@Andrew Woodbury this is great, thanks. I do feel managing expectations may be part of it and pre-qualifying may help. I have had a recent experience of being in on both and he was ready to start, but when I gave him my rate and offer, it was too far beyond the client’s expectation he just wasn’t in a position financially and neither of realized it. Albeit, this is a weak sales skills stage for me. Even if you know it will serve them well, I just feel it’s unprincipled to persuade anyone to pay for something they haven’t reconciled with their own mind and pocketbook. We have stayed in touch so I’m banking on long term interactions in this kind of case. Suggestions?

@Andrew Woodbury excellent 🙌🏼

I think asking for a testimonial directly is definitely higher stakes and may warrant a contra exchange offer. If a student is willing but shyness is their main issue, perhaps ask for permission to take a screenshot of your next virtual session which you can use to accompany their written testimonial. If they fear making mistakes and you really want video why not make it a lesson? help them prep a bit and direct then to focus on a specific item e.g I’ve noticed your confidence has grown so much since last year. What have we been doing that has helped? Also, when a student offers organic feedback spontaneously, or they comment on a breakthrough moment that’s a great time to ask: gosh I would love to help others with that! Would you be willing to write it down or share it in a short video for me to share? That organic approach is what I feel most comfortable with for myself but definitely being more proactive would brand build more effectively! You can also show one testimonial you already have or a mock sample and ask if they’re willing to do one like it. But some adult students - especially professionals- don’t even like others to know they’re studying English. I teach children as well so that market presents its own unique barriers as well. In general, unless someone posts from their own account which you then share there’s no evidence as such - i.e. it’s of course possible to fake photos too. I think there’s a general spirit of trust that we aim to cultivate over time and there aren’t any shortcuts for that. So, be patient and let your brand evolve as well. Curious to hear a follow up about how you moved forward with this. And what works for you!

And a dash of radical patience with process and progress (vs hyper focus on productivity and results). We don’t plant seeds and then dig them up to see if they’re growing. We keep tending the conditions so that they support growth. Great post, thanks 🙏🏼

So good, this post. Thank you 🙏🏼 The tendency to compare means we are always embroiled in ideas of competing ( even with our imagined ideal selves.) So, in a way this can also be called the tyranny of the ideal self! The rose on a lower part of the shrub is no less a rose. I prefer to use Nature to find role models because there is an ease and rest not found in the industry of competition. My inner process finds it more healing to rest into Being before taking action. The intellect is typically so embroiled in the relative and performative nature of work it can be healing to cultivate a practice of working in the present, attending to the task at hand without too many thoughts of others, or future outcomes. Impostor syndrome as a symptom as a comparison mindset, points me to ask myself : What’s the gap I see between the other and myself? Is it something I can work on? ( or even want to work on?) or is it a vague feeling of unworthiness? This self inquiry brings clarity. If it’s the latter, then it’s an inner issue of self esteem and I can soothe this by chatting with a colleague, asking sincere clients for feedback or mentally revising my growth milestones over the last couple years. If the feeling points me to identifying an outer weakness, I make a short goals list of how to support my growth plan in this area.

Welcome @Gregory Daniels