The Number One Thing That Pisses Me Off About Life Coaching
What truly pisses me off about the coaching field? I’m glad you asked.
Oh, there are a few things, but one stands out far more than others.
Here are my Top-5:
5. Everybody thinks they can do it without any training (It sounds easy, but it is not. True coaches have a gift, they honor their client and they are always learning to improve their craft - like anyone interested in mastery would.)
4. “Coach” = unemployed (Oh, I’m between jobs, so I’ll call myself a coach for my previous field.)
3. “Coach” = advice-giver (My friends want my advice, so everyone else should too. Nope. They don’t.)
2. “Coach” = therapist (Oh no…don’t even go there.)
And the Number 1 thing that pisses me off about the coaching field is:
1. Hacks who constantly sell get rich quick schemes to new coaches looking to build volume before they build their skills.
Let’s start with a metaphor:
Would you open a pastry shop without knowing how to bake, and expect it to turn six-figures immediately?
No, you would not.
So why do coaches fall for this bullshit so easily?
Probably because those of us who are truly passionate about the field of coaching (really, any of the service fields) can be easy prey for the vultures who are not there to help us be better at our work, but instead are scheming to line their pockets by selling systems that are cumbersome and, IMHO, manipulative.
We love what we do, and we want to be paid for it…that’s why we became entrepreneurs. Unfortunately, we also, as givers, tend to wear our hearts on our sleeves.
I’ve learned to smell these dead fishermen a mile away by their cheesy use of meaningless platitudes in their profiles and DM pitches, but occasionally someone sneaks through by changing their initial connection request.
Here’s a sample of a recent messaging conversation that I had via LinkedIn with one of these shills.
Vulture
2nd degree connection · 2nd
Co-owner at “I Can Sell You A System”
Oct 31
Vulture 1:09 PM
Hey Daniel do you do group sessions or one on one ? Also what are your rates for each ?
(Sneaky entry…it looked like this person was curious about my rates and my work, so hmmmm, my defenses went down and I replied.)
Daniel Olexa, CIHt, PCC 1:09 PM
Hi Vulture,
I do mainly 1:1 work.
To work with me requires a minimum 6 month commitment, and a $10,000 investment.
Vulture 1:55 PM
Great!
Well, I am not a coach my self...
(Oh shit, here it comes…)
But I enjoyed taking a look at your profile
I don’t know if this is a priority for you
But I’ve been working along side the biggest coaches in our industry
I help them land more big clients
Such as Name Drop 1, Name Drop 2, Name Drop 3, Name Drop 4 and many more
(Side note: I have no fucking clue who these people are. If you’re going to name drop, use a recognizable name.)
Since I enjoyed what you’re doing.
You seem might be a fit for what I got going on.
How open minded would you be to land consistently high paying coaching clients?
(At this point, I see the scheme and know there is no reason to continue. By the way, when I give the answer of $10,000 commitment, what about that does not already say “high paying coaching client?” Fucking pay attention you hack.)
But what happens next? Vulture #1 turns into a teenager waiting by the phone for a date.
Nov 1
Vulture 10:13 AM
Daniel?
(Can you hear the quiet desperation in this sad one word reply?)
Daniel Olexa, CIHt, PCC 10:23 AM
Vulture, I get the feeling you need clients more than I do.
I am a gracious no.
Thank you.
Daniel Olexa, CIHt, PCC 10:27 AM
With that out of the way, would you be interested in discussing a better way of creating clients?
The vulture flew away after that question.
THEN... later that same day, I get this:
Vulture #2
Co-Founder at Same company as Vulture #1 (Co-founder of same company, so you think they’d know each other and be coordinating outreach so as not to duplicate efforts)
Saturday
Vulture #2 10:48 AM
Hey Daniel do you do group coaching or one on one's?
Daniel Olexa, CIHt, PCC 10:48 AM
Hi Vulture #2,
Vulture #1 has already reached out to me with same canned request.
While I fell for it and engaged the first time, I'll reply here with the same final observation that I sent to him.
It seems like you guys need clients more than I do.
If you're open to discussing a better way to create clients rather than cold calling through LI messaging, and fishing, let's chat.
Vulture #2 6:45 PM
Sorry?
(Oh, so you guys don’t know each other, yet you are co-founders and co-owners of the same company? Huh. Go figure.)
Daniel Olexa, CIHt, PCC sent the following messages at 6:46 PM
I send a series of screen shots of my conversation with Vulture #1
Daniel Olexa, CIHt, PCC 6:49 PM
Seems like you guys are "starting fresh every month" and reaching out by cold calling thru invitation messaging.
Feel like a soul sucking process yet?
Vulture #2 flies away…
To my fellow coaches out there:
YOU ARE NOT ROADKILL.
YOU ARE NOT CARRION ON WHICH TO BE FED
YOU ARE NOT THE SUSTENANCE OF PREDATORS
Unless you choose to be.
Choose wisely.
Choose to be strong. Choose to do the work and build your coaching muscles.
Listen to your intuition. Hone your craft and be awesome at what you do.
Be a coach. That’s what you love, so do it.
And look at that – there’s no call to action here.
If this post resonates with you, you know what to do. Take responsibility for yourself and your actions without being told what to do.
Isn’t that what we teach our clients to do?
