Do you ever feel like a tiny fish in a big ocean of coaches in the world?
Maybe you have days where you feel even a little jaded. Like there just aren’t enough clients to go around, and the way to get ahead is to be all polish and no purpose.
Or that coaching is some sort of scam because the only coaches who seem successful actually coach other coaches.
A while ago, a colleague of mine shared a thought-provoking post on Facebook that essentially called the coaching industry out, sharing this very sentiment.
But before you start shouting, “Damn the man!” and close up shop, I want to offer a different perspective.
The coaching community is not broken or some sort of Ponzi scheme.
Yes, there are lots of coaches who mentor other coaches (ahem… yours truly). But there are just as many successful people creating amazing programs, books and events for clients they’re passionate about who are not coaches at all.
In fact, in my Six Figure Coach Club alone, I’ve got a wonderful list of successful coaches who serve a huge variety of clients.
They serve:
• Actors who want more auditions
• Musicians who want teaching gigs
• Menopausal women who crave sanity
• Travel agents who need better systems
• Writers who feel blocked
• Teenagers who want better grades
• People who want to lose weight
The list goes on and on.
Let’s not forget that coaches are entrepreneurs. We’re always growing and changing and we love helping other people and sharing what we know. So, doesn’t it make sense that a natural progression for some coaches would be to mentor other coaches? It’s not because that’s where the money’s at. Instead, it’s because that’s where your passion might lie.
I coach coaches, but my first business is teaching the strategies actors need to feel empowered in their own careers. And guess what? That business nearly hit the seven figure mark. But as I grew as a coach and my interests expanded, my focus naturally evolved along with me.
If you’re excited about what you know and really skilled at your craft, you want to share it with others. So let’s not poo-poo it. When your business becomes successful, it’s the natural next step in your evolution as a coach to extend your field of service to other like-minded coaches.
If you had the opportunity to help more people too, wouldn’t you?
This “gap” some see in the coaching industry is not a by-product of a secret pyramid scheme. The difference lies in what you offer clients that others don’t. Successful coaches offer clarity and confidence, and the coaches who struggle are often unsure of themselves and their work.
This is the real matter we should be focusing on.
In my experience, the coaches who are the most successful are ardently passionate about their own expertise. It energizes them, and the idea of helping others is exciting. They are also crystal clear about their audience and the outcome their work provides. Only when you have this kind of clarity can you find your niche within the sea of other coaches.
I see a lot of coaches who struggle with their business because they are too afraid to take action in their marketing and risk being visible. They are paralyzed by the fear of being judged, the fear of not being able to deliver.
Does this sound like you? Do you find yourself tiptoeing around the results you can provide clients?
No one has a crystal ball. But when you take ownership of your expertise and the powerful changes your work can bring to others, that is the moment your business begins to grow.
So, don’t let fear control you. Don’t chicken out. Own your place. Put your stake in the ground and own the amazing results that you know your work can provide.
Because the truth is, it’s a disservice to the people who need your help to not share your gifts with them.
So yes, there are a lot of coaches out there who coach other coaches who might even coach other coaches. And yes, I am one of them. But that’s not important. The distinction between successful coaches and stagnant ones is your clarity and your conviction.
If you feel frustrated with the coaching industry, stop focusing on other people. Let those other coaches be just one example of what’s possible instead of a threat. Start tapping into why you started your practice to begin with and how you can get clearer with your tribe about the results you can generate together.
My challenge for you this week is to get really clear on the outcome you provide your clients and how you can present that in a strong, powerful way. Where are you holding back? Where are you being too vague?
I’d love to hear your thoughts inside the Coaches on a Mission Facebook group. Head on over and tell me what you think.
