#72 The Phone Coach

The Problem:

• Gap between the anticipated fear and the reality of fundraising calls - we talked about this previously in Episode #20
• Candidates imagine donors will be annoyed or reject them
• Reality: Most donors are flattered, want to help, or politely decline
• The gap between what we fear and what happens is huge

The Solution: Phone Coach App

• Link: https://practice.7figurefundraising.com/phone-coach
• Simple goal: help you make five fundraising phone calls
• Uses ladder approach from Winning Edge #20
• Repeated exposure reduces fear through experience

How Phone Coach Works:
Before Each Call:

• Rate your discomfort/anxiety level (1-10)

After Each Call:

• Rate how it actually went
• Almost everyone discovers anxiety was higher than reality
• Seeing this gap makes next call easier

Key Features:

• Helpful reminders: "Most donors want to help"
• All data private, kept on your phone
• Helps brain learn what to expect
• Identifies gaps between fear and reality

5-Step Process:

1. Use Phone Coach app and choose first 5 people to call
2. Rate anxiety level before Call #1
3. Make call using standard pitch
4. Rate how it actually went
5. Repeat for all 5 calls and watch pattern emerge

Action Step:
Book 30 minutes this week and make five calls using Phone Coach

Bottom Line:
Fundraising calls feel worse in your head than they are. Phone Coach proves this in just five calls - make the calls, see the gap, watch your fear shrink.

For more tips on overcoming fundraising anxiety, refer to the accompanying one-page PDF.

Winning Edge gives you the tools you need to lead and influence in the political and policy arenas. Every other week, Winning Edge releases short (approximately 5-minute) spots—or “snacks”—focused on one of four areas: fundraising, media, policy, or persuasion.

For more, visit our website: www.thecommonwealthpartners.com.