The first time I shared this information was at Georgetown’s ITLN conference, it felt so negative that I almost skipped the slide in my presentation. I was so surprised that the response was wall-to-wall aha moments!
I’m sharing it here with the hope that it helps you create a stronger plan for the New Year and beyond!
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by Mary Cravets
I just got back from the ICF Converge conference, and WOW! I had expected to pick up some new ideas, but what I didn’t expect was to come home with a list of lessons that were equal parts insightful and humbling.
Enjoy!
1. You can survive embarrassing yourself. I mean, really embarrassing yourself.
Not the “toilet paper on your shoe” kind – the cringey, make a bad impression in front of people you respect kind.
I went to a session on branding with Lisa Madaschi. Her neuroscience-based take on branding? Fascinating. We just happen to have different views on niche.
I got up to share mine… and then nerves took over. What I meant as a contribution came out sounding cringingly argumentative – maybe even self-promoting.
It was mortifying.
I did follow up with a message to her on LinkedIn, owned it completely, and apologized. She was so gracious about the whole thing.
Here’s what I learned: I can survive embarrassing myself – even in front of people I deeply respect. Even when it feels like my reputation might’ve just taken a hit.
And if making an impact is one of your core values too, you have to survive it. For me, that means forgiving myself quickly and getting back to the work that actually matters.
2. AI is fascinating – and completely distracting.
Let me be clear: I’m not anti-AI. It’s important to stay informed.
But at Converge, it seemed like every other session was about AI.
And while the tech is fascinating, the emphasis was felt way out of proportion to what coaches actually need to grow their businesses. Just like social media, it takes over the conversation – and pulls focus from what’s really important.
AI, like social media, is a tool. It should serve your strategy, not become your strategy. Otherwise, you end up chasing what’s new instead of focusing on what actually helps you reach your goals.
Sustainable growth still comes from strategic clarity, connection, and consistency.
3. A renewed empathy for the awkwardness of networking.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been the “new kid in the cafeteria.” Usually, I walk into events knowing the culture, the players, and at least a dozen people I can wave at from across the room.
But Converge? It was different.
Global scale. Thousands of coaches. And the focus was squarely on the practice of coaching – not the business of it, which is where I tend to live.
For the first two days, I felt like a fish out of water. Then it hit me: this is what my clients feel when I encourage them to attend a networking event or start putting themselves out there.
That experience deepened my empathy. The risk they take isn’t theoretical – it’s real. And the courage it takes to show up in an unfamiliar space deserves to be celebrated every time.
4. When you sponsor an event, have a Plan A… and then about four backups.
I sponsored the coworking space at Converge – great concept, fun design, all the right intentions.
Except… there was no signage pointing people to it.
Combine that with me feeling a bit out of my depth and still cringing from my earlier “branding moment”? Plan A fizzled out fast.
So I created a Plan B (and C… and D). I jumped into morning learning circles, visited sponsor booths, introduced myself to coaching schools, and focused on one thing – connection.
Because of the pivot, I ended up having real conversations, making new contacts, and gaining valuable insights.
The lesson? Sponsorship is a tactic – connection is the strategy.
5. Rephrase instead of repeat.
During her opening keynote, Heather Hansen shared a simple communication tip that instantly stuck:
When you can’t understand someone – especially if they have an accent – instead of asking them to repeat what they said, ask them to rephrase it.
It seems like such a small thing, but it completely changes the energy of the conversation. It removes the awkwardness, helps both people feel understood, and opens the door for genuine connection.
Any tip that helps others feel more understood? It’s a keeper!
Converge, in a Nutshell
The most valuable lessons don’t come from the slides – they come from the awkward moments, the honest conversations, and the magic that happens when you have the courage to keep showing up.
by Mary Cravets
I keep hearing from coaches who felt pushed to choose a niche — only to realize months or even years later that it didn’t fit.
In this video, I share how to sidestep the “niche or perish” trap — and still create focus, clarity, and clients without forcing yourself into a box.
by Mary Cravets
Finding the sweet spot where you’re earning a great living, having a flexible schedule, and doing work you love?
It’s definitely a challenge!
But if you’ll invest 4 minutes, I’ll walk you through three components of Intentional Intensity to give you momentum without the hustle, and the precursor that can derail you before you even get started.
by Mary Cravets
After my recent musings about how to meet the current market – and whether a high-ticket offer is the right next move – I decided to build one myself.
And I got so stuck.
I took notes. Sketched out ideas. Thought about my ideal client.
I mapped out VIP Days, masterminds, maybe even a retreat… but nothing clicked.
(Spoiler alert: what I discovered next lit a fire under me. So much so that I put together a full training.)
Back to my rabbit hole…
I even turned to my favorite AI tool to brainstorm, and it only got worse.
The results? Hype-y. Unclear. Focused on selling instead of serving.
After spinning my wheels for days, two big realizations finally clicked into place:
1. I was out of alignment with my values.
I make no apologies for charging well for my work – but money isn’t what drives me.
Impact is.
And the more I tried to create a “high-ticket” offer – the kind that centers around pricing and sales language – the more it felt like pushing a boulder uphill… in shoes two sizes too small.
And that’s when it hit me: I don’t want to create a high-ticket offer.
I want to create a High-Impact Program.
That’s not just a different label. It’s a realignment – of values and strategy.
2. I was trying to force one kind of offer – when I actually needed two.
Once I shifted the focus to impact, I figured I’d be off and running. I sat down to design my new signature program…
And I stalled again.
So I looked back at the two biggest turning points in my business:
But they were completely different strategies – and served completely different purposes.
One was a Catalyst Offer – an upgraded experience that helped my clients get results faster or go deeper than my core programs.
The other was a Core Offer – a fundamental shift in how I worked, charged, and delivered results that changed the entire trajectory of my business.
They were both transformational. But they served completely different purposes – and unlocking both changed everything.
If I’d known how to build both of these styles earlier in my career…
I’m 100% certain I would’ve reached those milestones years sooner.
And the real kicker?
I realized I didn’t need to create another high-impact program right now.
What I needed was to unpack what I’d already built – and help others build the right kind of program for where they are now.
Because when you get this right, it’s not just about a new offer.
It’s about building a business that’s more profitable, more sustainable, and finally feels like it makes sense.
So now? That’s exactly what I’m teaching.
by Mary Cravets
After I shared my last blog about why lowering your prices might be backfiring, the most common response was:
“Okay… I get it. I need a high-ticket offer. But how do I actually create one?”
Fair question. And the truth?
It’s not complicated – but it is layered.
So let’s break it down into two parts:
This might feel like a lot, and that’s totally normal. But consider what happens when you skip this part…
You try to wing it, get stuck halfway, and end up with an offer that feels inauthentic – and no one buys it.
This list is here to help you avoid that.
Phase 1: Questions to Ask Before You Build
The more thought you give these upfront, the more effective you’ll be. (but don’t stall out here… move on to Phase 2 as quickly as possible!)
Phase 2: Steps to Actually Build It
Once those questions are clear, here’s what to tackle next:
Phase 3: Visualize the Awesome
At any point in the process where you need a little motivation, take a moment to zoom out and reconnect to why this matters.
Because this isn’t just about building an offer.
It’s about creating a business model that’s easier to run, pays you well, and weathers any economic climate.
Learn how with this step by step program