Today, Neil delves into the often unavoidable experience of rejection in the tutoring business. Neil discusses various scenarios where tutors may face disappointment, such as no-shows, students quitting, or not being hired by prospective clients. Neil encourages listeners to reframe their responses to rejection, viewing it as an opportunity for growth and learning rather than a setback.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Experiencing rejection is a common aspect of running a tutoring or coaching business. It's important to recognise that rejection is rarely personal and often reflects a mismatch rather than a failure on your part.

How you respond to rejection is within your control. You can either take it personally and feel discouraged or reframe the situation as an opportunity to learn and grow.

If you encounter frequent rejections, analyse the reasons behind them. Understanding the context and feedback can help you identify areas for improvement and adapt your approach.

When students or clients decide to leave, it's essential to handle the situation with empathy. Acknowledge their reasons and keep the door open for future opportunities, as circumstances may change.

Implement the "Don't Deal With Tossers" (DDWT) rule by filtering out clients who are not a good fit for your services. This includes those who are primarily price-driven or who do not engage meaningfully with your offerings.

BEST MOMENTS

"Part of being in business is the disappointment that comes from feeling rejected. It's rarely personal in my experience."

"If they're eliminating themselves from the game, then they're probably not a good fit for you."

"Any rejection, any fall down is a valuable chance to learn, adapt and do better."

"If it's a no, it's a not yet really, isn't it?"

"At the end of the day, rejection is just one of those things. What we choose to think and feel about it is just up to us."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

www.Neilcowmeadow.com

[email protected]

HOST BIO

Neil Cowmeadow is a maverick peripatetic guitar teacher from Telford with over 19 years’ experience in the business of helping people. Learn how to start, grow and love your business with Neil’s invaluable advice and tips without the buzzwords and BS!

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Today, Neil explores the journey of pursuing personal and professional goals, emphasising the importance of taking action despite uncertainty and fear. He likens the process to driving at night, where one can only see as far as the headlights illuminate, encouraging listeners to move forward step by step. Neil discusses the common doubts and fears that can stall progress and reassures that success takes time and persistence.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Starting a new venture, whether it's a business, relationship, or personal goal, often involves uncertainty and fear. It's important to acknowledge these feelings but not let them stall progress.

Achieving goals, whether in business or personal life, is a gradual process. Patience and persistence are essential, as the path is often long and filled with challenges.

Just like driving at night with headlights, you can only see a short distance ahead. It's crucial to take steps based on the information available to you at the moment and adjust as you progress.

As you navigate your journey, be prepared to reassess and make necessary adjustments. Each milestone reached provides valuable insights that can guide your next steps.

The journey to success can be achieved one step at a time. By continuously moving forward, even in the face of uncertainty, you can reach your goals and create your own version of success.

BEST MOMENTS

"Not everybody does it. Maybe the plan gets too big, or the problems they imagine will be encountered along the way just don't get solved up front."

"When you've got over the fact that nobody really cares, you have to get over the failure, the fall down, and start looking for the next opportunity to start again."

"You can only drive to the edge of the headlight beam. And as you get to the edge of where the headlight beam was, it's moved forward, edging you forward over and over again."

"The length of a headlight beam isn't that far, but it's enough. It's enough to get you to the next corner, the next road sign, milepost or landmark."

"You can achieve your own version of success in much the same way. Start, move, grind, adjust, grind, move, repeat."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

www.Neilcowmeadow.com

[email protected]

HOST BIO

Neil Cowmeadow is a maverick peripatetic guitar teacher from Telford with over 19 years’ experience in the business of helping people. Learn how to start, grow and love your business with Neil’s invaluable advice and tips without the buzzwords and BS!

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Neil explores the profound impact of seemingly simple advice and observations on our personal and professional lives. Drawing from his extensive experience in the tutoring and coaching business, Neil reflects on the idea that "the way you do one thing is the way you do everything," emphasising how our habits and traits manifest across various aspects of our lives.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The way you do one thing reflects how you do everything. Personal traits, such as being tidy or chaotic, often manifest in both personal and professional settings.

The phrase "you never get a second chance to create a first impression" holds true. How you present yourself and your environment significantly influences how others perceive you.

Your beliefs about yourself shape your actions. If you see yourself as organised and capable, you are likely to behave in ways that align with that self-image.

People reveal their true nature through consistent actions over time. Honest individuals are consistently honest, while those who are chaotic in one area of life are likely to be chaotic in others.

The state of your workspace can be a reflection of your overall approach to life and business. A cluttered environment may indicate a disorganised mindset, while a tidy space suggests control and efficiency.

BEST MOMENTS

"The way you do one thing is the way you do everything."

"Your business is the way it is because of the way you are."

"People eventually reveal who they are through their consistent actions."

"If your home office is piled high with old coffee cups, does that track in other areas of your life too?"

"You never get a second chance to create a first impression."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

www.Neilcowmeadow.com

[email protected]

HOST BIO

Neil Cowmeadow is a maverick peripatetic guitar teacher from Telford with over 19 years’ experience in the business of helping people. Learn how to start, grow and love your business with Neil’s invaluable advice and tips without the buzzwords and BS!

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Neil delves into the concept of identity statements and their profound impact on our self-perception and behaviour. He discusses how we are affected by external influences, leading to limiting beliefs that can hinder personal growth.

Neil provides practical strategies for reshaping self-perception and enhancing performance in both personal and professional realms.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Identity Statements Matter: The way individuals describe themselves using identity statements (e.g., "I am," "I can," "I can't") significantly influences their behaviour and self-perception. These statements serve as an operator's manual for how they navigate the world.

Absorbed Beliefs: Many people adopt beliefs about themselves from their surroundings, including family, friends, and teachers, often without questioning their validity. This can lead to false beliefs that limit personal growth and potential.

Self-Referential Processing: When individuals make identity statements, their brains engage in self-referential processing, which reinforces their beliefs and behaviours. Positive statements can lead to improved performance, while negative statements can hinder progress.

Reframing Limiting Beliefs: As a teacher or coach, it's beneficial to help students replace limiting identity statements with more empowering ones. This involves providing them with "better lies" that encourage a more positive self-image and greater potential.

Consistency in Self-Perception: People tend to act in accordance with their self-descriptions. Therefore, fostering a positive narrative about oneself is crucial, as individuals are likely to live up to or down to the statements they make about themselves.

BEST MOMENTS

"Every single one of us carries around with them a sense of who they are. And this affects how we walk, talk, think, act, even how and what we eat or drink."

"Those identity statements... are a clue to where they are mentally. And it turns out that every time we say I, especially I am, I do, I can type statements, our brains perk up and pay attention."

"People will live down or up to whatever they say about themselves. If you're saying to yourself, I'm really good at this, you're going to get a different result than if you say, I'm rubbish at this."

"Just giving them better lies. If the original identity statement from the student is going to be a limiting factor, give them something better."

"Their old identity statement was just a lie they were telling to themselves anyway. But it's a lie they're going to live up or down to."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

www.Neilcowmeadow.com

[email protected] 

HOST BIO

Neil Cowmeadow is a maverick peripatetic guitar teacher from Telford with over 19 years’ experience in the business of helping people. Learn how to start, grow and love your business with Neil’s invaluable advice and tips without the buzzwords and BS!

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Neil explores the importance of establishing effective morning routines for tutors, teachers, and coaches. Drawing from his 26 years of experience, Neil emphasises that a well-structured morning can set a positive tone for the entire day, helping individuals feel more in control and productive. He shares practical tips on incorporating essential activities such as exercise, hydration, and journaling into the morning routine, highlighting their impact on overall health and mental clarity. Neil also discusses the significance of planning the day ahead, encouraging listeners to adopt strategies from successful individuals to create their own robust launch pads for daily success. Tune in for actionable insights that can help you start, grow, and love your tutoring business!

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Importance of Morning Routines: Establishing a morning routine sets a positive tone for the day, providing a sense of control and helping to avoid a chaotic start.

Prioritise Key Activities: Focus on doing the most important tasks first in your morning routine, akin to filling a jar with big rocks before adding smaller items, ensuring that essential activities are not overlooked.

Incorporate Health and Hydration: Include movement and exercise in your morning routine, as physical health is foundational for overall well-being. Additionally, hydrate upon waking to enhance mental and physical performance.

Plan Your Day: Create a daily plan before the day begins. Writing down your tasks helps streamline your activities and reduces decision fatigue, allowing for a smoother transition from sleep to productivity.

Adapt and Communicate: Be open to testing and tweaking your routine until it works for you. Share your routine with family members to foster understanding and potentially encourage them to adopt similar strategies for a more harmonious morning environment.

BEST MOMENTS

"If you start the day with a sense of control, then the whole day is on a good foundation."

"When you're building your routine, I think it's important to do what matters most first."

"Your health is the bedrock on which everything else in your life sits."

"Expect it to be absolutely bloody rubbish to begin with. You're going to be trying stuff out."

"Everything begins in the morning. It's the launch pad for the day."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

www.Neilcowmeadow.com

[email protected]

HOST BIO

Neil Cowmeadow is a maverick peripatetic guitar teacher from Telford with over 19 years’ experience in the business of helping people. Learn how to start, grow and love your business with Neil’s invaluable advice and tips without the buzzwords and BS!

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Neil shares his personal "Rune Laws" for life, a set of 14 guiding principles that have significantly impacted his journey in tutoring, teaching, and coaching. With a focus on practical advice and a no-nonsense approach, Neil emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with positive influences, pursuing happiness, and being self-reliant. He encourages listeners to explore their limits, practice gratitude, and continuously learn, all while staying true to their own values and goals.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Surround Yourself with Positive Influences: Avoid toxic people and instead, cultivate relationships with those who inspire and uplift you. Your future is influenced by the company you keep.

Pursue Happiness and Abundance: Engage in activities that bring you joy and fulfilment. Embrace a mindset of abundance and generosity, recognising that you have the right to enjoy life and share your blessings with others.

Be Proactive and Self-Reliant: Take charge of your own life and decisions. Relying on others can lead to dependency; instead, focus on being self-sufficient and driving your own path.

Commit to Continuous Learning: Never stop expanding your knowledge. Regularly read, listen to podcasts, or engage with experts to keep your mind sharp and informed.

Practice Gratitude and Self-Acceptance: Appreciate the opportunities you have each day and focus on being content with yourself. Strive to please yourself rather than seeking validation from others, and recognize the importance of gratitude in fostering a positive outlook on life.

BEST MOMENTS

"Don't deal with tossers. The people around you matter more than you think, and your future will be just like theirs."

"If all you do is stuff that makes you happy, your life will be better. Don't do the miserable making things."

"Be self-reliant. Don't count on other people to come through for you in the clinch, because nobody is coming to the rescue."

"Explore your limits and push them. Ask yourself every day, what am I actually capable of?"

"Practice gratitude. Be happy you're not dead. Today's a gift. Tomorrow is only a promise."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

www.Neilcowmeadow.com

[email protected]

HOST BIO

Neil Cowmeadow is a maverick peripatetic guitar teacher from Telford with over 19 years’ experience in the business of helping people. Learn how to start, grow and love your business with Neil’s invaluable advice and tips without the buzzwords and BS!

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Neil explores the importance of understanding the subtle cues and changes in students' behaviour and body language as indicators of their emotional and psychological states. Drawing from his 26 years of experience in the tutoring and coaching business, Neil emphasises the significance of creating a safe and comfortable learning environment that fosters playfulness and creativity. He discusses how observing changes in posture, breathing rates, and language can inform educators about their students' well-being and learning potential. Throughout the episode, Neil encourages listeners to be aware of their own impact as educators and to cultivate a nurturing space that allows learners to thrive.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Observation of Changes: Pay attention to the physical and emotional changes in students, such as posture, facial expressions, and language patterns, as these can provide insights into their learning state and overall well-being.

Creating a Safe Environment: Establish a comfortable and secure teaching space that allows learners to feel free to express themselves and explore their potential without external pressures or distractions.

Importance of Playfulness: Recognise that playfulness is a natural human quality that can enhance the learning process. Encouraging a playful atmosphere can lead to greater engagement and creativity in students.

Baseline Awareness: Develop a baseline understanding of each student's typical behavior and emotional state. This will help in identifying any significant changes that may indicate shifts in their learning or personal circumstances.

Role of the Educator: Embrace the role of being a positive, calm, and inspiring leader. Your attitude and approach can significantly influence the learning experience and help students rediscover their creativity and enthusiasm.

BEST MOMENTS

"The face encodes the whole life. It's a palimpsest, an ongoing record."

"Conventional education isn't really about educating. It's about making people manageable."

"Good things happen in great environments. Much less so in chaotic and unsafe places."

"My job is to engender change, to create the space and let the learner freely expand into it."

"Be the calm. Be the kindness. Be the excited, enthusiastic, positive leader who inspires them."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

www.Neilcowmeadow.com

[email protected]

HOST BIO

Neil Cowmeadow is a maverick peripatetic guitar teacher from Telford with over 19 years’ experience in the business of helping people. Learn how to start, grow and love your business with Neil’s invaluable advice and tips without the buzzwords and BS!

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Neil explores the essential balance between sameness and variety in our lives and businesses. He emphasises that while sameness provides comfort and safety, too much of it can lead to stagnation, whereas variety fosters growth but can also induce chaos if overwhelming. Neil encourages listeners to embrace challenges and unexpected changes by asking themselves, "What's good about this?" He shares the idea that every adversity carries the potential for growth, likening opportunities to seeds wrapped in manure, which can lead to beautiful outcomes if nurtured. Tune in for practical insights and motivational tips to help you start, grow, and love your tutoring business.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Balance Between Sameness and Variety: Humans have a fundamental need for both sameness, which provides safety and familiarity, and variety, which encourages growth and adaptability. Striking a balance between these two is essential for well-being.

Embracing Change: Change can be categorised into progress (desired changes) and problems (undesired changes). While most people are comfortable with progress, unexpected changes can be challenging and may require us to leave behind relationships that no longer serve our growth.

Responding to Challenges: Since we cannot predict or prevent all problems, it's crucial to develop a positive response to challenges. Asking "What's good about this?" can help identify opportunities within adversity.

Finding Opportunities in Adversity: Every challenge contains the potential for growth. By training ourselves to look for the benefits hidden within difficulties, we can transform setbacks into stepping stones for success.

Growth Through Adversity: Just as roses grow from manure, personal and professional growth often comes from navigating through tough situations. Embracing and working through challenges can lead to greater rewards and achievements.

BEST MOMENTS

"We need sameness, and we need variety. The sameness is important... But the downside of that is it's low skill."

"Most of us are OK with the progress part... many around us will be uncomfortable as we grow and change."

"Truth is, we can't prevent problems from arising... If we had it, how dull would life be if everything were that predictable?"

"Every adversity contains the seed of an equivalent benefit. What's good about this?"

"If you get more manure, you can grow more roses. No manure, no roses."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

www.Neilcowmeadow.com

[email protected]

HOST BIO

Neil Cowmeadow is a maverick peripatetic guitar teacher from Telford with over 19 years’ experience in the business of helping people. Learn how to start, grow and love your business with Neil’s invaluable advice and tips without the buzzwords and BS!

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Neil shares the challenges faced by ambitious music students, particularly guitar players, who often rush to master specific riffs and tunes without establishing a solid foundation in the fundamentals of music. Drawing from his 26 years of experience, Neil shares insights on the importance of building core techniques and understanding the basics to avoid stagnation in a student's learning journey. He emphasises the necessity of going back to zero to install these essential skills, especially for those who believe they lack talent.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Importance of Fundamentals: Many students, especially those with natural talent or ambition, often skip the foundational skills necessary for long-term success in learning an instrument. Building a solid understanding of the basics is crucial for future progress.

Common Pitfalls in Learning: Students may rush to master specific riffs or songs without grasping the underlying principles of music, leading to frustration and stagnation in their learning journey.

Addressing Misconceptions: It's common for learners to believe they lack talent when they struggle, but the real issue often lies in their inadequate grasp of fundamental techniques and concepts.

Need for Rigorous Teaching: Instructors must be firm and diligent in reinforcing the basics, even with experienced players who may feel that revisiting foundational skills is beneath them. This approach is essential for unlocking their full potential.

Long-Term Benefits of Solid Foundations: Investing time in establishing strong fundamentals can significantly alter the trajectory of a student's musical career, enabling them to thrive and excel in their playing.

BEST MOMENTS

"Some students learn more slowly than others, while obviously some learn more quickly. Some of them need tons of guidance right down to a micro level, whilst others are comparatively loose cannons."

"In the rush to master this riff or that tune, the student focuses on just that one small thing rather than installing the fundamentals which will underpin everything going forward."

"Our own enthusiasm caused us to make the error of skipping the fundamentals, or not even knowing there were fundamentals to be skipped."

"Without the fundamentals, without what matters most, everything else is standing on very dodgy ground."

"Trying to teach someone new things when they haven't got the basics down is like putting lipstick on a pig; it doesn't make the pig any prettier."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

www.Neilcowmeadow.com

[email protected]

HOST BIO

Neil Cowmeadow is a maverick peripatetic guitar teacher from Telford with over 19 years’ experience in the business of helping people. Learn how to start, grow and love your business with Neil’s invaluable advice and tips without the buzzwords and BS!

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Neil explores the value of recognising and embracing our mistakes as opportunities for growth. Drawing from his 26 years of experience in the tutoring and coaching business, Neil emphasises the importance of revisiting old learning materials with a fresh perspective, acknowledging that our understanding evolves over time. He encourages listeners to identify areas in their lives and businesses that may not be working and to view these challenges as chances to learn and improve. By adopting a mindset that welcomes being wrong, Neil suggests that we can discover new approaches and ultimately enhance our effectiveness. T

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Embrace Being Wrong: Recognising that you may be wrong about your beliefs or methods is a crucial step towards personal and professional growth. It allows for the identification of misconceptions and the opportunity to correct them.

Continuous Learning: Revisiting old materials and experiences with a fresh perspective can reveal insights that were previously overlooked. This process of continual learning and reevaluation is essential for improvement.

Seek Excellence: If you struggle in a particular area, find someone who excels in that field and learn from them. Adopting their beliefs and approaches can lead to significant improvements in your own performance.

Change Your Approach: Sticking to ineffective methods can lead to frustration. It's important to recognise when a strategy isn't working and be willing to try new approaches to achieve better results.

Reflect on Your Life: Take time to assess different aspects of your life and business. Identifying areas that need improvement can lead to personal growth and better outcomes in your endeavours.

BEST MOMENTS

"Whenever we find we're wrong about pretty much anything at all, we really should smile and pat ourselves on the back."

"Understanding that what you currently believe or understand about the world is just the best you've managed to come up with so far is a more helpful and hopeful interpretation."

"If you really suck at something, find someone who's excellent at it. Ask them how they do it."

"It's pretty obvious that almost anything else has a better chance of outperforming what you've been doing for years, and that consistently doesn't work."

"My suggestion for today is that you look at your life, your business, look at how you live, the way you move through the world."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

www.Neilcowmeadow.com

[email protected]

HOST BIO

Neil Cowmeadow is a maverick peripatetic guitar teacher from Telford with over 19 years’ experience in the business of helping people. Learn how to start, grow and love your business with Neil’s invaluable advice and tips without the buzzwords and BS!

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/