Ok, so you’re in the life coaching business because you want to help people. In fact, being a life coach is a bit like being Apple Computer. Just like Macs seem immune to the barrage of viral scams that seem bombard PC’s, it seems as though no one would bother the life coaching business community. Or would they?

Life Coaching Business Scam

Last December an email was sent out to life coach business owners inviting them to participate in an opportunity to help grow the field of coaching by joining in a series of trainings across the county. These coaches were offered $500 an hour plus expenses. Some coaches were even sent valid cashier checks out of some type of goodwill faith. Definitely shady. But what gets me the most is that these coaches were so optimistic that they believed that it might be a real offer. They wanted to make a difference so badly they ignored warning signs and got conned.

Are You A ‘Pie In The Sky’ Coach?

As coaches we want to believe in unlimited possibilities and potential, but it’s hard to define at what point optimism becomes blinding. Not only for our own life coaching businesses, but for our clients as well. Is there a place for pessimism in coaching? Or as my pessimistic friends call it, realism? Are we so ‘Pie in the Sky’ that we need something as shocking as an internet scam to bring us back to reality? Are we really so naïve as to not recognize the wolf who is dressed like Grandma?
We’ve been brainstormed into thinking that if we set our intentions properly, we will attract the things we want effortlessly. We really need to be savvy and make sure we do our homework before we dive into life coaching business opportunities with reckless abandon. Recognizing our weakness is the first step in defense.

Colette Seymann
JTS Advisors Designated Accountability Coach