Episode #979: Tom Matzen: The Tribe-Building Blueprint Every Coach Needs To Hear

What does it really take to build a tribe from scratch when you don't have a list, a budget for ads, or the minimum followers to play the summit game? Today's guest is Tom Matzen, who along with Catharine O'Leary co-founded Thousand Person Tribe. Tom joins Marc to break down why most coaches are building their audience the wrong way, and what the journey from audience to community to tribe actually looks like. Don't miss your chance to win a free year-long membership to Thousand Person Tribe - that's 1,000 leads handed straight to your business! Join Marc and Tom live on Tuesday, June 30th at 3 PM EST for the draw, but you must be present to win. Head to www.naturalborncoaches.com/1000leads to enter now! Do you have something that helps coaches, like a program, a product or a service? If you'd like to get your offer out to about 100,000 coaches, Marc currently has openings for partnerships (with a special summer offer), and you can get the details and book a call to chat with him about it at www.jvwithmarc.com/!  This episode was edited and produced by Marc's brother Matt and his team and PodAssist, and right now they're offering listeners of this show a very special discount on their services. You can now get your brand-new audio podcast launched in as little as 2 weeks for just $297 US, which is $400 off their regularly-priced package by mentioning this show. That's just $297 to get personally coached and supported by Matt, from concept to your show going live, and all you have to do is visit PodAssist.com to learn more and book a call. But hurry, being a small team their spots are limited, and don't forget to mention that Marc sent you!  What You'll Hear In This Episode: Why Tom says social media is where you waste time and energy, not where you build a tribe. The catch-22 that keeps early-stage coaches stuck and how Thousand Person Tribe was built to solve that. The three-stage journey from audience to community to tribe, and what most coaches get wrong by skipping straight to selling. Why being contrarian can get you likes and hate mail but not clients, and the one coach Tom holds up as the right way to do it. How he uses free event invitations to move people from community to tribe without making a single sales pitch. Why "transparency is the new black" and the cautionary tale of the influencer who faked his 9-to-5 and paid the price for it. The giveaway Tom and Catharine are running exclusively for The Coaching Jungle, and how one lucky coach could walk away with a thousand free leads!  LINKS:  Join Marc and Tom Live on Tuesday, June 30th at 3 PM EST!  Thousand Person Tribe Website  Previous Episodes 695, 708 & 729 with Tom  Book a no-obligation 1:1 strategy call with Marc for your coaching business: http://www.chatwithmarcm.com If you'd like more coaching clients without sending cold messages or spending money on ads, the Natural Born Coach Program is for you. Get the details here! http://www.nbcprogram.com Join The Coaching Jungle Facebook Group! http://www.thecoachingjungle.com Become a Coaching Jungle VIP member which includes special posting perks in the group to reach almost 30,000 potential clients! http://www.myjunglevip.com Grow your business with The Coaching Jungle Mastermind! http://www.coachingjunglemastermind.com If you have a product or service that helps coaches, and you'd like to get it in front of 100,000 of them: http://www.jvwithmarc.com

Is your inbox being flooded with pitches that just miss the mark? In this episode, Marc breaks down the three most common, yet ineffective, outreach methods used to approach prospective clients today and offers a proven alternative for long-term success!  Do you have something that helps coaches, like a program, a product or a service? If you'd like to get your offer out to about 100,000 coaches, Marc currently has openings for partnerships (with a special summer offer), and you can get the details and book a call to chat with him about it at www.jvwithmarc.com/!  This episode was edited and produced by Marc's brother Matt and his team and PodAssist, and right now they're offering listeners of this show a very special discount on their services. You can now get your brand-new audio podcast launched in as little as 2 weeks for just $297 US, which is $400 off their regularly-priced package by mentioning this show. That's just $297 to get personally coached and supported by Matt, from concept to your show going live, and all you have to do is visit PodAssist.com to learn more and book a call. But hurry, being a small team their spots are limited, and don't forget to mention that Marc sent you!  What You'll Hear In This Episode: How the "me, me, me, me" approach to messaging completely ignores the prospect's perspective and an example of one that hit his inbox recently. The approach that puts potential clients on the defensive immediately and why expecting a response to a negative critique rarely leads to business. The real reasons Marc avoids "disguised selling" and vague small talk. A lesson from Marc's past life in real estate on how one agent successfully listed notoriously difficult FSBOs (For Sale By Owners) by leading with value. How outlasting impatient competitors and showing up consistently without outright selling builds trust and lowers a prospect's guard. The number one question coaches must ask themselves before reaching out to potential clients to ensure they are providing genuine value. LINKS:  Book a no-obligation 1:1 strategy call with Marc for your coaching business: http://www.chatwithmarcm.com If you'd like more coaching clients without sending cold messages or spending money on ads, the Natural Born Coach Program is for you. Get the details here! http://www.nbcprogram.com Join The Coaching Jungle Facebook Group! http://www.thecoachingjungle.com Become a Coaching Jungle VIP member which includes special posting perks in the group to reach almost 30,000 potential clients! http://www.myjunglevip.com   Grow your business with The Coaching Jungle Mastermind! http://www.coachingjunglemastermind.com If you have a product or service that helps coaches, and you'd like to get it in front of 100,000 of them: http://www.jvwithmarc.com  

What happens when a doctor is told she needs IVF to get pregnant and decides there has to be another way? Today's episode features Dr. Kela Smith, a holistic doctor, fertility coach, and business strategist, who joins Marc for a fascinating conversation about one of the most personal and fastest growing niches in the coaching world!  Do you have something that helps coaches, like a program, a product or a service? If you'd like to get your offer out to about 100,000 coaches, Marc currently has openings for partnerships (with a special summer offer), and you can get the details and book a call to chat with him about it at www.jvwithmarc.com/!  This episode was edited and produced by Marc's brother Matt and his team and PodAssist, and right now they're offering listeners of this show a very special discount on their services. You can now get your brand-new audio podcast launched in as little as 2 weeks for just $297 US, which is $400 off their regularly-priced package by mentioning this show. That's just $297 to get personally coached and supported by Matt, from concept to your show going live, and all you have to do is visit PodAssist.com to learn more and book a call. But hurry, being a small team their spots are limited, and don't forget to mention that Marc sent you!  What You'll Hear In This Episode: How Dr. Kela paved the way in the fertility coaching space when nobody was talking about it. Why fertility coaches work alongside the medical system rather than replacing it, and the specific things they focus on instead. How Dr. Kela built her business from zero with Facebook Lives and how much the online landscape has shifted since she started. The way she pieced together her certification framework from scratch after she couldn't find one that already existed. What sets Dr. Kela's certification apart from others in the space and why she believes you can only take your clients as far as you're willing to go yourself. Why she started moving people off social media and onto her email list from the very beginning. The number one struggle holding fertility coaches back from growing their businesses right now.  LINKS:  Get Dr. Kela's Free Fertility Roadmap!  Her Website, Instagram & Podcast Marc's Recent Appearance on Dr. Kela's Fertility Coaching Mastery Podcast Power Tribes: How Certification Can Explode Your Business by Mitch Russo Book a no-obligation 1:1 strategy call with Marc for your coaching business: http://www.chatwithmarcm.com If you'd like more coaching clients without sending cold messages or spending money on ads, the Natural Born Coach Program is for you. Get the details here! http://www.nbcprogram.com Join The Coaching Jungle Facebook Group! http://www.thecoachingjungle.com Become a Coaching Jungle VIP member which includes special posting perks in the group to reach almost 30,000 potential clients! http://www.myjunglevip.com Grow your business with The Coaching Jungle Mastermind! http://www.coachingjunglemastermind.com If you have a product or service that helps coaches, and you'd like to get it in front of 100,000 of them: http://www.jvwithmarc.com

Today's episode features a returning guest, Christopher Rausch, the No Excuses Coach and host of the Raw and Unscripted podcast, who joins Marc for a free-flowing conversation about authenticity, living intentionally, and making an impact. In this episode, Christopher shares the backstage moment that changed everything, why he stopped trying to be like everyone else, the power of writing your own eulogy, and how living with Memento Mori has transformed the way he shows up every single day! Do you have something that helps coaches, like a program, a product or a service? If you'd like to get your offer out to about 100,000 coaches, Marc currently has openings for partnerships, and you can get the details and book a call to chat with him about it at www.jvwithmarc.com/!  This episode was edited and produced by Marc's brother Matt and his team and PodAssist, and right now they're offering listeners of this show a very special discount on their services. You can now get your brand-new audio podcast launched in as little as 2 weeks for just $297 US, which is $400 off their regularly-priced package by mentioning this show. That's just $297 to get personally coached and supported by Matt, from concept to your show going live, and all you have to do is visit PodAssist.com to learn more and book a call. But hurry, being a small team their spots are limited, and don't forget to mention that Marc sent you!  What You'll Hear In This Episode: • Why Christopher decided to surrender the need for validation and people-pleasing, and what happened when he started being 100% unapologetically himself. • The backstage moment at a multi-speaker event that made him realize he needed to stop looking like everyone else and start being authentic. • Why Christopher believes self-talk like "you're stupid" and "you're ugly" has far more detrimental impact than any swear word ever could. • The story of why he wrote his own eulogy in 2008 and how he uses it every single day to create his best life. • What "Memento Mori" means and what Christopher carries with him as a reminder to live intentionally every single day.  • His nighttime ritual and how it's changed the way he approaches his life and business. • The compound interest of your quality of life and how small daily improvements stack up exponentially over 3 to 6 months. LINKS:  Christopher's Website & YouTube Channel  His Podcast Christopher's Previous Episode on Natural Born Coaches (2015) Marc's Recent Appearance on Christopher's Podcast  Grow a Pair by Larry Winget The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying by Bronnie Ware Book a no-obligation 1:1 strategy call with Marc for your coaching business: http://www.chatwithmarcm.com   If you'd like more coaching clients without sending cold messages or spending money on ads, the Natural Born Coach Program is for you. Get the details here! http://www.nbcprogram.com Join The Coaching Jungle Facebook Group! http://www.thecoachingjungle.com   Become a Coaching Jungle VIP member which includes special posting perks in the group to reach almost 30,000 potential clients! http://www.myjunglevip.com Grow your business with The Coaching Jungle Mastermind! http://www.coachingjunglemastermind.com If you have a product or service that helps coaches, and you'd like to get it in front of 100,000 of them: http://www.jvwithmarc.com  

Today Marc welcomes Rachel Feldman, a 15-year coaching veteran and member of Marc's mastermind, to discuss the major shifts happening in the coaching industry. In this episode, Rachel talks about navigating the trust recession, why the AI bubble is about to burst, the importance of authentic human connection, and the foundational strategies that still work today! Do you have something that helps coaches, like a program, a product or a service? If you'd like to get your offer out to about 100,000 coaches, Marc currently has openings for partnerships, and you can get the details and book a call to chat with him about it at www.jvwithmarc.com/!  This episode was edited and produced by Marc's brother Matt and his team and PodAssist, and right now they're offering listeners of this show a very special discount on their services. You can now get your brand-new audio podcast launched in as little as 2 weeks for just $297 US, which is $400 off their regularly-priced package by mentioning this show. That's just $297 to get personally coached and supported by Matt, from concept to your show going live, and all you have to do is visit PodAssist.com to learn more and book a call. But hurry, being a small team their spots are limited, and don't forget to mention that Marc sent you!  What You'll Hear In This Episode: • How the coaching landscape has drastically changed and why what worked organically 15 years ago requires a system to work right now. • The impact of the trust recession we're in and what people are truly craving at this time. • Why Rachel says that long-form content isn't dead … • What she believes will happen with the "AI bubble" in the online space! • Rachel's thoughts on faceless brands and what is needed from you as a creator in order to authentically connect with your audience and buyers. • The key reasons that your freebie needs to provide a quick win for those who download it. • What happens to friction when you clarify research calls are not sales calls and offer a special gift … *  Rachel's advice for finding out what your clients actually want versus what you think they need. • The importance of naming your program correctly and how sometimes a simple tweak in messaging is all you need. • A reminder that the foundational methods that worked 15 years ago still work today if you know what to focus on! LINKS:  Rache's Done-For-You Programs Her Website,  Instagram & Podcast Limitless Movie (2011) The Dark Fields by Alan Glynn     Book a no-obligation 1:1 strategy call with Marc for your coaching business: http://www.chatwithmarcm.com   If you'd like more coaching clients without sending cold messages or spending money on ads, the Natural Born Coach Program is for you. Get the details here! http://www.nbcprogram.com Join The Coaching Jungle Facebook Group! http://www.thecoachingjungle.com   Become a Coaching Jungle VIP member which includes special posting perks in the group to reach almost 30,000 potential clients! http://www.myjunglevip.com   Grow your business with The Coaching Jungle Mastermind! http://www.coachingjunglemastermind.com If you have a product or service that helps coaches, and you'd like to get it in front of 100,000 of them: http://www.jvwithmarc.com  

Today Marc shares a replay of one of the most downloaded episodes of Natural Born Coaches!  In this episode, frequent past guest Ben Settle talks about profiting from trolls in the online space, surviving cancel culture, and a whole lot more! What You'll Hear In This Episode: The importance of subject lines in email marketing and how one of Ben's got him on the radar of a prominent copywriter who opened doors for him. Ben's approach to writing emails, and whether you should write your email or subject line first. How to profit from trolls in the online world, and an example of how Ben used a troll's attacks to run a campaign that brought in $30,000 in new sales! A discussion about Cancel Culture, and the current shift that's happening in society where people are finally standing up and speaking out against it. The value of learning from people you don't agree with! LINKS:  Ben's Website Need help launching a podcast or editing your current show? This podcast is proudly sponsored, edited and produced by PodAssist. Visit their website below for more info!  http://www.podassist.com Book a no-obligation 1:1 strategy call with Marc for your coaching business: http://www.chatwithmarcm.com If you'd like more coaching clients without sending cold messages or spending money on ads, the Natural Born Coach Program is for you. Get the details here! http://www.nbcprogram.com Join The Coaching Jungle Facebook Group! http://www.thecoachingjungle.com   Become a Coaching Jungle VIP member which includes special posting perks in the group to reach almost 30,000 potential clients! http://www.myjunglevip.com   Grow your business with The Coaching Jungle Mastermind! http://www.coachingjunglemastermind.com If you have a product or service that helps coaches, and you'd like to get it in front of 100,000 of them: http://www.jvwithmarc.com

For coaches who are tired of tech getting in the way of their message and looking for a smoother way to scale, this episode dives into a powerful framework: combining strategy, tech, and team. Today, Marc is joined by past guest Tom Ruwitch, the founder of Implementum and Story Power Marketing. Tom is an expert at helping coaches move past boring, informative content to create story-powered marketing that actually captivates prospects, and he's breaking down exactly how to do it in this one!  What You'll Hear In This Episode: The way to conquer the tech freeze that stops most launch strategies in their tracks. How to stop letting readers disappear after they close the book and instead use lead acquisition strategies to move them onto real estate you actually control. The massive revenue gap caused by a failure to follow up and why engaging with your readers is the difference between a vanity project and a business. Why a customized, all-in-one platform built around a specific strategy is the only way to ensure your tech doesn't become a human bottleneck. The right way to leverage AI as a tool for efficiency without losing the human story that makes your marketing actually move people.  How to avoid getting stuck in the "AI slop" when it comes to your content  and why sounding like an AI server will trap your brand in the mushy middle of the market. A deep dive into the Strategy, Tech, and Team framework and how having all three in one place allows you to scale without the tech headaches.  LINKS:  Get Your Complimentary Copy of Tom's Book, Story Power Marketing: Proven Methods to Create Client-Attracting, Profit-Generating Content -- Without Getting Stuck!  Tom's Website Learn More about Implementum Episode #785: Tom Ruwitch: Why Storytellers Sell More and Have More Fun Doing It   The Brand-New Secret Coach Club Is Coming May 13th - Get Access Here!  http://www.secretcoachclub.com   Need help launching a podcast or editing your current show? This podcast is proudly sponsored, edited and produced by PodAssist. Visit their website below for more info!  http://www.podassist.com Book a no-obligation 1:1 strategy call with Marc for your coaching business: http://www.chatwithmarcm.com   If you'd like more coaching clients without sending cold messages or spending money on ads, the Natural Born Coach Program is for you. Get the details here! http://www.nbcprogram.com Join The Coaching Jungle Facebook Group! http://www.thecoachingjungle.com Become a Coaching Jungle VIP member which includes special posting perks in the group to reach almost 30,000 potential clients! http://www.myjunglevip.com Grow your business with The Coaching Jungle Mastermind! http://www.coachingjunglemastermind.com If you have a product or service that helps coaches, and you'd like to get it in front of 100,000 of them: http://www.jvwithmarc.com

For coaches looking for a fresh way to inject a burst of revenue into their businesses without the fatigue of a traditional launch, this episode dives into a unique strategy: Skool auctions. Joining Marc today is Peter Lloyd-Lister, who helps coaches run high-energy auctions inside Skool communities. This isn't the fast-talking, old-school variety though - it's a strategic, online process that turns a simple community into a revenue-generating machine!  In this episode, Peter explains how he's helped coaches generate 6-figure results with Skool groups of fewer than 200 members, and why the direct messaging power of Skool makes it the ultimate platform for this model compared to traditional Facebook groups. The conversation also covers a zero-risk way to bring an auctioneer onto a coaching team and provides a behind-the-scenes look at the auction Peter and Marc are running together inside the brand-new Secret Coach Club. If you're ready to stop shouting into the social media void and start using a strategy that gets people raising their hands and their bids, Peter shares exactly how to get the ball rolling!  What You'll Hear In This Episode: A high-level breakdown of how a Skool auction works and the psychological importance of starting bids at just $1. The technical setup and cost of Skool, and why it's arguably the most user-friendly community platform for coaches today. Finding the "Goldilocks" zone for auction frequency and how long you should wait between events to avoid audience fatigue. Why your auction prize doesn't have to be your core offer and how to use the backend to sell your high-ticket programs. The reasons that the strongest auctions are built on community value and the dangers of treating your group as a ghost town between events. Real-world case studies from Peter of Skool auctions generating 6-figure revenue with groups as small as 180 members. Why Peter follows a 43-step checklist to maximize revenue and how to leverage an auctioneer with zero upfront risk. A sneak peek inside the brand-new Secret Coach Club and how to watch the auction process unfold in real-time.  LINKS:  20% Off 24-Hour Skool Auctions Service (For Natural Born Coaches Listeners) https://tally.so/r/1A2krp   The Brand-New Secret Coach Club Is Coming May 13th - Get Access Here!  http://www.secretcoachclub.com   Need help launching a podcast or editing your current show? This podcast is proudly sponsored, edited and produced by PodAssist. Visit their website below for more info!  http://www.podassist.com Book a no-obligation 1:1 strategy call with Marc for your coaching business: http://www.chatwithmarcm.com   If you'd like more coaching clients without sending cold messages or spending money on ads, the Natural Born Coach Program is for you. Get the details here! http://www.nbcprogram.com Join The Coaching Jungle Facebook Group! http://www.thecoachingjungle.com Become a Coaching Jungle VIP member which includes special posting perks in the group to reach almost 30,000 potential clients! http://www.myjunglevip.com Grow your business with The Coaching Jungle Mastermind! http://www.coachingjunglemastermind.com If you have a product or service that helps coaches, and you'd like to get it in front of 100,000 of them: http://www.jvwithmarc.com  

While many online marketers claim that webinars are dead, today's guest is proving they are more effective than ever, provided you stop treating them like a "pitch fest!" Today, Marc is joined by Danno Hanfling, a systems architect and community-building expert who has spent 15 years helping businesses scale through a sophisticated, synchronized approach to lead generation and sales. This conversation offers a clear path for shifting beliefs, mastering the transition from teaching to invitation, and turning a single presentation into a consistent, high-converting sales pipeline without the need for high-pressure tactics or rigid slide decks!  What You'll Hear In This Episode: How the modern webinar is evolving into a powerful tool for shifting beliefs and guiding potential clients on a transformational journey. A look at the three-act strategy for finding your ideal client and building deep trust before the webinar even begins. Why Danno avoids standard replays and the way he uses activation videos to create a gallery of action-takers. The "Omni-channel" approach and what you can do to synchronize your marketing platforms into a seamless symphony that avoids redundancy. Danno's insights on mastering the transition from teaching to the "call to action" and offering participants an invitation to work together. LINKS:  Danno's Fan Page (Use #NBC)!   Need help launching a podcast or editing your current show? This podcast is proudly sponsored, edited and produced by PodAssist. Visit their website below for more info!  http://www.podassist.com Book a no-obligation 1:1 strategy call with Marc for your coaching business: http://www.chatwithmarcm.com If you'd like more coaching clients without sending cold messages or spending money on ads, the Natural Born Coach Program is for you. Get the details here! http://www.nbcprogram.com Join The Coaching Jungle Facebook Group! http://www.thecoachingjungle.com   Become a Coaching Jungle VIP member which includes special posting perks in the group to reach almost 30,000 potential clients! http://www.myjunglevip.com   Grow your business with The Coaching Jungle Mastermind! http://www.coachingjunglemastermind.com If you have a product or service that helps coaches, and you'd like to get it in front of 100,000 of them: http://www.jvwithmarc.com  

In nearly a thousand episodes of Natural Born Coaches, a topic like this has never been tackled! Today, Marc is joined by Bryce Hoffman, the founder of Red Team Thinking and a former business journalist who has spent decades looking inside the world's most successful organizations, as he dives into the concept of Red Teaming, a methodology originally developed by military and intelligence agencies to stress-test strategies and navigate extreme uncertainty. In a world that feels increasingly volatile, complex, and disrupted by AI, the old way of doing things isn't just a choice; it's a liability. Bryce breaks down how coaches can use these tools to help leaders challenge their own assumptions, identify unseen threats, and surface missed opportunities that others are walking right past, plus much more. Bryce is hosting a Red Team Coaching Bootcamp next Monday, April 27th at 12 PM EST. Listeners will learn foundational tools like Think-Write-Share and the Six Strategic Questions to help clients navigate complexity with clarity, and you can claim your spots now at https://www.naturalborncoaches.com/redteamcoaching!  What You'll Hear In This Episode: Defining the concept of red teaming within a business context and how deliberate challenge can actually strengthen an organization's strategy. A look at the massive shifts in the coaching industry over the last few years and the disruptive impact of a "VUCA world". How coaches can help leaders establish their unique value and build cognitive resilience in a market flooded with low-cost alternatives. The one critical limitation of AI and why this is important for coaches to understand. Practical steps for applying red team thinking to your own coaching business by focusing on the three Cs: Clarity, Capability, and Culture. A sneak peek at the upcoming Red Team Coaching Bootcamp and the two foundational tools that mine the hidden wisdom already existing within an organization. LINKS:  Register for Bryce's Red Team Bootcamp (Happening Next Monday, April 27th, 2026)!  Bryce's Website, Podcast & Book  Red Team Thinking's Website Need help launching a podcast or editing your current show? This podcast is proudly sponsored, edited and produced by PodAssist. Visit their website below for more info!  http://www.podassist.com Book a no-obligation 1:1 strategy call with Marc for your coaching business: http://www.chatwithmarcm.com   If you'd like more coaching clients without sending cold messages or spending money on ads, the Natural Born Coach Program is for you. Get the details here! http://www.nbcprogram.com Join The Coaching Jungle Facebook Group! http://www.thecoachingjungle.com   Become a Coaching Jungle VIP member which includes special posting perks in the group to reach almost 30,000 potential clients! http://www.myjunglevip.com   Grow your business with The Coaching Jungle Mastermind! http://www.coachingjunglemastermind.com If you have a product or service that helps coaches, and you'd like to get it in front of 100,000 of them: http://www.jvwithmarc.com