Over the past 11 years, I've consistently helped companies increase their sales and overall profitability within 18 months. I've been called by thousands of perpetually stuck and frustrated entrepreneurs who've reached out for my advice to help them solve a practical business problem, but for some reason, many of them get stuck on something emotional — they're unwilling to fire a family member, they refuse to use a day planner or they just can't find the motivation to get up before 7 a.m.
Other times, I'll teach a business owner what they need to do, but they simply refuse to do it, whether it be aggressively or passively aggressively. As an example, I taught a business owner that they must gather objective Google reviews from real clients in order to make their online advertising more effective, but they were unwilling to ask for reviews because they didn’t want to face the emotional risk of being told no. I'm a business coach, not a therapist, and I don't charge enough to spend hours with a client figuring out why they can't seem to get things done.
When hiring a business coach, most people are looking for someone to show them a proven path and to provide them with the specific steps they need to take to grow their business and help them reach the next level. However, in my experience, many people want to use their business coach as a quasi life coach to discuss how they feel and why they feel the way they feel.
An effective business coach focuses on your business and helps you increase the profitability, efficiency and overall success of your business. If you're searching for a way to fill the hole that you've found deep within your soul, then you, my friend, might be looking for a life coach because that's not what a business coach does. If 90% of your coaching sessions would be about feelings, addictions, finding your purpose or dealing with parental guilt, I advise you to call a life coach, a counselor, a therapist or your religious leader of choice rather than a business coach.
Business coaches are geared toward practical action for your business. If you're looking for a person to teach you proven and strategic action steps that you can take to grow your business, you may want to hire a business coach.
If you're having trouble deciding whether a business coach or a life coach is the best option for you, take a moment to think deeply about your life and your business and where you feel the most stuck. Write down your goals, and then use them to identify your needs so that you don’t waste your hard-earned money paying a talented person who is unable to help you.
If you're looking for someone to help you with the following, a business coach is likely the best option for you:
• Systems and processes that help you scale your business
• Time management
• Sales strategies
• Advertising/marketing
• Workflow
• Management techniques
If you're looking for help with the following, a life coach could be the best option:
• Finding your purpose
• Motivating yourself daily
• Discovering why you have value
• Finding your “why”
• Dealing with marital or other relationship issues
• Setting boundaries
• Living a more fulfilling life
Regardless of which type of coaching you feel is right for you, make sure that the systems or strategies you're being taught how to implement have been successful for current and former clients of the coaching program. One way to verify a coach's track record of success is by calling past clients and asking about their experiences or searching for specific and verifiable video and Google reviews. Whether you're looking for a business coach or a life coach, make sure to avoid signing long-term contracts and working with someone without verifiable references.
