Something completely different today...

I'm going to talk a bit personal, a bit business, and share a big announcement later in the show---so stay tuned for it.

Recently, I've been doing a LOT of personal-dev training and development. (Way more than usual, in fact.) And as part of that effort, it hit me that one of the things I preach---*know where you are at any given time* wasn't being followed.

Things had been so frantic with client business growth, that other areas of the business weren't getting the right levels of attention. And I was completely out of step with 'knowing where I was'. (Not a good place to be in life or business.)

I'll share a bit of that discovery today's episode and along with it, and a very practicable 5-Point Framework To Always Know WHERE You Are---And What To Do About It

Show notes and resources for this episode available at https://corbinlinks.com/cls055

Let's hit it!

Short but intense episode today.

I'll be talking about a topic I see come up way WAY too much with first-time business builders: That's the subject of "tools". Software. Toys. "Infrastructure" AKA -- *Distractions* Software, apps, productivity tools, web services and all manner stuff is great.

There's a time and place.

But when you're getting started and building the first legs of business? This stuff can KILL your time and income. So I'll share a little story from this weekend, along with *specific* suggestions to reduce your 'research' time, tool cost, and just build build build!

P.S. If you're already a VIP member, you saw part of this covered in your copy of the "Mondays Rock Letter". This is the bonus audio for that.

Show notes and resources for this episode available at https://corbinlinks.com/cls054

I love coaching and being coached—don’t you?

But let’s face it: not all coaching sessions are blissful trips to happy land, if you know what I mean. Like anything else in business, coaching sessions can get off track, or go terribly wrong. And whether you’re on the client or coach side of the table, a bad session can wreck things for both sides.

A bad coaching session can be anything from tempers flaring, to boredom and lack of interest, to frustration and feeling results were missed, and all points in between. Best case, you both escape with your professional relationship intact and try again another day.

But worse, and far more likely, a bad---and certainly a super bad---session may never be recovered. These can and do happen even to the most experienced coaches. After all, this is a people business.

As coaches, it’s 100% OUR responsibility to keep coaching sessions from flying off the tracks. And that’s exactly the topic of today.

I’ll share with you some of the top and most frequent things that can and will go wrong, and what to do about it. OR…prevent things from happening in the first place. Lots to cover today, so let’s dive right in!

Show notes and resources for this episode available at:

https://corbinlinks.com/cls053

Are you a pleasure to do business with?

I’ll admit to a few times in my past that the “pleasure to do business with” statement didn’t maybe...completely apply to me.

In fact, it took a few lost sales and failed client renewals to pull it all together. Fast forward to today—there are precious few companies, or consultants, who bother to ask themselves this question.

Let's face it: Many companies and consultants—especially in the corporate and government space—are a drag. Endless procedures, huge documents, endless calls, dour people, ridiculous numbers of sales reps showing up from the same company, endless email threads, crazy #'s of meetings, and the list goes on.

Not fun.

And ask yourself: when is the last time you or your firm heard the phrase “it’s / it was a pleasure doing business with you!”

If you DO hear it constantly, then congrats! This mail may be just a refresher, and add a few new tools to your arsenal. But if not…

My premise is business shouldn’t be dry. Boring. Exhaustively corporate. Unpleasant on a person-to-person level.

And one way you (and all of us, me included) can combat this is by being a true ”pleasure to do business with." How? Let’s start with a list of:

5 No-Hassle Ways to Become a “Pleasure to Do Business With”— right here and now (guaranteed!) 

Hang on to your ear buds, this could get bumpy...

Complete show notes and resources available at: https://corbinlinks.com/cls052

I've been getting a few questions lately from consultants asking about client renewals.

Why don't their clients renew with them?

How come contracts don't get extended or renewed?

Why no call backs from previous clients?

If you've been in this business for more than 5 minutes, you've come across this issue. Things are going really well. You may also be delivering great results to your clients...

But when the agreement comes up for renewal, they decide not to. Another way to look at this is keeping a high "client retention" rate or percentage. And it's right to question client attrition numbers, because something is clearly wrong.

High client retention rates and long relationships better yet---ever-expanding ones---are key to a thriving business. So today I'm tackling the topic of client retention head on. I’m sharing the TOP 5 Reasons Clients REALLY Leave (regardless of what they say to our faces), and how to deal with them in your business.

Another practical and action-packed show, so let's do this!

(Show notes and resources over at https://corbinlinks.com/cls051)

It's Milestone Time!

The Corbin Links Show has just hit its 50th episode for this season. Season 1 ran 39 episodes, for a whopping 89 so far! I'm barreling toward a full 100 episodes!

And to celebrate the 50th episode of this season, I'm going to do something a bit special, which I'll share in just a few minutes.

But for now, the topic at hand is how to filter and prescreen your clients. So often, we worry about whether or not a client will choose us. And just as often, we think these decisions are related to price, economics, politics, the weather---whatever is handy. I want to flip your thinking. Instead, I want you to be thinking about qualifying those select people who CAN and SHOULD work with you.

(Hint: the answer isn't "everyone". But the RIGHT ones.)

Today is another 5-point framework for filtering and screening clients to preserve your time, and boost your income. Sound like a plan?

Full show notes and resources available at https://corbinlinks.com/cls050

I don't do many interviews on this show, but today is one exception...

The Corbin Links Show is joined by Dr. Stephen Hobbs, a true change agent who brings a "wellth" of experience in the areas of:

- Interpersonal Communication - Organizational Behavior and Dynamics - Change Management - How to create a truly creative and effective workplace - How to Be a More Effective Coach and Consultant - Models for Rapid and Total Company Transformation - and...

Well, I'll let the interview speak for itself. So get ready to get inspired, pick up some new tools for your consulting and coaching toolkit, and take notes.

Get show notes, resources and links from today's episode at https://corbinlinks.com/cls049

Let's say a company hires you to support a big, really big project or program...

You’re all excited, and at first, it looks promising. There's a "new vision" at your client site, approved budget for whatever you’re hired to do, and even support from the C-suite and the full board.

All seems good.

But as you start the project, you quickly find that there are a few dissenting voices who REALLY REALLY REALLY don’t want your project to succeed. Maybe even kill it themselves, if they can.

Or they can't kill the project, at least sabotage it and make it look bad, so that their competing effort can look better. You get the idea. Today’s feature segment is aptly titled “How to Sink Project Torpedoes” and it’s spawned on by a question I received some time ago from listener Garrett---though it comes up a lot with our big-biz consulting clients.

I’m going to give you a 6-Point-Framework for dealing with project torpedoes, stalls, and challenges and suggest exact steps for these situations. You can take these steps, add them to your bat belt or consulting solutions box for future use.

PLUS a deep dive on the dreaded "change order"--and when to use it to your advantage.

Lots to share so let’s dive right in… Show notes: https://corbinlinks.com/cls048

It seems like every podcast, post, article, social media message these days pitches the siren song of "leave your clients." Take your business online, and never have to do client work again.

Or how about this: "I decided to get out of the client business altogether and do products only."

Sound familiar?

Is that really why we get into coaching and consulting? I don't know about you, but client work and helping other IS why for me. We built up a business this way and products and other goodies came much much later.

That said, I want to address a few points in today's show. Mainly:

1. Why client work, vs. product development, or something else entirely?

2. Are you really tired of client work, or is it something else?

3. The 5 key factors ALL high-achievers at some point in the journey, and how specifically to deal with each one.

4. Do you have obligations to your clients beyond mere contracts?

5. Is there really any such thing as a “customer-free” or “client-free” business?

6. What some of the biggest product creators in the world still do…

And much more.

Another fully-packed show, so let's get to it!

Full show notes for today’s episode available at:

https://corbinlinks.com/cls047

Productivity-boosting strategies from a recent VIP Mondays Rock Letter.

Full show notes and resources: https://corbinlinks.com/cls046

Got something totally different today! In this special “Mondays Rock” edition of The Corbin Links Show, I’m reading a full copy of a recent VIP-only "Mondays Rock Letter".

But Corbin, what the hell is a “Mondays Rock” letter anyway?

Stay tuned, and I’ll share how to get yours for free, week after week.

Here’s the intro from the letter...

...(Note to self: No one liked the "Speed Kills" headline from last week. Maybe a bit too negative.... This is a slightly updated version of last Mondays Rock letter.) Last weekend, I was reminded of a powerful object lesson in speed, productivity, and results… …

Tune in for the rest of the story!

Show notes and resources: https://corbinlinks.com/cls046