Lately, it seems there are a lot of people who want to become a life coach, and they want to know what you need to become a coach. But beyond coaching skills and clients, there is a big gap between wanting to become a life coach and becoming a life coach. What you need to become a coach is to go from “dabbling” in coaching to being fully committed.

Don’t Dabble, Become a Life Coach that Commits

The reason why most people find it difficult to become a life coach is that most people are dabblers. Dabblers and achievers start out the same way. Both start climbing their mountains. After struggling up a 45 degree hill, they find themselves at a plateau. A lot of dabblers stay at their plateau for so long that they loose sight of the goal. When achievers hit the plateau, they continue to work hard until they start climbing again. You might think that this is what you need to become a coach. But, in reality it is the path to burnout. Just like John Belushi of Saturday Night Live, many people get to top and wonder if that is all there is. Success without fulfillment is the ultimate failure.

Resisting Burnout is What You Need to Become a Coach

When you get to that plateau, become a life coach who says, “Oh, great! I’m ready for the next level.” Recognize that there are self-imposed glass ceilings right above your head, and re-assess your plan. You’re now able to back off the intensity a bit without falling, and you are at a higher level than where you started. Take a look around and what you need to become a coach will become clear.

Become a Life Coach Who Finds Success by Utilizing a Master Coach

Become a life coach who recognizes that the fastest way to break through a glass ceiling is to follow a master. He’ll give you what you need to become a coach and take it to the next level. Don’t be too proud to grab hold of that rope. Once you’re at the next level, reassess from your new vantage point. Decide if this master is the master that will take you all the way, or if you need to start looking for a new master to take you to the next level.  What you need to become a coach is a mentor, a master at their trade; someone who can provide modeling and show you a faster way to the top. And hopefully a more enjoyable way to become a life coach than to repeatedly beat your head against the same glass ceilings or push yourself so hard that you burnout before you ever make it to the top.

Colette Seymann

JTS Advisors Designated Accountability Coach