Coaches’ Corner 10,000 listeners later, and a contest!

After over a year of doing my online radio show, Coaches’ Corner on BlogTalkRadio, I’m excited by the results I’ve had. I’ve done a total of 46 Coaches’ Corner shows, with an average listenership of 213 and a total of nearly 10,000 downloads. I’ve had the privilege of speaking with some amazing coaches, authors, social media mavens and other experts who touch, move and inspire people to action in their lives. I’ve received a dozen books and have learned a tremendous amount from my guests. I even got a share of ad venues (a whopping $28.45, but that would buy a few Whoppers!).

I’m also on iTunes. My entire directory of shows are there for the taking. I’ve learned that it’s not easy or intuitive to find my page there. For some reason, searching for them gives a “no results found” while at the same time displaying the show with my picture on the right side of the page. So I’ve made it easy for my listeners who prefer to use my iTunes feed. Just use this handy short URL: www.bit.ly/coachescorner and you’ll be taken right to the page.

I also have a contest going. The first person to write to me (at coach @ andrewporetz.com) and say “I’m your 10,000th listener” (along with the guidelines below) will win a full three-month coaching package and assessment valued at up to $1,297!

To win, check back here or on Twitter (www.twitter.com/coachandrew) for my announcement that I’ve passed 10,000 listeners, then send an e-mail with the subject line “Put me in, Coach!” In the body, tell me that you believe you’re the 10,000th listener, and tell me the name of my guest and a short description of the show. Tell me something you learned from listening to the show.

The second and third persons to write in will each win a one-month coaching package.

All others will receive an initial assessment and free one-hour coaching session. All winners will also get a 20% discount on all future coaching services.

The contest begins as soon as my show reaches 10,000 listens (as of June 3rd I’m at 9,832, so it can happen in the next day or so) and ends on June 30th. Good luck!

Blog Talk Radio

We all know about podcasting.  BlogTalkRadio (www.blogtalkradio.com) takes podcasting a step further by creating a virtual radio station for all to use.  On April 12th, my first show, “Coaches’ Corner,” will be live, at 11 p.m. EST.  Callers are welcome. [Call in number: (646) 929-2893]

Coach's Corner with Coach Andrew

There’s some history here, and I thought I’d share my story.

In 1992, I was exploring my life’s purpose.  I’d dabbled in writing, comedy and music.  I’d just taken a “men’s weekend,” and was looking at what might be next.  One night, I had an epiphany:  I should be on the radio!  All of a sudden I had my life’s purpose.  I’d be the next Howard Stern.  I
felt the most powerful surge through my entire body with this epiphany. Why hadn’t I thought of this sooner? Of course! It was so obvious! I was delirious with joy at this newfound understanding of my life’s purpose. The next day I called the Columbia School of Broadcasting and set up an audition and interview. I journeyed deep into Bergen County, New Jersey to the school. I was soon sitting behind the kind of radio console you would see in a full-fledged studio, following a script to read a commercial and a news flash, and then dashed back to Manhattan to go to work. The admissions director called me later that day to tell me the good news. I was accepted, and had a partial scholarship. My future was here!

That evening, I excitedly sent an e-mail to a friend of mine, Tracy Carman, who was a “radio buff” who was involved to a great extent with radio archiving. Tracy told me I needed to talk to a professional in the business, and gave me the name and number of a former on-air talent who was now a professor, but whose name is long gone to my memory. I called the fellow the next day and told him my big dream. He asked, “How old are you?” “Thirty-five,” I replied. “Thirty-five? You’re too old! You should have thought of this years ago. You don’t have a chance! I mean, sure, if your dream in life is to make $15-20,000 a year working for some 5-watt station in the middle of nowhere, then by all means, go for it. I’d just stick with whatever I was doing if I were you.”

I felt like a giant prick had just deflated my balloon. I totally bought into this “dream stealer’s” advice, and in an instant, my dream was over. That was it. Finito. Of course, I know now that this was a test, and I had not passed it. I quit at the very first bump in the road.

Seventeen years later, a fellow coach, Crystal Williamson, e-mailed me asking if I’d like to be a guest on her BlogTalkRadio show. I responded, “Your what?” Crystal then explained to me that BlogTalkRadio is a website where anyone could create their own virtual radio show. You needed no experience or very much in the way of technical skills. They provide a virtual switchboard, and if you have a computer and a phone, you’re in. I quickly accepted her offer, and the next week called into the show as her special guest.

It was a great experience, and I was reminded of my old dream. I realized that an opportunity was here – perhaps a small version of the original dream, yet an opportunity to realize it. I signed up for an account. Last week, I did a test show, just to get a feel for what it would be like. I did this on the spur of the moment, signing up for the next available slot, at 11 p.m. I took a 15-minute segment, and went on Facebook to let my world know what I was up to, inviting people to call in. One friend, Debbie, posted, “I’m staying up late for this!”

The show was strictly a test. I had no guest, and I had trouble finding the switchboard at first. I fumbled around, struggling to find something to talk about. The feeling was like being on the phone and leaving a message on an answering machine – there was nobody there to respond. Eventually, a topic came into my mind, and I just went with it.

I ended the test two minutes early. A few minutes later, my phone rang. It was Debbie. “I listened! You were good.” I thought she was joking, and asked her to tell me what I was talking about on the air. She gave me a pretty good recap. My first listener!

Blog Talk Radio with Coach Crystal Williamson

I enjoyed being a guest on fellow coach Crystal Williamson’s “Blog Talk Radio” show tonight.  This is an interesting service — a virtual radio show that can be streamed live, or downloaded at a later date.  This service gives the power and freedom to anyone of creating their own radio show.   I’ve signed up to create and host my own Blog Talk Radio show!

Tomorrow, I will write about a dream I once had of being a radio personality, and how I bought into the negativity of a “dream stealer” who burst my bubble.   For now, here’s a link to the show.  Much thanks to Crystal Williamson for the opportunity.

BlogTalkRadio with Crystal Williamson, February 4, 2009

Editorial: On November 4th, get out and vote!

Get out and vote on November 4th!

I’m sure by now you know that Tuesday, November 4, 2008 is Election Day. I cannot more stress how important it is for every citizen of our great country to get out and exercise your privilege as an American to vote for the candidate of your choice.

This particular election is perhaps a watershed moment for our country. The last eight years have seen a decline in our quality of life, fears both reasonable and unreasonable, unprecedented levels of government corruption on a national scale, an economic debacle not seen in three-quarters of a century, and a loss of esteem of America in the eyes of the world and to a great extent, within the country itself.

I do not believe that is a perfect candidate for president in this election. Indeed, with the grueling political process, the unrelenting invasions of personal privacy by our media concomitant with its ability to blow every minor flaw or mistake out of proportion, our best and brightest leaders might not even throw their hats into the ring any longer. That being said, we must look to the most reasonable choice.

As a coach, I’m called upon to suspend my judgment and to rarely offer my opinion. However, as a leader in the transformational movement, I am compelled to take this opportunity to take a stand.

It is my assertion and my opinion that there is only one reasonable choice on Tuesday, a choice that offers hope in the face of everything that we’re up against right now. That choice is Barack Obama.

Whatever your choice, wishing your candidate into office will not suffice. Here’s your chance to take action. Vote on November 4th!

Coaching — A Call To Action — announcing my New York Meetup group

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The Life Coaching Group – A Call to Action!

A few months ago I took over an active Meetup.com group. On February 27th we had our first event, at a local bar in New York called Rue 57.  We instituted biweekly coaching calls this month.  Every other Sunday, I offer one or two laser coaching sessions with a small group of participants and fellow coaches.  Soon I will open the call guest coaches on topics such as relationships, parenting, and spirituality.  In the next few days this blog will have many new entries. Much to report, and I’m excited about it!