Academy for Coaching Excellence is an ICF accredited coach training school offering various courses, including a professional coach certification programAcademy was founded by Dr. Maria Nemeth, a master certified coach and author, who developed a coaching framework over 40 years agoThe Academy Foundational Training is a starting point for any coach, as well as anyone who wants to experience transformation in their lifeCoaching industry is a 20 billion dollar industry and is expected to be a 32.5 billion dollar industry in the futureThe attitude towards coaching has changed because enough people have experienced the power of being coached and are spreading the wordPeople are culturally more open to getting support in their life and asking for supportCoaching is a privilege, and it's important to have a trained coach who understands ethics, anatomy of a crisis, and when to refer to a therapist. Coaching helps people move forward and reach their goals, whereas therapy looks backwardsBranding perspective is important to establish trust in the industry and be clear about what it means to be a coachMany people call themselves coach without professional training or accreditation, and it's important to distinguish rigorously trained coaches from self-proclaimed coachesThe opportunity with branding and marketing is to educate people and establish trust in the coaching industryThe importance of having a brand identity and marketing as a coachHaving a niche or ideal client helps to clarify the brand and attract clientsImportance of focusing on the ideal next client rather than worrying about the ideal clientBrand identity is like a beacon, not a bouncer - it should attract clients rather than turn them awayConsistency and integrity are important for coaches to coach themselves and show up authenticallyOverthinking can get in the way of showing up authentically and attracting clientsBeing specific and clear about who you want to work with makes it easier to market and find clients