How I've Answered 35,000 1:1 Coaching Questions
How to build and run private mentoring as a high-value offer.
By James Schramko · Updated May 2026
One of the highest value offers I have built for some membership levels is personal private mentoring.
As in ME being there all the time. Part sounding board, part advisor, part coach. It sounds like hard work and people often ask, is this for real?
It is.
So far I have answered more than 35,000 private questions since 2010.
This will help you if you run a group or community, or offer private coaching.
This is probably the single greatest asset you will create. It will keep you sharp. And it is a HIGH value offer to sell to your customers.
You can charge quite a lot for this service. Thousands per month.
I answer a few questions every day and everyone is happy.
Make sure you find some leverage
If you do it WRONG, you will burn out.
How is it possible?
These days I run this through Signal. Each member who is entitled to it gets one private thread with me. Any private channel works for this: a one-to-one thread inside your group platform, or a messaging app.
What follows is a list of lessons I have learned about making this work. It has lowered churn, lifted client results and made profit for me.
1) Only let customers have one private discussion thread
That way you keep focus for them and build a running history for context. Now and then you will go back to the original discussion for context, or to put the train back on the track.
2) Give them homework to do
When people ask me a question, the answer often sends them off to research, prepare, watch or calculate something. Then they come back to me. This takes them out of circulation for a while. It also helps them get a result, which is why they are there. Ask questions that make them think, and diagnose. If you are coaching, do not just answer every question without making them think first.
3) Train them to go public where appropriate
Not everything needs to be private. Some questions belong in the public discussion thread, such as a website review. If someone asks you one of those privately, encourage them to post it publicly. Link to the place where they should post it.
4) Use your phone and voice dictation to speed things up
I answer most of my posts on my phone. Many of them use voice dictation with Wispr Flow. If you need to link to threads, open your group platform in your phone browser. Then you can copy URLs and paste them into your reply.
5) Put detailed responses in the public section
If you are tempted to answer someone's question in great detail privately, do this instead. Take the name off the answer and post it in the public section, in the thread where it belongs.
You can do this first, then link to it from the customer's private thread. Say "I've gone ahead and answered your question here without referencing you and I'm sure some of the other members will get some great value from this content as well". This whole post started with a private question, but the answers will help many others. I want the leverage from the answer.
6) If someone is absent, get them re-engaged
Your engagement tracking should flag people who drop off. On top of that, look out for private discussions that have gone quiet for a while. Go back to old threads and say "where is this up to", " how are you doing", "what is your next move?".
If they don't ask you a question and just make a statement, they might stall.
This prompting keeps things moving. Always look to advance the discussion rather than let it stall. I know this sounds backwards. You would think the goal is the least possible commitment from you. But when people get amazing results, the results encourage them to keep going. It works for you too. You feel good about it and they will respect your time.
7) Use different media types
Sometimes it works better to ask your customer for a video, screenshots or an audio recording. In some of my private coaching threads, customers make a little video for me. I watch it and type my answer. Loom is great for this.
The other way round works too. A short video, screenshot or audio can answer a complicated question faster than typing it. And use voice dictation. Wispr Flow is what I use.
8) Point to existing work
If someone asks a question that has already been answered in the group, point them to it. Link to the resource and encourage them to use the search tool.
9) How to answer posts as the group owner
When I log into my group platform, I go straight to the private discussion section. I answer the oldest question first. This keeps me up to date. I can usually answer every question within 24 hours.
10) Gather testimonials and success stories
Give plenty of encouragement, and screenshot it when they say something very nice. If you feel confident, ask if you can publish it as a testimonial.
If they have had a big win, encourage them to post it in the success thread. If it only happened in the private discussion, nobody else sees it.
11) Make sure every customer starts a private discussion if they are entitled to it
They are missing out if they don't, and so are you.
12) Use the FAQ as product ideas
Use your answers from the private discussion as a source of ideas. Take the common challenges and build larger products around them. Or make videos and podcasts for your PUBLIC BLOG, not just your forum.
13) Consider charging a premium for personalized responses
If what you are answering is highly unleveraged, charge more.
14) Slow down
Be careful not to over-serve your members. Several private answers a day may set an expectation you do not want. Even once a day may be too often. YOU set the pace.
15) Recruit hyper users to assist you (for public stuff)
Offer lower rates, or pay them, to moderate, point people around and help members. It gives them purpose. They learn by teaching, and they value insider access to the founder.