When I started coaching I had no program, no business card, no website, nothing in writing. I did have a stack of note paper, a couple pens, an old school white board and a new set of $4.99 white board markers complete with an eraser.

I’ve made a lot of adjustments along the way. Some because I wanted to….MOST because I had to, or I was about to make a big mess of things.

We are passionate beings…us coaches, we are. It’s ok that we get started and pack our day with clients.  We can figure it out along the way. The passion will carry us forward.

There will come a time when key points of your practice will need to be tuned up or it will start to fall apart. So here are 5 critical areas to look at today.

1. Trying to Help Everyone - Vague niche → diluted message → no traction.

Mistake: Casting too wide a net. They think, “I can help anyone!”
Why it hurts: This waters down their message, confuses their audience, and makes them invisible in a crowded market.
Fix: Get ultra-clear on your niche. Who are you really here to help? Speak to their problems like you're reading their mind.

Solution:

• Get specific. Ask: “What kind of person am I most excited to help, and what are they struggling with right now?”

• Interview your ideal clients. Listen to their words. Use their exact language in your content.

• Create a "Who I Help" statement:
  “I help [specific type of person] overcome [specific problem] so they can [desired result].”

• Example: “I help new moms who feel lost and overwhelmed rediscover their confidence and purpose through intuitive coaching.”

2. Undercharging or Working for Free - Low prices → exhaustion and resentment.

Mistake: Giving away sessions or charging too little out of guilt or imposter syndrome.
Why it hurts: It creates burnout, attracts the wrong clients, and delays their ability to grow sustainably.
Fix: Charge based on value and transformation, not hours. People pay for results, not time.

Solution:

• Do a transformation inventory: List out all the benefits/results your clients gain from working with you.

• Create a Signature Offer that focuses on the result (not just sessions).
  Example: “8-week Confidence Reset for Empathic Entrepreneurs”

• Practice saying your price out loud until it feels normal. Price your offer based on its value, not your fear.

• Bonus tip: Start with a beta group at a modest price for testimonials, then raise your rates as confidence grows.

3. Avoiding Sales and Marketing - No visibility = no clients.

Mistake: Waiting for referrals or hoping people “just find them.”
Why it hurts: No one knows they exist. Coaching is a relationship business, and relationships don’t form in hiding.
Fix: Learn heart-centered marketing and authentic sales. Think of sales as service, not pressure.

Solution:

• Reframe sales as an act of service. You’re offering a solution to a real problem.

• Create a simple, repeatable discovery session script that listens deeply and invites action.

• Pick one social platform and show up consistently—don’t try to be everywhere. Focus on connection, not perfection.

• Use this weekly rhythm:

  • 2 teaching posts (show your expertise)

  • 1 story post (show your heart)

  • 1 invitation (DM or CTA for discovery call)

4. Skipping Structure and Systems - Winging it → chaos → burnout.

Mistake: Running everything from memory, winging appointments, no client onboarding, no plan.
Why it hurts: It creates chaos, stress, and an unprofessional vibe that repels high-paying clients.
Fix: Create repeatable systems—like an intake form, session structure, follow-up plan, and content calendar.

Solution:

• Use a digital calendar with automatic reminders (Calendly, Acuity).

• Have an intake form and welcome email for new clients (Google Form or Typeform works great).

• Outline a simple session flow:

  • Check-in (5 min)

  • Explore issue (15 min)

  • Offer insight/exercise (20 min)

  • Action plan + accountability (15 min)

  • Close with encouragement (5 min)

• Create a spreadsheet to track where each client is in their journey.

5. Not Working on Your Own Inner World - Unhealed stuff leaks into coaching.

Mistake: Focusing so much on clients that they neglect their own growth, healing, and blind spots.
Why it hurts: Their confidence wobbles, they attract difficult clients, and they eventually crash.
Fix: Invest in your own coaching, mentorship, or healing. Your business grows as you grow.

Solution:

• Have your own coach, therapist, or mentor. Ongoing support keeps your foundation strong.

• Block off time each week for personal growth. That might include journaling, self-coaching, meditation, or studying.

• Notice your triggers. Ask: “What am I learning about myself here?” rather than avoiding discomfort.

• Join a community of coaches so you’re not doing it alone and can normalize the emotional ups and downs of this work.

“The best fisherman I know try not to make the same mistakes over and over again; instead, they strive to make new and interesting mistakes and to remember what they learned from them.” 

- John Gierach

I love to fish.

The key to catching fish is the willingness to adjust…and to keep adjusting until you find out what’s catching them.

If you and I went fishing…you would see me make adjustments throughout the day.

The other thing that you would experience….is YOU catching fish.

Those top 5 mistakes that need to be adjusted……get after it and make those adjustments. I want to see you still coaching years from now. The world needs coaches who are set up to succeed. God knows people who are praying…and many times…we as coaches get sent to that person as an answer to their prayer.

I believe you are meant to be great at this work! If there is anything that I can do to help you on your journey, message me at [email protected]

Stronger ~ Lighter ~ Smarter,
Kirk

19+ years - Seminars / Coaching
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Coach Kirk