Trainer In The Spotlight - Ann Skidmore

As a change to our regular "Coach In The Spotlight" feature, we have this week put Ann Skidmore in the hot seat and asked some quick fire questions:-

If you want to attract more clients I recommend:

Go where your prospective clients go – for example I frequently attend a beautiful gym and golf club in Staffordshire and have had a latte after exercise and got chatting with various members of the Club – they find out what I do and some have hired me as their coach.

My best advice for marketing a coaching business is:

Deliver some presentations and events – attract family, friends, colleagues and ask them to bring a friend (someone you don’t know) – these events will raise your profile and also demonstrate your fantastic coaching skills which is very attractive and likely to bring about new business for you. Also write articles for local papers or articles to put on your website as free downloads.

The most inspiring speaker I’ve ever heard is:

Tony Robbins – it’s over 10 years since I met him and he still remains one of the most inspiring speakers I’ve had the pleasure of listening to – having been hugged by him he is quite simply ‘awesome’!

If I were alone on a desert island I would need to have (three luxuries that don’t include family, pets or friends) with me:

1) my favourite ‘Cinderella’ shoes – covered in Swarovski crystals (not for wearing – just for looking at for inspirational sparkle),

2) my IPad (to keep in touch with the world) and

3) my IPhone so I can call anyone when I’m ready not to be alone any more! (being an extrovert there would come a time when I might just speak to myself and that could be dangerous!)

People probably don’t know I…..

I used to help run Michael Crawford’s fan club (he’s the Wizard in Wizard of Oz at the moment), plus I also can Power Lift and lift twice my body weight in the ‘dead lift’ and the ‘squat’. (however I’m rubbish at ‘bench press’ and can only lift about 20 kg).

My favourite place in the world is?

New York, New York (so great they named it twice)

My definition of success is?

Doing what you love to do and getting paid for it

My favourite coaching questions is?

‘if you were coaching yourself at the moment what question would you ask yourself?!’

What advice would you give for dealing with a challenging coaching situation?

Feel the fear and do it anyway (with thanks to Dr. Susan Jeffers and her book of the same name)

The thing I love most about coaching is?

The privilege and honour of being asked to be someone’s coach and having their trust and confidence in me to do so.

What hot tip would you recommend to make attending a networking event successful?

Work the room gradually and get to know at least 6-10 people before you leave with their business cards.

What would you say to those embarking on their coaching journey?

Enjoy the journey – even when sometimes there might be challenging moments

What advice would you give to someone thinking about starting a coaching business?

Just do it!