How to Start a Coaching Business Without Sabotaging Yourself First

This is part two of a series on how to start a coaching business, sharing one do and one don't at a time. Today's don't: don't rush to quit your job. Today's do: all coaches need to be coached.

Don't: don't rush to quit your job

Most new coaches are tired. Tired of the long hours, tired of a career they picked for security rather than fulfillment. That security has real value, it just isn't the same thing as feeling fulfilled. So after months or years of thinking about becoming a coach, the pull to quit and get on with it can feel overwhelming.

Here's the risk: when you quit too early and money stress moves in, it drains the enjoyment right out of coaching. It's a bit like breaking up with one relationship and jumping straight into the next. After a while you realize it's basically the same dynamic wearing a different face. A brand new coaching business needs space and time to grow. Putting all the pressure of your entire income on it right away is like expecting too much, too fast, from something brand new.

If your current job genuinely isn't working, that doesn't necessarily mean quit immediately either. Sometimes it means doing some of your own thought work first, getting clear on how you're thinking and feeling so you can make a more deliberate choice. And if you do need to leave a toxic situation, consider a part-time bridge role while you build your coaching client base, rather than leaping straight into full-time coaching income with nothing underneath you.

There are two real signs it's time to leave your day job: you're already coaching more hours than you're working your day job and there's no time left in the day, or your coaching calendar is full for the next six months with a waitlist behind it.

Do: all coaches need to be coached

Here's a number straight from Candy's own practice: eight out of ten people who book a consult with her have never actually had a coach themselves. Talented, passionate people who want to help others, but who've never experienced coaching from the other side of the conversation.

It's hard to attract paying clients if you're not personally sold on coaching. Think about a dentist who never gets their own teeth cleaned, or a doctor who never checks their own blood pressure. If you want people to pay you for coaching, get coached yourself first.

Being coached isn't the same as talking to a supportive friend. A friend knows the version of you that already exists and often, without meaning to, protects that version. A coach gives you space to figure out what you actually want, try out new ideas, and get aware of your own thinking, which is the first step toward actually changing it.

Key takeaways

• Quitting your job too early can add financial stress that drains the enjoyment out of coaching.

• A new coaching business needs time and space to grow before it can support you fully.

• Two real signs you're ready to leave your day job: you're already coaching more hours than you're working, or your calendar is booked out with a waitlist.

• Eight out of ten new coaching clients have never had a coach themselves, which makes attracting paying clients harder.

• Getting coached yourself gives you self-awareness and personal experience that a friend's support can't replicate.

FAQ

When should I quit my job to become a full-time coach? Wait until you're either coaching more hours than you're working your day job, or your coaching calendar is full for the next several months with a waitlist. Both are signs your coaching income and demand can actually support the leap.

Why shouldn't I quit my job right away to start coaching? Financial stress from quitting too early tends to drain the enjoyment out of coaching and puts pressure on a business that needs time to grow. It can turn your new coaching business into the same kind of unhappiness you were trying to leave behind.

Do coaches need their own coach? Yes. It's difficult to sell coaching convincingly if you haven't experienced it yourself. Getting coached also gives you firsthand awareness of your own thinking, which makes you a better coach for your clients.

What if I need to leave a toxic job before my coaching business is ready? Consider a part-time bridge role to cover your finances while you build your coaching client base, rather than relying entirely on a brand new coaching income right away.

Conclusion

Building a coaching business that lasts means giving it time to grow and giving yourself the same coaching experience you're asking clients to invest in. Don't rush the exit from your day job, and don't skip getting coached yourself.

Ready for a clear next step? Grab Candy's free 90-Minute Coaching Business Blueprint: candymotzek.lpages.co/vfo/