The first time I hired a business coach, I paid her $300 for a 1-hour coaching session.
This was $300 I most definitely did NOT have just laying around. I had to spread it out over 2 different credit cards. (Not my proudest moment for sure.) Business Coaching for Women Entrepreneurs: Why it Matters.
At the time, I had started to experience some success in my business, but it was fleeting. I’d get a few clients, start to see some money flowing in, but it didn’t last. After a few months, I’d be struggling again.
I’d tried EVERYTHING I could think of to fix this, and nothing seemed to make a difference. I was stuck on this roller coaster of highs and lows.
I’d read the books, taken the courses, KNEW all the things. I realized I must be doing something wrong. But what?
That’s when I hired this coach.
I chose her, frankly, because she was willing to let me hire her for just one hour. I was willing to take a risk on that.
We got on the phone together, and I launched into my list of everything that wasn’t working and how stuck I felt. As good coaches do, she listened and asked me a lot of questions. Questions that really made me think about my business.
After about 30 minutes, she said something so profound, it’s stuck with me for over 10 years. Business Coaching for Women Entrepreneurs: Why it Matters.
“You’re sabotaging yourself because whenever something gets difficult you switch tactics.”
I was floored. What was she trying to say? I would never sabotage myself. I prided myself on being a hard worker. In that moment I was angry. Wishing I had never wasted that $300; frantically thinking of something I could tell her to get it back.
I listened politely, and made a few comments, but the coaching session was over for me at this point. I was still angry when I got off the phone a few minutes later, making up some excuse about needing to leave early.
Seriously, what a waste of time and money. Thankfully I had only booked that one hour.
A few days later, something remarkable happened…
I was sitting in my office, once again trying to figure out how to get clients. I had been sending out newsletters each month but hadn’t gotten any clients from them. So, I was looking for something different to try. I was looking for places to advertise instead.
Suddenly, I heard those words in my head. THOSE words about sabotaging myself by constantly switching tactics. THOSE words.
In that instant, it all made sense for me. I hadn’t figured out how to get clients from my newsletter. I had two choices:
- I could jump ship and try yet another new tactic; doing more of what I’ve always done.
- I could commit to getting good at newsletters; figuring out what it actually took to make them work as a source of clients.
Giving up on newsletters to try print ads was yet another cycle of what I’d always done. I decided I simply wasn’t going to do that anymore. Instead, I would take the time to make my newsletters better so that they actually DID generate clients for me.
At the time, I wasn’t willing to be bad at something in order to figure it out. I expected to do things well right from the start and get immediate results. When I wasn’t good, and didn’t get results, I dismissed that tactic as ineffective and went on to the next.
This completely shifted how I approached my business. I now know that I can’t expect immediate results; that’s entitlement.
Failing at something new is expected. It’s part of the learning process.
That’s one of the biggest lessons I needed to learn in order to build the successful business I have today. Today, I KNOW I must learn how to do things well before I can expect results. Today, I’m willing to fail in order to figure out what works. Business Coaching for Women Entrepreneurs: Why it Matters.
I’m proud of the business and the success I’ve created. I’m proud that I no longer give up on things before I see results. I’m proud of who I’ve become as a person because of this.
Would I have figured this out without that coach? I’d like to think so, but I truly don’t know. Even if I did figure it out on my own, it would’ve taken a heck of a lot longer than a few days. That one coaching session shortened my learning curve by months or even years.
After this experience, I was sold on the importance of coaching, and found it so much easier to invest in myself and my business.
I believe that business coaching is essential for ALL entrepreneurs.
I also believe that business coaching for women is especially important. Here’s why:
- Many women (like me!) grew up with messages encouraging us to be “nice girls” and not cause problems. Now we’re ready to break free of that conditioning and create more for ourselves. Business coaching for women can help you with that by helping you develop the confidence you need to step into the business you truly want to create.
- Way too many women are undercharging for their services. Part of them want to succeed, but part of them feels guilty about charging more. Business coaching for women can help you change your fee structure to create a win-win for you and your clients.
- Women often have different business priorities than men. When I ask men about their goals, they are often about achievement or material possessions. Women RARELY talk about this type of goal. Women usually talk about the freedom their business provides, or the lifestyle they can create for their families. A business coach for women understands these different priorities and how to build a business that meets YOUR goals.
Interested in learning more about how business coaching for women can help YOUR business? Join me for a Private Intensive to strategize, brainstorm, and create your “Income Acceleration Plan”.
