First 1,000 Days
The first 1,000 days of any business are the most challenging. They require a tremendous amount of energy. Financial energy, physical energy, emotional energy.
If you don’t have financial, physical and emotional reserves, you probably won’t make it.
Before you quit your job as a coach, put aside a year’s income, get in the best shape of your life and practice signing clients before you need them.
(If you have a client who wants to quit their job to become an entrepreneur – recommend that they put aside a year’s income, get in the best shape of their life and sell their product or service before they start a business).
Slowing down will almost always help you to speed up…
3 years
Assume that it will take 3 years to launch your coaching business:
1. One year to screw up, make mistakes and fail. Again and again and again.
This is the year you will say yes to everything.
This year needs courage.
2. One year to discover that success follows failure. But also that failure can follow success.
This is the year you will find out what lights you up.
This year builds competence.
3. One year to start turning business away.
This is the year you will discover that they need you more than you need them.
This year builds confidence. (Confidence is a result, not a requirement)
4. Two years to test you…
Hang on. You said 3 years, Rich. Why are you talking about two more years?!
Because life isn’t always fair. Business success doesn’t always go in straight lines.
Being a professional coach isn’t for everyone. And that’s ok. Better you know that now, than down the road.
As George Leonard said: “Perhaps the safest prediction we can make about the future is that it will surprise us.”
If you don’t stay in good shape… If you don’t keep saving money… If you don’t make time for your relationship, your family and your friends… You won’t have the ability to ride the ups and downs of business.
Can I promise you that it will take 3 years to build a successful coaching business?
Absolutely not.
I have seen people do it in one. I have seen people quit after two. It took me around four.
What I can promise you is that the world will challenge you. Your wife won’t understand your career choice. Your husband will be mad you’re not making enough money. Your clients will quit. The economy will go through a recession. Your accountant will tell you to get a real job.
What I can promise you is that if you are not in it for the long haul you won’t be in it for long.
And if you are in it for the long haul, I’ll be right here, alongside you.
Love. Rich
PS. Dramatically increase your confidence as a coach by mastering enrolling clients. Drastically increase your ability to raise your fees and up-level your clients. And learn to have fun making money. Join me on The 90 Day Money Game. There’s still time to join us…
PLUS, whenever you’re ready – here are 4 more ways you can drastically increase your income and impact as a world-class coach:
- Assess your current coaching level and learn how to get to your next level. Read – or remind yourself of – The Litvin Levels, from The Prosperous Coach.
- Watch me coach some of the top coaches on the planet, in order to drastically uplevel your coaching skills. Join me on How To Coach A Superhero: The 4PC edition.
- Imagine joining a Deep Coaching experience alongside the members of 4PC, my community of high-level coaches… We only offer The 4PC Accelerator once a year and it always sells out in advance. Save $1,000 with early-bird pricing.
- Learn how to enroll and coach successful, talented and ambitious clients – with power and impact. Join my flagship program, Project Kairos – for 8 months of guidance, challenge and support to master creating clients.
