{"id":29408,"date":"2024-05-18T23:01:02","date_gmt":"2024-05-19T07:01:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coachestrainingblog.com\/becomeacoach\/?p=29408"},"modified":"2024-05-18T23:01:08","modified_gmt":"2024-05-19T07:01:08","slug":"filling-your-coaching-practice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coachestrainingblog.com\/becomeacoach\/filling-your-coaching-practice\/","title":{"rendered":"Filling Your Coaching Practice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cHow long do I have to run discovery sessions before I can leave my job?\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My client, John, asked this question (that HUNDREDS of coaches have asked me).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAfter coaching for 6 months, I still don\u2019t have enough clients<\/span>.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So I asked John\u2026 \u201cHow many<\/span> discovery sessions did you run in the last 6 months<\/span>?\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I always tell new coaches that discovery sessions<\/span> are the KEY to getting coaching clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I always tell new coaches that discovery sessions<\/span> are the KEY to getting coaching clients.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

You GIVE AWAY coaching ONE TIME<\/span>\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026and you get paying clients for months or years<\/span> after that single discovery session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(In fact, my \u20187 clients in 7 weeks plan\u2019 revolves around discovery sessions<\/strong><\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John answered, \u201cIn the last 6 months? About 25 discovery sessions I guess.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I said \u201cYou\u2019re not running enough<\/span> discovery sessions.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I realized that I hadn\u2019t yet shared the key to building a full time coaching business<\/span>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It takes 100 discovery sessions<\/span> to leave your job.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So this is what I said to John\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRun at least<\/span> 100 discovery sessions.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt that point you\u2019ll have a lot of clients<\/span>, possibly enough clients to quit your job.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne hundred?? That sounds like a lot<\/span> of discovery sessions.\u201d<\/em><\/strong> John resisted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m just trying to get enough clients<\/span>.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So I coached him\u2026 \u201cJohn, you\u2019re focused on getting enough clients\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c…but I think you have a bigger problem<\/span>.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYour approach seems to be \u2018do as LITTLE as possible<\/span> to get clients\u2019.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd you don\u2019t succeed in a rare and coveted profession like coaching\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026by seeking to give as LITTLE as possible<\/span>.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MINIMIZING effort<\/span> is the opposite<\/span> of what John should be doing at this early (and delicate) stage of his coaching business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your relationship with your coaching business<\/span> is one of the most profound relationships you\u2019ll experience in your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minimizing it is catastrophic<\/span>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Discovery<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Can you imagine if your intimate partner minimized their relationship<\/span> with you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How would you feel<\/span>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019d probably be shocked that your \u201csoulmate\u201d valued you so little<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet so many coaches are just that stingy<\/span> in their coaching businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John wanted to know the least amount of work<\/span> he could get away with\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026 and still<\/span> get enough clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NO WONDER he wasn\u2019t hitting his coaching business goals.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just like it takes 100% commitment to keep your soulmate\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026it takes 100% commitment to get enough coaching clients<\/span> to quit your job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Your relationship with your coaching business<\/span> is one of the most profound relationships you\u2019ll experience in your life.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Most coaches aren\u2019t 100% committed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even committed coaches don\u2019t go FAR enough with discovery sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coaches underestimate<\/span> the number of people they\u2019ll need to connect with\u2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2026and how many discovery sessions they\u2019ll need to run<\/span> to transition to full time coach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is far enough?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

100 discovery sessions.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Faster<\/span> you deliver 100 free sessions\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026the faster you\u2019ll enroll enough clients<\/span> to leave your job\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026and reach a full time income coaching<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Between 0-25<\/span> discovery sessions:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll enroll few<\/span> (if any) paying clients\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026and the clients you DO enroll\u2026 often don\u2019t stick around for long<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During this phase, new coaches experience a lot of doubt<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of them feel like losers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many quit<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, with so few discovery sessions under their belt<\/span>\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026the coach usually isn\u2019t very good<\/span> (at least at running those discovery sessions).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second, this phase will violate any unrealistic expectations<\/span> you have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enrolling ZERO clients discourages<\/span> a coach\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026who expected to fill their practice<\/span> after running only 10 discovery sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, no matter how \u2018badly\u2019 this phase goes for you, REMEMBER\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This phase is not about getting tons of clients<\/span>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Between 0-25 discovery sessions, you\u2019re LEARNING the basics<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The winning mindset<\/span> during this phase?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NO<\/span> EXPECTATIONS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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NO<\/span> EXPECTATIONS.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Between 25-50<\/span> discovery sessions:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll start enrolling<\/span> some clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few of those clients stick around, but it\u2019s easy to get frustrated<\/span> during this phase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By now, you\u2019ve put tons of work and time into your coaching business<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, you\u2019re probably not getting as many clients as you expected to<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Imagine you spent hundreds of hours<\/span> running 50 sessions\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026but you only kept 3 paying clients<\/span> from all that work.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coaches in this phase feel cheated<\/span> or disappointed<\/span>\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026even though they\u2019re finally starting to get real results<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your best mindset<\/span> during this phase?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PERSISTENCE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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PERSISTENCE.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Between 50-75<\/span> discovery sessions:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll start to feel your coaching business coming together<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most coaches in this phase feel optimistic<\/span> and hopeful<\/span> about making a full time living in their coaching business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You likely<\/p>\n\n\n\n