Behind the Coaching With Jody

I have a group coaching program starting soon and I have been trying to find ways to show my ideal clients what it truly is like to work with me. It isn't easy to explain when it is coming from me so I reached out to my clients and they answered some questions for me.

If you have read any of my posts before, you know Jody. Jody honestly came into my life exactly when I needed someone like her. She is this brilliant mom of two, a woman who has a story that would show you how incredibly strong and resilient she is and she knows exactly what to say when I need to hear it.

There are people in your life that you meet and you just know you are meant to be lifelong friends. Jody is someone that I can talk to about anything and she will either just listen and be my cheerleader or she will give me advice and keep me moving forward.

Jody was the first person to take a chance on me. She was one of the two women who attended my first blogging workshop. She was the first person to be my guinea pig during our blogging intensive weekend. The weekend that helped me to shape my coaching programs into what they currently are.

An interview with my client, Jody Laird, who shares her experience of blog coaching.

Jody is the most real, the most relatable and the most honest and caring woman that I have ever met and to have her in my corner, cheering me on is one of the greatest blessings in my life.

So here is Jody, answering all my questions that I threw at her. Please please if you do nothing else today but go and follow her journey then you have made the right decision. Your life will change through her words and her experiences.

INTERVIEW WITH CLIENT JODY LAIRD BLOGGING

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.

I’m a mom of 2 amazing little teachers with a dream of more outside the mom-life. I want to take the gifts and experiences that the Divine has given me and put them to use! I have a loving and live-away husband who does everything he can to provide for this family and I want to open up the financial doors to shift gears and bring him home.

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO START A BLOG?

There are many ways for women to use their voices through stories to influence - Samantha is teaching me about how blogging can be one of them.

HOW DID YOU LEARN ABOUT SAMANTHA LAYCOCK?

Samantha and I have been each other's cheerleaders, unprofessional coaches and teachers for years. It wasn't until Samantha invited me to one of her workshops that I was hooked on her skills as a blogging mentor.

WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO START LOOKING FOR HELP WHEN IT CAME TO BLOGGING?

I am clueless, hopeless and unorganized when it moves past me getting my words down on paper or into the written form. I am a speaker by nature and I move people with non-verbals. Samantha takes all the tools I use in communication and turns them into the pretty images and ideas that highlight a blog post. When I tried to do it on my own I sat in front of my computer screen for hours and walked away in tears… there are some people that have a gift. Sam is one of those when it comes to blogging.

WHAT WERE YOUR EXPECTATIONS GOING INTO WORKING WITH SAMANTHA LAYCOCK BLOGGING?

My expectations at the beginning were to feel like I had a new world that I could use to reach people… she showed me many. My expectations were to learn… and Sam became a living textbook. Blogging is like learning a second language… Sam is a skilled interpreter!!!

DID SHE MEET THOSE EXPECTATIONS?

Sam continues to meet these expectations! There are so many levels to blogging. I would say the first one is to find out what you enjoy about it. For me, it was getting my story out and seeing the end result. I don't enjoy the process in the middle at all.

And Sam recognized that in working with me and adjusted her services to fit what I needed. I started to pull away thinking blogging wasn't for me and instead Sam framed it that once I understood the idea of what a blog was for, what I needed was a manager in the second stage of my business. And she took me to the next level! How many people out there can grow with you?

WHAT SURPRISED YOU MOST ABOUT HER COACHING?

What I would say surprises me most about her coaching is that she continues to be non-pressure yet encouraging. I just stepped out of the financial industry - talk about negative pressures!! It was toxic. Any sort of shaming from coaches just shut me down and I found it very counter-productive. Sam would encourage me in the most indirect ways that would work… she could read me. She learns about you as she works with you. She genuinely cares about your success and that makes her successful.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH SAMANTHA?

My experience in working with Samantha has been extremely rewarding. In both a professional - get a blog up and running perspective, but also within a mental health perspective. Samantha has added tools to my toolbelt that I now use with my clients.

HOW HAS HER COACHING IMPACTED YOUR BUSINESS/BLOG?

Her coaching has impacted my business number 1 by getting me out there, helping me believe in myself enough that my story needs to be heard too. #2. Her coaching has helped me be determined and not quit on myself to recognize that things take time… watching her within her own business and have her own transparency and success has been an inspiration.

WHAT FEATURES OF HER COACHING DO YOU LOVE/HATE?

I love how dedicated she is to what she does. She never quits even knowing how tough being a business owner can be at times. She has an inner drive that inspires.

I love that she is willing to try new things and is open to suggestions from those around her in the industry.

I hate that she isn't as popular as Oprah yet because her personality and drive and who she is as a person mean that she deserves everything amazing in this world.

I love and hate that she is relatable as a mom when she coaches. Sometimes she isn't able to fully focus on herself or her business cause she still has littles at home screaming for her attention. And while this at times helps moms really feel a connection to her, I fear it can also be a part of what is holding Sam back. But soon enough the house will be quiet and we will all be wishing for those tiny hands to be bugging us… so its a love/hate relationship ;)

WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT HER BLOGGING SERVICES?

I would change the backdrop when she does her live videos. Some kind of interactive wall that has interchangeable tips for bloggers or something… let's brainstorm when we connect this week, k?

HOW LIKELY WOULD YOU RECOMMEND SAMANTHA LAYCOCK BLOGGING TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS?

1000%

HOW DIFFICULT WAS IT FOR YOUR QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED?

Samantha is the most approachable, loving, compassionate person you will ever deal with. Zero difficulties in talking to her about anything.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?

I love you Sam <3

I wanted to say a HUGE thank you to Jody for answering my questions. I may have cried a little bit during the reading of the answers. Again, I am incredibly lucky to have this woman in my life.

If you are ready to start your blog, now is the time. Blogfluent starts on May 10. Join the 6-month blog coaching program that breaks down the blogging process into easily understandable steps. Or if group coaching isn't your thing, I have space for 1:1 coaching clients as well. I can't wait to watch you begin a blog based on your stories and your experiences. See you on Monday.