Success in coaching isn’t just about credentials, funnels, or showing up online. The real breakthroughs come from deep internal shifts—often involving uncomfortable trade-offs and decisions that shape who you are.
If you’re pushing hard but not breaking through, you might be avoiding the real prices success demands.
When I was a kid, I saw a sharply dressed man step out of a car that looked like it belonged in a movie. He stood tall, confident, and calm. I didn’t know what he did—but I knew I wanted to be that kind of man. That image stayed with me for years and sparked the question that shaped my journey:
What makes someone magnetic, trusted, and respected?
Here are four hard-earned truths I’ve learned on the path to building a fulfilling, purpose-driven coaching career.
1. I had to stop trying to please everyone
I used to say yes to everything—every client inquiry, every invitation, every shiny new idea. It felt generous, but it was draining me and diluting my message.
The reality? People-pleasing was costing me my edge. I was more concerned with being liked than being effective. In coaching, that means vague sessions, blurred boundaries, and exhaustion.
Without clear limits, we create resentment—toward others and ourselves.
Action step: Audit your current commitments. Which ones are for impact, and which ones are just to be liked? Cut the latter.
Key insight: The day I stopped needing approval from everyone was the day I became a magnet for the right people.
2. I had to go deep instead of trying to reach everyone
At one point, I tried to sound like the “big names” in coaching, thinking their formula would work for me. It didn’t.
Growth came when I chose depth over popularity. I focused on my strengths, served a specific kind of coach, and stopped chasing mass appeal. That’s when my message started to land.
Seth Godin calls this the minimum viable audience—speaking powerfully to a few instead of generically to many.
Action step: Define your “few.” Who is the exact type of client you want to serve at the highest level?
Key insight: When I chose depth, I found connection—and results.
3. I had to get comfortable being seen
I wanted more reach but kept hiding. I’d write posts, then delete them. I sat on content for weeks, afraid of judgment.
Visibility isn’t just about algorithms—it’s emotional exposure. It means standing behind what you believe, even when you don’t know how it’ll land.
One client of mine had the same struggle. She didn’t need a new strategy—she needed a shift in how she saw herself.
Action step: Post something today that you’ve been sitting on. Publish without overediting.
Key insight: My business started growing when I stopped hiding. Courage beats perfection.
4. I had to build a system (not just ride the vibe)
I once thought systems would kill my creativity. I was wrong.
When I finally created structure for goal setting, client tracking, and session flow, everything changed. My clients got better results, and I had more headspace.
That’s why I wrote The Art of Setting Goals. It’s the framework I wish I had years ago—simple, powerful, and built for real-life coaching.
Action step: Choose one area of your coaching (onboarding, tracking, or follow-up) and systemize it this week.
Key insight: Systems don’t limit you—they unlock your best work.
Final reflection
Every level of coaching success has a price. For me, it meant letting go of approval, choosing depth, facing visibility fears, and committing to structure.
None of it was easy—but it was worth it.
If you’re ready to coach at the next level, start here.
"You can have anything you want, but you have to be willing to pay the price." — T. Harv Eker
The Art of Setting Goals - Get it on Amazon