How To Change A Weak Start To A Strong Beginning

“Good seasons start with good beginnings.” – Sparky Anderson

I have know of many people who have desired to become a life coach and to make this their main line of business, however, were unprepared for the challenges they have faced.  Have you, since becoming a life coach, felt that you were not really prepared for the difficulties there are in starting a coaching business?  Do not despair.  Most of us start off weak, but you can regroup, prepare and have a strong beginning.

                There is a difference between starting and beginning.  Starting is when we first get the idea to go into a life coaching business.  It is the idea stage and for most people it is the weakest area they face.  We are coaches.  Our love to the help people to achieve their dreams and to be the best they can be.  Most of us are not business people.  We know little about starting a business, we hate marketing and we do not do the best job at self promotion.  In starting off, all these weaknesses come to the top and seem to be overwhelming at time.

                Time for a new beginning.  Our beginning is when we actually start the thing we do best - coaching.  This is what we trained for; what we love to do; and what we feel strong in doing.  When we are coaching, we do not think in terms of business or marketing, we just enjoy the flow and go forward.

                So, the question is, how do we move from the business part of coaching to the coaching part?  After all, it is our business.  That is true, but I believe there are ways we can approach this in order to achieve the best possible outcome.

                The first thing we need to accept is that there is a difference between building a career and building a business.  You want to ask yourself, "Why do I want my own business?"  Now there are many reasons why we want to have our own business.  We want to be independent; we want to do the thing we love; we want to make a good living.  The real question needs to be, "Why do I need my own business?"  For some, it is in fact the building of the business that attracts them.  That is find.  But in my experience that is not true for most coaches.  We want to coach.

                I suggest that you first start by building your coaching practice and not your coaching business.  Begin where you are at, build from there.  Do you have any clients?  If not, why not?  Get someone to coach so that you are actively doing the thing you desire to do.  Even if you coach a friend for free, you are coaching.  It is a strange reality but the more you coach the more people will come to you for coaching.  Let's face it, to start a coaching business before you have coaching clients is putting the cart before the horse.

                Work first in your strength, coaching.  Do not worry about the business part, in time that will come.  Here is the good news, if you build enough client base to require your own business you will have the resources to hire someone else to do the work you are weakest in. 

                You do not need your own office, business address or even business card to start coaching.  You just need people who need your help, and there is no shortage of them.  Get the word out through your friends, social media and church.  Speak at churches and business meetings when you can.  Most of all, be the very best coach you can be and people will hear about it.

                Start today by giving your best to the clients you have or offering help to friends and family.  Learn all you can about coaching, practice you skills as much as you can.  Be your best in life and others will want what you know.  The business will come, if it is to come.  Now is not the time to worry about that.  Live in your strengths and do what you do best.  That is what God has called you to and gifted you with.  All else are just distractions.

John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, and Life Coach. To read more from John Patrick Hickey or to get his books, training and book him to speak to your church, business or group, visit our website at http://www.growthcenter.net or www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   © 2014 John Patrick Hickey