2023 has been my best year ever as a business coach. For the first time since I launched three years ago, I have had a consistent amount of income, and a steady stream of clients. I want to share my journey so far with you today, because I know that many of you are on this path, and often can feel lonely, disheartened or frustrated. Be assured; we all suffer from the startup wobbles, the impostor syndrome, the self-doubt, the lessons – but let’s also celebrate the big wins.
I started my online coaching business in late 2020, in the middle of the pandemic.
Like so many people at the time, I had come to a halt, and wanted a change. I had been a copywriter till then for a couple of years, but I was bored of it, and clients kept canceling projects because of the lockdowns. I signed up for a business course online, and was introduced to the world of coaching. I had never in the world thought of setting myself up as a coach, but something clicked. With my 20+ years of marketing experience in the creative sector, my hands-on experience as a business owner, and my power skills as a copywriter and person who genuinely loves helping people…. it made so much sense. So I launched ‘The Creative Business Coach’.
Don’t make yourself any illusions, though.
Launching an online coaching business is not a walk in the park. If anyone tells you otherwise, they’re lying. The first year wasn’t easy, nor was the second! Getting my first paying coaching client was a fabulous feeling…but then booking a consistent amount of clients throughout the year…ouch, it was hard. But I kept building my brand, writing weekly blog posts, I launched a free online challenge, ran an online group programme (with just four people), kept posting on the socials, kept sharpening and sharing my message. And slowly, slowly, my audience grew. My tribe grew. And Google started to notice me too, bringing me more enquiries.
In the first year, I only had about five paying 1:1 clients.
I charged a very low price for my services, because I was scared to put up my prices. I felt like a complete imposter, despite my 20+ years of experience in marketing AND as an entrepreneur…I had a few clients pay for one-off sessions, and two clients booked me for longer. One client even booked for six months, which was amazing and such a confidence boost! I had my first ever brand photos taken, which felt soooo good!
One of the first selfies I took to look a like an ‘online coach’:
And this is why you should hire a professional photographer!:
My second year, I had growing pains
In the second year, I worked with a business coach, and I really started to grow while also doing a lot of inner work. But, growth comes with pain. Many times during that second year, I felt like giving up! I felt stuck, not good enough, doubted myself, and also tried way too hard during sales calls, thus not getting as many ‘yesses’ as I wanted. It wasn’t easy, and at times I hated running my business without that guaranteed paycheck each month.
I felt like an impostor, not being not good enough, trying too hard during sales calls, feeling utterly lost, feeling alone, hiring support while not actually able to afford it, but growing as a result, doing more inner work, screaming out of frustration and then picking myself up again.
I kept going.
And then, suddenly, during the third year, the wild river started flowing more evenly. More gently. Pennies dropped, things fell into place. I started to feel less like a crazy firefighter and more like a calm leader.
In 2023, I have had a flying start from January. It has been my best year ever as a coach. It was as if the dust had settled, and the consistent building was finally showing results. I eased into my coaching style, as well as into my sales calls, and really, just chose to 100% be myself, an trust in my expertise, energy and abilities. The final quarter blew my mind. I actually had to squeeze myself, saying, blimey, I just booked three high ticket clients in one week…
2023 has been an amazing year for my business. This is the first year I have had a consistent income from coaching. A good income. I am making money doing what I love, and I don’t even work 20 hours a week. Did I just say that out loud?
The journey continues
It’s an ongoing journey, of course, and it requires persistent curiosity and the willingness to try and learn new things every time. But it is enjoyable, and I LOVE seeing the impact I have on my clients. I have helped 24 paying 1:1 clients this year. I have taught hundreds through masterclasses and workshops. I gives me so much energy to help them, inspire them and co-create with them. To watch how they book results and move forward, because I offer them a safe space to grow. That is why I do this work.
I used to hate sales calls and got so nervous beforehand. I don’t anymore. Nowadays, I don’t see them as sales calls, I see them as conversations with like-minded souls. I am 100% myself, and trust my energy and abilities to help them. Over half of them said YES to working with me this year.
Lessons from the past three years…
Have faith.
Your are good enough.
You just need patience, a strategy, and plenty of practice.
It is totally normal to only have a few paying clients in your first year, and still do a job on the side to pay the bills. This says nothing about your worth as a leader or professional, but all about the fact that your audience is still small. Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Be patient. It will happen.
First build your audience. Develop your own unique style, get comfortable with your face and voice on screen, your messaging. Build confidence. Allow yourself to make mistakes. Be gentle with yourself.
Keep learning. Hire support. Read books. Listen to podcasts. Do the inner work. Your business will grow as you grow. Be open. Give yourself permission to sometimes get it wrong. It is OK.
Furthermore: have a clear vision, and take inspired actions. One foot in front of the other.
Don’t rush things. If I can do this, so can you.
And thank you, thank you, thank you, each and every one of you who have supported me or liked stuff on social media or my blog, who have bought from me, attended one of my workshops, or worked with me 1:1. I appreciate you more than you realise.
Will you be my next success story?
