3 Mistakes New Life Coaches Make

In 2011, I went to life coach training at The CaPP Institute founded by the awesome Valorie Burton. I was so excited to get trained at doing what I love to do. Coaching and inspiring others to live their purpose. However, something happened when I left that training that I did not expect. My confidence fell to an all-time low...have you ever been on the edge of a breakthrough in your life and your mind begins to rage war within itself? So many old thoughts that I used to think about myself began to surface, like, "who do you think you are?", "who's going to listen to you?", “you failed the ninth grade three times", and "you're just a stay-at-home mom..."

Despite the fact that I gained new coaching clients that attended the training as well for my coaching business (that I just got started) the thoughts of not feeling good enough rose up in me. I wasn't thinking about all the people God has blessed me to be able to help with my gifts and talents, but instead, I was too focused on all the reasons why I wouldn't succeed.

In this blog, it is my intention to help you tackle the three mistakes new life coaches make and how you can avoid them.

1. Lack of confidence
As a new life coach, you may be feeling a lack of confidence that you can actually help someone else change their life. Don't fall into this way of thinking. If you are a life coach, you've probably been coaching others since you can remember. Life coaches are often the "go-to" person in their group and all of their friends, family, co-workers, and even strangers are blessed by your gift of being able to actively listen to them and help them to become the best version of themselves.

Focus on the truth of the matter. The truth is, when people come in contact with you they are better because of it. That is not an arrogant way to look at this; this is a confident way to look at this. Do you think Steve Harvey feels bad about making people bust their guts laughing every day at him on his radio show five days a week? Absolutely not. Feel good about the fact that you have a gift that can help others in major decisions in their lives. Begin to shift your focus from all the reasons why you don't think you can be successful at being a life coach, to thinking about all the lives that you are going to change.

2. Not charging for your service
Many new coaches don't like to ask for money for their services. As a coach, you want to help everyone! I get it. What you have to realize is that you are actually doing your clients a disservice when you don't charge them. When people actually put their money where their mouth is, they naturally take it seriously. They will actually take action on the things that you coach them through because no one wants to waste their money.

If you have a phone conversation with a friend who is experiencing something challenging and you help them through it and also offer some actions steps they can take, it is more than likely that they will not do it. Why? Because they have no skin in the game. They have not put their money where their mouth is. They have not fully committed to creating a different life for themselves. When you have a client that is paying you for your services, the entire landscape changes for them. They will take action on the goals they set for themselves.

Start charging for your services. It is a total win-win.

3. Comparison
It is very normal when we start on a new task that we want to look at others who do what we do. It is fine to look at and be inspired by others, but do not fall into the trap of comparison. Comparing yourself to others is denying the amazing person that God created YOU to be. No one else on this planet can do exactly what you do. Embrace that fact and honor it. When you honor your own gifts and talents, you will not compare or feel threatened by other people. You will realize that we all have a part to play in this world and we all bring something unique to the table. However, most importantly, we are all necessary.

Are you standing in your own way when it comes to your coaching business? What steps can you take to begin to move in the direction of your dreams?