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Steph Crowder
Hey there. Are you ready to learn the only process that you need to fill up your group program or really any signature offer anytime you want year round? I've got an upcoming advanced sales training class called fill your group program in five weeks. This is a three part roadmap to consistently sell out your offer year round anytime. In this training we are going to talk about my signature 5 week buzz blitz process. I'm going to show you the calendar for how to create a five or even six figure launch and also going to learn the three key ingredients for a step by step rinse and repeat sales cycle that brings you consistently full groups. You just have to go to stephcrowder.comworkshop to get all signed up again. It's on June 24th. That's a Tuesday at 12pm Eastern Time and I cannot wait to see you there. Welcome to the Courage and Clarity podcast. I'm your host, Steph Crowder. I'm a former sales training director who's helped thousands of entrepreneurs earn a living doing something they love over the past 10 years. On your journey, you'll need the courage to be bold, to take risks, and to do what looks crazy on paper. You'll also need the clarity, the brass tacks, simple strategies that actually work. And on this podcast we deliver both in equal measure. Oh, and by the way, we've got absolutely no time for bs, gross marketing tactics or get rich quick schemes. Just sustainable business strategies for good humans with big dreams. If that sounds like you, you're in the right place.
Unknown Host
Let's go. Caitlyn, welcome to the podcast.
Caitlin Denning
I'm excited to be here.
Unknown Host
Thank you so much for taking the time. I cannot wait to talk to you today. Let's dive in and get started. Tell us about you and your business and how it is that you earn your living.
Caitlin Denning
Absolutely. I'm Caitlin Denning. I am a certified life and executive coach. I'm also a fair play method facilitator and I work with working mom. So maybe we'll get into what I what I offer specifically to my clients. But I think it's maybe also interesting to know that I am my ideal client. I am a working mom. I have three young kids and I have been doing this, I would say offering coaching since 2019. But I built my business as a side hustle, if we still use that term. Yeah, well, okay. While I worked my full time 9 to 5 corporate job in a variety of positions and industries, I like to say until I1 felt solid enough financially to make the leaf. But also there was A big piece of feeling brave enough to do that. And so in 2022. So I'm coming up on three years this summer. I gave my notice and I've been full time in my business since then.
Unknown Host
So exciting. I am so excited to dive into our conversation today. We were just chatting a little bit in pre recording about how Caitlin, Caitlyn is a client inside of the Soul Docker programs Mastermind. And Caitlin has really had this incredible arc in the program and also has really done like when I literally, when I teach a training and talk about how we go from, you know, one on one to a one to few bridge to a one to more scaled offer, Caitlyn has really followed the steps. I even said like textbook. And you just said I understood the assignment. Right. And you really have done like it's been really cool to see that really come to life because talking about for any of us in our programs, talking about our curriculum and our learning path, in theory, you're like, okay, yeah, that really makes sense. But then to really see it work for somebody is so exciting. So let's go. And I, we also talked in pre recording about how we've been working together for a year now. It feels like longer to be honest. So you came in when the program was six months and now the program is a year. So we're into our, you know, six months out of this year that you signed on for. So it's been pretty much exactly a year since you came into the program. So why don't you take us back to April 2024, where you were in your business, what problems you had and what you were hoping to get out of coming into the Mastermind.
Caitlin Denning
I can't believe it's been a year either. I will just say, and remind me to share more about this later. But understanding the assignment is a big one. I'm good at that. I like to learn in that way. But also that was a big driver and draw for me to this program. So happy to share more about that. But yeah, if I think back to April of last year, so I was looking back at some numbers and when I left my corporate job in 2022, I, I was full or close to full of one on one clients, which was amazing and blows my mind that I was able to do that while I was working full time. But I was really riding momentum and I, you know, it took a little adjusting to just like being my own boss and running my own schedule. But things were good in that first year, year and a half of being full Time in my business. And then by the end of 2023 and beginning definitely first quarter of 2024, I was in what you and I now call my client drought.
Unknown Host
What is a client drought? For anybody who's never heard that.
Caitlin Denning
Yeah, I was just. I was not getting consult calls. I was not converting the consult calls that I had. And there just felt like there was no interest.
Unknown Host
Yeah.
Caitlin Denning
And so I think I was down to maybe half the number of clients that I'd had before. And feeling a little terrified. What was I going to. How was I going to fix this? Was I going to need to go back to get a job again? What did that look like? And so I was without a coach at that time. I had done some other business coaching and masterminds and courses, but I was without a business coach at that time. And I mean, I was like, I have to figure this out. I have to figure this out. I. I know that my offer. I know that my coaching is amazing. It changes lives. I've got great testimonials. People are very happy. And I'm just, where. Where did everybody go?
Unknown Host
Yeah, I hear that a lot from people that I talk to. I think this is. If you're someone listening and you're like, I resonate with that. We see a lot of folks who have these feelings come into the mastermind, where it's like, exactly what Caitlin just said. I know I'm so good at what I do. I have people tell me, if I could just get the butts in the seats, if I could just get people into the room, I know I can help them. I like, I'm not doubting so much my ability as a coach or a service provider, whatever it is that you do for people, but it's the, how do I get them in the room in the first place? And for a lot of folks exiting the sort of 2020 through 2022 time frame, I see a sharp drop off or shift in terms of how the game, so to speak, has changed. Like, I talked to a lot of people at the end of 2023 into 2024 who are like, what has happened? Like, programs that used to be full are now half filled. Enrollments are going down and down and down, one on one clients. My book was full and now it's not. So this is definitely something that I've been seeing a lot. And it's, you know, as you're going to hear in Caitlin's story, it's clearly not that like, oh, people just don't buy anymore. But things definitely did change. And we got to a point where what worked then has shifted pretty significantly. So that's the point where you were when we spoke and you decided to come into the program. What happened from there? What was the first thing that we worked on? What was kind of your first milestone? And if you want to also touch on understanding the assignment, I'd love to hear about that too.
Caitlin Denning
Yeah, I. A lot of things happened in those first few months. I think this is in order. But, you know, shuffle them around maybe slightly. But I do remember making the commitment. I was one of those stories that I'd heard you say before. When someone commits to the group already, they see the shift. And I made a note to myself that I signed a one on one client. I think a week or two after I had committed and. And come on board to the group. I didn't watch any of the curriculum, even though I had access to it. It was just something shifted in me taking that ownership. And so that was. That was interesting. So I signed one a lot just.
Unknown Host
For people to know. Like, I. And I. I still remember getting that message from you. I remember like it was yesterday. You messaged me on Instagram and you're like, step, yeah, just sign a new client.
Caitlin Denning
And I.
Unknown Host
We haven't even started yet. So what do you make of that? Like, it's something that I see often. Why do you think that happened?
Caitlin Denning
Oh, that's a good question there. It sounds so nebulous to say, but there is a shift when you decide to invest the way that we invest in this group to. It's like betting on yourself. Yeah, I believe in what I do. I know I can solve this. I know I can figure this out. I just need some support. I need some guidance. I need some help. There is something about that shift that I just remember that consult call with that client who worked with me then for six months. I feel like I was a slightly more energized person. Like, I got a little bit of my belief back just by committing and saying, I. I believe in my business enough to sign on for this group for six months to learn how to solve this problem that I have.
Unknown Host
Yeah. And even having our consult together where we make a plan and you kind of start to see, like, okay, I. I've experienced that too in hiring my own coaches, where it's like, oh, thank God, I don't have to do this alone anymore. Like, there's something about receiving support that can give us more belief of like, I don't have to figure this out alone anymore. I have a partner in this that can help us be a little bit more bold and take, you know, show up to a consult call differently. Knowing that you have, like, people in your corner. You have a person in your corner that's going to help you solve big problems and help you kind of get to that next level. I think that's really cool.
Caitlin Denning
Totally.
Unknown Host
Yeah.
Caitlin Denning
So I signed that client right out of the gate. We hadn't even started yet. And then one of the first things that I did was submit a 90 day plan, which I will say I've always been a planner. I love goal setting. That's part of what I work with my clients on. So I had always done that, but not to the level of detail that I did when I submitted that first one. And I really looked at not just revenue numbers, but audience numbers and then thought about, okay, what are the things? What are the levers that I can pull in the next 90 days to see how that might impact my results? And I made a commitment in that 90 day plan, which was really the sole focus of that 90 day plan. I had other things, but they were not as important, was to do an hour of money making activities every day before I got into the thick of my work and client delivery.
Unknown Host
And again, textbook, sold out, group programs, curriculum like that is what we teach. That's what I teach in the program. I teach my clients to. That 90 day plan Caitlin mentioned, you're walked through exactly how to develop it. And there's a heavy focus on what are your. We call them MMAs. Money making activity. Do you know them? If not, let's come up with a list. And we say an hour a day of mma. This is like one of the little catchphrases in the program. So you implemented that. You actually just, you know, and I always tell people, do it in the first hour of your day so that it doesn't get eaten into by inevitably the mountain of admin work or client work. And so you started to do that. So what happened next?
Caitlin Denning
It was interesting. There were several of us in that group that were also focused on the same thing. And I can name them right now. It was so helpful as well to go through that with other people. And we were able to like brainstorm and share like, what is an M M A? What are yours? What am I missing from my list? So that was, that was super supportive to go through that. And I will say I didn't always do an hour. Yeah, I mean, my days are busy. I have a shortened workday while my kids are at school. And so some days it was 30 minutes. But I saw again the energy that I showed up to my business with started to shift. So.
Unknown Host
And you could do so much in 30 minutes with money, activities. I think we think to ourselves to get leads and to talk to people. It's going to be hours and hours and hours and it's like one hour is all you have to sit there and be like, okay, I've done a lot in this hour, what else can I do? 30 minutes can be plenty. So I tell people to adjust that based on how much time they have. Some people have a really small amount of time and I'm like, great, imagine 30 dedicated minutes a day. Most people aren't even doing that.
Caitlin Denning
I think it's more about the consistency too. Yeah. I mean even if I only had 15 minutes one day, it's better than nothing. And just doing it every day for 15 or 30 or 45 or an hour, whatever I could do, I think it was more about the repetition and just seeing that as the most important thing I could do for my business every day.
Unknown Host
Yeah. So what happened?
Caitlin Denning
So that was first. Then I shifted my process as well. So I had been doing sort of the call to action was always just book a call with me, book a consult call. And I watched some of the training in the program and decided to shift and experiment with an application model. And I don't know why I didn't do this earlier because when I think about my own buying behavior coming into the group, there was I feel safer to submit an application and behind writing share my story than to jump on a call with a stranger. And I just thought maybe that is a big ask. That was the way we had done it before. Right. Again in that post pandemic, everybody was just happy to jump on a call. So I instead went with an application first, then an invite to a consult call. And what I noticed there was because I felt like it was an easier ask, I started offering it more. Right. Whereas before I think I thought, oh, a consult call with a stranger, with someone you don't know to take time to get on. Zoom was a big ask. So I think I was not offering it as much. Whereas an application, it felt like a no brainer. Why wouldn't you do this? There's no pressure, you don't even have to book a call afterwards. So I just started offering it on Instagram. In my stories it was the CTA on everything. And I think that also shifted for me. So paired with money making activities, like everybody was Hearing about my application and then when I got onto a consult call. You have this beautiful framework that just really clicked for me of delivering a three part plan for my clients. And one, it made what I sometimes feel like life coaching can be a little bit abstract. What does that mean? What are we going to actually do? It made it more concrete and it helped me start to actually see, oh, I do have a process. I do take my one on one clients through a very thoughtful and intentional process. It's nuanced and it's slightly different for you and your circumstances, client to client. But delivering that in the consult call, oh my gosh, I just changed completely the way that I would talk to someone on a consult. It was like, this is the best thing. This is exactly what it's gonna look like. And I can see so clearly how we're gonna spend our six months together and where you're gonna be on the other side.
Unknown Host
Yes. So good. And to Caitlin's point, she brought up, we have a, I have a full training, a five part training that walks you. I, I, I say to my same day sales clients all the time because we teach that training. That particular training is in both of my programs. And I've said like, that training by itself has made my clients more money than anything else. And, and I think it comes down to exactly what you said. Knowing what your own process is, having a plan for your consult calls, your sales calls. But then also I really like what you just said and want to underscore it, which is like I've been thinking a lot, we've been talking in the program lately about belief and being in belief of our own offers. And sometimes I have clients who aren't selling and they wonder why and we inspect it and we, we, we find out they're not really drinking their own Kool Aid. They're not really all in on like their own belief that they can change people, help people, change their, change their lives, the people that they're working with. I've never really fully like connected the dots on this. So hearing you say it's really helpful. Is that like the consult call, when you do it with my process, not only is it helping the client really clarify, like, oh, if I work with Caitlin, I understand exactly what we're going to be doing and that gives me the confidence. But it's also for us, it's also for us as the coach or the service provider, whatever it is that you're doing to be like, oh, you don't have to just say to yourself, oh, I can help them. Like, oh, I just need to make myself believe that. But you're kind of proving it to yourself when you're like, okay, first we're going to do this, then we're going to do that. It's concrete. It's not just you making blind promises and being like, oh, yeah, yeah, sure, sure, sure, you're going to change your whole life. It's going to be great. But it's like, here's what we're going to tackle. We have a plan and then the client or the prospect gets to say, that sounds exactly like what I want to do. So then you as the coach get to hang up and be like, I know exactly how to help them and I'm just ready to get started.
Caitlin Denning
Yeah, yeah, game, game changer for me.
Unknown Host
That is so cool. Okay, so the combination of another thing we talk about all the time in the program is sales is really just an equation. It's traffic plus conversion equals sales. You touched on both of those, right? So the traffic side was like all of your CTAs aligning with that application, really showing up your money making activities. That's on the traffic side. On the conversion side, getting better at actually closing and being in belief when you're on calls. So what happened? You told us where you started with your client book. What happened from there?
Caitlin Denning
I booked out. So by the end of that initial six months and I launched a podcast in there as well at your encouragement. Best thing I've done again, the self concept that I have now, the way I see myself and it's growing, I'm starting to now see results of that. People are finding me and converting because of the podcast. So by the end of that initial six months, in the first round, I was booked out again. I was at capacity for one on one and it just felt so good, like so much relief, so much groundedness, if that makes sense in my business. I, I had my swagger back, I had my confidence back and my belief in what I was doing, the lives I was changing, the amazing women that I got to work with and get to work with. Yeah, I, it was like best case scenario, everything that I hoped for when I joined.
Unknown Host
So amazing. And I want to just emphasize for everyone, you sell life coaching, right? It's life coaching for working moms. So can you kind of touch on sometimes?
Caitlin Denning
I.
Unknown Host
And I think it's a great question that people have. They'll be like, okay, but I don't sell business coaching. I don't sell something that has a quote unquote tangible roi, people aren't necessarily gonna. I'm not promising them they're gonna make more money. How do you handle that? Or what are your thoughts on people that might be out there thinking, like, can I actually get booked out with an offer that is life coaching or something that doesn't necessarily have the financial. You're asking people to spend a significant amount of money. You have a premium offer, and, you know, it's. It's to help their lives be better.
Caitlin Denning
Yeah. And I think that's where I was, too. It was struggling to really see, what is that return on investment. What is it that you actually get at the end of this? And the answers were there for me all along. I just. Now they are so much clearer.
Unknown Host
Yeah.
Caitlin Denning
But I. I mean, the examples are. Are endless. But for my clients, yes, they feel better. They. But they are choosing and understanding the choice of how they're spending their time. They feel less stressed. They are more present. They are not, like, frantically rushing from one thing to the next anymore. They are running marathons again and picking up romance books because, you know, I love a good romance book and. Right. It's like they're doing all of these things in their life. Instead of just getting through the day, getting through the week, getting through the season, they're actually living their lives.
Unknown Host
Right.
Caitlin Denning
And I think that really strikes a chord with the women who come to me is we have this one life to live. We have a short season of our lives with our kids at home, and we love our work. We want to go have, you know, a big impact in the world. And we have ambition and dreams and goals. And if you're just surviving, like, what are you doing?
Unknown Host
Right. Yeah. And achieving all of those goals becomes all the harder and possibly even not even on the table at that point.
Caitlin Denning
Yeah. I mean, I think I've thought a lot in this program as well, about, like, the cost. Yes. Not doing this work for my clients. And I think that has also really shifted. Right. I'm. I'm not selling business coaching. There is no financial gain for these women, but there's a huge cost of staying the same and where they are. And it shows up in relationships. It shows up financially. It shows up in your health. It shows up in all of the.
Unknown Host
Ways that's a big focus in the program, too, is if you are someone who's listening and you're thinking of joining us and you do have an offer that you feel it's not necessarily the financial return that's going to be your client's roi. We help you find it in the program. Right. We help you find exactly what Caitlin said. What is. Because there's always a cost. There's always a cost of not changing your life, of not having a transformation. So we can really help you name that and feel really fired up about the different. Like in the same way that Caitlin is really aligned with her mission, we address that in the program as well through our mission driven messaging to really help you anchor into. Like, why does your work even matter? Because it's normal to lose sight of that. I've been doing my work for 10 years and that still happens to me sometimes where I have to, you know, hook back into, wait a second there. This really is transformational work. And I have evidence of that. So I think that's huge. Okay, so that was all your first six months in the program, which was amazing. Now we're just wrapping up. In fact, just yesterday we did a little workshop for our clients, Caitlin included, on like their second six months in the program. So we've done our, our first six months. What has been your focus for this six months? It's been really exciting.
Caitlin Denning
Again, I cannot believe, I cannot believe where I'm sitting today. Again, understood the assignment and went out to get an A plus grade on everything. So since I was full of one on one clients by, you know, last fall, decided to shift my focus to a small group. I had run a small group in the past years ago, again, riding the wave of like, things were easy, people were buying, and in January of 2024, had tried to launch it again and it fell flat. Nobody, nobody was interested. And so I had this hesitation of like, oh, can I do this again? I don't want to go through that experience again.
Unknown Host
But that's important. Just to pause you there for one quick second because I remember coaching you in the first six months there was. And I think people will really resonate with this. I talk to a lot of people who are like, try to groove or like some. The group program flops. That may have happened in your first six months. You were sort of like, do I don't die? Do I like there. You kind of did have to work up the courage to try again for a group. And so that's normal. If you're listening to this and you identify with that, I think that's again another huge value of Caitlyn. Getting booked out with one on one clients versus there was sort of like, that helped bolster your confidence to be able to try again, was my observation.
Caitlin Denning
Yeah, being. Being booked out and Then also just knowing that I could do it with support. Yeah, you know, the last time I had launched it, I was just kind of guessing and there was nobody to help me troubleshoot or help me hold the belief that I could do that. And so that was a huge part. And so at the start of this calendar year, I, I think it's more like same day sales curriculum, but did a lot of personal outreach. I did not do a full on public launch. I just knew there were some women who had been interested in one on one, but it wasn't quite the right fit for them. And so thought, I'm going to try a group again. And I, I did personal outreach and I ended up with three women who were interested to try this with me again. And I just tried to keep it very. I'm gonna learn as I go, I'm gonna build this as I go. And I got about halfway through a 12 week program with these women and I thought, I freaking love this. Yeah, so great. They're all seeing results and I don't wanna lose my momentum while this is fresh, while I'm in love with it right now. Let me see what I can do. And you know, I had been really curious about your Buzz Blitz framework. Could I was this question I kept asking myself like, could I actually do this? Could I make this successful? And we decided to. We, I say you and me, I decided, but with your support to go for it. And so halfway through the execution of my current group, I just actually wrapped up in April a full launch. And I love the framework that we do in the group of setting a good, better best goal. And so my good goal was three women. I thought I've done it once, if I do that again. Great, amazing. I'm so happy with that. And I remember being like, I don't know, am I gonna get three? And you were like, don't stop. Not till it's over. Right. Let's just see, this is, this is done for you. You're gonna do it. And here I am sitting ready to launch my next group in a couple of weeks and I exceeded my best goal. I exceeded my best.
Unknown Host
How many women was that?
Caitlin Denning
Seven.
Unknown Host
Seven?
Caitlin Denning
Yeah, we were hoping for three.
Unknown Host
Best goal was six. Right?
Caitlin Denning
Best goal was six.
Unknown Host
And you ended up with seven.
Caitlin Denning
I ended up with seven. And I answered that question of could I actually do this? Yeah, I did.
Unknown Host
Possibly my favorite part, right, like the, the identity piece of like you've been talking a lot about this as you've been sharing these wins in the group is like the next levelness of it and just being like, I stretched myself.
Caitlin Denning
I'm.
Unknown Host
Yes, it was tiring. Yes, it was work. Yes, it was stretchy. But I showed myself that I can do it. And now, like again, you mentioned self concept earlier when you launched a podcast. It's another iteration of you developing your self concept into being like, I have a sold out group program.
Caitlin Denning
Yeah. Yeah.
Unknown Host
Oh, good. So good. So as you get ready to start with your next group, your sold out group program, we're starting to have these conversations about like, so again, textbooks, like understanding the assignment. Caitlin is really in that middle part. So I talk about one on one to one to few and exactly what she did. Like using personal outreach to get that first one off the ground. Then doing your first buzz blitz, which if you come into the program, I give you everything, email templates, week by week calendar. Like, I tell you exactly what to do. And I am your collaborator, Caitlin Sen. We. Because it is very we in this, in this program. Right. So she's under first Buzz Blitz. Now we're starting to have conversations into the future of like what scaling this program really looks like. So what's, what's next for you as you think about, I know now you're going to kind of serve your seven women, of course, but we've started to have a little bit of conversation into the future. What do you see for yourself for these next six months?
Caitlin Denning
Yeah, I got coached on this just yesterday and I, I love the, the thought that with every round that I do of this group, I'm going to sort of plant the seeds for the next evolution of it. So for this round, I'm doing a little bit more to bolster the curriculum inside the group and just make it a little bit better. And then I want to launch again and I want to make my next buzz blitz a little bit easier. Not maybe so tiring now that I've done it. What can I. I've learned so much from that process.
Unknown Host
Yeah.
Caitlin Denning
And I don't know for sure what the end goal of this group is and I feel okay with that.
Unknown Host
Yeah.
Caitlin Denning
But I do see this being a larger, more scaled offer and that has me so excited. And I think I'm not worried about what it looks like because I'm going to figure that out with you. And so after that out in the group.
Unknown Host
Yeah.
Caitlin Denning
Like, I don't have to have the answer today and I don't have to find the answer myself. I'm going to lead that process, but I'm going to get coached and I'm going to have you reflecting back and giving me feedback. And with every round just getting better and better and step by step toward what it could look like in the future.
Unknown Host
Yeah. And in fact, actually, it's funny, as we sit here right now, I just. Yesterday, one of the things we do in the program is I give full feedback reviews. I can review really anything you submit, but I often am, you know, reviewing people's webinar slides or your sales page or your emails, like my brain on your business, giving you very detailed feedback. And something I just reviewed for Caitlin yesterday was your buzz blitz debrief. So sending in sort of like, what are all the facts and figures of everything that happened? What are your feelings about what happened, what went well, what didn't? And I sent you back a video of, like, all of the things that I think you should, you know, add to your reflections, things for next time. So, again, in spirit of that partnership, we take the time to kind of unpack, and you do that with your coach so that when you go to do it again, you really feel prepared to kind of take it to the next level. So it's very collaborative.
Caitlin Denning
It was so helpful to go through that process and see it all in one place. Just really congratulate myself on all the effort that I put in and then to take your ideas and thoughts and make a bunch of notes for the next time that I do that. I'm. I'm set up to have another great launch. Yeah.
Unknown Host
So excited for you, Caitlin. I know I've said it over and over, and I say to all my clients who have big wins, but I just. I love nothing more than getting to celebrate with you. So you should be so proud, and I am so proud of all the results that you've created in the program. What would you say to people who are listening to this, who are thinking about joining? They have their nerves, their hesitations, their fears. Some of them, I'm sure, are familiar to you. When you think back, what would you say to people who are considering this?
Caitlin Denning
I had those, too. I'd worked with other business coaches in the past, some that exceeded my expectations, many, you know, maybe who didn't. And I would say I have never encountered a container like this one, and it has everything that I could need or want for my business. And I love that I can get coached on the underlying challenges that maybe fall more in the realm of sort of life coaching, and that I can submit my webinar outline, which I did. And I did a. An amazing webinar Because I got so much feedback on that. I love that I can submit that for very tactical feedback. I love that I can pop into Slack at any time and share a celebration or ask a question or say, hey, I'm having this conversation with someone. I'm not sure what the next step is. How do I serve or, you know, invite to. To my group or to apply to me or to work with me. And it is. It is all of those things. And the others in the group, I have learned so much from in just watching them get coached and hearing their answers. I'm inspired by them. I'm curious about other ways of doing things. And like I said, I have been in groups where you've gotten maybe one part of that.
Unknown Host
Yeah.
Caitlin Denning
But I've never been in a space where I can do it all and I can learn. And there is a framework, but there's so much room for me to take it and make it my own and get support and accountability and coaching and camaraderie along with it.
Unknown Host
Yeah. That's so good. Well said, Caitlin. Thank you so much for sharing your story and celebrating along the way. It's been so fun to get to, you know, just kind of, like, look back on your journey. It's been a fun year, and I'm excited to see what's in store for the next six months.
Caitlin Denning
Me too. I'm so excited.
Unknown Host
Can you please tell the people where they can find you online? Maybe your Instagram website if they want to check out what you do?
Caitlin Denning
Absolutely. My website would be the best place to go. And that's the mother nurture.com or I am hanging out on Instagram a little bit more. Probably inspired by you and the group. You can find me on Instagram at Love, Mother, Nurture.
Unknown Host
Oh, and your podcast. What's your podcast called?
Caitlin Denning
Oh, yeah. The Life Coach for Working Moms.
Unknown Host
So good. I've listened to your podcast. You've had a few topics that I'm like, I need to hear that one. It's a great podcast, so everybody go check it out.
Caitlin Denning
Thank you.
Unknown Host
Thanks again for being here.
Caitlin Denning
Thank you.
Courage & Clarity: Episode 133 – From Client Drought to Sold Out: Caitlin's Group Program Breakthrough
Release Date: May 29, 2025
Hosts:
In Episode 133 of Courage & Clarity, Steph Crowder welcomes Caitlin Denning, a dedicated life and executive coach for working mothers. Caitlin shares her transformative journey from experiencing a significant client drought to successfully launching and selling out her group coaching program.
Caitlin Denning provides an overview of her professional journey:
[01:54] Caitlin Denning: "I am my ideal client. I am a working mom. I have three young kids... I gave my notice and I've been full time in my business since then."
By late 2023 and early 2024, Caitlin faced a significant downturn:
[05:48] Caitlin Denning: "I was in what you and I now call my client drought. I was not getting consult calls. I was not converting the consult calls that I had. And there just felt like there was no interest."
Seeking solutions, Caitlin enrolled in Steph Crowder’s Mastermind program:
[09:27] Caitlin Denning: "There is a shift when you decide to invest the way that we invest in this group... I believe in my business enough to sign on for this group for six months to learn how to solve this problem that I have."
a. 90-Day Plan and Money-Making Activities (MMAs):
Detailed Planning: Caitlin developed a comprehensive 90-day plan focusing on revenue and audience growth.
Daily MMAs: Committed to dedicating an hour each day to activities directly generating income.
[09:10] Caitlin Denning: "...I submitted a 90 day plan... to do an hour of money making activities every day before I got into the thick of my work and client delivery."
b. Shifting to an Application-Based Consult Model:
Change in CTA: Transitioned from asking prospects to book consult calls to having them submit applications.
Increased Accessibility: Found that applications felt less daunting for potential clients, leading to more inquiries.
[12:01] Caitlin Denning: "...I decided to shift and experiment with an application model... it felt like a no brainer."
a. Boost in Client Bookings:
Rebound: By the end of the initial six months in the program, Caitlin was fully booked with one-on-one clients again.
Renewed Confidence: Rediscovered her confidence and belief in her coaching efficacy.
[19:13] Caitlin Denning: "...by the end of that initial six months, I was booked out again. It was like best case scenario, everything that I hoped for when I joined."
b. Podcast Launch:
Enhanced Visibility: Encouraged by Steph, Caitlin launched her podcast, "The Life Coach for Working Moms," which significantly increased her reach and client conversions.
[19:13] Caitlin Denning: "...people are finding me and converting because of the podcast."
Encouraged by her regained success, Caitlin aimed to expand her offerings:
[25:01] Caitlin Denning: "...I had this hesitation of like, oh, can I do this again?... with your support to go for it."
Caitlin's persistence paid off:
[27:58] Caitlin Denning: "I ended up with seven... I answered that question of could I actually do this? Yeah, I did."
Impact on Self-Concept:
Identity Shift: Moving from one-on-one coaching to a sold-out group program transformed Caitlin’s self-perception as a coach.
[28:32] Caitlin Denning: "...I'm set up to have another great launch."
Looking ahead, Caitlin envisions further growth:
Continuous Improvement: Plans to enhance the group program's curriculum and streamline the Buzz Blitz process.
Scaling: Aspires to scale the program, with Steph’s ongoing coaching and support guiding her evolution.
[30:34] Caitlin Denning: "...I'm not worried about what it looks like because I'm going to figure that out with you."
Caitlin’s story offers several valuable lessons for entrepreneurs facing similar challenges:
[34:57] Caitlin Denning: "...I’ve never been in a space where I can do it all and I can learn. And there is a framework, but there's so much room for me to take it and make it my own and get support and accountability and coaching and camaraderie along with it."
Steph Crowder emphasizes that belief in one’s own offers and understanding the true value provided to clients are pivotal in overcoming sales challenges, especially for services that don’t offer direct financial ROI.
Caitlin Denning’s journey from a client drought to a thriving, sold-out group coaching program is a testament to the power of the right strategies, consistent effort, and a supportive community. Her experience underscores the importance of adaptability, persistence, and maintaining belief in one’s mission. For female entrepreneurs navigating similar struggles, Caitlin’s story offers both inspiration and actionable insights to achieve sustained success.
Connect with Caitlin Denning:
Join Steph Crowder’s Upcoming Training:
Thank you for tuning into Courage & Clarity. Stay inspired and continue striving for success with actionable insights from empowered female entrepreneurs.