Prosperous Coach Podcast

Grow your coaching income with a sea change in mindset and what you offer.
Find the full transcript and more resources for coaches at prosperouscoach.com/274.

Other Prosperous Coach Podcast episodes mentioned in this episode are:
#136 - The Downside of Coaching for Corporations
#51 - Why is Coaching a Hard Sell?
#22 - Why Should a Coach Do Market Research?
#191 - Low Pricing Could Kill Your Coaching Business

• Rhonda Hess helps new coaches leverage their zone of genius into a profitable coaching niche and launch with confidence.
• For VIP step-by-step support apply for Rhonda's VIP Coaching Business Breakthrough Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you a discovery call.
• Or if you're stuck on your coaching niche, grab a Nail Your Niche Strategy Session with Rhonda here.

Coaches can also be thought leaders. It's a great way to attract ideal coaching clients.

Find the full transcript and other resources for coaches at prosperouscoach.com/273.

Other episode mentioned:
15 - What's Your Zone of Genius?

• Rhonda Hess helps new coaches leverage their zone of genius into a profitable coaching niche and launch with confidence.
• For VIP step-by-step support apply for Rhonda's VIP Coaching Business Breakthrough Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you a discovery call.
• Or if you're stuck on your coaching niche, grab a Nail Your Niche Strategy Session with Rhonda here.

Find the full episode and transcript at prosperouscoach.com/272.

About 3x a week a new coach reaches out to me. They've been referred to my podcast by another coach — thank you! Or they’ve seen a LinkedIn post or Googled for "coaching niche", browsed my website then filled out the application on my VIP Mentoring page. 

That’s an online customer journey that works!

They tell me: 

“I don't know my coaching niche or target audience yet vbut I’m working on my website, posting on socials, and developing coaching programs.”

And I think ... WAY TOO SOON!

I get it. When you finish coach training there's this emotional rush to get a website up and do all the things online.

But it will be a false start and likely mean doing everything over, because the very 1st step for everything in your coaching business is nailing down a viable audience and niche. Anything you do before that isn’t going to be effective.

Let me help you think differently about the goal of your website. 

• Rhonda Hess helps new coaches leverage their zone of genius into a profitable coaching niche and launch with confidence.
• For VIP step-by-step support apply for Rhonda's VIP Coaching Business Breakthrough Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you a discovery call.
• Or if you're stuck on your coaching niche, grab a Nail Your Niche Strategy Session with Rhonda here.

Find the full episode, transcript and other resources for coaches at prosperouscoach.com/271.

There’s a simple way to continuously encourage authentic and useful testimonials from all of your coaching clients.

I’ll share how to:

1. Systematically gather takeaways from clients before and after your sessions.
2. Make it easy for clients to write useful testimonials in a timely manner.
3. And how to help clients celebrate their accomplishments with your prospective clients.

• Rhonda Hess helps new coaches leverage their zone of genius into a profitable coaching niche and launch with confidence.
• For VIP step-by-step support apply for Rhonda's VIP Coaching Business Breakthrough Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you a discovery call.
• Or if you're stuck on your coaching niche, grab a Nail Your Niche Strategy Session with Rhonda here.

Find the full transcript for this episode at https://prosperouscoachblog.com/ep-270-arent-2-coaching-niches-better-than-1-listeners-choice/.

Also mentioned in this episode were:
Episode 5 - The Simplest Coaching Business Model
Episode - 108 - How to Develop Your Signature Coaching Program

Before we talk about the few pros and significant cons of having 2 coaching niches, let's get on on the same page about what a smart coaching niche is ...

• Rhonda Hess helps new coaches leverage their zone of genius into a profitable coaching niche and launch with confidence.
• For VIP step-by-step support apply for Rhonda's VIP Coaching Business Breakthrough Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you a discovery call.
• Or if you're stuck on your coaching niche, grab a Nail Your Niche Strategy Session with Rhonda here.

Find the full transcript and more resources for coaches at prosperouscoach.com/269.

How can a coach earn more with less stress and high profits?

In my 6th year of my coaching business I wanted to scale up. All the pundits said: “Group and online programs are the way to leverage your time and increase income.”

I bought into that. Just 6 years into running my membership program and two online training programs I had to take a sabbatical from my business.

During my recovery from stress I looked for a better way that I could enjoy more.

You see, online and group programs require a massive leads list and continuous marketing campaigns to keep them filled and earning well.

Profits can be low because of the pricey apps and team needed to help you do it all. If someone says they make a million doing group and online programs, realize that they haven’t shared profit numbers or the hours it takes to make that happen.

I found a way for coaches to earn well that’s low stress and high profit. LISTEN IN ...

• Rhonda Hess helps new coaches leverage their zone of genius into a profitable coaching niche and launch with confidence.
• For VIP step-by-step support apply for Rhonda's VIP Coaching Business Breakthrough Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you a discovery call.
• Or if you're stuck on your coaching niche, grab a Nail Your Niche Strategy Session with Rhonda here.

Also mentioned, episode 80 called Competition, Comparison and Shame in the Field of Coaching.

The upside of talking about shame is that once you acknowledge it you can quickly realize what has triggered it and let it go.

A new coach in my VIP program — I’ll call her Barbara — got caught in a shame spiral because she wasn’t meeting up to some big expectations that she had for herself.

I’m so grateful to Barbara for giving me permission to share some of our discussion in this episode.

When you are willing to show your vulnerability with your coaching colleagues, that helps everyone become more successful at this big coaching business endeavor.

We coached through it and came to an important realization:

Shame rises up whenever you’re doing something that you care deeply about that you haven’t done before.

Let’s talk about the typical way for coaches that shame snowballs into something ugly and leaves you feeling stuck. I’ll also share how you can quickly get unstuck and move forward powerfully.

• Rhonda Hess helps new coaches leverage their zone of genius into a profitable coaching niche and launch with confidence.
• For VIP step-by-step support apply for Rhonda's VIP Coaching Business Breakthrough Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you a discovery call.
• Or if you're stuck on your coaching niche, grab a Nail Your Niche Strategy Session with Rhonda here.

Find the full transcript for this episode and more resources for coaches at prosperouscoach.com/267.

Other episodes mentioned in this one:
161,58, 60, and 5

Many coaches think: “I’m new at this and need to gain experience. I will raise my prices later.” But many wait too late to save themselves. Don’t let this be you.

Are you waiting for some abstract sense of worthiness before you price enough to keep yourself in business? 

Maybe you thought: “Lower pricing will help me get more clients in the long run.”

I thought that too once, but I know for sure that the opposite is true. You will have to market far more than you are willing if you keep your pricing in student mode. 

There is a lot of shadow about pricing your services in a way that cannot possibly sustain you or keep you in business. It is a form of self-sabotage. It’s time to align your money mindset with your coaching career goals. 

Let’s do some breakthrough thinking, dissolve the typical limiting beliefs so you can be smart about your pricing from now on — no matter how long you’ve been a coach.

• Rhonda Hess helps new coaches leverage their zone of genius into a profitable coaching niche and launch with confidence.
• For VIP step-by-step support apply for Rhonda's VIP Coaching Business Breakthrough Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you a discovery call.
• Or if you're stuck on your coaching niche, grab a Nail Your Niche Strategy Session with Rhonda here.

Find the full transcript of Episode 266 and other resources for coaches at prosperouscoach.com/266. It is a LISTENER'S CHOICE episode because it is super popular with coaches already.

Also mentioned in this episode:
Nail Your Niche session with Rhonda
Episodes: 140,  99,  7,  108 and 57

When coaches grab a Nail Your Niche Session with me and then ask: "Is this a good coaching niche?" What they really want to know but don’t know to ask is:

Will focusing my energy this way repay me with a consistent flow of clients who are willing to invest?

That's the 6-figure question.

A strategically determined coaching niche is the linch pin for your financial success as a coach. Without that direction and focus your messages and offers will be vague and won’t capture attention. Which means you won’t have that consistent flow of paying clients.

A profitable coaching niche helps you to:

• Quickly become a coach in high demand through momentum.
• Leverage your efforts and contextualize your messages and offers, instead of being all over the place.
• Command higher fees.

Test the financial viability of your current coaching niche with these 5 powerful questions.

• Rhonda Hess helps new coaches leverage their zone of genius into a profitable coaching niche and launch with confidence.
• For VIP step-by-step support apply for Rhonda's VIP Coaching Business Breakthrough Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you a discovery call.
• Or if you're stuck on your coaching niche, grab a Nail Your Niche Strategy Session with Rhonda here.

Episode 265 is about what you can do to breakthrough. There are shifts in perspective needed. Find the full transcript with more resources for coaches at prosperouscoach.com/265.

Other episodes and resources mentioned:  247,  258,  and 79.
Download my free niching guide.

In my first session with a new VIP client, something wonderful happened ... another coach chose their smart niche!

This coach is a highly intelligent person with tons of coaching experience in corporations and coaching firms. Their list of degrees and credentials is impressive and they speak multiple languages!

They are articulate, self-aware and operate with integrity.

I tell you all this because — even with all those assets — the coach started by telling me: “I’ve been stuck wanting to start my coaching business for 2 years but couldn’t figure out my niche!”

Yep. That’s not at all unusual. Coaches are often held back for years because they won’t choose a niche.

The #1 reason? FEAR. It can stop you in your tracks, if you let it. Here's how to stop that.

• Rhonda Hess helps new coaches leverage their zone of genius into a profitable coaching niche and launch with confidence.
• For VIP step-by-step support apply for Rhonda's VIP Coaching Business Breakthrough Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you a discovery call.
• Or if you're stuck on your coaching niche, grab a Nail Your Niche Strategy Session with Rhonda here.

Find the full episode and more resources for coaches at prosperouscoach.com/264.

If you’ve come to coaching after working for someone else — maybe for decades — it’s a huge shift to have your own solo business.

Suddenly, you are completely autonomous. You make all the decisions. No one is expecting you at work. No one will tell you what to do or how to do it. No one but you can hold you accountable for your actions.

That can be terrifying! And it’s liberating. But it requires a big adjustment in the way you think and the rhythm of your work. 

These are things not widely talked about in the how-to’s out there that can make a big difference to your anxiety levels as a coach, your happiness in the work and your tangible results. 

I’ve discovered a little secret … a habit really … that helped me to stop doing, doing, doing for my coaching business in a mindless way. And, anyone can do this. It’s a business saver.

• Rhonda Hess helps new coaches leverage their zone of genius into a profitable coaching niche and launch with confidence.
• For VIP step-by-step support apply for Rhonda's VIP Coaching Business Breakthrough Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you a discovery call.
• Or if you're stuck on your coaching niche, grab a Nail Your Niche Strategy Session with Rhonda here.

Find the full episode at prosperouscoach.com/263 and grab your Nail Your Niche strategy session so you can start experiencing all 12 advantages.

93% of new coaches say their biggest problem is not knowing their niche or how to attract paying clients. They are related. 

Some say let your niche find you. Float around and coach all sorts of people about any topic. You love the process and just want to coach. I get it. 

If you aren’t ready to become an entrepreneur and earn well at coaching that is a good approach. 

But if you want to leave your current job and make coaching your new career and if you're serious about being your own boss from now on … give yourself ALL the advantages by niching in a smart and profitable way. 

That single decision will empower you for long term success with exciting opportunities you can't even imagine yet. There are 12 huge advantages to a smart niche. 

I’m talking about your life getting easier because you make one smart choice and stick with it … 

• Rhonda Hess helps new coaches leverage their zone of genius into a profitable coaching niche and launch with confidence.
• For VIP step-by-step support apply for Rhonda's VIP Coaching Business Breakthrough Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you a discovery call.
• Or if you're stuck on your coaching niche, grab a Nail Your Niche Strategy Session with Rhonda here.

This episode is a Listener's Choice episode because it's been popular with coaches already so I'm replaying it for you with a bit of updating.

Find the full transcript and other resources for coaches at ProsperousCoach.com/262.
Episodes also mentioned in this episode are #14 and #28.

Business startup requires deep reserves of patience and endurance. It’s not easy.  

Grit, determination, discipline and belief in self — all those life skills that might not be your strengths yet are what you need to build to keep your momentum going.

The only way to get those skills is to master your mindset and habits.

If you do learn to master those things, you will be amazed at what it brings you. Not just income, not just great clients and coaching experiences, but the joy of respecting yourself.

Getting your coaching business established and working for you absolutely requires you to believe it WILL happen — even when there’s evidence to the contrary.

Remember … the whole point of faith is that it’s there even in the absence of proof.

• Rhonda Hess helps new coaches leverage their zone of genius into a profitable coaching niche and launch with confidence.
• For VIP step-by-step support apply for Rhonda's VIP Coaching Business Breakthrough Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you a discovery call.
• Or if you're stuck on your coaching niche, grab a Nail Your Niche Strategy Session with Rhonda here.

Find this episode and more resources for coaches who are serious about their success at prosperouscoach.com/261.

Also linked to in this episode are Coach Training Alliance and Episodes 65, 75, 258, 125, 218, 60, and 223.

New coaches often go looking at other coach’s websites and become worried … is coaching too saturated? Should I be more like this coach?

And, some of the sites seem like ghost towns. The content is clearly not current or there are out of date events, which can seem even scarier. You might be thinking … what happened to this coach? Will I flame out too?

So, look, just like all entrepreneurial pursuits, many coaching businesses don’t make it.

It’s definitely not because the coaching field is too saturated. There is plenty of room for you! 

More likely it’s because the coach lacked determination and didn’t do enough to stand out in the crowd, which is critical in this marketplace.

Building and sustaining a coaching business is a creative feat. And, you can do it! 

Let’s look at 10 specific things you can do right now and keep doing that will make all the difference and help you become a coach in high demand faster.

• Rhonda Hess helps new coaches leverage their zone of genius into a profitable coaching niche and launch with confidence.
• For VIP step-by-step support apply for Rhonda's VIP Coaching Business Breakthrough Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you a discovery call.
• Or if you're stuck on your coaching niche, grab a Nail Your Niche Strategy Session with Rhonda here.

Find the full episode and other resources for coaches at prosperouscoach.com/260.

Apply here to hire Rhonda Hess at Prosperous Coach for private VIP coaching business mentoring.

***
Where do you fall in the spectrum of going it alone versus getting valuable support to succeed in your coaching business?

For some people taking no counsel is a matter of pride. Others have the privilege and perspective that anything worth doing is done better with expert support.

I waffled between postponing my success by being a loner and wasting money on tactical group training like how to do email marketing and how to create an online training program. 

Coaches spend so much money on these group and online programs without the payoff. It comes down to two things missing — not having enough foundation for these tactics to work and not receiving enough private support. 

Is private support to build your coaching business worth it? What are the right reasons to hire a business mentor? Let’s explore this.

• Rhonda Hess helps new coaches leverage their zone of genius into a profitable coaching niche and launch with confidence.
• For VIP step-by-step support apply for Rhonda's VIP Coaching Business Breakthrough Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you a discovery call.
• Or if you're stuck on your coaching niche, grab a Nail Your Niche Strategy Session with Rhonda here.

Two years into coaching, I was commiserating with another new coach. Most of our clients only invested in 3 months of coaching. That meant we were in a constant state of chasing clients.

We were clueless about how to find more coaching clients. All the low hanging fruit had been picked — colleagues, friends, and friends of friends. You too?

I’d had a sample coaching session with them all, which was part of the problem. Those who enrolled didn’t perceive the long-term value of coaching. 

I still hear coaches say:

Where are the clients who get the value of coaching enough to invest in it?

Chasing coaching clients instead of attracting them has to do with:

1.     What you’re selling.

2.     How you’re selling.

3.     How you think about what you’re selling. 

Let’s dig into this ...

• Rhonda Hess helps new coaches leverage their zone of genius into a profitable coaching niche and launch with confidence.
• For VIP step-by-step support apply for Rhonda's VIP Coaching Business Breakthrough Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you a discovery call.
• Or if you're stuck on your coaching niche, grab a Nail Your Niche Strategy Session with Rhonda here.

What is the success factor? Is it learned or innate?

In this episode, I share my theory and 5 powerful questions to test the success factor. Find the full episode and resources for coaches at prosperouscoach.com/258.

Being a small business owner is a territory for heroes where you can grow into your full potential. You will positively affect more lives than you know with your coaching.

Still, growing a successful coaching business takes sustained effort. You will work your butt off and be all the better for it!

Recently, I had a walk and talk with one of my past VIP clients, who has thrived in her business for 6 impressive years so far. A shout out of congratulations to you, Shawna!

We were musing … why do some coaches succeed in business and others do not? After working with coaches for two decades, I have a theory about the right stuff to thrive long term in your coaching business.

• Rhonda Hess helps new coaches leverage their zone of genius into a profitable coaching niche and launch with confidence.
• For VIP step-by-step support apply for Rhonda's VIP Coaching Business Breakthrough Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you a discovery call.
• Or if you're stuck on your coaching niche, grab a Nail Your Niche Strategy Session with Rhonda here.

Find the full transcript for this episode and more resources for coaches at prosperouscoach.com/257.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with coaches living in 16 different countries. It’s been a delightful and culturally expanding experience with each one.

Have you ever thought about serving international clients in your coaching business?

Most often, new coaches are not thinking about that possibility because, at the moment, they just want to attract any client they can get!

But once they land on their ideal target audience and niche, they start blue sky dreaming in ways not previously imagined. The idea of an international clientele becomes more appealing.

And, there’s one big reason why that’s a strategic choice, which I’ll explain.

Plus, there are other reasons for opening your business to cross border clients and a few challenges as well. Only one is a deal breaker in my mind. The rest can be managed in partnership with your client.

Let’s explore whether having an international business is right for you. 

• Rhonda Hess helps new coaches leverage their zone of genius into a profitable coaching niche and launch with confidence.
• For VIP step-by-step support apply for Rhonda's VIP Coaching Business Breakthrough Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you a discovery call.
• Or if you're stuck on your coaching niche, grab a Nail Your Niche Strategy Session with Rhonda here.

This episode is a Listener's Choice episode because it was popular with coaches before and I don't want you to miss it!

Recently,  one of my VIP clients asked me to share the #1 lesson I’ve learned in my 20 years of running my coaching business. Find the full transcript for this episode and more resources for coaches at prosperouscoach.com/256.

I have a feeling you’re going to be surprised by my answer … the best lesson boils down to LESS IS MORE.

It took me a long time to learn this lesson. Now that I have integrated it fully into my business and coaching mindset and habits I see the real power of this lesson. It applies to so much, not only in business but other aspects of life. It's about ease and happiness as well as earning well.

And I’m so grateful to the experienced coaches and business owners who shared this wisdom with me long ago. 

I'll share 4 ways that less means more for your coaching business. 

• Rhonda Hess helps new coaches leverage their zone of genius into a profitable coaching niche and launch with confidence.
• For VIP step-by-step support apply for Rhonda's VIP Coaching Business Breakthrough Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you a discovery call.
• Or if you're stuck on your coaching niche, grab a Nail Your Niche Strategy Session with Rhonda here.

Print out these 5 ways to ensure a healthy relationship between a coach and client.

What do you do when a client comes to a session resistant, as if their arms are folded across their chest? Coaching seems to bounce off them. 

Or worse they seem to have the expectation that you’ll fix or figure out things for them, but aren’t willing to be part of the solution. What’s going on there?

It might be about power dynamics and, specifically, the power that is perceived by the client about the coach and the coach about the client.

For coaching to happen, both coach and client must show up creative, resourceful and whole. In other words, standing firmly in their personal power, rather than deflated or inflated.

Perceived personal power can dramatically affect how safe, effective and enjoyable the coaching relationship feels to both coach and client.

I’ll share 5 things you can do to support a healthy coaching relationship.

• Rhonda Hess helps new coaches leverage their zone of genius into a profitable coaching niche and launch with confidence.
• For VIP step-by-step support apply for Rhonda's VIP Coaching Business Breakthrough Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you a discovery call.
• Or if you're stuck on your coaching niche, grab a Nail Your Niche Strategy Session with Rhonda here.