People who do coaching, in general, are very empathetic people. That's a big reason they get involved in this. But that caregiver mentality can make it really personal, so you have to be careful. There is a fine line between the coach and the friend.
You don't want to be both. It's often those with big hearts and dreams who are most defeated by the reality of running a life coaching business. It CAN BE a business, but it needs a few other things combined with it to make it a business that actually makes money (because a business that doesn't make money is a hobby). Passion and enthusiasm, despite what you've read, are NOT enough to make a profit.
What makes these coaches' businesses work is that they've chosen a very specific niche and haven't been afraid to build a brand around a very specific problem. You CAN and WILL build a business that sustains you by playing to your strengths and personality. If you're not ready for a program, but still need help, check out my FREE Get Customers training, which is offered on demand and you can view it right now. It gives you practical steps that you didn't learn in life coaching school to help you get clients faster. I love what you said about coaching being the skill behind the business, not the business itself.
I've known this one way or another for a while, but I just realized a new way when I read your post. It's important to keep your work to pay for Facebook ads and other courses. I have my niche (nutritional training for runners and it's taking off) but it's a slow start. That said, being in my niche DEFINITELY helps. OK, I hate to break it to you, but the “these women are broke” thing isn't a blockade, it's an assumption. It's not good to sit here assuming, and it prevents you from actually working on anything in your business if you're operating from the assumption that no one can afford it anyway. I've seen too many life coaches to have anything but disgust for the whole business.
And know that it's important to keep your work to pay for Facebook ads and other courses. Obstacles, such as limiting beliefs, can arise when a person is working to achieve their goals. A life coach can help your client move away from beliefs that have held them back in the past. In addition, since life is not a linear journey, the unexpected can happen and affect strategy. When this happens, the coach is there to teach you ways to adapt so that the client can continue to move forward. Studies conducted by the International Coaching Federation on the effectiveness of personal coaching showed that 99% of people interviewed considered their experience of working with a life coach rewarding, while 96% said they would do it again.
In addition, 65% said working with a coach helped them improve their performance on the job, and 80% said it helped improve their self-confidence. It seems that life coaching is really effective, but only you can be the judge of coaching through your own experience. Most coaches offer a free consultation to get started. It can be impossible to find out until you talk to a coach. A coach can be hugely unhappy in her family life, but stay in complete denial and throw a “happy couple” show because coaches are supposed to have happy relationships. If you're thinking of working with a life coach who will help you overcome obstacles, gain confidence, and achieve your goals, it's likely to work for you.
