How to Assess Program Fit for Success

Due Diligence As a consultant in the speaking industry for over 20 years, I’ve tried to refrain from commenting on offers from others promising to help create a million-dollar speaking practice. Some may see my post as self-serving. This is a risk I’m willing to take. + Due Diligence is Crucial: Thorough due diligence is essential before investing in any program. Research the program provider extensively, including their track record, reputation, and credibility within your industry. Look beyond promotional materials and seek unbiased reviews or opinions from individuals who participated in the program. + Talk to Program Alumni: Reaching out to individuals who have completed the program is an excellent way to gain insights into their experiences. Ask about the specific benefits they derived, whether the program met their expectations, and if it delivered on its promises. Have others in the program had success with a program just like yours? + Assess the Program’s Leader: Consider the qualifications and experience of the person or team behind the program. Do they have a successful background in the speaking and consulting industry? A credible track record can indicate the potential value of the program. + Content Focus: Determine whether the program primarily focuses on developing your speaking skills, sales and marketing strategies, or both. + Ensure that the program aligns with your specific goals and needs. A single program that can do all of these things is suspect. + Leveraging Intellectual Property: Assess whether the program offers guidance on leveraging your intellectual property beyond speaking engagements. This can be crucial for diversifying income streams and expanding your business opportunities while creating an actual speaking practice. + Group vs. Personal Attention: Evaluate your learning style and needs. Some individuals thrive in group settings, while others require more personalized attention. Ensure that the program format matches your learning preferences and needs. + Lead Generation: If the program promises lead generation, inquire about the strategy for distributing leads. An overload of requests to decision-makers can be overwhelming and counterproductive. Clarify how leads will be managed to avoid such issues. A critical and deliberate approach is key to investing in programs to advance your speaking career. It’s essential to weigh the potential benefits against the costs and to verify the program’s effectiveness through research and firsthand accounts. This way, you can make a well-informed decision that aligns with your professional aspirations and goals. Finally, can you become a million-dollar speaker? Maybe. It’ll take a hell of a lot of hard work. There is no magic pill. #speaking #professionalspeaking #speakingbusiness

Some founders hire the industry expert. Others hire the psychologist. Both miss the mark. Here’s why: One knows your market. The other knows your mind. But neither can hold the whole conversation. To grow into your next chapter, you need someone who can do both: Someone who understands your business and your blind spots. That’s the kind of coach top performers choose. A coach isn’t there to give you the answers. They’re there to expand your capacity. So that you can ask better questions, make clearer decisions, and lead with more conviction. Here’s how to evaluate whether a coach can truly help you grow: 1. Understand technical vs. adaptive change Technical changes require information and motivation. Adaptive changes require repatterning your emotional wiring. The best coaches can guide you through both. 2. Vet their technical skills Have they walked in your shoes as a CEO or leader? Not just any success story, but someone who worked hard for their wins. Great coaches share war stories about the messy process of scaling. 3. Assess their adaptive capabilities Can they help you change the deep patterns holding you back? In your first conversation, bring a persistent challenge and see if they: - Just talk about the issue, or - Actually shift your relationship to it in the moment 4. Feel their presence The best coaches are fully here, without agenda or distraction. You'll know it when you feel it - you naturally expand in their presence. This quality creates the safety needed for real transformation. 5. Test your fit Do you want a cheerleader or a drill sergeant? An empath or a strategist? The right coach for you feels like coming home, even when the work is challenging. Finding a coach with all four qualities isn't easy. But settling for less means settling for incremental growth. If this resonates, here's what makes Inside-Out Leadership different: You’re not just getting a coach. You’re getting a team. Your lead coach is a former founder who walks with you 1:1. But behind them is a whole network of specialists: Each with CEO experience. Each with different backgrounds. Each ready to support the journey ahead. Because leadership isn’t linear. And no one coach has every answer. We’ve helped hundreds of leaders grow with intention, clarity, and integrity. Let’s talk. - Proud to coach with Inside-Out Leadership: executive coaching by trained coaches who have founded, funded, scaled, & sold their own companies.

As a mentor for Techstars (great accelerator program!) I know it's not a right fit for everyone, especially if you don't have an MVP yet.  Consider a hybrid program instead. Unsure which program to join? Use my chart for a comparative analysis. Use these questions as guides to find the right fit: 𝟭. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱? → No MVP: Hybrid like South Park Commons offers flexibility for ideation and early dev with funding support; incubators provide resources to turn ideas into MVPs. → Have an MVP: Accelerators can support rapid growth through funding, guidance, and market entry. → Seasoned founders exploring new ideas:  Entrepreneur-in-Residence programs give resources, capital, and network to explore new ventures. 𝟮. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿? → Structured and fast-paced: Accelerators and operate on set timelines with support to hit specific milestones. Hybrid offers a structured yet flexible framework. → Nurturing and gradual: Incubators like Idealab allow more time to develop without immediate pressure to scale. → Exploration flexibility: EIRs help you develop ideas at your own pace. You can explore multiple concepts before deciding on a business plan. 𝟯. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀? → Need immediate funding: Accelerators, Venture studios like Rocket Internet SE, and Hybrid programs offer capital for equity. → Keep as much equity: Incubators focus on development and mentorships but may not offer direct funding but can connect you with potential investors. → Flexible funding: Some EIR programs may include a stipend, salary, and potential investments. 𝟰. 𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗮 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀? → Global network: Accelerators like Y Combinator and Hybrid programs have extensive international networks that can offer broad market expansion opportunities. → Local focus: Incubators can give relevant local connections and insights. 𝟱. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱? → Developing an MVP: Incubators and hybrids assist with product development, market fit, and business strategy. → Refining an MVP: Accelerators focus on scaling, customer acquisition, and funding preparation. → High-level strategic mentorship: EIR programs like Sequoia Capital can connect you with experienced entrepreneurs and experts for strategic guidance. Choose a program that aligns best with your startup needs.   Especially in the early stages, a hybrid program offers a combination of these programs to grow your idea. What program are you eyeing? Have you heard about hybrid programs? 💬 #VentureCapital #Accelerator #Incubator #Entrepreneur