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You can also view this issue of the CV Member News online at www.coachville.com/cvm/2004/cvmn011904.html

January 19,  2004
From Kim George
Communications Director, CoachVille/Schools of CoachVille
40,058 members in 125 countries.  

Welcome to another edition of the CoachVille Member News.  We’ve got a jam-packed issue for you this week.  First off, a special note from Dave Buck, leader of CoachVille.  Read on as Dave describes what it’s been like inheriting CoachVille and the transition that has ensued.  

In other news, we’re quickly approaching the first anniversary of Thomas Leonard’s death.  Learn how you can participate in celebrating the life of an exceptional human being.  

Many of you are already signed up to join our “Bringing Life to Community” Campaign. This exciting initiative will reach every member of CoachVille in 2004 by phone.  Find out how you can be a part of it. And don’t miss the info on our 0-60K Mentoring program, a sneak peek at the 3^rd Annual CoachVille Conference, and our brand new live events!   

Keep playing,

Let us know what you think! Contact us at letters@coachville.com! 

Honey, I Dropped the Baby!  

Hey there! Dave Buck here.  

Tom Peters just saved my coaching life for the second time and I’m a combination of pissed off, terrified and rejuvenated.  (Subplot: How I dropped baby CoachVille)  

Rejuvenation

The first time was several years ago when I had taken a hiatus from full-time coaching and I was sort of wandering aimlessly around the landscape of life looking for a new focus for my practice.  Along came his article “The Brand Called You” in Fast Company magazine.  My coaching life was instantly rejuvenated.  I built a wonderful business as a personal branding coach while at the same time working with Thomas on whatever he was doing at the time (attraction, perfect life, personal evolution and then CoachVille).    

Then Thomas passes away, I inherit CoachVille and set out to fulfill the promise I made to him. Thomas: “If anything ever happens to me, will you take care of CoachVille for me?” Me: “Yes”.   

Trying to manage CoachVille

I’m reading Peter’s new book “Re-Imagine!” and I love it!!  (Advisory note: I’ve been a Tom Peters fan since I was a young MBA in the 80’s reading In Search of Excellence.  I know he is over the top, hard to read, and uses too many exclamation points.)  In the early sections of the book he makes the case against good management – it’s amazing and bizarre.  “Good management was the single most powerful reason (leading firms) failed to stay atop their industries”.  

I’ve been trying to MANAGE COACHVILLE – and it is clearly NOT working.  A) I’m not a good manager; B) its killing the innovation.  It’s a conundrum because I can see that without management CoachVille as a business is not sustainable.  I won't bore you right now with the gory financial details; you'll have to take my word for it.  At the same time, trying to manage it has suppressed the cult of personality and the “in your face” innovation that made it so compelling to be a part of.  

The plot thickens – the sobering reality

In Peters’ book he also makes a compelling case against Jim Collins’ work in the book “Good to Great”. In that book Collins makes the case for a quiet unassuming leader that pulls the strings from behind the scenes – the research showed that companies that went from good to great – and lasted a VERY long time - always had a leader like that.   

Collins also made a BIG point about the model that doesn’t work – the charismatic leader with a thousand helpers. YIKES! Well, that was Thomas to a “t” (Thomas referred to himself as “t”) and he shows that the statistics prove that companies with leaders like that almost never survive when the charismatic leader leaves.  I’ve been carrying that sobering thought around since I read it and at the same time, I know that we can beat the odds.  

The thought was made even more sobering by the fact that several thousand of our best customers – those who invested in the Graduate School of Coaching (now the Schools of CoachVille) were promised “life long learning”.  That is a REALLY long time.  

Well, I read the Collins’ book and the research made sense to me.  So I set out to become a “behind the scenes” leader.  I’ve focused on putting in structures to fulfill our promises and building sustainable business practices – i.e. cleaning up the mess!  Personally, I’ve lead a few events but for the most part have stayed pretty quiet.  HOW BORING!   

A humorous aside – the baby thing

One of my colleagues made a funny analogy.  He said inheriting CoachVille was like having a new baby.  There is the initial thrill of the creation and the wonder and excitement about the opportunity and the life changes that will soon occur.  This is followed by two years of no sleep, no sex and lot of sh-t – mitigated by brief moments of ecstasy as you watch the baby grow.  I’ve never been a parent but that definitely sounds accurate to me.  And I'm very present to the feeling a new parent must have when they hold the little one for the first time: "Oh my god, what if I drop it!?!!"  

The case against perpetuity - All hail the power of now!

This is a big deal.  Managing for the future is not nearly as compelling or useful as creating.  Trying to honor the past can be a heavy burden that inhibits ones ability to move nimbly and respond to what is happening right now.  So the game is to fulfill the promise to be available for a lifetime by being present to what is needed by the people who coach RIGHT NOW!  

NOW IS WHERE ITS’ AT! (yes, I love Tolle’s book)  

Equally important: I’m through with this quiet unassuming leader approach.  That doesn’t inspire me!  Gandhi wasn’t quiet! Martin Luther King wasn’t quiet! Thomas Leonard wasn’t quiet.  Earlier, some concerned people had said to me: Please don’t let CoachVille become “davebuckville”, and I’d taken that sentiment to heart.  For now, though, I have to let that worry go.

I am sure that CoachVille can and will be a place where many voices sing in harmony - where coaching (and the wisdom and energy of many coaches) is the focus.  BUT, for the next little while there is also going to be a healthy portion of Dave Buck in the formula.  (the baby metaphor continues... LOL)  Let’s face it, CoachVille was ThomasLeonardville. 

This is what I see...

1) I’m not a fan of making big promises (Thomas wrote this thing once called the “zen of attraction” and one of the statements was “promise nothing” which is paradoxical since he often promised everything). However, CoachVille will fulfill its promise to those who invested in the School of one thousand hours of lifelong learning.  It may not look like it looks right now – I don’t know what it’s going to look like – but as long as the world wide web keeps humming it will be there.  

2) I’m going for “in your face” innovation and LOTS of R&D:  A) let other organizations worry about regulations and society’s need for permanence (it’s an illusion anyway) and  B) we’re going to make a LOT of mistakes and that is going to have to be OK.  

3)  We will continue to make Thomas’ incredible library of work easier to find and use – that job alone will take a lifetime – and our focus will be on creating new stuff on an every day basis.  

4) Who knows if CoachVille will last forever. I do know this - CoachVille is going to be a force in the world right now.

5) Our values: generosity, innovation, a framework that “it’s all perfect”, and compelling design (ie, colorful, eye-catching logos) are enduring – everything else is up for grabs.  In other words, there are no sacred cows at CoachVille.  

Creating the new world together

I have to admit, I’m a little scared – OK, a lot scared.  Just as scared as I was when I first began my coaching practice.  Maybe that’s not too “leader-like” or maybe it’s perfect!  With so many people in the coaching profession facing scary transitions of their own: (maybe that’s you?)  I’m in the perfect place to lead – and make some noise - by example.  I see coaching as a harbinger of human evolution.  We’ll create this new world together.   

Want to see a picture of our “baby”?

OK, this is the last of the baby metaphor.  PLEASE visit www.coachville.com.  We are so excited about the new look of our web presence.  Don’t miss the welcome message where we share about the BIG vision for CoachVille.  

Stay tuned, we’re just getting started.     

Keep playing,

Dave
dave@coachville.com

Conversations With Thomas  
A Unique Opportunity To Celebrate an Extraordinary Man  

Here's what we are looking for:    

• Stories about your experience, from the humorous to those that made a profound impact

• Personal emails that illustrate his wit and charm ;-)  

• Wisdom that you gained (either through your interaction with Thomas in person or through his work)

• Anecdotes ; Coaching Moments  

• Teachings that affected you (and your life)

• Provocative questions that he asked you

• Quotes; including those used by people who don't know they are quoting Thomas :)  

• Aha! Moments (even years after the 'event') - or "living truths" - those pearls that keep on evolving their meaning while remaining true!

• Photos

• Real audio clips

• Thomas did quite a bit of 'rug pulling' (what we affectionately called 'being coached by t'), we would love to archive your experience and comments!

• Places where Thomas is being remembered and honored:  newspapers, web sites, online guest books, etc. 

• Anything else you would want us to include in the e-course or website  

• Any other comments, suggestions or thoughts you have on the subject  

We would love it if you shared lesser known aspects of Thomas, as well.  He was a truly inspiring leader, but he was also kind, warm and loving, as well as funny, playful (and nuts!) at times. We would love to hear it all!  

Please send us your stories including a description of how this affected you in some way.  We are looking for more than just testimonials about how great a man Thomas was. You can send your input to heidi@coachville.com with "Conversations with Thomas" in the subject line by Friday, January 23^rd.  If you have already signed up to participate in the Conversations with Thomas e-course, we will be contacting you, as well.                            

Creating Connection – Bringing Life To Community
“Every Coach Has a Home at CoachVille”

CoachVille is launching a major initiative this year called “Bringing Life To Community” and we would love for you to be a part of it!  This is the most powerful initiative we have ever undertaken to connect with our members.

CoachVille is an amazing thing because the coaching community is an amazing thing!

As you may have experienced, one of the most valuable aspects of CoachVille live events is the sense of community and camaraderie we feel with our fellow coaches. On the other hand, you may have also at times felt a bit disconnected or overwhelmed as you navigated our website, or tried to get help with something through email. 

This campaign is meant to bring a personal touch, warmth and sense of connectedness and community to each of you.  We plan to do this by speaking personally with each of you to let you know we care about you, what you are up to and how well we serve you.   

Beginning in February, every student in the Schools of CoachVille will receive a call and by the end of 2004, every CoachVille member. Yes, we will be calling to find out what you are up to, what you need from CoachVille, what issues you might need help resolving, and to answer any questions you might have about the programs we have available in 2004.  We will also be setting up monthly free calls to “Bring Life to the Coaching Community”.   

If you would like to volunteer to call other CoachVille members as a part of this initiative, please email patti@coachville.com or call her at 612-287-0387.  Training is underway, and there are still many opportunities for people to get involved!

“0 - 60K In One Year—Seatbelts Optional”  
The CoachVille Mentoring Program  

To all of you that love coaching and are struggling to make your business a financial success, to those of you that love coaching and can’t leave your full time job  because you can’t support yourselves…we’ve created the opportunity for you to succeed.  

As leaders in the coaching community, we feel we have an obligation to provide the opportunity for all our members to be financially successful in the business of coaching.  The $0-60k Mentor Program is the first of a series of mentoring programs we will offer you.   It is the only coach mentoring program of its kind, at an amazing value.  

Watch for upcoming features of our 0-60K Mentors.  All the mentors selected have achieved financial success.  They walk the talk of coaching.  Their commitment to having you succeed will move you into action.  

To learn more about our mentoring programs, visit www.coachvillementoring.com.  

The 3^rd Annual CoachVille Conference
“The Business of Coaching-Create Your Own Magic” 

The plans are underway for the 3^rd Annual Coachville Conference being held this year in fun-filled Orlando, Florida at the Disney World Hilton Hotel. 

This year’s theme is “The Business of Coaching—Create Your Own Magic”, part of our mission to ensure that coaches succeed personally, professionally and financially.  Join us June 3^rd through 6^th as we focus on Marketing and Attraction, Collaboration, and Environmental Design.   

What’s unique about this year’s conference?  This conference will feature hands-on workshops, with participants producing plans and action items that can be implemented immediately to grow your practice when you return home.  We’ll give you the tools, motivation, enthusiasm, and resources to reach your financial goals.  

What’s more...we are in the process of securing our conference speakers, and are very excited to have Mitch Meyerson, the Guerilla Marketing Coach, as one of our Speakers.  You can catch an interview with Mitch in this week’s edition of Today’s Coach, and by visiting our new landing page at www.coachville.com under the Communications Center.  We are busily working on a number of other extraordinary people, so stay tuned and watch for registration and early bird pricing!

Three brand new CoachVille live events! The Attractive Practice - Size Does Matter  The key to building your empire is to have a HUGE vision for the future that you want to create. The vision becomes the point of attraction to an ever-expanding community. Then you have to find ways to add value to this community by tapping into the fundamental human desires to connect, create and collaborate. This program is for anyone who wants to learn how to move from the practice of coaching to the business of coaching from self-employed and working for the money to creating a vision and systems that allow money and people to work for you. Join us in Atlanta, GA January 22 - Click here to register! More more information, please visit http://www.coachvilleconference.com/attractivepractice2004.html  Beyond Proficient - Evolving as a Coach Did you know that causing problems is part of the true craft of the masterful coach? Did you realize that if you are coaching the person and not coaching the environment, you are only doing half the job? If you want to be on the leading edge of the coaching field, you have got to be evolving faster than the people you coach. This total immersion coaching experience will provide you with an environment and tools for becoming a more masterful coach confident in your craft. If you are dedicated to growing as a person and evolving as a coach, you want to be at this event! Join us in Atlanta, GA January 23 & 24 - Click here to register! More more information, please visit http://www.coachvilleconference.com/beyondproficient2004.html  Build Your Practice Now: A Practical Guide to the Business of Coaching This two-day program and optional one day practicum will teach you EVERYTHING you need to know about building a coaching business: 1) Know the solo-business basics for coaches - you may know a few things about coaching, but running a small business is a different animal! We'll tell you what you need to know 2) Know the business models for coaches - there are many different ways to package and price your coaching services. We'll help you design the right mix for your capability and lifestyle. 3) Have a menu of services that the market place is buying - we'll teach you a profound branding strategy call situational marketing that will help bring perfect clients right to you 4) Learn how to talk about what you do - Rule #1: don't try to explain coaching. We'll tell you exactly how to craft a compelling conversation that will put you at ease in any conversational situation. Coming to New York, NY March 5 - 7 and Atlanta GA March 26 - 28 - Click here for more information and to register! Coaching Springboard Intensive Not quite an oldie, definitely a goodie! Are you relatively new to coaching? Would you benefit from attending a 2-day intensive training to get your arms around the coaching process? If so, details are below... and please pass the word to the people you know who would enjoy honing these skills... Are you someone who...    Is interesting in getting started quickly as a coach?   Has been looking for a universal coaching model to get results with your clients?   Is new to the coaching game and wants to quickly understand how to coach well instead of waiting years to learn by trial and error? Is new to coaching and wants to know the best way to break into the field?    Is in another coaching training program and wondering is this all there is?    Is working with clients who you sense are wanting more from you as a coach? If any of the above is true for you...then the two-day Coaching Springboard Intensive is right for you. Join us in San Francisco, CA January 30 & 31 - Click here to register! For more information, please visit http://www.coachvilleconference.com/springboard2004.html  Questions/Requests?  Please email events@coachville.com For more information about other CoachVille Live Events, please visit www.coachvilleconference.com.