MEET JoAnn Youngblood King: Write Money Incorporated’s feature entrepreneur, JoAnn Youngblood King, is a CTA certified success coach, author and owner of Live Your Potential. Equipped with a diploma in Small Business Management, JoAnn is also a member of Coach Training Alliance and The International Association of Coaches. As a trainer for Project Enterprise, she helps entrepreneurs to gain access to business loans, business development services and networking opportunities. She is passionate about helping people follow their dreams. In 2008 and 2009, she was recognized as a Charles B. Benenson Entrepreneur of the Year Nominee. She earned Charles B. Beneson Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist in 2014. JoAnn is committed to her clients’ success and happiness. She listens deeply, without judgment, and explores actions that will move her clients to the fulfilment of their goals. Read on to find out how JoAnn got started, what she did to overcome a challenge, how she markets her business and where she’s taking her company.
WMI: What were you doing before you founded Live Your Potential?
JYK: Before I founded Live Your Potential, I was working full-time as a legal secretary while pursuing my favorite hobby of reading and studying everything I could about human potential.
WMI: Tell us what inspired you to start your business?
JYK: I became interested in coaching in the late 1990’s. I saw an advertisement for the class “How to be a Life Coach”. The class description resonated with me. I went to the class and decided right there that I wanted to coach people to achieve greatness. I was already doing that with friends and family. I immediately came up with a name for my coaching business, which at the time was Higher Level. I made up some business cards and letterhead for my coaching business and started studying the coaching industry. In 2004, I attended a seminar by Walt Goodridge, Author of Turn Your Passion into Profits. During the seminar, Walt shared a quote which further motivated me to get serious about my coaching business. The quote says, “If you create and market a product or service through a business that is in alignment with your personality, capitalizes on your history, incorporates your experiences, harnesses your talents, optimizes your strengths, complements your weaknesses, honors your life’s purpose, and moves you towards the conquest of your fears, there is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY that anyone in this or any other universe can offer the same value that you do!” After that seminar, I renamed my company Live Your Potential and have gone on to help many people accomplish their goals and dreams.
WMI: Do you recommend that a life coach get certified? Why? Please also tell us about some of the best available life coach certifications.
JYK: I do recommend that a life coach become certified. I took on the role of a life coach for five years before I received my certification in 2010. After getting certified, I gained more confidence and learned about tools and strategies that I wasn’t aware of before. The certification also helped me with accountability and gave me a wonderful support system. The coach certification program I used was given by Coach Training Alliance. They are approved by The International Coach Federation. The program runs for six months.
WMI: Tell us about the services that Live Your Potential offers?
JYK: Live Your Potential provides Success Coaching through one-on-one coaching and group coaching. We also hold Success Seminars, workshops and events.
WMI: Please share three to four steps that life coaches can take to market their business?
JYK: 1) Social Media Engagement – Spend at least 10 to 15 minutes every day posting, liking and commenting on quotes, stories and links regarding your coaching topic. 2) Write Articles – Submit articles to websites such as http://www.EvanCarmichael.com and http://EzineArticles.com/ on a regular basis. 3) Network of Coaches – Joining a network of Coaches is the best way to get help, support and understanding with like-minded individuals.
WMI: When and why did you write The Next Top Success Story?
JYK: I wrote The Next Top Success Story in 2008. The idea for the book was conceived when I saw a poster advertising an upcoming television show entitled Shear Genius. This was a reality show created to showcase a top hair stylist. Being familiar with television shows in the same league as this one, I started to think about the new reality show era and why it has become so successful. I started thinking about why I was drawn to some of these programs such as American Idol, The Apprentice, America’s Next Top Model, Top Chef, and Top Design. I realized that I was attracted to these programs because they showcase everyday people, like you and me, who are putting themselves in the public eye and letting people know that they are talented, beautiful, creative, and successful just as they are right now. What I love about the participants of these shows is that they know who they are and what they are made of. They know that they are special and want to be recognized for being so. We all have the potential inside for great success. We are all the next top success story!
WMI: Share a brief synopsis of The Next Top Success Story.
JYK: In The Next Top Success Story, I share success tips, quotes and stories that helped me to realize that I have everything within me to be successful. This book helps others to realize that fact as well.
WMI: Who is your target audience, as an author and as a life coach?
JYK: Live Your Potential helps entrepreneurs and small business owners to discover, tap into and live their inherent potential for success. We specialize in working with administrative assistants, executive assistants, coordinators and support staff who are entrepreneurs at heart, people who are ready to accomplish their dreams and goals while currently working for someone else. We also work with mom entrepreneurs to help them find the time needed to start their business or take their existing business to the next level.
WMI: How has writing a book helped you to attract new life coaching customers?
JYK: Once people see that you have written a book, it gives you a certain amount of credibility in your area of expertise. I decided to write a book because I spoke with many people who expressed a desire to write a book one day. I believe that everyone has a book in them. I wanted to prove that if I write a book, you can too! I acquired more clients after writing my book because it became a point of reference to create my coaching program and workshops.
WMI: Social media networks, press releases, interviews, etc. provide a myriad of marketing opportunities. Share three to four specific marketing strategies/action steps that small business owners can take to get more exposure for their products.
JYK: 1) Word of Mouth – Even though we have become dependent on social media, there is nothing like good old fashion word of mouth advertising. If your product or service is on point, people will talk about it. 2) Joint Ventures – Joint venture partnerships are great for helping to widen your audience. 3) Speaking Engagements – Public speaking gives your audience a sneak peak of the value you can offer them. 4) Support Teams – Create or join a support team like a mastermind group to exchange ideas and strategies.
WMI: To keep your business going, you have to generate cash inflow. Tell us about two to three effective cash inflow generating strategies you’ve found effective.
JYK: 1) De-clutter – I have learned that when you clean up clutter you make room for more to come into your life. For example, by clearing out clutter, you may have an opportunity to make money by having a garage sale. 2) Temporary employment – To help make ends meet while pursuing your dreams and goals, it may be necessary to do what you have to do temporarily to get what you want permanently. 3) Prosperity Affirmations – I recite daily affirmations to stay positive in order to draw positive results to me. One of my favorite affirmations is “Money is coming to me easily and effortlessly.”
WMI: What’s next for JoAnn Youngblood King? Where do you see yourself and Live Your Potential three to five years from now?
JYK: I have a new book titled Live Your Potential and Let Your Faith Lead You to Success; the book is positioned to be a best seller. I plan to promote my new book which is the first in a series. Three to five years from now, I plan to create a Live Your Potential Empowerment Center, where entrepreneurs can come to learn about how to use their potential to have happy, healthy and successful lives.
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