Do you become a life coach? Great question, glad you asked. Coaching is a great gig – you can work for yourself, chart your own course, and help people find their true destiny. You can use your passion to help others find out how to discover and use their passions.
Sounds great, right? It is, but before you jump in to the coaching field, you should read the fine print. Their are caveats and warnings. Let’s talk about some of the things people believe about coaching and separate the truth from the myths. Do you become a life coach? Maybe yes, maybe no.
Do You Become a Life Coach? 8 Coaching Myths to Consider Before You Do
- You can start making great money right away – coaches can charge high hourly fees and make a great living as soon as they hang out their shingle. Not so fast – don’t leave your day job right away. Many people start out on a part-time basis; they keep their 9-5 job and coach as as 5-9 job. If you are working, start your coaching business on the side and gradually build up your practice so it becomes your day job.
- You can make six figures in coaching. Yes, you can, but don’t buy that second home or yacht just yet. Most coaches start out making much less than six figures. It takes time to make a name for yourself and build up your client base. Do you become a life coach? Yes, but not if you expect to get rich right away.
- You can work out of your home. Yes, that is an option, but as you expand your practice, you will need an office. Offices appear more professional and provide a safe place for clients to expose their inner selves.
- Coaches can work with little overhead. This is true when you are starting out, especially if you begin on a part-time basis. However, as your business grows, so does your overhead. Rent isn’t cheap. If you can do everything – accounting, marketing, office work, sales, and coaching – then you can keep the overhead to a minimum. Do you become a life coach who works 18 hours each day? If you do everything yourself, that’s what you’ll be doing.
- Once you get 15 or 20 clients, you can relax. Hah! Clients come and go all the time. Just when you think you have a full schedule, five or six leave for various reasons. Marketing and promotion never end. Get used to it or get out!
- You can earn a living with passive income. Some coaches sell enough DVDs, books, and digital products to make a good living, or even get rich. Most coaches don’t. Think of passive income as a supplement to your coaching income and you’ll do just fine.
- You become friends with your clients. There is a friendly aspect to a coaching/client relationship, but you are not friends. You are an advocate for your client, and the relationship is focused on them. Do you become a life coaching professional to meet friends? Not if you want to stay in business, you don’t!
- Coaches are good at giving advice. Do you think you are good at giving advice or instructions? Your friends listen to you when you give them advice? None of that matters in coaching. Good coaches don’t tell people what to do. They help their clients explore alternatives and choices. Do you become a life coach because you are good at instruction? No way. Become a teacher or president, not a coach.
Do You become a life coach? The decision is up to you, but please read the fine print first. Make sure you understand that these myths are just that – myths. Don’t become a life coach for the wrong reasons!
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Fred Philips
Business Coach
Writing Team, Coaches Training Blog Community
Point 2 is so true. Many people think they become a coach and starting making money instantly. There are a lot of elements involved in being a coach that need to be weighed.
Exactly! Make sure that you are prepared and that you know what you are getting into before you become a coach. Do not give up your day job just yet! I have known some coaches who expect to earn big money fast and they get discouraged when they do not. Start part time and get to know the ropes first and of course promote and market your practice continuously!
Great read for those who are thinking of starting their own coaching practice. Make sure you know what is to expect from being a coach. Like all professions you need to make a name for yourself first before you can expect those big bucks to come pouring in.
Greetings! Very useful advice withnin this post! It’s the little changes that produce the most important changes.
Thankls a lot for sharing!