A few years back, Amazon was planning to build a second headquarters (HQ2) somewhere other than Seattle, where their main one was.
The minute the company announced it, anxious cities began lining up with dreams of the 50,000 expected jobs and $5 billion in construction dancing through their heads.
It was crazy to see cities tripping over themselves in a desperate attempt to lure Amazon. For example:
- New York City lit up a number of prominent buildings, including the Empire State Building, in Amazon’s signature orange glow.
- Calgary, Alberta chose to put graffiti and banners all over Seattle, with persuasive sayings to convince Amazon to choose it (that’s kinda creepy and stalker-ish, in my opinion …)
- Stonecrest, Georgia offered to rename itself Amazon, Georgia and give the company 345 acres of land if it was chosen.
- The mayor of Kansas City bought 1,000 products on Amazon and personally wrote reviews for each one, inserting into every review reasons why his city was so amazing.
- Tucson, Arizona drove a 21 foot cactus to Amazon’s main headquarters to catch their eye (Amazon didn’t accept the gift).
These and lots of other cities went to Amazon with their tongues on the ground and wallets out in a desperate attempt to be chosen.
It reminds me of the coaching world.
For example, whenever someone even hints at needing a coach on Facebook, coaches come rushing at them pleading to be chosen.
They send them private messages (and tell the prospect on that post that they sent one, just in case their inbox isn’t working), they go on and on about how great they are, and in some cases they even offer to work for discounted rates or free.
I’m all for coaches promoting themselves, but there’s a difference between promotion and begging for business.
I once heard a saying that I agree with 100%:
“If you put someone on a pedestal they have no choice but to look down on you”.
If you beg for business, the client is looking down on you before you even start a coaching relationship (should they “choose” you).
When you’re needy, it doesn’t set things up to be a good coaching partnership.
It’s better to have prospects coming to you, auditioning to be your client rather than vice-versa.
My Secret Coach Club newsletter ensures that coaches never have to beg for business again.
The November issue heads to the printer soon, and you can get in before Sunday night’s deadline by going here:
