In a recent teleseminar I rapidly found myself in deep waters. 

I was on the bridge line with 30-some coaches, working with them on their marketing efforts.

My first inkling that this was going to be an unusual call came when I asked them:

This has become known as the B-O-P (like BOP in the head) marketing question, a pivotal one for small businesses who're trying to do more (viral) business.

The teleseminar turned out to be a bit of flash point around the issue of this question.

First, the students turned the tables on me and asked 'What's YOUR BOP, Andrea?'  Always a sign of a bright group. :-)  My answer was, there are a few.  Specifically, there are 3 that come in the form of questions:

"Is your work as a coach important enough for you to STOP COACHING (only) ONE-ON-ONE?"

"Should some coaches 'QUIT' coaching to become better coaches?"

"Are you working as diligently, deeply and unflinchingly on *you* as you POSSIBLY can? Because if not, you are not a coach."

How did the participants of the TeleSeminar respond?  They said "Yes, yes and yes!!  We've read your book!"  Which was a funny moment.

But then what happened was very special. 

They were stuck.

They didn't know what *their* bold, outrageous, provocative position was.

No clue in fact...complete blanks. 

Then one brave soul piped up:

"Well...that depends on what you mean by outrageous."

LOL. 

No...outrageous by definition is something you know is outrageous.  You don't say "Well that's outrageous compared to ABC."

(Side note: That's what's funny about great coaching question, isn't it? The question itself coaches you, as you try to answer it.)

So, how about you?

What comes up for you as you try and answer the question for yourself? Here it is again...put aside a moment and give yourself the gift of really thinking about this for a few minutes...

In the work that you are doing with your target market as a coach, *what* is the boldest, most outrageous, most provocative statement you can make to them?

Viscerally, you can tell it's an important question, can't you? Even if you get annoyed by it at the same time, and find it a struggle to answer.

Now because we were stuck in the mud, I put it another way, asking some more fundamental questions, less fancified:
 

Still pretty deep questions right?  Hmm.  I wonder whether you agree, most people rarely think about these questions.  And most people have little clarity around what they truly believe.  Instead their minds are a whirled-up blend of ideas and bits from here and there. 

While that includes us, coaches and other helping professions, this applies even more so to our clients. 

Let me ask you this.  Whatever it is that you're working on with your clients, do you think you would get farther, and better results, if you worked on these questions with them? 

If a person is a small business owner or not, they are consciously (or subconsciously) searching for the magic 'pill' that will put their business (or life) on overdrive...

This question is a very useful one, and the beginning of a lot of potent coaching.

For you and I personally, I know this for sure: 

++++++++++++++++++

Back to the TeleSeminar for a brief moment. Here's what we ended up doing and what I'd love for you to try.

If you're stuck by the BOP question, may I suggest you ask yourself this:

What's the bravest thing you've ever done?

And...

If you don't feel you've done anything terribly brave yet, what's the bravest thing you *could* do with your life?

On the TeleSeminar, it was a beautiful moment. 

Where the BOP question generated stuckness, these deeper (simpler? better?) questions unleashed a torrent of stories, life experiences and  metaphors such as I don't believe has ever come out in the container of a TeleSeminar, quite like that.

There were tears of both sorrow and joy as the coaches:

> connected with brave things they'd done OR

> recognized brave things they had been leaving undone.

Going one step further, the atmosphere was electric as the challenge was made to ask...

> how much their coaching clients would benefit, if they as coaches would only be brave enough to take a Bold Outrageous Provocative position with them -- based on these realizations.

Magic, ain't it? :-)

++++++++++++++++++

So, wrapping up.

What occurs for you as you work these questions?

Are these questions useful for you to use with your own coaching clients as they work towards wealth and consciousness for themselves?

I believe they will be.

In fact, I'm of the belief that for as long as we can't discover what's compelling in our lives, there will be nothing worth talking about, nothing compelling about our businesses.

I'm on the receiving end of quite a bit of SOS email each week.  SOS meaning 'help, my coaching business isn't working!'

While I'm as practical as the next person, what I hope to have emphasized is that these are the key questions that will unlock the 'why' in 'why isn't my business working.'

On the other hand, as time goes on, and more coaches are embracing the Multiple Streams of Coaching Income model, we are creating more six and seven figure success stories that I'll feature here in this newsletter. 

But for those that are still trying to find the 'magic key' to unlock this wealth, here it is...the BOP question is critically important. 

Keep at it. Hold space for the question.  As you birth the answers, so too will your business unfold and blossom.

Start by clicking the website link below to submit some of your thoughts.  Stream of consciousness is fine. 

Of course this is 100% optional and anonymous, and for your own benefit.  A few minutes of work right now will help you keep your heart and mind open to these topics before you go back to your regular day.  

http://www.andreajlee.com/brave.html

Sidebar: As a little incentive, I will send a copy of Dan Pink's new book "A Whole New Mind" to the coach whose submission I feel shows the greatest potential for leadership. 

(To be eligible, be sure to include your name and email address which I'll only use to notify you.)
 

+++++++++++++++++++

I'm not exaggerating. 

This material was first developed for the San Mateo Coaching Conference February 2005, and met with not just a standing ovation, but significant emotional breakthroughs from one end of the room to the other.

In an intense personal call, the first in the 'Meaning TeleSeries,' your guides Andrea and Lable will encourage and cajole as you experience:

> context and questions that will support you in the advanced inner work of answering what your bold, outrageous, provocative position is, in life and business

> challenge to connect these realizations with how you can help your clients at a more meaningful level

> wisdom in the form of story and metaphor to tie your life experience with universal narrative themes that show you where your path fits in

> invitation to tie the answers you come up with to your marketing and business development and yes, your bottom line

> the possibility that business isn't devoid of meaning, and that the mark of truly great business is that which is infused with personal legends

NOTE: This will not be a slow-paced TeleSeminar, despite it being 90 minutes. Come ready to move quickly and absorb.  You will receive a recorded MP3 of the class to review as many times as you wish.

This TeleSeminar is for you if:

> You have ever felt annoyed or frustrated when I (or someone else) asked you what you believe in, or what you stand for.  You don't have to admit this in class, but the class will help move you along the path to answers.

> You are a leader in a market, group, or organization who others look to for values-based vision, and you sometimes feel like the 'followship' is misplaced.

> You love exploring and stretching your boundaries around integrity, and delight in challenging yourself to grow in your depth of integrity.  (Yes you can be grow in terms of you in integrity with yourself.)

> Your marketing lacks luster and even though your business (online or not) seems to have everything else going for it, but no one is listening or resonating or noticing.

> Quite simply, you love growing as a person, and would like to see a demonstration of a meaning-based TeleSeminar (NOT nuts and bolts) in true coaching style.

Here are the call details again:

As story, love, empathy, and high-touch become touchstones in both business and pop culture today, this teleseminar will also equip you to take on the new questioning that your clients will be surfacing more and more.

If this rings a chord with you, we invite you to register by clicking the button:

As always, your satisfaction is guaranteed, or your money fully refunded, and we ask that you register early.  Also, help us spread the word please, about this unprecedented topic on the creation of meaning, for coaches by coaches, via TeleSeminar. 

(We would most appreciate those coaches and friends dearest to you as your invitees, because this is a TeleSeminar for the people you and we care most about. Just forward this email to them with your personal note.)

Come take a hand in writing your own fantastic life story.

Psst... got questions about the TeleSeminar? 

By all means, we'd like to know your reactions.  Remember, this material was delivered to the very highest of scores by 125+ attendees at the San Mateo conference in February this year.  Direct any questions by email andrea@andreajlee.com or call 403-615-1237.

Here's the button again:

One-time Only Fee: $47

We look forward to welcoming some of you!