Start With the Right Steps

Time-Stamped Key Points

0:00 – Opening Question for Michael
John asks Michael, one of the newest members, what would be most valuable to discuss.

0:30 – Best Practices for Starting
Michael asks for best practices as someone just getting started, noting that he has coaching experience through sales teams and martial arts, plus some consulting experience.

1:00 – Live in the Software First
John tells Michael that the Profit Acceleration Software is the place to live for now.

1:20 – Start Here Section
John points Michael to the “Start Here” area in the software, where the key onboarding tabs open.

1:40 – Book the Kickoff Call
John reinforces that the first major step is booking the kickoff call with Zoe.

2:00 – Pre-Launch Checklist
Michael confirms he has already submitted the skills questionnaire and is working through the checklist.

2:31 – Credit Card Requirement
John explains that the pre-launch checklist includes providing a credit card because the CRM provider requires it for monthly messages, emails, texts, and calls.

3:05 – Learn the 12 Strategies
John says the best practice is to understand the 12 strategies, especially the ones more unique to Focused.com.

3:25 – Unique Strategy Areas
The key unique areas include Market Dominating Position, Compelling Offer, the lead generation approach using the conversion equation, and alliances and joint ventures.

3:45 – Simulator as Sales Demonstration
Once a coach understands the 12 strategies, the simulator becomes a powerful sales demonstration.

4:24 – Get Your First Three Clients
John introduces the Get Your First Three Clients area as one of the most valuable innovations inside the system.

4:56 – Magnetic Factor Training
John highlights the Magnetic Factor as exceptional training around communication and client attraction.

5:18 – Get Your First Client Call
John points Michael to the Thursday 3 PM ET Get Your First Client call as the most important call for someone who does not yet have clients.

6:16 – Focus Like a Laser on Step Two
John says to focus heavily on step two because the strategies and simulator are the foundation of what the coach sells.

6:34 – Strategies Are the Solutions
The 12 strategies become the solutions the coach uses to solve client problems.

7:06 – Phil’s Question on Navigation
Phil asks about navigating the redesigned system and understanding where things now live.

8:08 – Basic Navigation Tour
John shows the question mark in the upper right corner, which allows coaches to launch the basic navigation tour.

8:45 – Dashboard Tour
The dashboard tour shows where functionality now lives inside the redesigned software.

9:23 – Software Training
John points to Profit Acceleration Software Basics and Coaching Portal training for deeper software support.

10:23 – Simulations and Assessments
The dashboard shows completed assessments and simulations.

10:43 – Convert Simulation to Jumpstart 12 PAS
John highlights the ability to convert a simulation into a Jumpstart 12 PAS so coaches do not have to do the work twice.

11:17 – Client Action Steps
The dashboard can show all action steps or filter specifically to client action steps.

11:22 – Message Center and KPI Tracking
John points out the message center and the ability to track client KPIs.

12:08 – Customize the Software
Coaches can customize their Profit Acceleration Software with a logo, colors, favicon, and theme.

13:00 – Practice Simulations
John shows how to open and practice simulations from the software.

14:09 – Business Fundamentals Training
The business fundamentals area includes marketing, finance, and training on creating and customizing offers.

14:19 – Offer Setup Training
The offer training walks through naming, pricing, and articulating features and benefits.

14:50 – Sales Excellence Training
John notes that sales excellence training is new and will eventually have its own page.

15:16 – Lead Generation Training
The lead generation section includes the buyer’s journey, future buyers, soon-to-buy buyers, and now buyers.

15:17 – Niche Debate and ICP Training
There is training on whether to niche and how to build an ideal client persona or avatar.

15:30 – Acceleration Paths
John explains several acceleration paths, including business owner to coach, military coaching, mentorship challenge, coaching quick wins, Valpak ads, and friends and family.

16:17 – AI Coaching Dojo
John calls the AI Coaching Dojo one of the most valuable innovations after PAS.

16:18 – 12 Strategy Agents
The first 12 agents train coaches on the 12 strategies, quiz them, answer questions, and provide tutorials.

16:56 – Nadia the Networker
John explains that Nadia can help improve elevator pitches and role play networking conversations.

17:07 – Oscar the Objection Handler
Oscar can help coaches prepare for likely questions or objections before meeting with a client.

17:40 – Argo the Answer
Argo can help generate solutions to business owner problems, similar to Karl’s live event problem-solving approach.

18:26 – AI Training Area
John shows where to find AI training and “Meet the Agents.”

18:50 – Weekly Call Schedule
John explains how to find and join weekly calls from the Events and Calls area.

19:00 – Open Office Hours
Open Office Hours are described as a “drive-through Geek Squad” where support can help with technical problems in real time.

19:40 – Weekly Call Recordings
Recordings from the past 18 to 24 months are available inside the platform.

20:22 – Get Your First Client Recordings
The foundational Get Your First Client recordings are available, though users need to keep loading more to access older calls.

21:13 – Search Recordings
Coaches can search recordings by topic, such as prospecting presentations.

21:36 – Business Coaching Secrets Podcast
John says listening to Karl’s Business Coaching Secrets podcast was a game changer for him.

22:00 – Get Your First Clients Podcast
John mentions a newer Get Your First Clients podcast.

22:22 – Past Events and Summits
John points to past events like the Lead Generation Summit and Conversion Summit, but advises new coaches to talk to their advisor before buying extra recordings.

23:16 – Marketing Turnkeys and Templates
John shows resources like editable Canva templates, strategy guides, social media templates, ad idea banks, scripts, forms, agreements, and books.

25:20 – Marketplace
The marketplace shows some partners and possible places to find support.

25:59 – Partner Link Question
Phil asks about the partner link and partner program.

26:24 – Starter License
John explains that every coach gets a starter license for free if they know someone who could become a good business coach.

26:47 – Partner Program Overview
Partners purchase licenses from Focused.com and build a team of coaches underneath them.

27:39 – Partner Revenue Structure
The partner charges the coach, pays Focused.com for software, tech support, advisors, and services, and keeps the residual.

28:25 – Jacob’s Update
Jacob says he is in the Launch Pad beta and Exit Acceleration Software and has a prospect to run through the beta program.

29:00 – Follow the Steps
Jacob advises newer coaches to follow the steps and take their time because there is a lot inside the system.

29:51 – Business Acceleration OS
John explains that the software will eventually be rebranded as Business Acceleration OS with the tagline Start, Grow, Exit.

30:07 – Full Lifecycle Support
With Launch, PAS, and Exit Acceleration, coaches will be able to support the full business lifecycle.

30:45 – Old System Comparison
John reflects on the old days of PowerPoint slides and telephonic Ask the Expert calls compared with the current toolset.

31:12 – Ty’s Question
Ty asks about the Get Your First Client podcast and whether it is a replay of the calls.

31:50 – Separate Podcast
John confirms the podcast is separate and says it is very good.

32:47 – Mark’s Restaurant Question
Mark asks about approaching restaurant owners, especially after past restaurant opportunities did not become clients and later closed.

34:33 – Restaurants Have Thin Margins
John says many coaches avoid restaurants because margins are thin, though some coaches have had success improving restaurant profitability.

35:21 – Ask the Community
John suggests asking in the Facebook group who has successfully closed or attempted to close restaurant owners.

36:14 – Additional Restaurant Resource
John recommends another coach with hospitality, restaurant, and food service experience as a possible resource.

36:54 – Courtney on Restaurant Targeting
Courtney says that if a coach wants to focus on restaurants, they need to make a list of the biggest problems those businesses have.

37:10 – Problems You Can Solve
The key is identifying business problems that the coach can actually solve.

38:25 – Match the Problem and Solution
Courtney uses the analogy that optometrists do not advertise haircut services and hairdressers do not advertise brain surgery.

40:01 – Focus on Revenue, Profit, and Cash Flow Problems
Courtney says coaches are looking for businesses struggling with revenue, profit, and cash flow, regardless of industry.

41:11 – List 50 Solutions
John references Karl’s advice to list 50 solutions to the most common challenges in the target industry.

42:17 – Use Argo to Improve the List
John suggests pasting the 50 solutions into Argo the Answer and asking the AI to improve the list.

42:43 – AI Dojo vs. Generic AI
Courtney explains that the AI Coaching Dojo is trained on real Focused.com material, case studies, and coaching experience, not generic hallucinated answers.

44:48 – Human in the Loop
The AI Dojo is paired with advisors and training, giving coaches a more complete support system.

44:59 – Vera the Validator Example
Mark explains that he used Vera the Validator to review an email and score it against the conversion equation.

46:11 – Dojo Privacy Question
Phil asks whether information used in the Dojo stays private and does not go into the general public domain.

46:36 – Vera Can Assess Websites
John explains that Vera can go outside to assess websites, but the information she provides back is not pushed into the public domain.

47:17 – Funny Advertising Example
Phil shares a picture of an auto glass company with broken glass in the van’s back window.

48:00 – Advertising and Integrity Lesson
Courtney says the example reminds coaches to stay in integrity and build their own businesses while claiming they can help others build theirs.

49:04 – HVAC MDP Example
John shares an HVAC ad: “We are right on time or you don’t pay a dime,” calling it a strong MDP-style message.

50:22 – Advertising Can Backfire
The group discusses whether the broken-glass van was clever or harmful advertising.

51:54 – Humor and Wordplay
The group jokes about glass repair and “get your glass together.”

52:39 – Closing Reminder
John closes by reminding everyone that three meaningful conversations with business owners per day is the key.

Five Key Takeaways

• New coaches should focus first on onboarding, the 12 strategies, the simulator, and the Get Your First Three Clients path.
• Do not get lost in the software. Use the tours, advisor support, and roadmap to stay focused.
• The AI Coaching Dojo is a major support tool because it is trained on Focused.com’s frameworks, case studies, and coaching material.
• When targeting an industry like restaurants, start with the problems they have and the solutions you can actually provide.
• Coaches should use the system, calls, podcasts, templates, and AI agents, but the real key is still three meaningful business-owner conversations per day.

Notable Quotes

“Focus like a laser beam on step two.”

“Those are solutions that you use to solve client problems.”

“This demonstration is going to blow them away.”

“Don’t start clicking around too much.”

“Follow the steps, man. Take your time because you’ll get lost in the sauce here.”

“You’re looking for the ones that have the problems that you can solve.”

“You don’t care what industry they’re in.”

“List 50 solutions.”

“They’re not guessing. They’re using real world case studies.”

“You have a human in the loop.”

“Three meaningful conversations with a business owner per day is the key.”

Action Steps from the Call

1. Start inside the Profit Acceleration Software.
2. Book your kickoff call with your advisor.
3. Complete the pre-launch checklist.
4. Submit the required business and setup information.
5. Focus first on onboarding.
6. Focus like a laser on step two.
7. Learn the 12 strategies.
8. Pay special attention to MDP, compelling offer, the conversion equation, and alliances/JVs.
9. Learn the simulator as your sales demonstration.
10. Go through Get Your First Three Clients.
11. Study the Magnetic Factor training.
12. Attend the Thursday Get Your First Client call if you do not yet have three clients.
13. Use the basic navigation tour if you are unsure where things live.
14. Use the dashboard tour to learn the redesigned software.
15. Practice inside the simulator.
16. Convert simulations into Jumpstart 12 PAS when appropriate.
17. Customize your software branding.
18. Review business fundamentals training.
19. Review offer and product setup training.
20. Review sales excellence training.
21. Review lead generation training.
22. Use AI Coaching Dojo to learn and practice.
23. Practice networking language with Nadia.
24. Prepare for objections with Oscar.
25. Generate solutions with Argo.
26. Use open office hours when you need tech support.
27. Search weekly call recordings by topic.
28. Listen to Business Coaching Secrets.
29. Listen to the Get Your First Clients podcast.
30. Use resources like strategy guides, templates, scripts, forms, and books.
31. If you are a partner, learn the Team Builder Dashboard.
32. If targeting restaurants, identify the biggest problems they have.
33. Make sure those problems match your solutions.
34. Create or improve a list of 50 solutions for the industry.
35. Use Argo to expand or improve that list.
36. Use Vera the Validator to review outreach or website effectiveness.
37. Look for MDP examples in everyday advertising.
38. Have three meaningful conversations with business owners each day.

Resources & Tools Mentioned

• Advanced Strategy Mastermind
• Profit Acceleration Software / PAS
• Start Here
• Kickoff Call
• Advisor Support
• Pre-Launch Checklist
• Skills Questionnaire
• Onboarding Portal
• Focus Business Suite / FBS
• Jumpstart 12
• Simulator
• Get Your First Three Clients
• Magnetic Factor
• Curiosity Trail
• Get Your First Client Call
• Basic Navigation Tour
• Dashboard Tour
• Profit Acceleration Software Basics
• Coaching Portal
• Dashboard
• Assessments
• Simulations
• Jumpstart 12 PAS
• Client Action Steps
• Message Center
• KPI Tracking
• AI Agent of the Day
• Profile Customization
• Software Training
• Business Fundamentals Training
• Marketing Fundamentals
• Finance Training
• Offer Setup Training
• Sales Excellence Training
• Lead Generation Training
• Buyer’s Journey
• Ideal Client Persona / Avatar
• Acceleration Paths
• Mentorship Challenge
• Coaching Quick Wins
• Valpak Ads
• AI Coaching Dojo
• Nadia the Networker
• Oscar the Objection Handler
• Argo the Answer
• Vera the Validator
• AI Coach Assist
• Weekly Call Schedule
• Open Office Hours
• Support at Focus.com
• Weekly Call Recordings
• Business Coaching Secrets Podcast
• Get Your First Clients Podcast
• Lead Generation Summit
• Conversion Summit
• Marketing Turnkeys
• Canva Templates
• Strategy Guides
• Social Media Templates
• Marketing and Ad Idea Bank
• Scripts
• Forms and Agreements
• Digital Download Book
• Partner Program
• Starter License
• Team Builder Dashboard
• Launch Pad
• Launch Factory
• Exit Acceleration Software
• Business Acceleration OS
• Start, Grow, Exit
• Restaurants
• Hospitality
• HVAC MDP Example
• Conversion Equation
• Facebook Group