Can I share with you the best advice I ever received as a coach?

It was given to me by my former business mentor, Fabienne Fredrickson.

Not only was Fabienne my mentor, I worked for Fabienne for several years, coaching her Boldheart growth students through one-to-one calls and group masterminds. Because I worked so closely with her students, she mentored me on how to be a better coach.

I have to tell you: To be personally mentored by someone as exceptional as Fabienne was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Sure, I was compensated for my time with Fabienne’s students, but the advice I received from Fabienne was a priceless benefit.

Please keep reading as I share with you this coaching advice and think about how it can help you as you help your clients (you don’t have to be a coach to apply this advice!).

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“My student keeps coming to our coaching calls with a list of questions, but the answers won’t help her move the needle on her business,” my Boldheart colleague lamented during one of our calls with Fabienne.

“She’s not seeing what the real issues are, and I don’t want to waste time answering her questions because I know it’s not really going to help,” she continued.

“Here’s the thing,” Fabienne replied. “You have to give them what they want and then give them what you need.”

You couldn’t hear a pin drop as Fabienne dropped this humdinger.

Fabienne went on to explain that for a student to feel like she is supported and getting what she needs from the program, we need to answer her questions, even if we know the answers are not getting to the crux of the issue. Then, once we answer the student’s questions, we ask permission to give her additional coaching, and when the student says yes, we give the student what she really needs.

Kind of like a kiss on the left cheek (what she wants) followed by a kiss on the right (what she needs).

I wrote this advice down and stared at it for a moment. It was like a fog lifted. Yes, give them what they want and what they need!

How I apply this coaching advice in my business

I will never forget Fabienne’s advice, and even though I don’t coach anymore, I think about her advice every time I create something for Celestial University.

For example, for Virtual Networkers, I give women entrepreneurs what they want:

• A place to market their businesses
• An opportunity to promote their products/services
• An avenue to ask for referrals

And I give them what they need:

• A virtual experience that will save them time, money, and energy
• A loving community so they don’t feel alone on this journey
• An opportunity to fine tune their asks so members know exactly how to help them

And I know it’s working because my Virtual Networkers make statements like this:

I joined Virtual Networkers because it gave me a place to promote my business; I stay because of the community!

Implementing this advice as a coach and other heart-centered entrepreneur

Let’s turn the table now: How can you give your clients what they want and what they need?

Again, this is not just a question for coaches: This advice applies to any heart-centered business too:

• If you are a graphic designer, you give your clients their logo (what they want) and visual branding confidence so they can go find their clients (what they need).
• If you are a copywriter, you provide your clients copy that attracts clients (what they want) and verbiage they can repurpose everywhere they go (what they need).
• If you are a therapist, you help your clients manage their anxiety (what they want) and help them cope with childhood traumas (what they need).

If you have time, make a list with two columns—one for column for wants and one column for needs. Brainstorm how you address both your ideal client’s wants and needs, and then think about how you can use this information in your marketing and program development. Maybe your marketing only touches on the “wants,” but your program settles what they “need” too. Play around with it all and see where it takes you.

I will say this: No matter what trajectory my business may take, I will heed this advice. I hope you do too!

More resources

Here are some other resources that will help you with your marketing and mindset:

My mentoring program, the Loud Woman Marketing Strategy Session, where we create a marketing plan that will increase your visibility and confidence to market to your ideal clients

My book, That First Client, which will teach you how to create an effective marketing system that will always attract clients to your business

My book, Loud Woman, which will inspire you to get Louder in your life and business

Check out my latest blog post about marketing, getting clients, and the Law of Attraction

Virtual Networkers, my global virtual networking organization for women entrepreneurs

Get More Clients Track, a year-long program that will teach you how the fundamentals of marketing so you’re always attracting clients

Manifest More Clients Track, a year-long program that will teach you how to use the Law of Attraction in your marketing

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