Business Coaching Secrets Podcast

In this episode, Rode Dog and Karl Bryan dive deep into some of today’s biggest “hot button” business topics, including Tariffs, AI disruptions, and industry insights for business coaches. They also mix in some fun with Canadian culture, hockey heartbreaks, domains as investments, and give practical advice for coaches looking to future-proof their businesses.

Key Topics & Takeaways

1. Tariffs, Trade, and Global Shifts

• Rode Dog kickstarts with a question about tariffs, leading Karl to discuss how trade wars (like the US-China standoff) are shaking up global production strategies.

• Example: Apple's iPhone production moving from China to India. While tariffs achieved moving manufacturing out of China, it’s not returning to the USA, and may result in higher costs for consumers.

• Karl predicts India could be the next global superpower due to its English proficiency, young population, and established legal system.

2. The Next AI Boom: Vertical AI Agents

• AI is evolving fast; Karl introduces the idea of "vertical AI agents" — specialized AI systems designed to automate and optimize niche business processes.

• Example: Instead of broad tools like ChatGPT, imagine specially-built AI tools just for onboarding new coaching clients or handling unique business tasks.

• Takeaway: Coaches and entrepreneurs should think ahead about how to leverage AI to streamline their own offerings or improve their clients' systems.

3. Industries Most (and Least) Affected by AI

• Karl flips the usual question—rather than only asking which industries will be disrupted, consider which won’t be.

• Industries ripe for disruption: accounting, finance, healthcare (especially wearables/predictive analytics), cybersecurity, transportation (self-driving vehicles), inventory management, customer service.

• Industries less vulnerable: Pest control, roofing, painting—businesses unlikely to be targeted by tech giants or replaced by automation (at least, for now).

• Expect living and business costs to decrease over time as AI reduces overheads across sectors.

4. Adaptation Mindset: Fear, Anger, and Opportunity

• Major take-home: Don’t let fear or anger about change (like AI) hold you or your clients back. Be proactive—learn, experiment, and adapt.

• Karl reminds listeners: successful entrepreneurs are lifelong learners. Don’t get “owned” by past habits or anxieties—stay focused on yourself and actionable progress.

5. Opportunistic Investing (Stocks & Domains)

• Rode Dog puts Karl on the spot for a “stock pick”—Karl mentions Uber and Spotify as blue-chip plays, but heavily caveats this is NOT financial advice.

• Karl also shares his continued belief in premium domain names (.com > .net/.org/.ca) as a long-term, low-maintenance investment—with an eye on branding and digital real estate in the coming years.

• Note: For Canada-specific strategies, .ca domains are useful for patriotic/niche marketing, but .com still reigns for long-term value.

6. Humor & Human Touch

• The hosts riff on the heartbreak of being a Toronto Maple Leafs fan and the Canadian experience, adding levity and relatability for their audience.

• References to newsjacking (tying your marketing to current events), mindfulness, and living a long life (for maximum benefit from the AI age).

Karl’s Zen Moment / Closing Thought

• The two emotions most likely to stop you reaching your goals: Anger and fear.

• To escape the loop, focus less on the unchangeable past/fear and more on next actions. “You’ll be remembered for what you refuse to give up on.”

• It’s never too late to retool—Ray Kroc started McDonald’s at 52; Colonel Sanders in his 60s. Focus on what you help people build, not just what you say.

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about business coaching and get access to exclusive resources at focused.com

• For pre-show, daily emails, and deeper dives, subscribe to the podcast and community.

Quote of the Episode:
“No one’s interested in something you didn’t do.” – Karl quoting the Tragically Hip

Remember:
Progress equals happiness!

If you enjoyed the episode, please subscribe, share with a fellow coach, and leave a review. See you next week on Business Coaching Secrets!

Ready to elevate your coaching business? Don’t wait! Listen to this episode now and make strides towards your goals. Visit Focused.com for more information on our Profit Acceleration Software™ and join our community of thriving coaches.

Get a demo at https://go.focused.com/profit-acceleration

👉 Karl Bryan helps business coaches get clients. Period.

For more magic on how you can grow a coaching business by attracting small business owners, filling local live events, and closing more high-end coaching clients... go to https://go.focused.com/profit-acceleration

👇 For a free subscription to my magazine The Six-Figure Coach go to 

https:// thesixfigurecoach.com/get-it

🔥 Be sure to subscribe, rate, and share the show

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1477099279

🚀 Karl Bryan, Creator of Profit Acceleration Software™

Karl Bryan gets clients for Business Coaches...period. He is the Founder of The Six-Figure Coach Magazine and creator of Profit Acceleration Software™ that shows you how you can BOOST bottom-line profits of any business using the power of compounding growth without spending more on marketing. 

His goal is straightforward… to help coaches and consultants get more clients.

Get a demo of Profit Acceleration Software™ at https://go.focused.com/profit-acceleration

Karl Bryan welcomes AI strategist Caroline Hinton for a deep dive into the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence in the world of business coaching. Together, they break down how coaches are leveraging AI for efficiency, measurable ROI, client relationships, and industry relevance—while also addressing key ethical safeguards and practical tips for new coaches.

Key Topics & Takeaways:

1. AI’s Impact in Coaching

• AI is already being used (sometimes secretly) by executives and their teams, regardless of top-down adoption.

• It acts as an indispensable tool, not a threat—think of it as a “brilliant but blunt analyst” that's now part of every leadership circle.

• Three big shifts: stealth adoption, compressed decision cycles, and democratized simulation with AI tools.

2. How Coaches Are Using AI

• Massive time savings: AI can organize, summarize, and document calls and workshops in minutes instead of hours.

• Enhanced client relationships: With routine admin handled by AI, coaches focus on deeper human connections and tailored follow-ups.

• Powerful diagnostics: Tools like Profit Acceleration Software (PAS) quickly generate profit opportunity roadmaps with minimal data entry, saving time and impressing clients.

3. Demonstrating Value & ROI

• AI bridges the industry’s “credibility gap” by providing both qualitative and quantitative proof of progress.

• Tools can analyze and track changes in mindset or business performance, helping coaches and clients see tangible results and ROI, updating results in real time.

4. Ethical Considerations

• Caroline’s “Three Cs” of AI ethics: Consent (transparent use and permission), Containment (clear data boundaries and privacy), and Clarity (explainable, source-based results).

• Coaches should update contracts, anonymize sensitive information, and consider keeping an audit trail of AI interactions to build trust.

5. Advice for New Coaches

• Treat AI fluency like learning a new sport: start with prompt crafting and develop a regular practice routine.

• Focus on a “pilot loop”: select a single workflow to automate, measure improvement, and iterate.

• Harness free online training (from ChatGPT Academy, Google, YouTube) to build AI skills quickly and effectively.

6. Avoiding Overwhelm

• Filter decisions through: Bottleneck (where do you lose most time?), Anchor (pick one main tool), and Layer (slowly add new tools).

• Start small, evaluate results, and scale up as you go.

7. Staying Relevant in an AI World

• Differentiation comes from combining AI-driven insight, compelling storytelling, and an irreplaceable human touch.

• AI streamlines precision and analysis; coaches add value through empathy, leadership, and psychological depth.

• Embrace AI as your “superpower,” not a replacement for your unique human perspective.

Notable Quotes:

• “AI is already in the room. It’s a tool, not a threat.”

• “The best opportunity for coaches now is to help clients make sense of AI—decode, challenge, and humanize it.”

• “At the end of the day... that ability to connect at a human level, to make a difference, to be heard, to influence—are absolutely critical. AI just multiplies your impact.”

Resource Links:

• Profit Acceleration Software by Focused.com

• ChatGPT Academy

For more strategies on elevating your business coaching practice and leveraging cutting-edge AI, check out previous episodes or visit Focused.com.

If you enjoyed the episode, please subscribe, share with a fellow coach, and leave a review. See you next week on Business Coaching Secrets!

Ready to elevate your coaching business? Don’t wait! Listen to this episode now and make strides towards your goals. Visit Focused.com for more information on our Profit Acceleration Software™ and join our community of thriving coaches.

Get a demo at https://go.focused.com/profit-acceleration

👉 Karl Bryan helps business coaches get clients. Period.

For more magic on how you can grow a coaching business by attracting small business owners, filling local live events, and closing more high-end coaching clients... go to https://go.focused.com/profit-acceleration

👇 For a free subscription to my magazine The Six-Figure Coach go to 

https:// thesixfigurecoach.com/get-it

🔥 Be sure to subscribe, rate, and share the show

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1477099279

🚀 Karl Bryan, Creator of Profit Acceleration Software™

Karl Bryan gets clients for Business Coaches...period. He is the Founder of The Six-Figure Coach Magazine and creator of Profit Acceleration Software™ that shows you how you can BOOST bottom-line profits of any business using the power of compounding growth without spending more on marketing. 

His goal is straightforward… to help coaches and consultants get more clients.

Get a demo of Profit Acceleration Software™ at https://go.focused.com/profit-acceleration

In this solo episode, Karl Bryan dives into a series of insightful questions sent in by Road Dog, covering foundational lessons, practical coaching tactics, mindset shifts, and powerful business growth frameworks. If you’re a business coach (or want to become one), Karl shares a ton of battle-tested wisdom and practical takeaways to help you sign high-end clients, build better systems, and sharpen your leadership edge.

Key Topics & Takeaways:

1. Most Impactful Podcast Insights to Reinforce

• Definition of stupidity: Hurting others while hurting yourself.

• Clarity is king: The single biggest problem for most people (and businesses) is not knowing what they want. Take time, with pen and paper, to clearly define your desires and goals.

• Thinking in flywheels: Like accounting’s focus on percentages, powerful business coaches train their minds to see and build flywheels—systems that self-reinforce and drive compounding results.

2. The Power of Training VS Studying

• Study by reading/listening, but train by applying the skills over and over until they become second nature.

3. The Flywheel Example

• Apply the flywheel to both personal success (thoughts → words → actions → habits → character → outcome) and business systems, especially in advertising and lead generation.

4. “Show them where to look, not what to see.”

• Great coaching is about powerful questioning that guides clients to their own ‘aha’ moments. Use questions to direct thinking, not to hand over answers.

5. Market Dominating Position (MDP)

• Move beyond just standing out: isolate the ideal client’s biggest problem and solve it uniquely.

• Standout example: A daycare with a “web watch” camera system – solves parent anxiety directly.

6. Government Policy, Wealth, and Opportunity

• The past 20 years of fiscal policy have favored older asset holders (stocks, real estate), making wealth harder to build for younger generations.

• But the #1 path to wealth is business ownership, and starting a business has never been easier.

7. Front of House / Back of House Lesson (The Founder & McDonald’s)

• Identify your strength—selling or coaching—and either partner with or hire someone who completes the skills gap.

• Don’t let ego stop you from passing clients over to a skilled coach if you’re the salesperson (or vice versa).

8. “People Make Rules for Betas, Break Rules for Alphas.”

• Your authority and presence matter: The more ‘alpha’ you are in positioning, the more clients bend usual buying rules for you.

9. Mindset & Leadership Zen

• Don’t strive for an easy life—strive to become someone who isn’t fazed or bothered by anything. True leadership is defined by unshakeability.

• Daily practice: Brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand to stimulate your subconscious and break patterns. Try mirror affirmations for self-love.

10. New Opportunities vs. Improvement

• People are far more motivated to buy new opportunities (new markets, new systems, new MDPs, new products) than incremental improvements.

• In sales and coaching, frame your offer as a new opportunity rather than a mere enhancement.

Resources & Mentioned Tools:

• Profit Acceleration Software 2.0 – Karl’s tool for coaching business owners who can afford high-end fees. (focused.com)

• Book/Movie: The Founder (story of McDonald’s & Ray Kroc)

• Books on mindset: Stories about Steve Jobs, Warren Buffett, and Bill Gates

Quick Action Steps:

1. Block time this week to define what you really want—in business and life.

2. Practice mind-training: Brush teeth with your opposite hand and notice what shifts.

3. Examine your coaching/consulting offers: Are you positioning improvement, or are you selling a new opportunity?

4. Ask more (and better) questions—let clients discover their own insights.

5. Analyze your business for the flywheel effect. Are your processes compounding or stalling?

Quote of the Episode:
"Work towards not being phased or bothered by almost anything — that is a leader."

If you enjoyed the episode, please subscribe, share with a fellow coach, and leave a review. See you next week on Business Coaching Secrets!

Ready to elevate your coaching business? Don’t wait! Listen to this episode now and make strides towards your goals. Visit Focused.com for more information on our Profit Acceleration Software™ and join our community of thriving coaches.

Get a demo at https://go.focused.com/profit-acceleration

👉 Karl Bryan helps business coaches get clients. Period.

For more magic on how you can grow a coaching business by attracting small business owners, filling local live events, and closing more high-end coaching clients... go to https://go.focused.com/profit-acceleration

👇 For a free subscription to my magazine The Six-Figure Coach go to 

https:// thesixfigurecoach.com/get-it

🔥 Be sure to subscribe, rate, and share the show

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1477099279

🚀 Karl Bryan, Creator of Profit Acceleration Software™

Karl Bryan gets clients for Business Coaches...period. He is the Founder of The Six-Figure Coach Magazine and creator of Profit Acceleration Software™ that shows you how you can BOOST bottom-line profits of any business using the power of compounding growth without spending more on marketing. 

His goal is straightforward… to help coaches and consultants get more clients.

Get a demo of Profit Acceleration Software™ at https://go.focused.com/profit-acceleration

In this episode, Karl Bryan sits down with longtime client and business coach Michael Clift. Michael shares the true story behind rapidly signing 22 high-end coaching clients in a year, the strategies that really work for growing a profitable coaching practice, and practical ways to retain clients over the long haul. He dives into his personal experiences on overcoming early business mistakes, leveraging technology and outsourcing to avoid burnout, and the importance of serving before selling. Whether you’re a new or seasoned coach, this honest conversation provides hands-on tactics, mindset shifts, and proven methods for winning, keeping, and scaling a highly-profitable client roster.

Key Topics Covered

• How to Rapidly Grow a Coaching Client Base

  • Michael reveals the power of persistent networking, building up a referral pipeline, and using targeted content on social media to stay visible and top of mind for potential clients.

  • He emphasizes the importance of being seen in relevant business groups like BNI, chambers of commerce, and behind-the-scenes organizations for business owners.

• Understanding the Sales Cycle

  • High-ticket clients can sign up within a week or after nearly two years of nurturing. Consistent follow-up is crucial.

• Building Trust and Communicating Value

  • Using Profit Acceleration Software (developed by Karl Bryan) live with prospects to demonstrate value instantly, making the buying decision real and tangible.

  • Michael offers a conditional 10x ROI guarantee to overcome objections and build trust.

• The Tiered Pricing Model

  • Inspired by Karl’s advice, Michael starts new clients at lower rates ($500/month) and incrementally increases to his main fee ($2,500/month) as value is delivered and results manifest.

• Scaling Without Burnout

  • Efficient systems are key: Michael uses Fathom AI to instantly generate meeting notes and action steps, freeing up mental bandwidth and reducing prep time.

  • He delegates admin and employs an executive assistant to manage his calendar and emails, saving roughly 15 hours weekly.

  • Outsourcing marketing, IT, and content allows focus to remain on client delivery.

• Long-Term Client Retention Secrets

  • Only working with hungry, growth-minded clients willing to be accountable.

  • Clear, structured onboarding—including transparent values, expectations, and even firing protocols if commitments aren’t met.

  • Maintaining tough accountability to get real results, boosting both client loyalty and cash flow.

• Lessons from Mistakes

  • Early on, Michael wasted months perfecting programs and marketing funnels, instead of talking to real prospects.

  • His advice: skip the busy-work, get out from behind the screen, and relentlessly help people first.

• What Michael Would Do Starting Over in 90 Days

  • Target one ideal client with one clear solution and one crisp outcome.

  • Immerse in networking, offer short problem-solving calls, and focus immediately on providing value, not perfecting behind-the-scenes assets.

  • Stop spending excessive time talking to other coaches—focus on serving prospects and building real-world trust.

• Serve Before You Sell

  • Michael regularly offers 15-minute calls to help prospects with immediate challenges (like pricing, cash flow, or sales conversion strategies) without obligation. This builds authority, case studies, and word of mouth.

• Live Events to Accelerate Growth

  • Hosting group workshops and putting prospects “in the play” as real case studies dramatically increases conversions and creates referral opportunities.

Notable Quotes

• “The gold is in the follow-up… not everyone’s going to sign up straight away.”

• “I run with a 10x ROI guarantee: If I don’t generate 10 times what you pay me, I’ll work for free—conditional on you showing up and doing the work.”

• “Start small; tier them up. That’s the cheapest way I’ve found to buy myself a client.”

• “You don’t have a client or money problem, you have a refusal to help people before they pay you problem.”

Actionable Takeaways

1. Network Relentlessly: Attend business events and always add people to your contact and social media lists.

2. Nurture Relationships over Time: Organic content and personalized follow-up keep you top of mind.

3. Leverage Technology: AI tools and executive assistants help you scale further without sacrificing client attention.

4. Set Crystal-Clear Expectations: Structure your onboarding, set boundaries, and ensure accountability on both sides.

5. Serve First: Offer genuine help before expecting payment. Trust and respect are built by focusing on delivering value.

6. Launch Quickly, Adapt As You Go: Test offers fast, gather feedback, and tweak, rather than waiting for perfection.

Resources Mentioned:

• Profit Acceleration Software (by Karl Bryan)

• Fathom AI for AI-driven session notes

• Networking groups: BNI, local chambers of commerce

If you enjoyed the episode, please subscribe, share with a fellow coach, and leave a review. See you next week on Business Coaching Secrets!

Ready to elevate your coaching business? Don’t wait! Listen to this episode now and make strides towards your goals. Visit Focused.com for more information on our Profit Acceleration Software™ and join our community of thriving coaches.

Get a demo at https://go.focused.com/profit-acceleration

👉 Karl Bryan helps business coaches get clients. Period.

For more magic on how you can grow a coaching business by attracting small business owners, filling local live events, and closing more high-end coaching clients... go to https://go.focused.com/profit-acceleration

👇 For a free subscription to my magazine The Six-Figure Coach go to 

https:// thesixfigurecoach.com/get-it

🔥 Be sure to subscribe, rate, and share the show

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1477099279

🚀 Karl Bryan, Creator of Profit Acceleration Software™

Karl Bryan gets clients for Business Coaches...period. He is the Founder of The Six-Figure Coach Magazine and creator of Profit Acceleration Software™ that shows you how you can BOOST bottom-line profits of any business using the power of compounding growth without spending more on marketing. 

His goal is straightforward… to help coaches and consultants get more clients.

Get a demo of Profit Acceleration Software™ at https://go.focused.com/profit-acceleration

In this episode of Business Coaching Secrets, Karl Bryan and Rode Dog dive deep into the practical strategies behind building a successful business coaching practice. They tackle topics like the effectiveness of trial and error, the significance of modeling, the different tiers of business coaches, and the power of flywheels for both business growth and personal development. There's also plenty of fun banter—including a surprising discussion about the candlestick-making business!

Key Topics & Highlights:

1. Early Riser vs. Night Owl Debate

• Karl discusses the myth of the "early start" and shares how productivity can look different for everyone.

• Importance of finding your own rhythm rather than following trends.

2. Trial and Error vs. Modeling 

• Karl argues that trial and error is expensive and inefficient for building a coaching business.

• Emphasizes the power of "modeling" success by reverse engineering top companies and coaches.

• Advocates for installing proven systems rather than winging it or guessing.

3. Business Coaching Tiers: Hiders, Wingers, Installers

• Explains the three types of coaches:

  • Hiders: Avoid action, hide behind busywork.

  • Wingers: Wing their processes and presentations with some success, but lack consistency.

  • Installers: Elite category—use proven, installable systems and retain clients long-term.

4. The Zen Thought & Personal Growth

• Discusses adult vs. child mindset regarding skills and learning.

• Pushes for a growth mindset, continuous marginal improvements (1% a day = 37x in a year).

• Emphasizes actionable progress over excuses.

5. What Businesses Are Easier to Scale? 

• Karl highlights "cash forward" models (e.g., Amazon, Dell, Salesforce post model change) as easier to scale due to positive cash flow.

• Contrasts this with builders or other industries that only get paid after delivery.

• Critiques and playful correction about the profit margins of candlestick makers.

6. Flywheels for Coaches

• Introduction to the flywheel concept: self-reinforcing business loops that accelerate growth.

• Practical example for business coaches: advertising generates leads → clients → revenue → profit → wealth → freedom.

• Discusses personal flywheel: thoughts → actions → behaviors → outcomes → lifestyle → future.

• Importance of setting up flywheels to move forward (clockwise), not self-sabotage (counterclockwise).

7. Data Over Gut Feeling

• Encourages reliance on systems and data-backed decisions rather than just intuition or "winging it."

• The necessity of training (not just studying) and tracking results.

8. Fun Banter & Light Moments

• Jokes about the candlestick-making industry being the next big coaching niche.

• Polestar vs. Tesla ad war.

• Brief sports aside on Shadour Sanders and draft circus.

Actionable Takeaways:

• Stop Winging It: Install proven systems instead of relying on trial and error.

• Marginal Gains: Seek 1% improvement daily for exponential results.

• Aim to Become an Installer: Evolve beyond hiding and winging—commit to mastering an installable, scalable system.

• Build Cash Forward Models: Look for business and coaching models that get you paid upfront.

• Implement Your Flywheel: Design systems in your practice that amplify themselves over time.

• Measure & Refine: Use data and training to fine-tune your approach, not just your gut.

Listener Challenge:

Consider what type of coach you currently are (Hider, Winger, Installer) and commit to moving up to the installer level. Audit your daily habits: are you investing in modeling and training, or just consuming info?

Resources & Next Steps:

• To receive Karl’s daily emails or get insider access, visit focus.com

• Like and subscribe to the podcast, and share with fellow coaches

• Leave a review to support the show

Closing Thought:
"Progress equals happiness—move fast, model success, and let systems do the heavy lifting for growth."

If you enjoyed the episode, please subscribe, share with a fellow coach, and leave a review. See you next week on Business Coaching Secrets!

Ready to elevate your coaching business? Don’t wait! Listen to this episode now and make strides towards your goals. Visit Focused.com for more information on our Profit Acceleration Software™ and join our community of thriving coaches.

Get a demo at https://go.focused.com/profit-acceleration

👉 Karl Bryan helps business coaches get clients. Period.

For more magic on how you can grow a coaching business by attracting small business owners, filling local live events, and closing more high-end coaching clients... go to https://go.focused.com/profit-acceleration

👇 For a free subscription to my magazine The Six-Figure Coach go to 

https:// thesixfigurecoach.com/get-it

🔥 Be sure to subscribe, rate, and share the show

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1477099279

🚀 Karl Bryan, Creator of Profit Acceleration Software™

Karl Bryan gets clients for Business Coaches...period. He is the Founder of The Six-Figure Coach Magazine and creator of Profit Acceleration Software™ that shows you how you can BOOST bottom-line profits of any business using the power of compounding growth without spending more on marketing. 

His goal is straightforward… to help coaches and consultants get more clients.

Get a demo of Profit Acceleration Software™ at https://go.focused.com/profit-acceleration