| One of my clients recently completed the initial | | | | Now that you have 5-7 clients (if you have a job, you |
| coursework of one of the most reputable coach | | | | probably won't be able to manage many more), |
| training programs around, and is just about to begin | | | | immerse yourself in coaching them. Take yourself and |
| their coach certification program. | | | | the coaching conversations seriously and focus on |
| He's a powerful individual, successful entrepreneur, and | | | | creating value for your first clients. |
| is committed to adding coaching to the mix of | | | | If one or two clients drop out, that's okay. Just go back |
| businesses he's involved in. Fascinatingly, even though | | | | to your contact list and start making calls again. |
| he's achieved great success in other businesses, he's | | | | When you're approaching the three month mark, you'll |
| worried about hitting the minimum number of paying | | | | find you have a lot more confidence in your coaching |
| clients required to begin the certification program. | | | | ability. And now it's time to ask for a raise. |
| Even he'd fallen into the strange funk that afflicts most | | | | Talk with each of your clients and let them know that |
| new coaches when it comes to getting clients! | | | | the initial three month period is about to end (you've set |
| For many, life coaching seems like the best profession | | | | the stage, so this should be easy) and that you really |
| in the world...until they're confronted by the realities of | | | | enjoy working with them. And that it's time for you to |
| building the business. I talk about this at length in my | | | | begin charging for your services. |
| other articles and resources, but your job as a coach | | | | Let them know that if they'd like to continue, you'd be |
| is fundamentally about getting clients, keeping them, | | | | charging $50 per month for the next three months.As |
| and charging what you're worth. | | | | uncomfortable as it may be, it's critical that you have |
| That's how you make money, and that's how you | | | | these conversations at this stage of the game and |
| make a difference. | | | | that you begin charging for your services. |
| If you're working on transitioning out of a job and | | | | You're making the transition from 'coaching hobbyist' to |
| beginning your journey as a life coach, here's a 3-step | | | | professional coach |
| plan to get you jump-started in building a professional | | | | You're experiencing asking for money for your |
| practice. | | | | coaching services for the first time |
| Contact everyone you know - friends, colleagues...and | | | | You'll now have the paying clients you need to |
| even family and ask them to work with you | | | | complete the requirements for any certification |
| When you're starting at the ground floor and don't | | | | program you may be in |
| have a lot of relevant professional experience, just get | | | | Get more clients, and repeat the process time and |
| started coaching! | | | | again |
| Once you have a few basic skills the most important | | | | Once you've had the conversations and transitioned |
| thing is to get experience. The more experience you | | | | the majority of your current clients to paying clients, it's |
| get at this phase, the more confident you'll become. | | | | time to make more calls, to ask for referrals, and to |
| And with confidence, it'll become much easier get | | | | start working with more people. |
| paying clients. | | | | You're ready to increase your client load to 10 or more. |
| Make a list of all of your contacts, and rank them in | | | | As you bring the new clients on board, you have the |
| order of how comfortable you are with them. Then, | | | | opportunity to leapfrog your pricing. Instead of $50 per |
| call them one by one and let them know you're | | | | month, charge $100 or $150. You'll have a solid base of |
| pursuing your passion for helping people by becoming | | | | 5-7 clients you know will be sticking with you for the |
| a coach and that you'd love to work with them for | | | | next 3 months, so take a leap of faith and begin asking |
| three months for free. | | | | for what you're really worth. |
| Let them know how much you'd appreciate their help | | | | Make sure everyone understands that you're still in |
| in getting you started, and that you can guarantee | | | | 'training' and that you'll need to increase prices in |
| they'll get significant value from the process. | | | | another 3 months. Set the stage for having the |
| Make sure you set an end date for the free coaching. | | | | repricing conversation a few months down the road. |
| It's important because it'll allow you to come back to | | | | Following this simple 3-step process, you'll build the |
| them in a few months and begin charging.Making these | | | | confidence, skills, and client base to have a thriving |
| calls does 3 things: | | | | coaching business just twelve months from now. A full |
| You let people know where you're headed | | | | practice of 20-30 clients paying what you're worth is |
| You get no-risk experience having enrollment ('sales') | | | | virtually an inevitable outcome. |
| conversations | | | | Of course, knowing what to do and doing it are two |
| You will ABSOLUTELY get the clients you need to | | | | completely different things, and NOTHING HAPPENS |
| get started on the right foot...if you make enough calls. | | | | until something moves. |
| Get busy coaching | | | | What are you waiting for?! |