Chris Barrow’s Blog

How do I manage to keep on writing a weekly ezine, daily blog and now create a weekly podcast – where do I find the material and how did I get to be a writer?

As far as material is concerned – that’s really easy – I just go out of my front door and travel, either personally or professionally. The world then provides more writing opportunities than I could cover if this were my full-time occupation.

I am currently reading Alan Bennett’s “Untold Stories”, a collection of memories, musings and observations drawn from his own childhood and his daily experiences. He writes brilliantly and is the only author whose work I read to the sound of his own sardonic Leeds accent inside my head. His real and yet unexceptional life is more gripping than many of the novels I entertain myself with – perhaps because his recollection of growing up in the working class North of England evokes so many of my own experiences.

As far as finding the time is concerned – that’s just a successful habit, no more, no less. Making sure that the ezine is written early on Monday or Tuesday morning, before “work” commences. Reminding myself to record the podcast straight after, reflecting each morning before I work on what has happened to me the previous 24 hours that would make a good blog entry.

As far as writing skills are concerned – I have none – I am a “high school drop out”.

On Sunday I was reading my only newspaper of the week, The Independent on Sunday, and what caught my attention was a brief interview with Frank McCourt, author of “Angela’s Ashes”.

I quote:

“I believe that as a writer you have to find your own style. Honesty is the best policy. And scribble – don’t try to write a novel. Just scribble and let it come.”

Back after a week’s breather, this morning I am in Reading, Berkshire and delivering a one-day workshop to a small group of coaches, one of whom is traveling over from Germany and another from Ireland – that’s commitment.

My intention will be to help them deconstruct and reconstruct their practices in a non-judgmental environment with their peers. Today we will begin the process of creating a working community and, I suspect, some lifelong friendships.

I have no fixed presentation in mind, just “how can I help?” coaching – what I call “bar stool coaching” – just sitting at the front of the room and having a good conversation.

I love days like this.

Time to think last week and only one great conclusion:

“To live my life authentically, tell everyone I know exactly what I perceive, how it makes me feel and ask them to respect my boundaries.”

Once done – others then have the right to decide whether they want me in their life or not – as my first coach said to me back in 1997, “since when was other people’s opinion of you any of your business?”

An audience of around 400 hygienists at their annual conference in Bournemouth – and CB presenting on the subject of “teamwork”.

This group were unusual in that the majority were not “decision makers” in a business sense because they work in practices owned by dentists, so I guess my presentation was intended to enroll them as ambassadors back in their practices on Monday.

A very warm reception, lots of laughs and the chance to re-acquaint myself with many old friends from former client’s practices.

We were also blessed with glorious but cold weather – temperatures dropping well below freezing on the Friday night but, after all the festivities, walking along the sea-front back to the hotel was exhilarating.

Keep on “gigging” – never stop “gigging” – visibility is the key. 400 potential new friends and ezine readers today.

Yesterday I visited Glasgow and presented our “8 key strategies” to an invited audience of Isoplan clients.

Isoplan provide dental payment schemes and, although based in Scotland, are gradually extending their market influence to the whole of the UK.

There are a number of such providers but Isoplan excel because their client support team are wonderful and they are entrepreneurial owned and skillfully managed.

Our setting was The House for an Art Lover, Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s dream come into reality and one of the most interesting venues I have spoken from.

Good news for The Dental Business School – 4 new clients into our 2006 programme there and then.

The title of today’s blog arises from the conversation during the afternoon with the 15/20 practices who attended.

In Scotland, dentists who decide to “break ranks” and leave the Health Service are being subjected to amazing pressure from local Government and the media.

The concept of Government Health Care has been embedded in the Scottish culture for generations and dentists are genuinely concerned about being “the first” in their geographical area to go private.

We heard stories of Members of Parliament and the press circulating misleading flyers to patients as they entered and left practice premises.

One young couple attending yesterday had converted last Monday and been hounded my their local MP and the media who were spreading “greedy dentist” stories around the community.

I thought we lived in a democracy where individuals could choose their business format? Apparently the elected members of the Scottish Parliament don’t think so. One had even made slanderous comments about a local dentist and then claimed parliamentary privilege as a protection from litigation.

Here’s the good news though…

We were also welcoming other dentists who had made the transition 3, 6 and 12 months ago and who universally reported that “it all blows over” and they had settled down to a much more agreeable life as private practitioners.

Needless to say, their patients and team were a lot happier too.

I took my two daughters to see the movie last night – it didn’t really grab me but I was thinking about the “lessons” that she teaches the children in her care and (as always) the metaphor in life:

1. Go to bed when you are told (turn off the darn TV and get some decent sleep – I’ve been really good at this recently and the sleep is working wonders);

2. Get up when you are told (suits me, I’m an early starter and like to hit the ground running at 6.00am each morning – the first 90 minutes are crucial);

3. Get dressed when you are told (recently, I’ve killed off the “man in black” because I got tired of that workshop uniform. My sponsors at a recent live event expressed their disappointment that I wasn’t dressed professionally enough for them – lesson – I can dress how I like at my own gigs but not at others);

4. Listen. Say no more – as I coach it’s what I must do – but I am also presently learning to listen to myself as well as others. To listen to my body, mind and spirit and to learn from what they are telling me;

5. Do exactly as you are told. Just follow the instructions in those professional and personal self-help books. Don’t be afraid of getting help and enrolling help. There is little new to learn on the road to success – so just follow the instructions and, most importantly of all, keep it simple.

Finally, Nanny McPhee tells the children, “when you need me but don’t want me, I will stay – but when you want me and don’t need me I must go”.

A mission statement for a coach perhaps?

I’ve been a runner, jogger (call it what you will) since 1980, when a client I was talking to as an insurance company rep inspired me by his personal example.

From then until 1997 I just ran for pleasure and to find a place in a busy life where I could think, oxygenate and “straighten my spaghetti” as I like to say.

Then I ran my first London Marathon and, since then, have clocked up a total of 14 marathons, including 6 London and 2 New York. Personal best (because runner’s have to say this) was 3hrs 47 minutes in New York, largely facilitated by having a running buddy on the day. We helped each other along and I learned something about teamwork.

The last 2 years my running has been very sporadic due to a nomadic lifestyle, a little injury and a lot of stress. I still managed London this year though, albeit very slowly.

This week, as part of my “get your bloomin’ life in gear” personal programme, I’ve taken the plunge and managed 45 minutes on Monday, 35 on Tuesday and 75 yesterday. I’ll shortly go out again before my call-in day starts.

It has reminded me of the benefits – the fresh air, torrential rain, wind, cold and (yesterday) bright sunny day have revitalised me and will provide the springboard from which to address other areas of my life.

The knee hurts but I’ll work through it.

I am full of oxygen again!

Well after spending a week last month touring the UK on this subject I can share with you the following revelations:

1. most dentists have no pricing structures in place at all;

2. they often set a nominal hourly rate based on “last year plus a bit” and with no scientific reference to their business running costs and desired level of profitability;

3. they don’t count the beans – financial information is historic, late and ignored;

4. the nominal hourly rate is often discounted to “fill the appointment book” and retain any business at whatever cost.

Overall, it’s a pretty poor picture and the arrival of the new GDS rules for the delivery of Health Service dentistry seem to hand the responsibility to local Primary Care Trusts for setting prices and productivity. These PCT’s are motivated by budgetary constraints and so the prognosis is not good for those principals who surrender.

The usual 20% of enlightened dentists are, of course, calculating their hourly rate scientifically, charging it at all times and monitoring finances very closely. But they are in a minority and I feel sometimes that I’m on a one-man mission to get finances in order for many of my clients.

As always, a call-in day with my clients creates many great conversations – and this was one of them.

What we have here is a very talented specialty coach with a thousand creative ideas buzzing around in her head and a question – “how the h do I get all these ideas out there in January?”

So I asked her to answer the following questions:

1. what is the lowest price point at which you would sell a product on-line? Answer $10.00 (so let’s make that $7 because Andrea Lee says so);

2. what is the highest price point at which you would be comfortable to sell a product on-line? Answer $500 (so that’s $497)

“OK” says I, “think of another 4 price points between those two…

$7
$47
$97
$247
$497

“OK” says I, “you are all done now. Just go and create 6 on-line products that you feel give great value for that price and require your involvement to an extent that makes you feel comfortable with the price.”

Maybe…

$7 = a downloaded tip sheet (or a choice of 100 $7 tip sheets)

$47 = a 60-minute audio (or a choice of 100…. you get it)

$97 = an e-programme

$247 = an e-course with bridge calls and gym access (like what we are doing with the GYYIG programme)

$497 = a 90-day mini-coaching programme with webinars, bridge calls and gym membership.

Just some suggestions.

The create a home page that allows the visitor to make a choice per price point.

All you need then is a reservoir of ezine readers and off you jolly well go.

Provided you have identified a niche, with a problem, wanting a solution and with some money!

Easy innit?

We have just launched our 2005 GYYIG programme and you can take a look at www.getyouryearingear.com

Last year I worked with over 80 clients and the feedback we enjoyed was wonderful.

This year we have decided to take half the time (5 weeks) to cover the core points necessary to give you a flying start to 2006 – and we have halved the investment!

I am looking forward to the programme myself as an environment and a community in which I can make specific plans to create a great start to the New Year.

My working week ahead is dominated by phone calls – laser-calls with clients, bridge calls with clients and a free teleclass tomorrow evening for all those interested in the GYYIG programme – if you would like to attend then email jen@thecoachingbusinessschool.com.