The Tutor Podcast

Neil loves a list. The highly organised usually have several ‘to-do’ lists on the go at once, but in this episode Neil shows you his ‘not-to-do’ list.   KEY TAKEAWAYS DON’T do anything that makes you unhappy. DON’T deal with t*s*@rs. DON’T pursue projects or work that conflict with the core values of fun, honesty, usefulness and success in your own terms. DON’T waste too much time on adventurous f...

Neil tackles the hot topic of the moment, the dreaded inflation. It is the true enemy of savings and the economy in general, but is it all bad?   KEY TAKEAWAYS  Inflation is the rate of increase in prices over a given period of time. Often referred to as the ‘cost of living’. Vast quantities of currency being dumped into the economy by our Government helped create inflation.  If you have your savi...

Neil talks about teaching mature students in this episode. Many of Neils students are fully grown adults of three kinds, absolute novices, lifelong players and people that used to play but quit in order to pursue other priorities. What problems do they present and how can you overcome them?   KEY TAKEAWAYS The non players may think it’s all talent, but its all about skill and work at the end of th...

In this episode Neil explains the value of time. How do we value, use and sell our time in our teaching and coaching businesses?     KEY TAKEAWAYS You are never going to have enough time to do everything you want. Choose tasks that have the highest value to you to make your time count. If you are spending too much time working in your business, you may not be spending enough time working on your b...

Time Boxing is a simple and useful time management technique that Neil utilises to keep his tutoring business running chaos free. With this method you will not waste time, and subsequently, money.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Use paper so you can see it all in front of you without having to open software or be distracted by social media alerts. In your diary spaces have two columns, one for notes and the other...

Neil talks about the value of routine when built into the function of you and your business. What sort of routines are beneficial to your business in standardising your methods and improving your mindset day to day? Consistency is key.   KEY TAKEAWAYS A routine is something that you perform the same way every time you action a task. Once established they become habit and can come in the form of wr...

Don’t wing it! Think long term, and think big. Neil talks about how thinking 5, 10, or 15 years ahead with your plan can result in better long term results and how a solid overview can bring clarity to an otherwise muddled and random business.    KEY TAKEAWAYS Consider a strategy in terms of how lucrative and engaging it can be over years rather than in the short term. Try to think a few moves ahe...

A simple idea. If what you are currently doing is not producing the results you want, change it. Disrupt it. Trying another method has got to be better than continuing with a system that does not work. Disruption makes good sense. Break the pattern.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Instead of asking “how do I succeed?” ask “how do I screw up?” Chances are your already doing some of these things. Identify the thing...

Neil details his teaching method to keep his students engaged, entertained and inspired. Borrowed from a method found in Christopher McDougall's 2009 best-selling book, "Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Super Athletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen.", Neil has adapted it to his own guitar teaching and added in his own ingredient that guarantees a return student ; fun.  KEY TAKEAWAYS E...

Neil discusses the self doubt that plagues us with a special episode created for his friend, a retired science teacher, the best teacher during his time as a school guitar tutor. As great a teacher as she is she still struggles to believe in herself as a private tutor. There is one lesson Neil teaches that can quieten the doubts and make tutoring a comfortable place to be, DDWT.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Pa...

Neil introduces a traditional sport training model, one that can be applied to a number of teaching applications including Neil’s guitar tutoring business. SAID is an acronym for Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demand and can be used by you in your teaching, mentoring or leadership role.    KEY TAKEAWAYS If you are not conscious of how you train you will get any old result. The body and mind will o...

Hi, it’s Neil Cowmeadow here EPISODE 210 of  The Tutor Podcast, the weekly show that’s all about how to Start, Grow and Love your tutoring business... whilst staying sane and having fun in the process. In today’s Episode 210 - Free Introduction Sessions Specifically, how I do it now (not how I used to) and the reasons why I think this is the sanest and best business way of finding the right studen...

What do you say when someone asks “What do you do?”. It is time to have your Elevator Pitch ready. Employ an interesting, detailed, and productive reply that truly shows what you do for your clients and what, potentially, you could also do for them. Neil explains how and why.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Plan and rehearse your speech so you can use it off the cuff in conversation when your occupation is enquir...

Neil recalls an experience when a seemingly impossible task was suggested to him, with apparently very little chance of success. Having said yes anyway, a surprising unforeseen resulted in a few life lessons learned, and Neil recounts them in this episode.   KEY TAKEAWAYS It is important to say ‘yes’ and then to say ‘it’s possible’. Never discard an opportunity. Children all have the initial spark...

Write a book! Neil has written two, one on time management, ‘Elephant Sandwiches’ and the other on guitarists, ‘9 Weird Things Guitarists Do’ (both available on Amazon). Being a published author showcases your expertise in your field and can be fine marketing tools but how should we go about achieving this? Neil shares his advice on how to create your first written work.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Set aside...

Neil details how we communicate with our students can help us to gain their trust and confidence. Using his training in Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP) techniques, Neil identifies the mode of expression his students use and matches it, increasing not only the speed and efficiency of learning, but his likability as a tutor and mentor.   KEY TAKEAWAYS In Neils experience as a tutor, NLP has been...

Many of us have a very unhealthy and self abusive relationship with the concept and acceptance of failure. Neil discusses why it matters to tutors and business people and how, instead of using it as a mark to your detriment, you should try seeing it as a learning step and opportunity.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Remember, failure is an interim state unless your response to it is to give up. Encourage failures...

The nature of money and your attitude towards it can be complex and difficult and can affect all areas of your life. Neil shares his own ideas and beliefs about money which have allowed him to achieve success in his own field as a guitar tutor, and will also assist you in your endeavours by understanding moneys nature and its place in your life.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Money is a tool. It’s a construct fo...

In this episode Neil tackles the thorny issue of pricing. The issue of how you set your price is often tied into how you actually feel about your product and can be the biggest clue to your client about the level of quality they can expect. Neil details the possible results of high, medium and low pricing.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Your price you charge will tie very closely to your sense of self worth. If...

In this episode Neil talks about saying no. Sometimes we have to say no for the betterment of our mental health and to guard our wealth but often saying no can be difficult and socially awkward. How and when should we say no to save ourselves from taking on tasks which disadvantage our resources?   KEY TAKEAWAYS We can say yes to the wrong thing, job or person and quickly get out of our depth. We...

In this 200th episode Neil tackles the problem of facing up to uncomfortable truths. What must we do to face up to identify what is good and bad for us, about us and move forward with a more honest viewpoint of ourselves?  KEY TAKEAWAYS Recognise the habits and routines that are not taking you where you want to go and change them. We always want to justify to ourselves our damaging habits but conc...

Research suggests that 80% of New Years resolutions are broken by the end of January. Neil has suggestions about how you can direct your good intentions more fruitfully by detailing what he’s going to be doing at this turning of the year. KEY TAKEAWAYS New Years resolutions are a daft idea because they’re a one-off that fails for most people. How about a daily resolution. Do something every day th...

In this episode Neil talks all things Christmas and what it means to him from his spiritual take to what he will be doing over the holiday.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Why is Christmas the one time of the year where you break away from your normal way of being and demonstrate good will to all men?  Neil is going to be in the mountains this Christmas, walking and riding and surrounding himself with nature. He n...

In this episode, Neil covers accounting for expenses and all the not so obvious in and out costs of the business that can affect your profitability and your tax liability. He details the tax allowances you are entitled to and what you should be asking your accountant about. KEY TAKEAWAYS If you are using a vehicle for your business you are entitled to claim a mileage allowance for use of that vehi...