Recently, someone asked me where I came up with the concept of the “working coach.” 

A few years ago, I became obsessed with Hallmark movies and I noticed something interesting. I saw the same actors over and over again in movie after movie. About the same time, I was watching a documentary featuring the actor Chris Pine, star of the 2009 Star Trek series and many more blockbuster hits. He was talking about his father, Robert Pine and how he was a working actor. His dad got up every day and went to a set. One of the roles I knew him most for was playing Sgt. Joe Getraer on CHiPs back in the late 1970s…okay I’m dating myself. All of these actors showed up for work each day, honed their craft and went to work.

As I listened to Chris and looked at his father’s vast acting career, I saw a parallel to the coaching industry. There are many blockbuster coaches that make over $500,000 a year. There are also what I call the working coaches, that get up and work their business every day, day in and day out. AND, they make a very good living doing what they love, serving people and changing lives.

Another group of coaches that I have seen are those that want the money, life and lifestyle of the blockbuster coaches, but haven’t learned to put in the work. They put in less than 15 hours total during the week…most of which is thinking about coaching, working on websites and marketing, not actually coaching. They’re not yet making a living as a coach. Many just aren’t sure how to put together a prosperous coaching practice or haven’t learned the systems to working this like a career.

Becoming a great and prosperous coach should be viewed like any other profession. It takes time to study, to practice, to put in the hours…like a doctor, lawyer, professional athlete. Many people come to coaching because they’re great listeners and have helped their friends and family a lot. They are the go to person for when problems arise.

But making a living as a coach means more than that. First and foremost, it requires personal development, as well as professional development, which is unique to this industry. Part of the work I do with coaches is to understand the part of them that might be holding them back or preventing them from reaching the success they desire and helping them clear those blocks. It’s some of the most rewarding I get to do…helping coaches help more people achieve their dreams.

Coaching is an amazing profession, whether for sports, life or business. And, life and business coaching can prove to be a very lucrative career.

If you’re a coach and you’re not achieving the results you want or making the money you’d like, let’s have a conversation. It may be all you need to jumpstart your career and create a working prosperous practice.