By Jowanna Daley
Three myths to bust when launching your life coaching business.
Not too long ago, a fellow Transformation Academy Network Group member asked whether anyone had started a business with one Transformation Academy certification course. Most people were puzzled and probably thought it was a trick question.
Could you start coaching and technically build a business with one class, perhaps? I started giving workshops with my first one, which was the Life Purpose certification course.
But we know there are many factors that go into answering this question. Which course did you take? What business knowledge do you have? What is your business model? What is your definition of a business? And so many other questions. It can quickly get overwhelming.
The world needs life coaches, and we can’t afford to lose anyone who is soulfully called down this path. So, let’s review threemyths that you need to bust when getting your life coaching business off the ground.
1. Starting a Life Coaching Business is Straightforward
The business life-cycle seems direct on paper:
- Startup
- Growth
- Maturity
- Decline
However, what goes on, in and around these phases complicates things. Planning is critical because you can quickly become distracted early in the cycle. Even within the startup phase, things aren’t linear.
Your startup plan is a guess.Your coaching business is based on your passion for helping people. Most of the time, coaches start businesses based on their gifts or something they overcame. Though that gives you insight, it does not mean that your future clients experienced things precisely the way you did or by what you uncovered during research. During your startup period, you will replace information about who you think your customers are with facts about who they actually are.
2. Anyone Can Start a Coaching Business
Not everyone is destined to create a business, yet we all have gifts to share with the world. While I do support the belief that most of us can be coaches—starting a business requires time, effort, and money. Additionally, it requires business skills and experience. Starting a business takes a lot of courage and determination. It’s hard work, and it takes time and resources. There are plenty of sunk costs (and not just those the IRS and accountants define). Additionally, will you be able to maintain the “balance” we all desire? The startup phases often requires sacrifices to your ideal “balanced life.”
3. It Takes a Long Time to Start a Coaching Business
A traditional business takes 18-plus months to launch. A coaching business can take many months, if not years, to start because it is a series of start-and-stop cycles. These false starts are part of the learning process, and they are usually an indication of someone starting without a plan.
Still, you can launch your coaching business in as little as six weeks. Agile methods allow you to start and iteratively grow your business in six weeks to three months if you have the ability to:
- Forgo any illusions of perfection
- Manage scope
- Embrace change
- Make timely decisions
- Manage risks
- Practice courage
- Solve problems on the fly
- Be creative
- Plan and work the plan
- Communicate effectively
The Bottom Line
Back to the posted question in our Facebook Group—I think everyone stopped answering the question. The person who asked thought we were overcomplicating the question; we thought they were oversimplifying it. Perhaps the truth was somewhere in the middle.
Planning and launching your business includes hard work, frustrations, and many hiccups along the way. If you are experiencing any of these sentiments, then congratulations. You are on the road to business success!
August Content Calendar
The holidays highlighted below are perfect for any coach. This month is a winner for relationship, marketing, and business coaches. Here are some holidays and observances you can use to fill your social calendar.
August 1
- National Girlfriend Day. A special day where girlfriends can celebrate their friendship and love for one another. #nationalgirlfriendday
- World Wide Web Day. Join in the annual celebration of the World Wide Web. #worldwidewebday
August 2
- National Coloring Book Day. Celebrate coloring with your audience. Send your subscribers a mandala to color and encourage sharing. #NationalColoringDay
August 3
- Grab Some Nuts Day. A special day to celebrate nuts and the nutrition they provide. #grabsomenutsday
- National Watermelon Day. Commemorate watermelon and all its nutritious glory. #nationalwatermelonday.
August 5
- National Water Balloon Day. Enjoy the fun and enjoyment of throwing water balloons at friends, family, and strangers. #nationalwaterballoonday
- Work Like a Dog Day. Celebrate yourself and others who put the work in to make their goals. #worklikeadogday
August 6
- Farmworker Appreciation Day. Shine the light on the hard work and dedication of farmworkers. Share the benefits of buying locally.
August 7
- National Friendship Day. Friendship is a relationship you have to nurture. Set time aside to appreciate and celebrate friends. #nationalfriendshday.
- National Sisters Day. Engage your audience on National Sisters Day by asking them to share photos of their sisters.
August 8
- International Cat Day. Promote the love and companionship of cats while bringing attention to the plight of homeless cats worldwide. Encourage your audience to share pictures of their adopted cats. #internationalcatday
August 9
- National Book Lover’s Day. Coaches share your top 10 recommended books (in your niche) with your social media followers. #nationalbookloversday
- National Women’s Day. Honor the progress women have made a recommit to championing to achieve gender equality. #nationalwomensday
August 10
- National Lazy Day. This day is perfect for promoting self-care. Give your audience tips on how to enjoy doing nothing. #lazyday
August 11
- Play in the Sand Day. Encourage your audience to go out today—they can enjoy the sand on the beach, sandbox, or even in their backyard. #playinthesandday
- National Son and Daughter Day. Celebrate the unique bond between parents and children. Share ways to tighten the bond and encourage everyone to share photos with their children. #sonsanddaughterday
August 12
- National Middle Child Day. Celebrate the often-overlooked middle child. Share their unique qualities and celebrate their contribution to the family.
August 14
- Love Your Bookshop Day. There’s nothing like a good bookshop where you can browse various books while staying cool from the hot sun. Encourage your audience to show their local bookstore some love, and you do the same.
August 15
- National Relaxation Day. Get your rest in before school begins. Share simple ways to relax after a long day’s work. #nationalrelaxationday
August 16
- National Tell a Joke Day. Laughter is the perfect medicine. Share the benefits of a smile and share your favorite joke. It’s a perfect day to promote happiness #nationaltellajokeday
August 17
- National Nonprofit Day. National Nonprofit Day is a day to celebrate and recognize the amazing work that nonprofit organizations do daily. #nationalnonprofitday
- Congressional Startup Day. This holiday aims to create a platform where entrepreneurs can connect with their lawmakers. Share things businesses can do to gain the support of their elected officials. #congressionalstartupday
August 18
- National Couple’s Day. Celebrate and appreciate your partner on couples day. Share tips on how to celebrate your partner every day of the year. #nationalcouplesday
August 19
- World Humanitarian Day. This day honors humanitarian workers and their families who have lost their lives working in conflict zones and natural disasters. Highlight their efforts on our social media page. #worldhumanitarianday
- World Photography Day. Celebratethe wonders of photography. Ask your social media followers to share their favorite photos. #woldphotoday
August 20
- World Honey Bee Day. This day honors the honey bees and the critical world they share in our ecosystem. Honor them with a picture and facts.
August 21
- National Senior Citizens Day. Honor our nation’s seniors for their many contributions. Leave notes for citizens in local senior residential areas. #nationalseniorcitizensday
August 22
- World Plant Milk Day. A day to celebrate plant-based milk and the many benefits it has to offer. Raise awareness of plant-based milk and its impact on our planet by encouraging everyone to ditch dairy and try a plant-based milk alternative.
August 23
- Hug Your Sweetheart Day. A hug is a perfect way to show someone you care. Write an article about the benefits of a hug and encourage your readers to share a hug with a loved one. #hugyoursweetheartday
August 26
- National Dog Day. There aren’t many things that can engage your audience more than sharing their furry friends. This holiday celebrates the furry friends who bring joy into our lives. #nationaldogday
- Women’s Equality Day. Post statistics and facts about how marginalization affects woman’s pay #womensequalityday
August 27
- National Just Because Day. A day to do something just because you feel like it. Share the behind-the-scenes of your “just because” moment. It could be anything from writing a letter to a loved one, making a cake, taking a walk in the park, or simply spending time with friends and family. The point is to do something simply for the joy of it, without any other motive. #nationaljustbecauseday
August 29
- More Herbs, Less Salt Day. This day highlights ways to season your food healthier using herbs instead of salt. Share your favorite herbs via a social media post. #moreherbslesssaltday
August 30
- National Grief Awareness Day. Let those who are grieving know that you have not forgotten about them. Share tips on ways to check on those who are grieving a loss throughout the year. #nationalgriefawarenessday
- National Beach Day. Celebrate your affinity for the coast on National Beach Day. This holiday raises our awareness of the beauty of beaches while also calling attention to keeping them clean and safe. #nationalbeachday
August 31
- Eat Outside Day. Enjoy the sunshine while eating your favorite meal or snack and share the photo. #eatousideday
- National Trail Mix Day. Share your favorite trail mix recipe of nuts, seeds, and dried fruits, and ask your audience to share theirs.
Jowanna is a business and personal coach, consultant, freelance blogger, and personal brand photographer. Jowanna uses her 20-plus years of business, information technology, business analysis, and project management experience to serve solopreneurs, microbusinesses, and professionals through consulting, coaching, training, and workshops. She is also a freelance blogger who serves corporate and non-corporate clients. Visit her website at https://www.jowannadaley.com/about/.