As a coach, it’s important to think about your mission. In order to be the best coach you can be, you first need to think about who you are, what you do, and why you do it.
Once you know these things, you can monetize your mission and build your most successful coaching practice.
First, you should consider: what is coaching to you? Is it an escape from a boss? Is it a calling? Is it something that’s central to who you are?
I’ll address it for myself. To me, coaching is a blessing. It’s a blessing to watch other people as they emerge into their best self.
Once you’ve considered who you are and why you have chosen to become a coach, the next step in building a successful coaching practice is developing a client base.
This step makes me think of a song from my generation by Crosby, Stills and Nash called “Love the One You’re With.” That’s how you build your base – you love the one you’re with. You seek to bring out the best in everyone you meet – whether you’re in line at Starbucks, in the elevator, or when you park your car. Find out what they’re about. Discover how they’re going about becoming their best self. See what you can do to help – even if it’s as small as asking questions about who their best self is.
I used to enjoy going to Starbucks and asking the baristas what they were looking for in their lives, where they were going, what they were doing. Everybody has dreams, whether it’s to get a BMW, go to college, own a business, or have a family. Some people have given up on their dreams and asking them the right questions can help uncover those visions.
I recall a time my wife Judith was at a party talking to a grade school teacher about his dreams. He told her his dream was to provide high-end coaching and counseling to students in order to help them overcome the same problems he’d had. She asked him, “Well, why aren’t you doing it?” He told her, “I’m stuck in the classroom.” And she said, “Who says you can’t coach them after class is over?” Next thing you know, he built a student remedial coaching practice and was able to leave teaching to become a full-time coach. He was able to help his students that he really cared about one on one. Very, very fulfilling for him.
Finally, you have to consider how to turn your contacts and friends into clients. First of all, you don’t sell yourself. You sell them on who they can become, what their potential is. You sell them on the realization of their dreams and for some people you have to sell them on dreaming because they gave up on dreaming a long time ago and you have to uncover their visions in them.
Once you can carry out these tasks, you are well on your way to building your successful coaching practice. Check back next week for part 2 of Monetize Your Mission: How To Build Your Most Successful Coaching Practice.
Learn more about Wright Living’s Life Coaching in Chicago, Self Development Courses, and Relationship Courses.
Wright Living is a division of the Wright Foundation for the Realization of Human Potential, a leadership institute located in Chicago, Illinois. Wright Living performative learning programs are integrated into the curriculum at Wright Graduate University.
Liked this post and want more? Sign up for updates – free!
