I Need 3 People for a Serious Alpha Test of a New Project…
This is somewhat of a different blog post but I couldn’t be more excited to share this with all of you!
I’m looking to start a new venture, one that I’ve never tried before and you guys are some of the very first to know about it! I’m going to start a professional development and coaching organization that will help people align who they are with what they do.
I’ve been passionate about helping friends, family, everyone else in between with professional development and I’ve been doing it for years – you guys also can see how day-in and day-out I love education people for free on this blog! But after a conversation with my wife (who really is the genius behind this idea) and a few of my friends and mentors I’m convinced this is something that I at least need to try.
So what I need is a few people to help walk through the experience with me, give me critical feedback on the process and method, and be essentially my Alpha Test, my Class #0.
What I Need and The Requirements for Being My Class 0:
I’m looking for three people to walk through a preliminary trial run of a new curriculum I’m developing for my professional development organization.
Here are the requirements:
- I need you to be in Atlanta, GA. Otherwise you have to commit to coming into town if you’re “close by”. The travel arrangements are up to you.
- Commit to meeting 4 times in 4 weeks for up to 2 hours each. 8 hours minimum in total. Super intense, super intentional.
- Commit to reading at least three books in 4 weeks. Yes. That’s a freaking lot of reading, but absolutely necessary. This isn’t a cake walk and it’ll kick your butt but those that make it through will have their lives changed.
- You need to be seriously interested in confronting yourself, warts and all, and be ready to be challenged in a really big way.
- Knowing you need to change your professional career or trajectory is important – it won’t help if you’re deeply in love with your current job and have already found your “it”.
- You need to be able to give me critical feedback after the process.
- Class starts in January, most likely 2nd or 3rd week.
Here’s what you can generally expect:
- What I’ll be walking these three people is a crazy intense and rigorous program of knowing oneself, knowing what drives them and their passions, and then giving them tools to make these ideas happen.
- It may end up changing the trajectory of your career… and life. No softball pitches here.
- You need to be ready to be vulnerable with me and two other people whom you have never met.
- You need to be humble enough to be challenged but sure of your desire for professional change and growth.
- Walking away with an incredible new perspective on how you were made and your unique strengths, your core motivations as a person and professional, and a toolkit and method to make your ideas happen.
- The bragging rights of being called “Class 0″ – so cool.
You will be provided all the materials you’ll need including three books and an assortment of printed material. You just cover travel and coffee expenses (expect to meet in coffee shops and incredibly creative environments around Atlanta). I’ll do the rest.
To apply just send me an email with the Subject Line “Class 0 – Alpha Test Group” answering these questions as completely as possible:
- Name
- Describe your career path, but don’t send me a resume. Ups, downs, side-to-sides – give me a wholistic yet strategically specific overview of where you’ve been and what you’re doing now. Tell me the good, bad, ugly.
- Describe your career and professional goals. What’s on your heart these days? Describe why you wake up feeling like there’s more and better out there for your “life work” and why you go to bed feeling defeated that you may not have the tools to make it happen.
- Why you should be part of “Class 0″ and how you’re going to provide me an incredible feedback foundation to build an organization (and perhaps a movement).
I’ll be following up with you if I think you’ve got what it takes. Expect a phone call or skype invitation to chat.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Sounds really cool John!
I’m neither near Atlanta, nor trying to change careers. Did that 7 months ago. Work is like play now….
Best of luck to ya!
*I’d recommend you look into Chris McAlister’s work on identity formation. I’ve never met anyone who has more quickly helped people know who they are at their core and point them towards practical transformation. http://ChrisMcAlister.com. Not in conflict with your career coaching, but Chris’ mission is to help people figure out “who they are apart from what they do.” Identity formation geared towards leaders.
**It’s been real powerful in my life, thus the reason for the “commercial.”
Hey John,
Good luck on your adventure brotha.
If you need help from an outside source (I’m not close to Atlanta so I don’t fit the description), I’d be more than happy to help.
Let me know man
Expect an email, sir! I NEED this!
~Ivan
Good luck on the venture. I would love to do it but I am no where near Atlanta.
To those that get in, have an awesome time and hope your life is changed!
John, like Adam, I am not in Atlanta and I love my current trajectory. That said I do this almost every week in some way or form. My friend Gary Barkalow has some tried a true material that could be essential to helping you bring clarity and guidance to your Class 0. At least check his work out. His book “It’s Your Call” is worth a look as well. His site is thenobleheart.com.
I just picked up the book It’s Your Call. Excited to read it. Amazon has a great deal at $6.
Nice. You won’t regret it!
Really wishing I lived in ATL right about now.
Good luck w/ your A-Team.
I will e-mail you this evening.
I want to be the guy on the right; he looks like he has a better rifle.
It is in your in box.
I’m intrigued. I’m close (enough) to Atlanta but that would be about a five hour drive each way.
John – like so many have stated above…I wish I lived in the Atlanta area, because this would be awesome. I am currently working on re-writing a new trajectory for my career (within the same field), but different view. This sounds like it would help.
Good Luck!
Hi John,
I have sent you an email to apply for this class! Sally
thanks sally!
Hi John,
I really dig what you’re doing. I will pray that this project be blessed by God as I can definitely see how it can bless others. Keep up the good work!
- J. Iguina
thanks jonathan!
This might be worth flying to Atlanta
You might be seeing something from me…
I really like where you’re going, John. It’s fun to see you progress even in just the short time I’ve been following you.
I’ve recently been going through this transformation process, but am curious to see what tools you enjoy using. I’ve gone through Strengths Finder, Enneagram, Meyers-Briggs, Aphesis (currently going through this – a ministry sub-titled “Introducing You to Yourself”) and some other career-related stuff. It’s an adventure finding out who you were created to be, and I feel like I’m just getting started.
Looking forward to hearing more about this, John.
Man this sounds awesome. Wish I lived in ATL.
Good luck on this venture. Will be praying for you and the team.
Hi John,
First, prayers and best wishes on your venture – it sounds fascinating, and much needed. Is there really no way you’d consider including someone via Skype rather than in person? What you’re describing sounds exactly like what I’ve been needing for quite a while, but I live in Denver and don’t have travel funds. If not, I understand, but thought I’d ask anyway.
Love your work. Many thanks.
Well, at least tell us outside Atlanta what the three books are.
I’m with Trevor. Please. And thank you!
They are Top Secret for the Alpha team.
He could tell you, but then he would have to kill you.
Now that my email has been sent, I’m on pins and needles waiting to hear back. Good thing you’ve got great content to keep me occupied while I wait to hear a response.
I too would love to do this but I live in Upstate New York and have no way to get to Atlanta. Will pray for your new adventure.
thanks bonnie!
love the 3 books in 4 weeks–i’m going to build that into my personal development plan for 2012
sweet! it’s going to be a sweet ride.
Any updates on how this experiment is going and when there might be a long distance version rolled out?
we’ve got our three and they are already very VERY hard at work… we have our first meeting in a week and a half…! incredible challenges already… and yes, i’m working on a long-distance program of sorts.
I certainly need something like this. I do love what I do, I just need to push it to a different level (although I’ve also been tempted to give it all up and go into science — biology)!!
This must be what you were referring to at WordPress Meetup. I looked on your site but didn’t see it offered at the time.
My husband is definitely a potential for this… I’ll pass it along to him. I’m assuming, from the blog you just sent, that you currently have your 3 people. Maybe he can consider it for another time.
Very exciting venture, indeed!!
i have my three… but the second class is coming up. just announced it today.!