THE BUSINESS OF BETTERING PEOPLE
By: Wendy O’Donovan Phillips and Molly Watkins

“Coaching” is a big buzzword. It seems everyone has a coach these days. And for a good reason.

“Every time you speak to your business coach, you can expect to get perspective,” says Alicia Marie Fruin, founder and managing director of People Biz, Inc., an Austin-based coaching and training company. “Ultimately, a coach acts as an objective third party [who] can help you stand back and look at the facts. That alone provides real perspective. Suddenly you see what you didn’t see before.”

People Biz, Inc. has helped hundreds of clients do just that since the year 2000. The bottom line: The company is in the business of bettering people. Its clients achieve measurable transformation in realizing their personal and professional goals.

Fruin enjoys dispelling the myths and misunderstandings about business coaching.

“It’s not training, mentoring or consulting,” she says. “In coaching, the client has the answers.”

Fruin has designed more than 100 custom training programs for hundreds of business owners in a variety of industries across the country. An entrepreneur for almost 20 years, a trainer for 16 years and a professional coach for 11 years, she is an expert in behavioral sciences, neuro-linguistics and business. Her experience allows her to help businesses reach their optimal potential, improve productivity and increase profits.

Fruin’s fellow coach, Deborah Huyer, brings more than 20 years of experience as a human resources leader, business manager, entrepreneur and consultant. Huyer’s deep expertise allows her to effectively coach clients to higher levels of performance and success. Unlike many coaches, she brings a combination of business management experience and human resources leadership to early-stage and rapid-growth companies.

“Deborah’s expertise is in her track record of leading change in organizations,” Fruin says. “She is a genius at causing organizational transformation from command-control to a true coaching culture.

“Clients agree that it’s our skill set that really sets us apart. We practice mastery level coaching in every coaching and training interaction. Only a small percentage of coaches in our industry offer mastery level coaching, and even a smaller percentage actually apply those expert skills in their work.”

Another of the most prevalent misconceptions about the coaching culture is that you’ll be told exactly what to do, when to do it and how to do it. On the contrary, a credible coach is not there to tell you what to do.

Indeed, not all coaches are created equal. There are amateur coaches who offer subjective advice, and there are strategic coaches who challenge clients to explore their options and push them out of their comfort zones.

“You are responsible for the results, not your coach,” Fruin says. “A good coach doesn’t take the credit or the blame. The moment we lose our objectivity, we are no longer of use to you.”

And it’s not just your business a terrific coach cares about. It’s you and your people.

“At our company, we specialize in people,” Fruin says. “Our services are not about our knowledge of process or business. They are about our ability to grow and develop people and organizations.”

One of the company’s most powerful offerings is Leading Change, a 15-session program designed to show participants how to grow and thrive in a world of fear and uncertainty.

“We try to live calm, predictable and controllable lives by ignoring our problems, which often leads to more difficulties,” Fruin says. “This program offers a way for participants to change their way of thinking and learn how to deal with the anxiety of change.”

One past participant calls the program “eye-opening and life-changing,” while another says, “Leading Change has changed my view of this world … I have found courage and purpose.”

The “Targeted Transition” course, led by Huyer, focuses on helping people find the right job. One participant came into this class thinking there was little left for her to learn. She quickly discovered she was very wrong and now admits, “I learned so much about a job search in this economy that I will be forever grateful.”

“We often say in our business that transformative change is not a complicated process,” Fruin says. “It is about applying the right skills and tools in the right way at the right time. In every coaching and training interaction, we provide practical skills and tools that, when applied, lead to measurable transformation for the client.”

When they’re not guiding others through journeys of transformation, Fruin and Huyer are actively working on themselves and focusing on their families.

A mother of four and grandmother of two, Fruin is a yoga enthusiast, as well as a runner. Huyer is an avid hiker and high-country backpacker in the Pacific Northwest, and she annually participates in the Susan G. Komen three-day, 60-mile Walk for the Cure.

Even the most experienced professionals can learn something spectacular about themselves, their business and their limitless potential from these coaching masters.

For more information on the coaching and training services offered by People Biz, Inc., call 512-989-2230, or visit www.peoplebizinc.com.

New to People Biz, but not new to coaching, Paula combines her extensive background in human development, non-profit management, and social and cultural entrepreneurship with her specialization in teaching new methods of learning for personal, organizational, and cultural change. Bringing her expertise in creating new teams and working with existing teams on project creation, design, and implementation, Paula has successfully coached groups and executives in a number of diverse areas. Together with her deep study of life she fosters understanding and action in her clients for their extraordinary growth and expansion, digging deep to uncover what transforms her clients’ lives and work.

Paula holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Grinnell College, a Master’s Degree from Carnegie Mellon University, and coaching training from Newfield Network. As a non-profit executive and philanthropic manager, Paula launched successful ventures for the benefit of society and culture, raising millions of dollars and creating long-lasting social interventions.

Having served as an Executive Director and as a Development Director, Paula inquires deeply into conversations about money and other resources and how current structures and systems perpetuate disease or promote healing for ourselves, our businesses, and our world.  Simultaneously intrigued with social and cultural progress, Paula found an outlet for her enthusiasm for curiosity and change in campaign organizing, first in politics, and later for non-profits, advocating for a number of issues about which she is passionate, including responsible stewardship of the earth, self-expression through art, and the ongoing creation of peace and justice, globally and in our homes.

Says Paula, “I chose People Biz for a number of reasons. The most important one is that People Biz is founded and operates on values that are wholly my own: people before profit, excellence in service, gratitude, ambition, and truth in the service of personal and professional growth.”

A coach is trained in the ability to observe your inner game and support you in designing actions and practices to produce new results in your outer game. Do you know where your game could improve?  Wherever you are, there is always something undiscovered, a new layer of bliss, and the next level of creation available for you. Your life’s work deserves a coach. Paula Fracasso can help!

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“We are pleased to announce a new prize for the Make Mine a Million $ Business 2011 competitions that is sure to accelerate your business growth to the million-dollar level.

Beginning in July, 2011, you will have the opportunity to participate in a facilitated group coach/training program called Blast! Count Me In Business Accelerator Program. This program will provide the professional coaching, relevant business training, accountability and peer support needed to help you follow your concrete plan toward revenue growth. The goal of the program is for each participant to achieve measurable transformation for themselves and their business by removing emotional barriers, getting into action by being focused on their goals and working their business plan. Most participants will experience a 30% or higher revenue growth. It works if you work it! Here is how the program will be implemented:

· This is a six-month program with no more than 10 participants per cohort group, with a group leader that is a trained coach and facilitator.

· Each participant will have a buddy or accountability partner in the program.

· The program curriculum includes several classes each on personal foundation, knowing your numbers, marketing plans (including social media) and building your teams.

· There are 4 sessions the first month, followed by 3 per month for the next 5 months.

· The program is conducted over the phone in 75-minute sessions.

· All calls are recorded in case of participant absence, and all sessions are confidential.

· The flow of the calls covers participant check-in, coaching, a review of the week’s business principles, Q&A, wrap up and assignments.

· There are also several opportunities for you to give us feedback on your experience in the program.

· The program includes 20 group coach-training sessions, a specially-designed student notebook, all forms needed for the course, one complimentary coaching session with the group leader, and 10% off all individual coaching packages for one year.

· The value of this six- month program is $1,500. The program is provided to you free of charge, except for a fee $150 to offset administration and materials costs.

The program is designed and facilitated for Count Me In by Alicia Marie Fruin of People Biz Inc.

ADDITIONAL PRIZES

Along with inclusion into Blast! Count Me In Business Accelerator Program, you will receive:

· An American Express Business Gold Rewards card with 50,000 membership rewards points. You will be individually notified by American Express to receive your card.

· One year’s Legislative membership to Women Impacting Public Policy;

· Special consideration for PR opportunities throughout the year, and

· Inclusion in the Make Mine a Million $ Business Yahoo group.

Once you have completed your Pitch Winner prize of the introductory cycle of coaching, you may advance to this program. Unfortunately, we can no longer fund individual coaching.

We’re excited about this new program and the promise of stronger accountability and greater revenue growth it holds for each of you. Get ready to soar!

Believe in You!

Nell Merlino, President and Founder of Count Me In”

Hosted by Count Me In, the nation’s leading not-for-profit organization providing tools, resources, and community support for women entrepreneurs, the event was the largest ever gathering of women entrepreneurs pitching their businesses in competition.  Over 300 women participated, and Robin was one of 50 who walked away as a winner.

“I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit.  I have a big vision for my company, and I want to impact the city with beautiful spaces,” says Robin.  She shared with KVUE that she was inspired by her Business Coach, Alicia Marie Fruin, to participate in the event. Click here to see her full interview.

Robin, we’re honored to have you as a client, and we look forward to your 1 million dollar day!

We’d like to congratulate our clients who walked away with awards:

Wendy Phillips with Big Buzz Brands
Robin Bond with Robin Bond Interiors
Lindsey Tyner with Alt-Creative
Diane Dean with Epiphany Counseling and Wellness Center

Way to go, ladies!

Christopher Carbone’s article about Dr. Rob, as his patients call him, reveals how “his daily work and community outreach go beyond removing the physical pain that his patients are feeling.  The stereotype of the aloof, overly clinical and in-a-big-rush doctor is one that Hausman consciously works against each day.  Having built up a lot of confidence in himself and his ability to run his own business, Hausman is looking forward to growing more as he continues to provide a positive, welcoming environment for his patients.  ‘Helping someone experience less pain today than they otherwise would is significant,’ Hausman said.  ‘That’s the neat part of my job, there’s a more instant gratification: people usually do feel better when they walk out.’”  Read full article here.

The article about Medicine in Motion, also by Christopher Carbone, reveals that Dr. Pyron’s “decision to open her own clinic was based on wanting to fill a niche in the health care field in Austin.  The most rewarding aspect is the conversations that happen behind closed doors, when she realizes the impact her work is having, and the bridges she’s building for her patients.  ‘It’s as simple as helping somebody.  They’re injured and I help them get better, or I help them through some process,’ Pyron said. ‘It’s rewarding to create an environment where someone can share a conversation about something they feel vulnerable about – and in health care there’s a lot of that – and you’re able to provide that for them.’”  Read full article here.

We’re so fortunate to have such inspiring clients.  Congratulations, Dr. Rob and Dr. P!

Alicia Marie will discuss different ways to take “mental” advantage of the new year, how and why everyone should set measurable goals, how to get a fresh start in 2011, and much more! 

Have a few questions in mind on this topic?  Call into the show and have Alicia answer them on the air!  Just call 347-637-1318 anytime during the show.

Real power.

Alicia Marie Fruin explores the nature of power.

Alicia Marie Fruin

So what is real power, what is the nature of power? How do we access power? When do we feel powerless? Is there a difference between real power and conventional power?

Dwelling in these questions has in and of itself positively affected my work, my life, my purpose. When I ask these questions, I am filled with insights into my own internal and external motivations. It is my intention to share these insights here and to leave you knowing that you already have all that it takes to be authentically powerful!

It seems part of our confusion about power is in the different meanings we have for power and how we view power.

So, ‘what is power’? The conventional view is typically expressed as control, authority, status or strength. Often, when using the word power, we have in mind the idea of controlling the actions of someone or something. We speak of will power or controlling our behavior or controlling our children etcetera.

In George Orwell’s 1984, the main character Winston is considering the control-based society in which he lives and comes to the realization ‘they can make you do and say anything but they can’t make you believe it’. So perhaps power, viewed as control is an illusion.

Frequently we mean strength when we use the word power. We refer to physically strong people as powerful. We might call a nation powerful based on its military strength. In other words, the ability to inflict harm by a person, group or nation. At its very core all this is, is intimidation, bullying and it generates fear. So perhaps power, as strength is an illusion.

Power as authority? Most of our society is set up as such. We all know that just because someone has authority, it does not give them power. How many figureheads have we seen in large companies? How many times have we ‘pulled rank’ on our children ‘because I said so!’ just to have it backfire on us later.

What we have learned and often teach our children is that by virtue of position, people in authority have power. For example; teachers, parents, and police officers. Power through authority, an illusion maybe? At its best, it is not consistently effective or sustainable. I would also say that this belief system leaves the vast majority of us feeling powerless!

Climbing the ladder of success? This is the one I believe to be the most addictive, the attempt to find a suitable place for ourselves within a hierarchy or ranking system. Could be in our neighborhood, could be in the PTA, could be at your place of business, or even within your family. Ranking or status can be based on wealth, prestige and physical attributes. Look at how we revere our athletes or education, a PhD behind your name, now there is power.

See if you recognize yourself just a little here ‘If I could just have some of these attributes like more education, more beauty or more money. I could have the power to control circumstances to my advantage; others will look up to me. I will feel happy and accepted.’

My definition of real power; Real power is about being able to transform results into a sustainable reality. It is also the capacity to translate your intention into reality. Webster’s definition which I also like… the ability to act or produce an effect.

Conventional power has us react to life in fear, seeking control, force or status, hiding behind all the things we are not, the notion or belief in conventional power is in and of itself what holds you back from experiencing real power.

We have all experienced real power before. Some of us daily, some of us have moments at a time and others of us even less often. Take a moment and remember your last experience of real power. What were the qualities or circumstances of that experience?

Real power is identifiable by its absence of fear.

• Imagine the power of someone who is no longer ruled by fear, someone who is, therefore, immune to manipulation and control by others, someone who has moved to a new level of awareness.
• Imagine the quiet confidence and power of someone who is no longer addicted to the approval and affirmation of others, someone who is in touch with his or her real self.
• Imagine that this person is whole and complete even without their job, or their family or their status.

Now imagine that this person with this quiet confidence, this person who no longer needs approval is you, think about it, what would life be like? What could you do in your business? Now imagine what you could do in your life!

Women-owned businesses seek ways to grow… About five years ago, I met Sharmila Melwani, mother of a toddler, who could whip up a batch of cookies so delicious she decided to make a business out of selling them. Like many moms, she launched her business from her home kitchen, but when things took off about six months later, she moved Cookies By Shar to a commercial kitchen in a Davie warehouse. Melwani loved the idea that she could earn money and still control her own work schedule. She began cranking out the cookies and continued to bake even during the recession, landing big accounts such as Epicure and Whole Foods in Florida. Earlier this year, Melwani moved the business to a new and larger commercial kitchen. She set new and larger goals as well. She wants to take her cookie business national and grow it into a million-dollar business. While the past decade saw women juggling responsibilities and priorities and starting business in record numbers, there’s a new focus going forward — growth. “You’re going to see a lot of programs and support to help women grow their small businesses into more significant businesses,” says Gwen Martin, interim director of the Center for Women’s Business Research. “That’s where the emphasis is going to be.” Getting to the next level, thus far, has proved difficult for women business owners. Women still are starting businesses at a faster rate than men. But only 3 percent of the 10 million women-owned businesses in the country have been able to break through the million-dollar revenue barrier, according to the Center for Women’s Business Research. That’s an insanely small percentage. Six percent of men-owned businesses are clearing the $1 million mark. Business experts believe many of the same factors that spark females to start a company are holding them back from expanding, for example work/life balance. Like Melwani, most still have many other demands on their time, particularly at home and in the community. And, there haven’t been a lot of role models, so many lack confidence or desire to make a leap. “There’s a big difference in starting a business and growing it,” Martin says. “Most don’t have the skills or knowledge of how to make that bridge.” BIG CONTRIBUTION In Florida, more than 700,000 women-owned businesses contribute as much as $125 billion to the state’s economy. Some are sizable. At least 50 of the women-led businesses are larger than $3 million in revenue. Even though the recession has challenged entrepreneurs, many feel that number can be even higher. Women are beginning to help each other. On the national front, Nell Merlino, founder of Count Me In, and the Make Mine A Million Dollar Business program, has made it a goal to pump up the sales volume of women-owned businesses. Her group is encouraging more of them to aim for the million-dollar mark or at least shoot for substantially larger revenue. Locally, The Commonwealth Institute South Florida studies women-led businesses and their leaders. The group discovered that women who want to grow their businesses want more forums to bounce ideas off their peers and it has created those opportunities. One of the most successful tools is coaching. Merlino says most of the women with multimillion-dollar businesses have had a coach guide them through the tough spots, someone to hold them accountable when they fall short of a goal. “Coaches help you tap into your own wisdom to figure out your next action or what’s getting in your way,” explains Alicia Marie, a business coach and consultant specializing in women-owned businesses. Another tool is learning to outsource and delegate, a solution to the work/life balance issues. Marie calls it “building a transition team.” Suggestions include bartering, hiring a college student, a professional accountant or asking your kids to pitch in. HIGH-END CLOTHING Kim Bolufe has owned three retail shops in South Florida for more than 15 years. Her stores sell stylish, high-end clothing. As buyers cut their shopping budgets, Bolufe finds herself traveling more to make better purchases and keep merchandise fresh. She also has closed a newly opened store in the Dadeland Mall. Bolufe says her goal is to not only weather the recession but to boost the revenue of the existing stores and her online business. She has strategically hired and trained managers to run operations while she’s on the road. “It’s important to delegate,” she says, but do it smartly. “Always know what’s going on.” To grow, experts advise women they must get a full picture of their financials. Martin says women have the ability to play a big role in the economic recovery. Already, they employ more than 13 million people and generate $1.9 trillion in revenue. She’s convinced those numbers will get larger in the next few years. “These are not just little businesses out of the home,” she says. “That’s not a bad image, but it’s not the only image.”