Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
You became a coach to help people โ but no one told you how to build the business behind it.
Coach as Entrepreneur is the show for coaches who want to go beyond referrals and create a real business that supports both their clients and their family. Each episode explores the systems, strategies, and stories that help coaches simplify marketing, attract the right clients, and grow sustainably, without burning out.
Whether youโre just starting or looking to scale, this is your roadmap to running your coaching practice like a businessโฆ and doing it with heart.
Build the system. Serve your clients. Support your family.
Room recording - Feb 26, 2026
===
โ[00:00:00]
David Chung: Today we're unpacking how she scaled from a corporate trainer to leading a coaching empire across 47 countries. Marsha, thank you for joining me today.
Marcia Reynolds: coach
as entrepreneur ep 22 thumbnail 1080 x 1080Well thank you for asking me, David.
David Chung: It's really [00:00:45] exciting to talk with you. Um, most people don't grow up thinking I wanna become a executive coach.
What were you thinking when, when you were seven years old, what did you wanna become?
Marcia Reynolds: Well, honestly, um, that's an interesting thing 'cause [00:01:00] exactly when I was seven, I won a poetry contest and I always wanted to be a published author. That was my thing. And so when my publisher, my first book was self-published and then. I met my publisher and [00:01:15] they published my second book, um, Wander Woman based on my dissertation.
And, and when they told me that they were gonna accept it, I cried. I said, you just made a little girl's dream come true.
David Chung: Wow.
Marcia Reynolds: [00:01:30] yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And, and that's fortunate too, because that's what's one of the things that have helped me bus build my business, is that I like to write and
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: So, yeah.
David Chung: Yeah, I mean, definitely content, uh, writing [00:01:45] content has become a really big part of every business. Right. Um,
Marcia Reynolds: So, yeah,
David Chung: so,
Marcia Reynolds: was, came, you know, many years later in, you know, the focus always was, you know, I ran training [00:02:00] departments and companies and that, that I wanted to help people. Um, uh. To make a difference with them, to help them
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: with each other, to, uh, accept, you know, their positions and do their best and all of that.
So I always had [00:02:15] that desire. And so the,
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: I found coaching, the transition fairly easy because it fit
David Chung: Mm-hmm.
Marcia Reynolds: Yeah.
David Chung: And I, as I understand, you were doing corporate training before you started coaching. Correct.
Marcia Reynolds: Yeah.
David Chung: [00:02:30] So how did you, because when you got into coaching, I think it was just starting to become a, become a thing, right? It was still early, like
Marcia Reynolds: 1995, right? In the 19 hundreds.
David Chung: So it was a [00:02:45] little bit like the wild, wild west, I guess, right? Where people were just kind of, kind of making up as they're going. So how did you find out about coaching and what was it that, well, you, you kind of mentioned a little bit of what attracted you to that, but how did you find your way into [00:03:00] coaching?
Marcia Reynolds: Yeah, actually it was the last day of my last job. Somebody sent me an email with this article, our world, the famous Thomas Leonard article on Newsweek about this thing called coaching. Um, and um, I thought [00:03:15] this is interesting because again, my choice of. Career has always been based on what is the result I wanna create.
Not like, okay, I can do this and I can make money at it. It was more, I want to make a difference. And
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: happened [00:03:30] early in my life that, um, it made me recognize that, that people were helping me overcome difficulties. I wanted to do that for them. I was always trying to do better at my coaching and or [00:03:45] training and, um, you know, uh, training inspires people to try, but that doesn't necessarily create sustainable change over time.
David Chung: Hmm.
Marcia Reynolds: love the classes. Thank you, thank you. And then they go out, try it and can't do [00:04:00] it and go back to old behavior. So I was always looking at what creates sustainable change, you know, I mean, even got a second master's in, in adult learning to try to figure this out. So I'm, I'm very committed to figuring this out.
So when somebody sent me. [00:04:15] That article, I thought, well, some something's different, maybe about this, I don't know. But I watched a coaching demonstration and I said, I need to understand what just happened. There's something different there, you know, that [00:04:30] creating that spark, that insight where they learn from themselves instead of me telling them what they should do. So, um, I'm the type of person that says, this sounds good. I sign up. I don't think twice about it. You know, it's just like it came to me. [00:04:45] I guess it's important. So I did it. So I signed up for a coaching school in 1995, and it was long before we had the competencies and ICF, you know, my coaching school actually started the ICF.
David Chung: Oh.
Marcia Reynolds: [00:05:00] yeah. Yeah. Coach U there was only a couple of schools back then
David Chung: Mm-hmm.
Marcia Reynolds: uh, so that's, you know, one of the reasons I got involved with, you know, the ICF from the very beginning, you know, and so
David Chung: I see.
Marcia Reynolds: being the. Fifth [00:05:15] president, right when we were bringing competencies out into the world and the craziness that that created, you know, so absolutely it was the Wild West.
Um, but it was always based on, um, I want to help people expand their [00:05:30] thinking to do, uh, their best work, to be their best self.
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: was very purpose driven and I think, um, it's one of the reasons, 'cause of course I ran into the same thing as all coaches do. It's like, how do
David Chung: Mm-hmm.
Marcia Reynolds: Build this [00:05:45] business and can I
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: this business?
I can't come outta corporate, you know, and, and the temptation to go back to corporate after, you know, struggling, uh, the first few years. But I kept thinking, but this, this makes a better, [00:06:00] bigger difference even
David Chung: Mm-hmm.
Marcia Reynolds: So, um,
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: kept at it. Yeah.
David Chung: Yeah. You know. Because of your position and how long you've been in the coaching industry.
Marcia Reynolds: Mm-hmm.
David Chung: I ask people what are the [00:06:15] challenges that they had when they started, but I'd love to know from your viewpoint, what do you see as the biggest challenges that most of the coaches you interact with?
What do they face when they start their, their coaching?
Marcia Reynolds: Well, there's two [00:06:30] things. Um. One, so many people get into coaching, um, not recognizing that they have to build a business, you know, they're drawn to, um, oh, you know, coaching helps people. I wanna help people. But then they [00:06:45] think like, okay, and when I get out, I'll find a consulting firm or a coaching company that will give me business, you know, and, and if everybody's wanting that, you know, that, that, you know, supply and demand, that's not gonna work.
And. [00:07:00] Particularly if you don't have experience, you're not going to, you know, get, business from others. so the idea of that I then am starting a business. Um, and you know, I was coaching someone yesterday in the insurance business and he has [00:07:15] contractors that work for him. And he says, our turnaround is huge because most of them come in not recognizing they have to go out and sell. You know? And so we have a probationary period and you know, and honestly a sit [00:07:30] down with them and, and like, is this really for you?
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: said, you know, we do the same. We have the same problem in coaching. People don't recognize that they have to be salespeople, um,
David Chung: Mm-hmm.
Marcia Reynolds: know, and run a business. and do [00:07:45] what you have to, to be visible, your business to stand out in the crowd and all those things. they just think they, you know, can hang up their shingle and people will come to them. If I build
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: they will come. And that's just, [00:08:00] you know, it's, it's not the way it is. But I have to say, I, I'm grateful that my family has been entrepreneurs for, for. Generations, you know, they always like did their own things, started business.
And so [00:08:15] I grew up with that, recognizing what it would take. So I had a little bit more, uh, in my bones that, you know, okay, I gotta go out and do this. My father started a business out of the trunk of his car that he built [00:08:30] into a, you know, a big distributorship. And I
David Chung: Oh
Marcia Reynolds: him. And when I was putting myself through college, so. You know, uh, it's that
David Chung: yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: It's an identity thing too. Well,
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: sell to people. Well, [00:08:45] why not? If you have something important, you're not selling to them, you're offering them a gift, you know, and, coming out of corporate it's like, well, I have a title and I'm this, and now you're a coach and you don't have a title and people don't all come to you.
You gotta go to them. [00:09:00] So there, there's an identity shift that must happen too, that from.
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: Corporate person, uh, with a title to a coach has a business. So it's not just the doing of it, it's, it's the, the [00:09:15] recognizing I have to make that shift. And, and that's, you know, that's. To me that's, you know, where they're like, I don't really want to do that. You know? And if you don't want to, you're not gonna do it. Um,
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: I think again, coming back to what is the [00:09:30] purpose? Did you get into this just to make money? Well then that's not gonna last. And coaches that do that don't last. 'cause they have to, as any, personal business. Um, it takes a number of years. To build
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: remember when I joined the National Speaker [00:09:45] Association, they said it takes a good five years to build a speaking business. So are you in it for the long haul or not? and it's the same thing. It's gonna take time to build the credibility. To build the visibility that
David Chung: Yeah.[00:10:00]
Marcia Reynolds: will come to you.
I mean, they come to me now, but it took a number of, you know, decades to create that. Mm-hmm.
David Chung: that, uh, in the conversations I've had with, with previous guests and other coaches, that that's the [00:10:15] common thread is that most people don't recognize what they're stepping into is entrepreneurship and that they. You know, especially I think for the people who have coming, who are coming from the corporate background, [00:10:30] where you have the, the corporate machine that's been there for years or decades, right?
There's something buy upon, but now you're, most often a solopreneur, and so you're not just doing
Marcia Reynolds: Yeah.
David Chung: of coaching, right?[00:10:45]
Marcia Reynolds: Yeah.
David Chung: You're knowledge of the marketer. You're the accounting, you're it, you're everything. So. Um.
Marcia Reynolds: ho honestly, David, the idea that all I'm gonna do is coach, I've never done that. know, it's like you, you, you have a, [00:11:00] it's not a coaching business, it's a, it's a personal development business. It's a, uh, you know, leadership business and, and, and you offer, um. Coaching, uh, possibly training, uh, even [00:11:15] some consulting in terms of coaching cultures, you know, whatever else that, that you might do. Um, that it's your, it's what you offer in service of the purpose of your business, not, I, I sell coaching. And, and [00:11:30] so again, people, a lot of coaches get very disappointed 'cause they thought, oh, all all I have to do is coaching. No, you, you're offering a service business, you know,
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: doing in service of your clients?
What are you offering?
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: me what was interesting was [00:11:45] that, um, I always thought I was gonna offer training. You know, I'm leaving my company and, and you know, I didn't get that. Article until my last day of my job and, you know, I was gonna have a training company, but coaching was so [00:12:00] new. I had, um, people that I had known from the corporate world that were in other companies, they're like, um, there's this coaching thing we're hearing about, you know, and, and you have that on your website.
So I started getting coached, uh, hired. [00:12:15] To teach leaders coaching skills. So I was still getting hired for training, but it was for coaching and then people started hiring me for, for personal coaching and um, uh, the people that knew me through the business and it was getting [00:12:30] out there. So it was the, um, that I also happened to come out at a time when it was just coming out in the world that I was able to combine both the training and the coaching for my business.
David Chung: It kind of evolved from training to coaching.[00:12:45]
Marcia Reynolds: Yeah.
I still train. Yeah.
David Chung: But I, I think it makes a lot of sense because the, and again, more of the conversations that I've been having, like,
Marcia Reynolds: Mm-hmm.
David Chung: as a corporate trainer, you could lean on your expertise, your network as, [00:13:00] you know, a trainer, but then. Because right time, right moment. You, you, you put coaching on your website, people start to see that and they're like, oh, this is interesting.
And so that kind of gave you an edge against, you know, compared to your, [00:13:15] uh, let's say competitors, right? Um.
Marcia Reynolds: I was one of the first coaches to have a website. You know, I worked in tech for 11 years, so it is like, oh, website. Oh, you know, I'm not afraid of technology, which was also a good [00:13:30] thing.
David Chung: Yeah, that's right. 95 would've been 'cause the internet started coming out. 93, 94, 95. Right. Okay. So you cutting edge.
Marcia Reynolds: actually. [00:13:45] Right. I got a lot of business 'cause I was the only coach out there they could find on the internet,
David Chung: Right. And I mean that, and that's probably one of the hardest things these days is how do you be, how do you become that coach? So for you, you were [00:14:00] there at the very beginning. There's nobody else in this space online. And now there's, you know, hundreds of thousands, tens, hundreds of thousands of coaches now. you know, just.
Marcia Reynolds: 65,000 just in the [00:14:15] ICF, It's still the same as that. There has to be a way you stand out. You know, I, I, I can't tell you how many. Coaches came to me in the early years that, you know, um, that came outta corporate like I did. And they're like, I don't wanna do that [00:14:30] corporate thing anymore.
You know, because it was toxic. And, and they don't, so what do they wanna do? They wanna coach people on their personal lives. I said, but you have expertise. Go back in and help it, that you have credibility that other coaches may [00:14:45] not have with your years in corporate. You know, build on that. And then, you know, once you build on it, you can shift the focus of your coaching in any way you want. Um, but look at what you have from your experience, from your past to offer, [00:15:00] um, that also, uh, excites you.
David Chung: I, I'm curious, have you seen, because, so a pattern that I've seen is that there are, some coaches who get into coaching who do really well, and then other coaches who kind of struggle. And this pattern I've seen with [00:15:15] the coaches who've struggled has been that they got kind of, they burned out of their corporate positions as like CMO or marketing or finance or whatever, and then they decided to either.
Uh, niche down into a different, [00:15:30] uh, special specialization or into something like wellness coaching where the, their idea client is like 20 something, 30 somethings and then, and so they struggle. And the the ones who [00:15:45] see that start to realize, oh, I'm, I'm targeting the wrong people. But some people don't realize it until too late.
Is that something that you see as well? From your years of experience?
Marcia Reynolds: yeah, yeah. It was kind of, you know what I was [00:16:00] saying? They come to me and, and they, they want
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: to do with corporate because they burnt out, um, or. You know, just hit their, hit the wall with the challenges they had to face. A lot of them were women that dealing with glass ceiling. That's what happened to [00:16:15] me.
They basically told me they weren't gonna promote me anymore. There was no women above me. And, and you still have challenges. And I'm like, yeah, I do. Not here. You know? Um, and, and, and. They, in [00:16:30] fact, that was my doctoral dissertation on smart, strong women in the workplace. And they only tolerate that for so long, and then they go somewhere else, know,
David Chung: Right.
Marcia Reynolds: start their own businesses.
It's a common pattern. You know, and, but then [00:16:45] again, they wanna throw out everything. You know, I don't wanna deal with those toxic environments when they have so much knowledge. So go help those toxic environments to be better. You know? And, and, and it, what's [00:17:00] interesting, I was, I'm getting more requests finally now, you know, with every.
Thing that's going on in the world, um, that they're saying, you know, we gotta align people better. We've gotta help them communicate better, manage their teams better, [00:17:15] um, you know, learn how to listen to each other. You know, it's funny that they're saying now in 2026, you know, our leaders have to learn how to listen. like, you're just [00:17:30] finding this out now. So,
David Chung: You know, I, I, I think though that right now we have a harder time listening to each other. Listening to each other than we did in the past. And I think part of the problem is is com is [00:17:45] technology. Um, and even like. Like there are benefits to remote work as well, but remote work also silos us between,
Marcia Reynolds: Mm-hmm.
David Chung: um, connecting with people.
And so now the, the natural communication of talking [00:18:00] with people working together is scheduled meetings or chats online, and that level of connection and meeting or communication is different. And I. And even our attention span with, with social media and [00:18:15] all these other things have, have shortened, right.
And we, we get distracted by our phones. So I, I, I do feel like learn communicating now is actually harder than it's ever been, even though we have all these tools to help us [00:18:30] communicate.
Marcia Reynolds: I, right. Uh, I can remember in the eighties, we were looking at smart technology and how it was gonna, uh, do a lot of our work for us so we could, you know, be with people more instead of taking away our [00:18:45] attention and doing email all day long. Nobody, nobody foresaw that, you know,
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: in with computer companies at the time, and, you know, the, the, how much the technology has.
Uh, [00:19:00] overtakes, um, our day, um, and, and keeps us away from, from being with people that, yeah, it, it's a sad
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: yet as humans, we require. [00:19:15] Connection. We
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: our soul, desires to be seen, to be understood, to be heard, feel I'm important. And, you know, and so people, uh, they're not happy. I mean, they're, they're, they're stuck with their [00:19:30] technology.
They don't feel their lives have meaning and, you know, and, and so they
David Chung: Hmm.
Marcia Reynolds: of spiral down and, you know, that, and, and that affects productivity. Yeah. So
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: of like, okay, let's get together, let's get to know each other, [00:19:45] let's just be with each other, which is so important that we, a company should be a community and you know, instead of a machine. And so, um. I think they're starting to recognize that we have to do that. [00:20:00] because that, you know, I've had more conversations with top leaders now saying, okay, I see that, um, this infighting and you know, and turnover and lack of connection. That there, it, it's really [00:20:15] about, bringing people together and aligning them around purpose and, and knowing each other that, that they're finally saying, this must be done. you know, you can't, just force people, um, or scared them [00:20:30] doing that. You have to create the, the environment as well as the possibilities for people to come together.
David Chung: Yeah, I feel like we're literally being experimented on with the technology that's coming out with ai[00:20:45]
Marcia Reynolds: Mm-hmm.
David Chung: with each. Ai. Now there are some research that's saying like people are, even though they have these tools that help them to be more pro productive, they're spending more time on their devices to do the [00:21:00] work, or they're taking on work that they would've traditionally handed off to somebody else to do because they'd have the AI to do it for them.
And so. Like I, I was listening, um, and they were saying like, some people will like, take their, their lunch to their [00:21:15] computer so that they can, you know, run the, the AI tool to do whatever task. And so there's, there's definitely something going on right now. Like as we're learning to use all these tools and [00:21:30] technology, how do we use it well for our own wellbeing, right?
Marcia Reynolds: But you know, David, as you were saying that, I was thinking, but isn't that a great plug for coaching
David Chung: Exactly.
Marcia Reynolds: that at least [00:21:45] for an hour in someone's day, that they can sit with a human and,
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: and talk about the challenges they're facing and, you know,
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: work through that instead of relying on something else to do it for them, which [00:22:00] isn't gonna give them the best solution necessarily. You
David Chung: Right.
Marcia Reynolds: because it's, it's. it doesn't. Yeah. Uh, go beneath the surface to to, you know,
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: the tech world, they have the concept of root cause analysis.
David Chung: Mm-hmm.
Marcia Reynolds: [00:22:15] the surface problem, it's just gonna come back another way. It's like whack-a-mole, you
David Chung: Right.
Marcia Reynolds: You know, but in coaching we do a root cause analysis of what's really going on and help people to, to discover on their own. right. This is really the [00:22:30] issue,
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: Whereas a AI doesn't do that, it just solves the, the surface problem. So for an hour, you know, a couple times a month that
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: with a human and sort this through that, it's actually given us. [00:22:45] More possibilities of work, um, that we can sort through problems in a different way than technology, know, and
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: could be the, the tagline, you know, for a coach.
David Chung: Yeah. I, I think that's, [00:23:00] that is such a, a great point, right? Where if you interact more, more with technology than with real people, having a coach, somebody that you can actually have a, a real conversation with and connect with a, genuinely have a real [00:23:15] connection with, right? I think, right. I think the next.
Next several years will be very interesting for the coaching space, just on that fact, right? Because, as the world is changing and evolving so rapidly, more leaders are asking, what do we do [00:23:30] now? And, you know, how do we, how, what do we do with our teams? How do we adjust to these change, this changing landscape?
I think this is, this is a time for coaches to really kind of, you know, show up and really.
Marcia Reynolds: Right.
David Chung: You know, show what they can [00:23:45] do. Um,
Marcia Reynolds: It's creating the opportunities.
David Chung: In your experience. Cause I, I, I'd love to know, hear, you know, every coach I've talked to, right? They, they, they've worked with a few people, uh, depending on how long they've [00:24:00] coached, where, you know, you went in to work on a business.
Some kind of business issue. Right. But then you, you end up changing their lives. And I'm just, I'm wondering, do you have any stories you'd like to share, uh, about, the [00:24:15] impact that you've created in, in some of the people you've worked with?
Marcia Reynolds: Yeah. First let me just say that, um, most coaching, you know, it is not like this huge shift of life changing, but the, but the. The amazing [00:24:30] shift even in just, recognizing that, I have a meeting coming up and I'm creating this to be the worst case scenario and, you know, maybe it's gonna be great and just realize that, um, I have what it takes to make this [00:24:45] meeting great. Just even those shifts, you know, are so powerful. But, you know, one of my first. Actually my first, um, stranger client that didn't come from a friend referring somebody, it just, it came from, I [00:25:00] was featured in an article and, and he called me and, um. And this is where credibility comes in. They wanna know, you know, something about their life.
So it's good to use whatever experience you've had to, to say, I understand this. He said to me, um, I'm an attorney. [00:25:15] Have you ever coached an attorney? Well, of course I hadn't. I hadn't even. Been coaching that many people, but I said, well, I haven't coached an attorney, but I, I was married to one, and he said, good enough. So, is [00:25:30] like, okay, so you understand me. That's all he needed to know. You know that I, that I under. Did his, the way he thinks. Well, the interesting thing was he had built a huge law firm and, and he was hating it, you know, and he felt trapped [00:25:45] by it. And he was remembering his days of being a prosecutor for the state and, and, you know, the community he had.
And yeah, it was tough work, but he, he was making an immediate difference instead of running a business. And, you know, and through our time together. And [00:26:00] this has happened a number of times of of having the courage to really do what I wanna do. He ended up selling his firm and going back to work for the state, you know, because that's what he really wanted to do. Or the time I coached the guy who [00:26:15] was. Uh, he was gonna sell his business and just, you know, work with charities, be a philanthropist. And in our time together he realized he didn't really wanna sell his business. It was his family. And, and so to have the courage to make the life [00:26:30] transformation that you want without living by shoulds. That's a big thing for coaches to listen to. The should, but I should do this. I should do this. So how are your shoulds getting in the way of what you want? You know, and so just helping them recognize, [00:26:45] I, I can do what I want. You know? I don't have to do what society says I should be doing, or what my family says, or anybody else, know, that no matter what it looks like, it's what I want. [00:27:00] So, so there's been a number of those things, you know, and, and so much of coaching is just recognizing, you know, pulling their thinking out of their head and putting it on the table,
David Chung: Mm.
Marcia Reynolds: I like to use reflection even [00:27:15] more than just questions. So you're
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: that you're gonna continue to run this firm that you hate running this firm just because
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: you built the firm and it would look weird to go back. being a prosecutor and just sharing that. It's [00:27:30] like, oh yeah, I am doing that. You know, it's, it's so amazing 'cause they can't do it themselves. Their brain stops them, you know, from
David Chung: Hmm.
Marcia Reynolds: analyzing, uh, self, but putting it out here so they can see it. And they're like, oh, [00:27:45] right. That creates the, yeah, I'm doing that and that's not what I wanna do. You know? And so. And most coaches make coaching way too hard. You know, I have to come up with the best question or whatever, but it's again, providing that [00:28:00] moment in the day where people can freely talk and not feel they'll be judged. you know, so having an external coach is a good thing. That I can talk through this, this cycling I'm doing in my brain.
Just put it out [00:28:15] there and really look at it and, and be okay with whatever it is I come up with that it may be the only time in their day they can truly be themselves and what a gift we give people. Just with that, wherever you are [00:28:30] on the coaching path, you know, a lot of of coaches to build a business is also, I'm not ready to do that. You know, I'm just learning my skills, you know, and, and, and I have to be ready. Well, what is that? You know, when we started it was like, we don't [00:28:45] know what we were doing. We were just creating a safe space for people to talk and how much they value that, value that, that safe place and a moment in their day to talk it through to.
To sort it out with someone [00:29:00] who's not gonna judge or has any agenda. and so remembering what are you giving people, you know, that's of value to them? And it's again, the safe space. I don't even have to call it [00:29:15] coaching, you know, I call it that. But here's my benefit to you, know, and again, it comes back to sales.
What are, what are the benefits,
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: know, that you're giving people? What's your unique selling proposition and what's your benefits? Okay. Define that. [00:29:30] that. You know, and that will help you put it out there.
David Chung: I love that. Um, I'm just thinking. Okay. 'cause you are also, you've published, uh, five books. Your, your six book is coming out. And I'd love to [00:29:45] just talk a little bit about your, your newest book that's coming out, and what's the value proposition of that one? Um.
Marcia Reynolds: Yeah.
David Chung: can, can you just explain a little bit about this next one coming out? [00:30:00] [00:30:15] Yeah. So if you notice, 'cause it's right behind me. Uh, I, I really was specific about the co [00:30:30] cover. I wanted it, I said I need to represent an energy flow. Okay. Because that's what coaches need to understand now. So what's different is. showed up, know, 'cause I wrote the first version of coach the person, not the [00:30:45] problem now, six years ago. And, and, um, uh, the introduction to the book is brand new because I really want to address what is. unique selling proposition in relationship to ai.[00:31:00]
Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: what's interesting about AI is that, will, uh, take over for beginning coaching just, you know, more formulaic
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: I'm meeting the competency I'm thinking. Um, and so coaches have [00:31:15] to go beyond that If they wanna stay in this field and make a difference that they really have to learn, learn the competencies and let them. Go. know, and so understanding even the intention the competencies, not just the [00:31:30] action. coaching isn't just a performance, but it is a true flowing conversation that I know what it is I'm doing without thinking about it. So, um, I defined what is. What do we provide in the human [00:31:45] connection energetically with our emotions? How do my emotions impact you? How can my emotions open up your brain to new possibilities? That energetic exchange is even more critical. So [00:32:00] I address that in the introduction, and then I moved all the competencies around.
Connection and, you know, building that safety, that trust, that willingness to be coached. I moved that to the forefront. And then how do you [00:32:15] use your skills with your presence, um, to make a difference for your clients? So it's reorganized. And, and I went through every page 'cause like, well. I would say it differently now.
I would say it differently now. [00:32:30] So, you know, really addressing coaching in the world today and,
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: what we're gonna have to face, um, you know, going forward and, and the importance of the
David Chung: Hmm.
Marcia Reynolds: connection even more so than what we say.
David Chung: [00:32:45] Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: to, you know what I said, how I learned coaching at the very beginning.
I just created a safe space,
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: questions here and there, and they loved it. You
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: it, you know, so again, coaches make coaching too hard, [00:33:00] but what we're doing for humans is, especially now, like you said, they're so entrenched in their technology that. Pull up your head, let's talk, let's connect. Let me help you go deeper. You know, so you can [00:33:15] discover not just solutions to a problem, but even how to become, uh, who you want to be, know, and to move into that space. That becoming you know, the better entrepreneur, um, that I'm gonna [00:33:30] help you get there.
David Chung: I think that's, I mean, this is something really needed for the, the moment, right? Like, there's all these things happening and shifting and, you know, I think coming, it, it sounds like it's kind of coming back to the fundamentals of, [00:33:45] you know, being a person, having relationships and connecting with others and, you know, learning to reengage with each other.
Marcia Reynolds: It's so important. We are social animals. You know,
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: that we're a mammal, [00:34:00] you know, and that, that community, that we survive by community, that the worst punishment is isolation. Um,
David Chung: Hmm.
Marcia Reynolds: and, and that when we're just in technology on our own, we're numbing ourselves to life, [00:34:15] you know? And so we don't even recognize when we're not, we're not happy.
We're not fulfilled because we're numb. And so bringing back people to be alive in this world, you know, is also one of the great gifts. [00:34:30] You know, come out of that, come back here. Feel, not just
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: but feel the pain because that's life. And that's how
David Chung: Hmm.
Marcia Reynolds: and that's how we grow. And, and underneath that numbness, there's a part of you that wants that,
David Chung: [00:34:45] Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: that because of who we are.
David Chung: I really, I love that, uh, philosophy because we are definitely seeing this, this time in time right now, again, because of technology where, you know, people are creating, you know, there's the, the Parasocial [00:35:00] phenomenon where people build these relationships with these influencers on online, uh, through YouTube or social media.
And now we have the rise of like these AI influencers. So there's nothing really. Intrinsically different [00:35:15] from seeing one influencer who's real, or ai, you know, and building a relationship with that. And so, there's all these stories that have been coming out over the last few years, especially of like children connecting with AI tools and [00:35:30] endless like, you know, just listening to it to an extent that doesn't even really make sense.
Right. So I do feel like what your, your book is kind of addressing is, is really needed, right? It's talking about, 'cause it sounds like it's talking about genuine [00:35:45] human connection and how to build that. And as, as coaches like
Marcia Reynolds: Mm-hmm.
David Chung: AI tools cannot, at the moment cannot build a, a human connection. Right? And so
Marcia Reynolds: It's
David Chung: think that is prob yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: you [00:36:00] know?
David Chung: So.
Marcia Reynolds: remember what it stands for. Yeah. Yeah.
David Chung: it, I think for the co, the coach.
Marcia Reynolds: to be able to, um, because, uh, again, the human connection is not just by words. It's by an energetic [00:36:15] connection that we create or we break. You know, um, just with, with being, being with that, I am here for you. I am with you, and that
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: that deeply, you know, is, is, [00:36:30] is different than what, a machine can give us. But you know, it's interesting, David, you know, you say that now, and I have more years of, of experience, you know, many years I've been on this planet. But you know, when I was [00:36:45] saying back in the eighties when we were just making the shift to smart technology, how, you know, people afraid of computers, you know, these. Things that PCs, I mean, they were terrified, you know, of what that was gonna do and, [00:37:00] um, or that they had the, the idea that it was gonna do our work for us. Well, that didn't happen. It just created more work and. You know, and the internet, and then there was the internet, and then there was, you know, all the phones.
And then phones are taking over our [00:37:15] life, you know, so,
David Chung: Hmm.
Marcia Reynolds: just that the acceleration of technological advances has increased.
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: there, you know, but it's increased and, and, and is far faster than human e evolution. So it's [00:37:30] scary,
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: So, I mean, it's, it's there. But again, that, recognizing, you know, for me, even, um, I, I get to travel and so I see people out in the world, but when I'm home, I'm just sitting here and [00:37:45] I force myself to get out into social, you know, environments. 'cause it's like, get out there, you know, or you're gonna end up like just wanting to stay in the house, you know? It's, it's more comfortable. But, but we rely on [00:38:00] that. Uh, and again, I said that human evolution is, is not as fast as technological advances, but that part of that is because we're not out there being with each other enough. And, and the more we. We, uh, resist [00:38:15] that and rely on technology, then, then, then we slow down our human evolution, you know, and so we have to keep being with each other and listening to each other and, and honoring each [00:38:30] other in order
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: to truly evolve as humans.
David Chung: No. And I, I love that. I totally agree. And I, but I also think that the natural state of most people is to be comfortable, you know, to, to, if you can be [00:38:45] lazy, let's be lazy. Um, to challenge ourselves to, to push ourselves to grow is, is harder. But I think that is really. I think that's where we need to train ourselves and our, the next generation to, to [00:39:00] challenge ourselves to, to push ourselves, to grow and develop.
I I wanted to ask a question. Um, because you've been able to grow your business from doing one-to-one coaching, uh, you've been doing speaking engagements, uh, I think you kind of have been able to really kind of [00:39:15] grow and scale your business. How, what were kind of the steps that you took to be able to, to get to where you are today?
Marcia Reynolds: Yeah. Well, one of the things that I, I, I am so glad that my past self decided that not [00:39:30] only, um, did that my last day in corporate, that I signed up for a coaching school, but I also signed up to join the National Speakers Association, you know, and, and I worked with, improv acting coaches for a number of years to develop my [00:39:45] speaking, and to be authentic on the stage and to really, so a lot of my, having the courage to be open and to be with you and to care about you. I learned from speaking, you know, and they were so good. Their conferences were totally focused on marketing [00:40:00] a service business. So I learned a lot about marketing that way. And so I'm, I'm no longer, um, a member, but I was for 20 years, I'm a certified speaking professional, you know, so, um, and I had a [00:40:15] desired.
To speak. So, uh, you know, I looked at that I would, was gonna offer coaching, training, speaking, you know, and so I had, again, I had a, I had a service business, not just a coaching business. And, and when, uh, [00:40:30] based on economy and things like that, when people didn't have money for coaching, I then, you know, I, I rely more on training.
I had the different. I diversified in, in what I offered from the very beginning. And so, you know, that was a critical piece, [00:40:45] you know, and that I liked to write. And we didn't have podcasting back then. We had blogging. So I started a blog right away, you know, and started to develop a database on my website being one of the first coaches. [00:41:00] awful website. But, you know, it was, you know, whatever we were doing to create a website. Promoted it, um, as much as possible, um, through whatever social media we had back then. I don't even remember. [00:41:15] But yeah. But to put it out there and to, so writing, because I like to write, but now, you know, if you don't like to write, then pod have a podcast.
You know, do something else, you know, that, that you're more comfortable, uh,
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: so. Um, but I think that [00:41:30] was the main thing. And then, uh, recognizing, what I wanted to be known for. And so for years it was leadership because that's the world I came out of.
David Chung: Mm-hmm.
Marcia Reynolds: and so I say that I had some experience, plus I have, you know, I have a lot of [00:41:45] credentials, you know, and a lot of, especially in Asia, they credentials. she has a doctorate. Oh, she's
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: It's so important,
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: that because that helps filter [00:42:00] that. They give you the credibility above some other people. Um, so I started writing right away and actually my first book, David, um. I was one of the first to teach emotional intelligence, um, because my second master's is in [00:42:15] instructional design, so I can design training and I, I read the book and said this is needed, put it on my website,
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: business, you know, and I got to be known for as the brain lady in emotional intelligence.
And I recorded one of my [00:42:30] workshops in like. 1998 and had it transcribed, and I worked with that as my first book. So, you know, I didn't sit down to write it. I transcribed a workshop, you know, and
David Chung: That's fantastic.
Marcia Reynolds: Your [00:42:45] Brain was my first book and, and it's in a second, third edition now. Um,
Yeah. So, you know, um, I knew from speaking you have to have a book, you know? Now it can be different. I [00:43:00] have to have a podcast, um, that get yourself out there. You, I marked it by visibility, you know, more so than sending emails and, and that I just made myself very visible as much as possible [00:43:15] with an expertise. Now, over the years, my expertise has shifted to, I, I've let go of a lot of leadership and I focus on coaching.
I'm a coach's coach.
I speak at coaching conferences. I write for coaches, but I also teach coaching [00:43:30] skills to leaders. I don't teach other leadership, but I will teach coaching skills and help companies create coaching cultures. So I'm still doing corporate work, um, but it's all based around coaching, so I. I let [00:43:45] go of, you know, I, I actually, the market told me, you know, that the coaches want this. So when I finally let it go, that I am a leadership, I, I focus leadership, it's no, I focus on coaching and I work with leaders. [00:44:00] Um, but the focus is coaching. So define your focus, you know, is, is, is really important.
You know, what is it that. You, who do you wanna coach
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: and, and want to? Um, and what's the difference you wanna make? [00:44:15] You know, your ideal client and you know, uh, the difference your, and your purpose define that. And I, that's always helped me to get through, you know, the difficult years at, at, in building the business up front. And that [00:44:30] I helped to create the, you know, was a part of the ICF in early years was just a thank you. I got into it at the right time,
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: Mm-hmm.
David Chung: Before we close, I just, I like to end with two questions. [00:44:45] So the, the first one is, what have you learned about yourself through this process of, you know, becoming coach and starting your own business?
Marcia Reynolds: Yeah. You know what I love about coaching is I'm constantly learning about myself. You know, that the more I know me, the more I [00:45:00] can be with, with others. Um, you know, I think. The most difficult thing was for me to acknowledge that, um, I am a global guru. I am a guru. People listen to me. You know, it's like, oh no, I'm just doing my [00:45:15] thing and helping people, you know, but, but the more I take on that, that I am seen as an expert, the more I can help other people, even though it feels, you know, and comfortable to say I'm a guru, you know, but to, to [00:45:30] claim who I am and what I do and how other people see me and it's okay.
David Chung: Yeah.
Marcia Reynolds: I claim that, the more good I can do. So
David Chung: Hmm.
Marcia Reynolds: think that, you know, coming into myself and so many coaches that, you [00:45:45] know, I'm not good enough. I, I don't, Uh, and have something of value to give. Yes, you do. Yes you do. Yes, you do claim that. So
David Chung: Hmm.
Marcia Reynolds: put yourself out there more comfortably in the world.
David Chung: Yeah. No, I, I love that. I think that's definitely [00:46:00] something that everybody needs to hear, not just coaches. I, I feel like you've already answered the last question, but the last question is like, what's one piece of advice that you'd give somebody who's just beginning in their coaching journey?
Marcia Reynolds: Create a coaching community [00:46:15] or belong to one. You know, I have to say that, you know, Your coaching school, you have a community, you support each other in this, you know, I-C-F-I-I, I went to every conference for years until one year I skipped for my dissertation. You know, [00:46:30] it's, um, I, I, I love my coaching community.
I'm grateful for my coaching community that we, we've supported each other and helped each other. Through those difficult times. And again, this is the human connection we all need, you know, instead of trying to sit out here and [00:46:45] figure it out on our own, you know? So in addition to knowing your purpose and stick with your purpose and understanding how you serve your purpose, have your community of support out there.
And I think every profession, you know, we should have a [00:47:00] community of support.
David Chung: Marsha, thank you so much for your time today. I really appreciate. I'm excited to get a copy of your book and to, to read it and, uh, if anybody wants to get connected with you, what's the best way to do that?
Marcia Reynolds: Well, my, my [00:47:15] website is, uh, there's two ways of finding it, but outsmart your brain.com is the easiest one to remember and spell. So outsmart your brain.com. Um, I'm on LinkedIn, um, uh, these days with [00:47:30] promoting the book every day, you know, and in some of the other sites as, as well. Um, so you can find me in so many different ways.
David Chung: Okay, so. I'll make sure to keep a link to all of that, [00:47:45] um, all of your social and your website and the show descriptions and if they want to get a, copy of your book, just Amazon or.
Marcia Reynolds: Well, uh, whatever online bookstore they use, Amazon, of course, um, is out there worldwide. Um, and [00:48:00] even on my website, if you look under books and you click on Coach the Person second Edition, it gives links to, to the sites. It also gives a description of the book, what's in it, what's different. And a button that if you buy the book, you get a [00:48:15] bonus that leads you to a page that says, where did you buy the, when did you buy the book?
Where'd you buy it? Then you click submit and it gives you a, a toolkit that is highlights of every chapter. So you can use it as a workbook, um, as [00:48:30] well. So, you know, uh, give you that link, um, as well to go on the book page.
David Chung: Okay.
Marcia Reynolds: Yeah. Okay.
David Chung: Marsha, thank you so much for your time today. Uh, I'm, again, I wish you the best of luck with your book [00:48:45] and to everybody else. We'll see you guys next time.
Marcia Reynolds: Okay. Thank you David.
โ[00:49:00]