaining experience. Although I'll no longer advertise as offering a free service, I may suggest a free taster and see how that goes. At the moment, I feel the experience is more important than the money. Especially as I would only be able to do the coaching a couple of nights a week as I still have a full time job, so it's hardly going to be bringing in anything more than a bit of pocket money.

One client done, 5 more to go

I completed my 6th and final session with my first client that started being coached by me in early November. I must admit I actually felt quite emotional. I had been coaching him every week, for sixs weeks, bar a small break for Christmas. Although the main objective is to complete the sessions and get the feedback form so I can earn the credits, I actually felt far more envolved that I expeted too. It really took me by surprise how much I cared about how this person had grown since we first started talking in Novmember. Also how he was going to continue on from this point. I seriously hope that he drops me an email every so often just to let me know how he is getting on.

Three more (free) clients

I've coached three new people over the last two days. Two went swimmingly well and the other one was strange. I can't quite put my finger on what was the problem. I can't really say more otherwise I'll be in breach of confidence. But I'll be very interested to see what happens next week.

I'll be doing my last coaching sessions for this year with these three people next week. Then I'll be having a break for until the new year.

I've decided to do coaching on Tuesday and Wednesday nights with a maximum of two sessions per night. That way it will be easy to keep a work/life/coaching balance without it taking over. Which could be quite easy! I'd much rather be coaching than working my current job for sure. But until I pass my qualification and start charging for the coaching sessions I'm just going to have to take things easy.

I've worked out that I only need about 10 more points and then all I'll have to do is complete my 6 coaching clients/sessions and I'll be able to apply for my basic qualification.

I've decided to just go for the basic qualification this time round as I've never been a great one to study, so I'm setting myself an easy goal that I know I can acheive. Maybe later, once I have more experience I go for something with a bit more clout. Maybe....