In December, I co-authored an article in Harvard Business Review aimed directly at coaches that answered some of the questions that my coaching colleagues and I are asked every single week about how to start and build a successful coaching business.

We were thrilled with the attention this article received. What It Really Takes to Become an Executive Coach outlines the misunderstandings about what coaching is— as well as what it takes to thrive in the industry.

Harvard Business Review Summary of What It Really Takes to Become an Executive Coach: 

Being an executive coach can be rewarding. But, many people misunderstand what coaching actually is, underestimate the process to become a credentialed coach, and don’t anticipate the ongoing effort required to generate and develop business to make a living doing this work. How many clients should you have? What other income streams should you consider? How many hours per day should you coach? How do you get clients (and keep them)? And most importantly, how hard is it?  This article offers some clarity on what it takes to become a successful executive coach, and how to get started.

To mark my 20th year as a coach in the top 2% of female entrepreneurs and to widen the scope of the article by giving coaching and consultants a behind-the-scenes look at exactly HOW I built and maintain my business, I’ve created a course for coaches and consultants who want to build their business (and life) into something they love.

Mythbusting Marketing © is a 12-week live (virtual) workshop to dispel the myths behind a successful coaching business that thrives year over year.

Some of my most successful and engaging marketing efforts just might surprise you…

One of the topics we’ll go into in Mythbusting Marketing © is knowing what your NOPE’s are. Knowing what you’re unwilling to do or who you’re unwilling to work with is just as critical to success as knowing where to aim.

Here’s what I say NOPE to:

1. Homophobic, transphobic, racist, antisemitic, sexist people…. these belong nowhere near my coaching practice or me.

2. Leaders who want to send professionals for coaching as remediation. (Coaching isn’t here to “fix” people — or at least, I’m not here to fix people.)

3. A leader who didn’t choose to work with me but was assigned to me.

4. Someone who wants to fix other people rather than work on themselves.

5. Someone who actually needs therapy and is using coaching instead.

6. Someone where the fit might feel good to them but doesn’t feel right to me.

7. Someone who wants to work on something where I have a big block in my own life or work (I don’t want it to get in the way and I don’t want it to be about me).

I’m really curious about what you’d say NOPE to….