Okay so the title of this episode is a bit tongue in cheek. Really, it’s more about — Bad Reasons to Give Up On Your Coaching Business.
The truth is there are several good reasons why a coach might choose to give up on their coaching business but they all fall under one overarching reason … that it’s not a priority.
Timing is Everything
It’s been said that timing is everything. When you’re undertaking something big, timing matters.
I’ve shared in an earlier episode that when a coach is interested in hiring me to help them develop their coaching business from niche to messages to offers and website – all the little and big details – I ask several powerful questions to see if they are ready to do this.
Most of the time people can sense they’re ready and we’re off on the path, dreaming it up together.
Now, I’ve known coaches who dropped their coaching business because …
- they found out they were pregnant and their priorities changed
- they had a health crisis and their priorities changed
- they got a job offer and their priorities changed
- their partner lost a job and their priorities changed
You get the picture. Priorities changing is the only good reason to give up on your coaching business.
Launching a Coaching Business is Not for Everyone
I’ve helped some coaches realize that entrepreneurship is not for them. It’s truly not for everyone.
The reality is it’s a HUGE endeavor to launch a business and then grow it.
It takes a certain kind of crazy. The kind of crazy that’s about vision, drive, ambition, and risk-taking.
I am definitely crazy. Not only did I launch my business 20 years ago before there was a known pathway to building a successful coaching, but I’ve also remade my business to fit who I am 4 times now.
I love entrepreneurship so much that I love to see other people choose it for themselves. It’s a lifestyle. It’s a work-style preference.
Entrepreneurship may be the only place where you can fully bring all that you are to the table.
You are the script-writer, the executive, the director, and you have the lead role.
To me that’s thrilling. It gets me out of bed in the morning. Not only innovating and pivoting in my own business but also helping my clients develop those essential entrepreneurial skills.
A lot of people don’t realize. You aren’t born an entrepreneur. You transform yourself into one when something is important enough to you.
It’s worth it to figure stuff out piece by piece and day by day.
But no coach has to do that all alone. There’s a village of guides, peers and support systems.
Don’t Give Up on Yourself
So what are the other good reasons for giving up? There aren’t any.
If it’s not for changing priorities, giving up on your coaching business is giving up on yourself.
Don’t let this be you.
I say this with love and compassion. I have been where you are. The absolutely only difference between you and me is time.
- I’ve spent loads of money on training without results.
- I’ve been confused and discouraged.
- I have been fired by a few clients.
- I’ve flubbed Discovery Sessions.
- I’ve had failure launches.
- I’ve had lean years.
I even thought about giving up a few times. But I did not.
Success doesn’t come without a few “failures”.
Because I stuck with this:
- I’ve had many windfall years and exceeded my lawyer husband’s income.
- I increasingly have attracted more ideal clients for me.
- I’ve done all the fancy pants events and been the big name.
- I’ve morphed my business to fit my needs and passions.
(You couldn’t pay me to work for someone else.)
Through all of it I’ve bumbled around like a newbie surfer falling off the board more times than I could count. And it’s still an absolute blast.
Coaches, don’t give up on yourself. Don’t give up on your business. Don’t give up on your future clients who are waiting out there for you.
If you want to give up because you’re thinking that you aren’t good enough or don’t know enough, realize that you can always grow. And reach out for support.
If you’ve tried and failed a couple of times, be patient for your successes. They are coming. Nurture them.
Some tough love … if you’re not willing to grow into your business, to develop from the ground up and have the patience to allow it to blossom, then I’d say entrepreneurship is not for you.
Success is not often what we think it is.
- It’s not being THE best coach.
- It’s not making the most money.
- It’s not a long list of credentials.
Real success is when you fully believe in yourself and do what needs to be done until you find the sweet spot.
It is simply that you want it so much you WILL make it happen.
That’s why I often sign off my podcast with “Stay inspired and make things happen.” That’s what the proud owner of a coaching business does.
In the Next Episode: How to Get Authentic and Useful Testimonials from Coaching Clients
