The Big Mistake Life Coaching School Makes in The Career Coaching Industry

There seems to be a misconception that anyone can become a coach just by going to life coaching school. But the career coaching industry is just like any other business, if you want to be successful you’re going to have to work. What does that mean?

You are not going to be successful in the career coaching industry if you think you can show up for work in your pajamas. Don’t laugh; I know some of you do. Life coaching school will teach you how to get into “state” for coaching, but are you really going to feel ready to give your best if you’re wearing your fuzzy slippers?

Traveling After a Good Life Coaching School is OK in The Career Coaching Industry, If You Focus

Another common misconception people get from life coaching school ads is that you can make a lot of money in the career coaching industry, travel the world, and coach from poolside at a 5 star resort while drinking a fruity cocktail in a pineapple. You will have none of this unless you take your business seriously. You can coach while on vacation, but just find a place where you won’t have interruptions and you maintain the same focus and intensity you usually have.

Time in The Saddle VS. Life Coaching School: The Key to Success in The Career Coaching Industry

You may learn a lot about coaching from life coaching school, but you won’t get good until you actually use those skills and coach people. That’s why you need 500 paid hours of coaching to apply for certification from the International Coaching Foundation (ICF). If you can’t find paying clients, coach people for free. And if you can’t find people who appreciate your free coaching, you need to go back to life coaching school and improve your skills. Those clients need to be getting results and you won’t be successful in the career coaching industry unless you play full out every time you show up for a coaching session.

The career coaching industry doesn’t equate to a career coaching hobby. If you really think you are going to graduate from life coaching school and find clients falling out of the sky by doing this business when you feel like it, you are in for a big surprise. It’s true that you can work in the career coaching industry part-time or full-time, but to be successful you going to need to work consistently over time.

Colette Seymann

JTS Advisors Accountability Coach