Are you looking for help but are not sure where to turn?  Not sure if you want someone to just listen to you?

Or are you looking for someone to walk you through the steps to show you how to do something?

Sometimes it’s hard to know what you want at first.  So First, you need to ask yourself, do you need coaching or consulting?  There is a difference!

When I first got started building my business, I needed help with technology challenges as well seeking someone to listen to me, I mean REALLY listen.

As I was going through the beginning stages of understanding where to begin, I realize now that consulting meant finding someone who could “teach” me what I needed to know and do it quickly.  Someone who could walk me through the setup process step by step.

Consulting is a faster approach to get quicker results.  Coaching takes longer to reach the goals based on the clients needs and the coach/client relationship.

Below I have broken down the difference in easy to understand terms:

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Consulting occurs when the client is looking for an expert in a particular field and is seeking their expertise to show then exactly how to do something.

For example, let’s say you are needing help with your blog or website and want to outsource someone’s services.  You hire someone to lead you step by step through the set up process and then that consultant has done what they are hired to do.

A consultant builds their business on their expertise on one or a few skills. From their skills, they help you find quick  solutions for getting the task done.

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Coaching, on the other hand, allows the client to do the talking and for the coach to listen. I mean REALLY listen.  The client is the expert and the coach is there to help the client reach their goals.

No judgements and no consulting, (telling you what to do and how to do it)

Instead, a coach is there to give you support and to help YOU clarify your goals and strengths through active listening and asking the right questions.  It is a safe and confidential relationship that builds trust and helps the client with less overwhelm and more clarity.

Now that you have a brief overview of the difference between coaching and consulting, which one do you need?  Coaching or Consulting?

Not Sure? You can get a FREE 15 minute session with me and find out which one you need.   Click here to get started.

Until next time, here’s to your success.

Cindy Murphy

Your Solutions Coach

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Have you considered a coaching career? Do you know what coaching is?   One of the best decisions I made in 2010 was taking a coaching course.   I knew I was looking for a new career path and coaching not only helped me with my decision to become a coach myself but it also helped me in my personal and professional life.  It was through Coaching Cognition that I got my coaching career started and I highly recommend their training for you as well.

There are several great reasons why you should consider a coaching careeer.  Below, I will list some important reasons to help you determine if coaching would be a good fit for you.

• Are you a good listener?  Can you sit back, take a deep breath and not give opinions or tell someone what you think they should do?
• With the internet becoming a viral place to hang out and with so many ways to connect such as Skype, Facebook, teleseminars and other platforms, you can build a coaching business globally.  When I took my coaching course, I had peer coaches from Australia and Germany and it was awesome.
• With the economy in turmoil and people all stressed out with so many issues, a coach can help their client stay focused and make goals to help them reach their visions and dreams.  There are coaches for business, lifestyle coaches, marketing coaches, divorce coaches, and the list goes on and on.
• The role of the coach is to take the client from where they currently are to where they want to go in their lives.
• A coaching career can help you gain your skills and give you access to a coaching accredidation that will look great on your resume and to your potential clients.

If you have considered a coaching career and need more information, Lisa Holcomb, with Coaching Cognition,  is holding a special webinar on Wednesday, January 26th at 6:30 PM. to explain the benefits of a coaching career.   To sign up, click here.

Until next time….

Here’s to your success,

Cindy

Your Marketing Solutions Coach

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In 2010, my main focus for my new business was to continue to learn so I could continue to grow.  Like taking a college class, I was committed to my online trainings to gain lots of knowledge.   Sometimes I was guilty of taking to many classes and trainings and getting overwhelmed to a point of not implementing.  You might say I became a professional learner.

Then I started to implement.  All the training continued to take me on a learning path for growth.  I like to think I am tech savy but when I wanted to learn all there was to learn about online marketing, and all the tools that came with it, I was surprised how much I had to learn.

Here is what I learned from the knowledge that I gained and now I want to share it with you.

• I learned that I am a visual learner because I got more out of my trainings from those who actually showed me step by step and click by click, how to set up a new internet tool, using a visual like a powerpoint, video or screen capture.  I set up two WordPress blogs, Twitter, Facebook and much more.
• I learned to listen when I took a coaching course with Coaching Cognition.  Unlike counseling or consulting, coaching is a platform where listening is the key to being a great coach.   It’s the coaches role to observe and ask questions while the client is held responsible and accountable for their progress.
• I learned that other baby boomers were searching for the same new tools that  I was learning how to use.  This prompted me to launch this blog called Bloomin’ Boomers, helping those who are looking for marketing solutions to their offline ideas.
• I learned the power of social media.  In 2010 I attended 4 live events and all the people I met in person, I met first through the power of social media.  I will never forget the experience of my first live event in January 2010,  in Portland Oregon.  I had already signed up for Coaching Cognition (who is launching a new website), prior to the event, and when I got to the event, I remember the thrill of going up to people and knowing them through their online photos.   It was an amazing experience.
• A year later I am still learning and growing but my journey has helped me launch a new business and a new life.

Do you continue to learn and grow? If so, what can you share here in the comments section below?  What did you learn?

Until next time,

Here’s to your success

Cindy

Your Solutions Coach

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In the title of this blog post I am asking you a question in hopes that you will comment after you read my story.  Why, because I would love to hear your story on how your risk taking built your self confidence.

So here is your question.  Does risk taking build self confidence?  It did for me.  Tonight I am stepping out of my comfort zone to do my first online webinar.  Why am I telling you this?  Because if you knew me before I took a coaching course with  Coaching Cognition last year, you would have known a person with low self esteem, low confidence and a non risk taker.

Within the past year, with the help of a wonderful community and a network of offline and online friends, I have been able to connect with many leaders and business builders who have come together for support, encouragement and education.

Since then, I have flown all over the place (did you know I had a fear of flying until I was 55 years old?),  performed podcasts with some awesome leaders and have watched my business grow steadily.  This year, I made a promise to myself to take risks outside of my comfort zone to build my self confidence and my business to a higher level.

Setting up the process for my first webinar includes making my Power Point presentations, making sure my computer is ready for the challenge and taking a deep breath to step outside my comfort zone.   It is also an opportunity to challenge me to learn more skills and get confident using a new online tool,  GoToWebinar.   For some reason, I welcome the challenge and love the technology skills that I have perfected this last year.  So bring it on!

With so much to learn and my love for learning new technology and skills,  my next challenge and risk taking venture will be learning teleseminars.  Until then, it’s back to work getting ready for my webinar tonight.

By the way, in case you are interested in learning how you can Celebrate Your Stories All Year Long , here is the link to register for tonight’s webinar.

Until next time, have a wonderful day,

Cindy

P.S. Don’t forget to share your story below.  Did risk taking build your self confidence?  What risks did you take in 2010 and how did it build your confidence?

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Have you heard of Coaching Cognition?  It’s for students who are looking to find a coaching course and it’s for coaches who want to connect with other coaches.

A year ago I began my journey with Coaching Cognition.  Not as a coach, but as a student.  When I started my business last year, I wanted to take a coaching course to enhance both my business and my personal life.  As it turns out,  I loved the course so much and learned so much from Barbara Silva and my peer coaches that I ended up adding coaching as a service I offer my clients.

Here’s why:

1. When I first started the course,  I wasn’t quite sure what coaching would do for me but I did know I needed to connect with a group of like minded professionals who were looking for a way to enhance their lives.  I found such a group with Coaching Cognition.
2. I was fortunate to have worked closely with what Barbara Silva called “Peer Coaches”  Peer Coaches were other students who were required to work one on one with at least one other Coaching student.  For me, I chose 5 peer coaches.   I remember Barbara telling us early in the course that our peer coaches would become life long friends.   Boy was she ever correct!   A year later, I am still working with them and we are helping each other in the growth of our businesses.  Many of us have branched off into the coaching world while others of us used the courses to enhance our personal growth without the intention of adding coaching into their businesses.
3. I am now a coach with Coaching Cognition.  As I progress into the next phase of training and education with Coaching Cognition,  I will have the support and encouragement of a tight knit community of other coaches and students all under one roof.
4. Coaching Cognition is getting ready to launch their new website and I am glad to be part of that journey.  And  Coaching Cognition will be offering another training course,  similar to the class I took last year, for those of you who are interested in taking a coaching course.  So there is no better time than now to get connected and to stay in the loop.

How do you find Coaching Cognition?  There are two ways to connect as they prepare for the launch of their new website.

1. Join us on Facebook.
2. Sign up for  notification of the new website launch.

Hope to see you on the inside.

Til next time,

Have a great day and please let me know if you joined us by adding a comment below.  I love hearing from others and getting feedback.

Cindy

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Now that the new year is upon us and 2010 is history, I have been reflecting about my best and worst business decisions in 2010 to help me move forward in 2011.  As I am setting my S.M.A.R.T. goals for 2011,  it has been helpful to make a list of the things that didn’t work for me.

Some decisions were good and some decisions were bad as I built my business in my first year.  It is my goal here on this blog post to share them so that those of you who are new to the online world will learn from my experiences.  What I learned through the best and the worst decisions has made me very motivated to make 2011 a year of implementation and focus.

My Worst Business Decisions in 2010; Sort of:

I spent more money than I made, and what little I did make, I put it right back into my business by traveling.   Some would say that was a mistake, but I found it as a learning experience to guide me into a better decision making mode for 2011.  I found it very important to learn from some top leaders which allowed me the opportunity to travel to 4 live events in the west coast.  Make no mistake, it was a great opportunity to meet those in person with whom I connected with online.  In doing so, I have made some awesome friends and have met some fantastic business leaders. Not only have I met some fantastic leaders, I have connected with some online folks who have reached out to me for help.  Lesson Learned:  It’s like going back to school and learning something that I couldn’t learn in college.

I spent to much time training for everything I could get my hands on and became an information overload person with ADD, creating confusion and a lack of direction.   In the first half of 2010, I began so many projects and went in so many directions before I was clear on my Niche, preventing me from understanding the importance of implementation and focus.  I bought many programs and trainings and found myself learning one area of expertise, then learning another,  thinking I had to be the expert in all areas.   Lesson Learned:  NOT!

I gave up exercise and local social connections. It was quite an adjustment for me to go from a large corporation working with lots of coworkers and having an agenda to working from home all alone and feeling isolated.  When I started working from home, my focus was to become a student 24/7, keeping me glued to my computer for hours and hours.  With this decision, I realized I had gained some weight and wasn’t as energized as I was when I was working outside my home.  You might say I became a “hermit”  except when I traveled to the West Coast.  Lesson Learned:  I have made exercise and local networking events part of my 2011 goals and have them written on my new 2011 wall calendar.

My Best Business Decisions in 2010; Really!

I signed up for a 6 month coaching course that gave me new insight into my personal growth and also the growth of my business.  Coaching Cognition allowed me to explore the possibility of adding coaching into my business plan for helping new “boomerpreneurs” gain their confidence and lessen their overwhelm as they were starting off in their online journeys.  It also helped me connect with the other students in the program allowing us to connect, train and learn from one another.  Now, I am a coach helping my own clients.  Lesson Learned:  Personal Development and training is the way to move you business forward.

I learned that perfection can hold you back from achieving your goals. Have you ever wanted to start a project but had to have it perfect before you completed it, leaving it unfinished and leaving you frustrated and ready to give up?  Yep, been there, done that myself.   Here is a quote I have taped on my desk to remind me that perfection can prevent me from moving forward.

“The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself.” Anna Quindlen

Lesson Learned:  Waiting to be perfect got in my way.

I learned to focus and implement. Like I said, the first half of my first year in business, I became a sponge learning all that I could but it was taking me in to0 many directions, leaving me confused and feeling a sense of ADD.  When I returned from my last 2 Live events in November of 2010, a light bulb went off.   I knew I had to focus and implement.  When I got home,  I began unsubscribing to all the emails that I never read, I got a large wall calendar that I have posted on my wall in front of my computer that I see every day reminding me of my goals and I got a timer that has helped me focus on only one project at a time.  I learned to turn off all tabs on my computer so I could complete one task at a time.  The timer taught me to TRAIN MY BRAIN for better focus.   Lesson Learned:  I am ready for 2011.

These are just a few of my best and worst business decisions for 2010.  I do hope you enjoyed learning from me.  Please share your comments below and let us know what you learned, best and worst in 2010.  I believe it’s so much nicer to learn from one another.

Until next time, have a great day,

Cindy

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Have you ever wanted to find a mentor who will listen to you, guide you and help you with your personal or business goals?   Someone who isn’t critical or judgmental and will support you in your journey?

You will get that when you hire a coach.  A coach can help you both personally and professionally as they guide you through your goals to get you to your end result.

When you are new to online marketing and growing your online business, it is great to seek out a coach who will provide the support and encouragement without giving advice.

When you are having some personal struggles or want to get help with decisions or conflicts that are going on in your family or with you personally,  hiring a coach can be like having your own safe place to confide in someone.

Below I have listed a sampling of 10 areas of coaching,  just to give you some ideas of how coaching can help you.

1. Business Coaching
2. Financial Coaching
3. Career Coaching
4. Marketing Coaching
5. Wedding Coaching
6. Family Coaching
7. Life Coaching
8. Spiritual Coaching
9. Relationship Coaching
10. Health and Wellness Coaching

As a Solutions Coach, I help my clients find solutions to their new businesses while helping them lessen their overwhelm to allow them to gain more confidence.

So as you can see, coaching is for everyone.

In my next post, I will go into more detail when I explain what a coach can do for you.

Until next time, have a wonderful day,

Cindy

Your Solutions Coach

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Click the Arrow to Hear the Interview

[audio: http://cindymurphyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Interviewing-Morris-Fisher-on-6-29-10.mp3]

I had the pleasure of meeting Morris Fisher last year in Portland, Oregon when we both went to a Live Event with our Renegade Professional community.

It was there that we both connected through our coaching course at Coaching Cognition and our connection has grown since that event.

Morris just completed his class with Coaching Cognition and is now starting his Life Coaching business from his home.  As you listen to this interview, you will learn more about Morris and his coaching business.

If you want more information about Morris, or want to contact him, you can reach him at www.morrisfisherblog.com

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