This is the last episode of Prosperous Coach Podcast where Rhonda gets interviewed by Alek Hess.

They talk about:

Why Rhonda decided to retire now and what's next for her.

What Prosperous Coach contributed that was missing in the industry.

What are some of the most meaningful things Rhonda experienced in her business.

What did she STOP doing that made a big difference.

As an introvert how did she make her business work for her.

What became easier over time that she expected to stay difficult.

What wisdom does she wish was passed onto her 30 years ago about the business of coaching.

Prosperous Coach Podcast episodes will remain available through the summer of 2026. Thank YOU for all the support and binge listening over the years!

Stay inspired and make things happen!

Find the FULL TRANSCRIPT for this episode at ProsperousCoach.com/384.

Is there ever a time when a coach gives a client a refund?

YES, and that is guided by your integrity.

Strengthen the intuitive feelings that tell you when something is amiss in your coaching relationships such as

·      Weak or breached boundaries

·      Repetitive communication challenges

These things can be repaired if both you and your client are willing, which are great learning opportunities. Or, it might become clear there’s not a good fit between you and your client.

It’s always YOUR CHOICE if and how you give a refund. We’ll dig into that and more in this episode.

If you haven’t heard it already, I recommend that you listen to Episode 376 called When Coaching Clients Ask for Refunds it’s a Symptom. Find that at ProsperousCoach.com/376.

That episode covers how to proactively PREVENT the likelihood of clients asking for a refund by setting your business up in a professional way.

Find the FULL TRANSCRIPT for this episode and other resources for coaches at ProsperousCoach.com/375.

Other Episodes mentioned:

288 What Inspires People to Invest in Your Coaching?

82 The Mindset Shift That Helps You Charge More with Coaching Clients

271 Inspire Your Coaching Clients to Give You Dynamic Testimonials

359 Do You Really Need More Coach Training?

This episode is super short and inspired by the SABOTEUR in all of us who keeps us from greatness.

You remember Superman — the dude who could do anything and seemed unstoppable except when he encountered Kryptonite. That green crystal weakened Superman so he was powerless.

Your coaching business kryptonite is something you avoid.

It’s the thing that keeps you from your super power.

You want to coach for a living, help people achieve and transform. And you want to earn well at this so you don’t have to work at someone else’s company on someone else’s goals with their rules!

So what’s your kryptonite in your coaching business? It could be something deeply personal and unique to you.

It trips you up time and again. 

I can tell you it’s a great opportunity for you to put your awareness on that thing and evolve.

Your kryptonite could be about 3 things. Let’s dig into that.

Find the full transcript and many more resources for coaches at: https://prosperouscoachblog.com/ep-285-masterful-coaches-rely-on-this-skill/

When a client comes to a session with their agenda, what’s the best way to serve them? 

·      Should you imagine the conversation before hand and plan your approach?

·      Should you take on their emotions and problems as your own?

·      Should you step into performance mode and be the one with the answers?

When I say it like that, it’s obviously a ‘no’, right? But when you’re new to being a coach what are you feeling before a session? Performance anxiety. You feel you should know … everything. 

It’s understandable and it’s counter to what’s really needed for an effective session. Shifting from performance mode into curiosity relieves the pressure. It opens the field to sensations — your own and your clients — and intuition kicks in.

Let's dig into this skill and what it does for you and your coaching clients!

Find the full episode & transcript at prosperouscoach.com/284.

Do you fear the idea of narrowing your coaching audience because you think it excludes people and reduces the chance of enrolling clients?

I will address that. For now, here is what I know for sure …

When you target a narrow, viable audience and discover their big problems then geat everything — your messaging, offers, web copy, social posts — to speak directly to them, everything clicks into place.

1.     You have clarity, pinpointed focus and direction.

2.     You grow confidence, understand your value and believe in yourself.

3.     You have leverage. Everything you do builds momentum.

4.     Your audience feels special so they follow you and ideal clients enroll.

5.     You can become a coach in high demand, charge more and earn more.

Let’s talk about this and relieve the worry about excluding people too.

Find the full transcript and other resources for coaches at prosperouscoach.com/283.

Also mentioned:
Episode 191 - Low Pricing Could Kill Your Coaching Business
Parts Work (a workbook by Tom and Lauri Holmes)

My amazing VIP clients inspired this topic. All of them are highly intelligent people with big hearts who want to make a difference in the world. I’m so honored to help them get there.

I’ve noticed 4 distinct ways they and other coaches sabotage themselves.

The first thing to realize is that these 4 things are human, understandable, forgiveable and can be overcome. They are likely life long habitual patterns so it makes sense they would show up when creating a coaching business.

The second thing to realize is that these 4 things can be massive roadblocks to the things you most want:

·      to coach clients who truly want to be coached

·      a steady income doing coaching

·      your own thriving business

So let’s uncover what these 4 pitfalls are and the simplest way to lift yourself out of them so you can coach, earn well and thrive!

Client service is about the whole customer journey starting with how you market. Satisfaction begins before they hire you and continues after they finish with you.

Let’s talk about 7 ways to satisfy prospects and clients.

And, if you’re having trouble attracting clients, it likely comes down to the wrong strategy or a lack of strategy someplace in the customer journey.

I have a FREE downloadable assessment for you called Coaching Business Checkup to reveal any holes in your strategy so you can do everything more effectively and earn more in your business.

5 other Episodes mentioned in this episode:
#66 How to Describe Your Coaching Program Without Selling Coaching
#149 Three Easy Ways to Stay Organized in Your Coaching Business
#194 The 4 Essential Things in Your Coaching Intake Packet
#255 Are You Right Sized With Your Coaching Clients
#271 Inspire Your Coaching Clients to Give You Dynamic Testimonials

Click for the full episode transcript and more resources, especially for new coaches and also get the free Coaching Business Checkup download.

Other episodes mentioned in this episode:

#1 Target a Viable Audience (Episode 266). You know I talk about this a lot. It’s so critical and so many people step over it or just don’t do it quite thoroughly enough.

#2 Discover Their BIG Acute Problem And Top Goal (Episode 65). So many coaches choose a general or chronic problem for their niche

#3 Develop a Signature System To Reach Their Top Goal (Episode 66). Again, I don’t really believe in just doing so many sessions per month. I believe in developing a program, a structure so that your clients know you know what you’re doing and feel excited about investing more with you.

#4 Design A Simple Business Model (Episode 5). You wouldn’t believe how many coaches step over having a set business model. They don’t really know what it is, and I certainly didn’t when I started.

#5 Create a Positive Customer Journey with Strong Conversion Processes (Episode 236). This involves your website and so much more. You need to be able to think like your future clients

#6 Set Up Enrollment Opportunities and Learn How to Enroll (Episode 52)

#7 Build Trust with a Visibility Strategy (Episode 146) This is the way you’re going to market — the way you’re going to stay in front of your target audience and let them know what you have for them. But, not in a salesy way, instead in a generosity marketing kind of way.

#8 Create a Valuable Customer Experience and Collect Social Proof (Episode 271). This is after they enroll with you. You must be sure that what you are doing feels good to them so you can collect valuable testimonials about what it was like to work with you.

#9 Set Up Internal Systems To Save Time (Episode 34). This is something I didn’t do for a long time and now I’m a systems maven!

#10 Develop High Payoff Action Habits (Episode 223)

Find the full transcript and other resources for coaches at ProsperousCoach.com/180.

You’re trying to write your web copy and trying to figure out exactly what you help your ideal clients accomplish in your Signature Program.

But fears and doubts are clouding your judgment and you are in danger of playing too small in your coaching business, which will cost you.

You are worried about promising too much.

Get ready for a mindset shift!

So first, all new coaches worry about overpromising. But experienced coaches do not. What do you think is going on there? 

It’s certainly NOT because they soft pedaled the specific outcomes they help their clients achieve. Because coaches who stay safe in their messaging will not attract and enroll enough clients to survive in their business.

And it’s NOT because they are lying. You can’t stay in business long as a coach if you don’t operate from integrity. 

So where is the line between what you can promise and what you shouldn’t promise?

Find the full transcript for this episode at prosperouscoach.com/279.

Looking back on my journey as a coach and business owner, I see how emotional intelligence has played a part in my success. I had so much to learn. Still do.

Coach training and coaching clients improves emotional intelligence. Just raising your ability to listen is a first step. Clear communication skills makes for a solid foundation. 

From there add empathy and understanding that everyone is differently abled and complex, coming from different degrees of privilege and disadvantage. 

Self awareness is critical factor in EI — an unflinching understanding of your own strengths, weaknesses, beliefs and motivation.

As a new coach constantly stretched beyond comfort zones, the roller coaster of self doubt and elation can keep you scrambling. Greater emotional intelligence helps.

How can you raise more EI? Let's talk about that!

Find the full transcript and more resources for coaches at ProsperousCoach.com/178.

Episodes and resources mentioned include:
#7 - Why is Coaching a Hard Sell?
#65 - Are You Solving a Big Enough Problem for Your Coaching Clients?
#4 - Feel Less Isolated in Your Coaching Business
Hire a Coaching Business Mentor/Guide

Do you ever have the feeling that people in your inner circle aren’t supporting your choice to grow a coaching business?

It can be subtle … family or friends seem not to take interest when you talk about it. Their eyes glaze over or they change the subject quickly.

Or it can be overt … someone directly questions your wisdom in starting a coaching business or taking a bold step in it.

Or it can be in shadow where someone teases you about coaching. 

Coaching is misunderstood by most people. The field’s reputation has been damaged by too many people calling themselves a coach who aren’t and it’s been made fun of in the media.

It’s one of the reasons why I encourage coaches not to sell coaching but rather target a narrow viable audience and solve a problem. You’ll use your coaching to serve your clients but not try to convince prospects of the value of coaching.

It may be tempting to fit your coaching business into whatever remnant of time you have left in the day.

Look, I get it. You might have kids at home, a full time job, or both. You already have a rhythm of what you do day to day. You know your priorities. Adding a new business to your life is totally disruptive.

And, until you see the proof of your efforts in clients, you may withhold your positive energy.

The truth is, you can't grow a business on fumes. It needs regular care and feeding. It needs some of your mind share!

There's a mindset that goes with that fit-it-into-the-downtime approach. And, it's usually not a conscious one. It's what I call the hobbyist or the perpetual student mindset. 

Let’s talk about how to schedule your time and make the most of that time you have until you can transition into a full time professional coach.

 Find the full transcript and other resources for coaches at ProsperousCoach.com/276.

The other day I was helping one of my VIP clients set her fees for her Signature Program and our conversation inspired this episode. 

Anything having to do with money in your coaching business such as income and fees brings up old emotions: 

1.     Fear of succeeding and failing. 

2.     Insecurity about worth. 

3.     Family or cultural beliefs about money. 

4.     Fear of rejection. 

5.     And, mistaken assumptions about why people buy. 

I always encourage my clients to “do the math” rather than choose fees emotionally or based on erroneous ideas about what the market will bear. 

By becoming somewhat dispassionate and stepping into the practical, coaches can begin to understand how they can help themselves earn well. 

This episode is short and eye opening. 

Find the FULL TRANSCRIPT and other resources for coaches at ProsperousCoach.com/374

Three other episodes related to this one:

#313 Are You Stuck in the New Coach Swirl & Spin?

#340 3 Hacks to Work Less in Your Coaching Business and Get More Done

#359 Coach, Do You Really Need More Training?

https://prosperouscoachblog.com/ep-374-overwhelm-is-a-bad-habit-coaches-need-to-break/

Find the full episode and transcript at ProsperousCoach.com/275.

Also mentioned:
Episode 274 about Signature Programs.

Episode 111, called Smart and Not So Smart Coaching Business Expenses provides a list of likely expenses for you.

Episode 57, which has the "do the math process" called Coach, Is it Time to Give Yourself a Raise? 

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

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?

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. 

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.

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 ...

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 ...

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.

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.

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.

Find the FULL TRANSCRIPT and other resources for coaches at ProsperousCoach.com/373.

Not long ago I was among a group of new coaches who were having an interesting discussion about coaching someone who was un-coachable. 

As the situation was described, I realized the coaching conversation was actually between two friends, not a coach and her client.

A friend was having a rough time and the coach, wanting to help, tried to coach her friend through it. 

It didn’t end well.

And, they concluded the person was un-coachable.

That took me back to an unpleasant memory when I had just graduated from coach training 20+ years ago. Two of my good friends, who were married, were at my house for dinner and they started arguing.

Eager to use my coaching skills, I jumped in to coach them. 

It devolved into losing my friendship for a time. It was a harsh lesson that I clearly needed. And it helped me to understand the ethics of coaching at a deeper level.

Are there situations where it’s okay to coach without a professional coaching relationship? 

Let’s dig in to that.

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.

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.

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 … 

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.

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.

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.

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 ...

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.

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. 

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. 

Find the FULL TRANSCRIPT and more resources for coaches at ProsperousCoach.com/372

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 10 impressive years so far.

We were musing … why do some coaches succeed in business and others do not? 

After working with coaches for 2+ decades, I have a theory about the right stuff to thrive long term in your coaching business.

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.

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.

Find this episode transcript and more resources for coaches at prosperouscoach.com/254.

Are you networking to build connections in your coaching business, yet? If you are, that’s smart.

Networking isn’t just about meeting potential clients, although that can happen. It’s more about having a professional community and leveraging the resource that’s helped businesses thrive for hundreds of years — other business owners.

You can meet centers of influence or an opportunity might find you. I’m lucky that happened for me. Networking can spark long term mutually beneficial connections and referral partners.

If you’re not networking because it’s uncomfortable, I get it. It has been a big challenge for me. And I think most people find networking difficult, but not my guest today ... 

She loves it and will share tips that will take the squirm out of this for you. By the way, she’s a coach!

Would you like to struggle less so you can enjoy all aspects of your coaching business journey? I will share 2 brilliant concepts that I rely on.

Find the transcript for episode 253 and more resources for coaches at prosperouscoach.com/253.

I know that once a coach has strategy in place in their coaching business, success is largely an inner game — your response to challenges and opportunities. It’s perfect territory for deep transformation and … struggle.

Struggling used to be an art form for me.

I came by it honestly. My mother, who grew up during The Great Depression, was a practiced struggler. But, she also made things happen. I inherited both those traits.

Then one day my coaching business mentor said about my habitual struggle: “Everything doesn’t have to be so hard, Rhonda.” Obvious right? But that was a lightbulb moment for me. I began to dismantle my struggling style. Still, at high stress times, it rises up.

Find the full transcript for this episode and other resources for coaches at prosperouscoach.com/252.

Also mentioned Episode 99 - What Coaching Clients Want Vs What You Think They Need.

Not long ago I was among a group of new coaches who were having an interesting discussion about coaching someone who was un-coachable. 

As the situation was described, I realized the coaching conversation was actually between two friends, not a coach and her client. A friend was having a rough time and the coach, wanting to help, tried to coach her friend through it. It didn’t end well and they concluded the person was un-coachable.

That took me back to an unpleasant memory when I had just graduated from coach training 20+ years ago. Two of my good friends, who were married, were at my house for dinner and they started arguing.

Eager to use my coaching skills, I jumped in to coach them. It devolved into losing my friendship for a time. It was a harsh lesson that I clearly needed. And it helped me to understand the ethics of coaching at a deeper level.

Are there situations where it’s okay to coach without a professional coaching relationship? Let’s dig in to that.

In this episode I share details about a coaching session I had with a coach where her money mindset shifted. Find the full transcript and more resources for coaches at prosperouscoach.com/251.

Also mentioned Episode 82 about the mindset "ACT AS IF".

How is your money mindset, Coach?

A healthy money mindset is a make it or break it thing in coaching business success — especially when it comes to confidently asking for money from potential clients.

It’s fascinating because it doesn’t matter if a coach had a high-powered job before, how much money they earned, how many certifications or degrees they have, or even how confident they appear — I hear the same admission from coaches …

“I’m afraid to ask for money!”

I felt the same way until I made some mindset shifts. I now know how to attract clients in a non-salesy way. And also, I’ve discovered the power of investing in one’s future.

Find the full transcript of this episode, which you might want to print out, at prosperouscoach.com/250.

If you are putting yourself out there as a life coach and talking about life coaching on your website and on socials, you may face some or all of these common challenges:

•   Potential coaching clients have trouble justifying your fees.

•   You aren’t earning enough to even cover your costs.

•   Your friends and family don’t really understand what you do.

•   You're getting too few referrals.

•   Your groups don’t fill.

•   Networking isn't working.

•   Your social posts about life coaching topics don’t get much traction.

I hear these complaints from new coaches all the time. And, I always encourage them to refine and pivot instead of quitting.

Let’s look at these 7 challenges as symptoms of one root cause — it may surprise you what it is and also be a big ‘aha’ that helps you realize there’s nothing wrong with you or your coaching. It’s something else.

Find the full transcript for this episode and more helpful resources for coaches at prosperouscoach.com/249.

Also mentioned:
Episode 184 – How to Charge More for Your Coaching
Episode 191 – Low Pricing Could Kill Your Coaching Business

Initially I thought being a professional coach would be like being a therapist. People would find me in listings or by referral, keep buying sessions for years, and refer friends. A few years in, no coach I knew had a business like that. It set me to studying successful coaches.

Now, I like to test a coaching niche idea and see if it has “legs”. The coaches I work with look for confirmation in 2 ways:

1.     Their chosen audience is viable — actively seeking solutions and willing to invest in resources.

2.     Their niche is designed to fit their audience’s stated big goals and the problems in the way.

This keeps my clients from coaching niche mistakes that would slow them down. It sets them on a confident path.

Did you test your coaching niche before creating your website and putting out content on the socials? It’s never too late.

Find the full transcript for this episode and other resources for coaches at prosperouscoach.com/248.

When you need it most, confidence is elusive. As a new coach, you are on a roller coaster of fear, excitement and overwhelm with imposter syndrome always in your face. I know that place!

One of my current clients is in the Market Research phase of developing her coaching business, which will assist every aspect of her business — from writing the most compelling web copy and determining the milestones of her signature program, to exactly how she'll market every day. 

I'm so proud of her for diving in to do the interviews even though I could tell she was initially afraid. I was totally confident in her abilities. Which is easy for me, right?

See, she had no basis yet for confidence on that project. 

And that’s what you need to know first … you cannot have confidence about something you’ve never done before, but you can have courage.

Courage is even better than confidence. It can take you anywhere you want to go!

Find the full transcript and other resources for coaches at prosperouscoach.com/247.

Nail Your Niche - 90 minute strategy session with Rhonda Hess

Also mentioned, Sofia von Celsing, coach to high achieving women leaders.

Why do some coaching niches never pay off?

Coaches, with their big hearts, tend to focus on what their audience NEEDS. But I found out through trial and error that marketing a coaching niche that focuses around needs rarely results in enough clients or income. And I think coaching around needs can wander extremely close to therapy.

People buy support to get what they need from known resources like therapists or doctors.

Coaches that focus their niche, marketing and offers around what their specific audience WANTS —their BIG goals and the BIG problems in that way of achieving those goals — will get more traction, attract more clients and earn more. And by the way — those are things you want.

Another reason why certain coaching niches fail is that not all target audiences are viable — by that I mean the audience is easy to access, full of seekers and eager to evolve. Let’s dig into that and I’ll have lots of examples for you.

Find the full transcript for this episode and more resources for coaches at prosperouscoach.com/246.

Also mentioned 5-month VIP Coaching Business Breakthrough mentoring program with Rhonda Hess, Business Mentor for Coaches.

My coaching business was my first foray into entrepreneurship after 20 years in corporate roles. Talk about an identity crisis! Okay, let’s reframe that to a chance to blossom and mature. ; )

Many of my clients are in the same place making that transition from employee to full time coaching.

It’s going to require some recalibration of your mindset and reorientation to your responsibilities.

Think of it like a makeover. 

You uncover parts of yourself that have been buried under a persona you felt was necessary for your corporate job. You can help those parts to find their voice. It is hugely empowering to bring more of your authentic self to your business. 

The good news is that your identity is more fluid and innate than you might think. Plus, all of your core values, talents and skills can come with you into your business. 

It will take courage and patience. You’ve got loads of that and you don’t have to make this identity transition alone.

Find the FULL TRANSCRIPT plus resources for coaches at ProsperousCoach.com/371.

Also mentioned, Rhonda's Nail Your Niche session and her 5-month VIP Mentoring Program for coaches.

*****

What’s your coaching website done for you lately?

Does it help you enroll ideal clients or just sit there collecting cyber-dust?

Most first websites are duds. They’re just online brochures all about the coach and coaching with no mention of the audience, only a list of all the ways the coach can help anyone.

That’s because the website was created before the coach:

·       Chose a viable target audience to serve

·       Knows the big problems that cause them to seek answers, and

·       Writes trust-building copy informed by research (and I don’t mean AI!)

Web designers will gladly create a pretty and trendy website but nothing much comes of it. THEY don’t know YOUR audience.

My first 2 coaching websites were like that. 

Your second site can be far better than mine!

In this episode, I'll take you on a journey through a client-winning website, what it can do and what you cannot expect it to do on its own.

Interview with Nancy Fournier Ph.D. who has a powerful coaching niche serving women Executive Directors of nonprofits. Find the full transcript here.

Nancy shares her wisdom, challenges and joys one month after coaching business launch of  Relish Your Role for women executive directors of nonprofits — an excellent niche! Also, Nancy has a podcast of the same name Relish Your Role for women Executive Directors of nonprofits. So share that out!

She also shares how she found me, why she hired me and what specifically she got of value from my 5-month VIP Coaching Business Breakthrough program. I'd love to work with YOU!

It's worth the listen!

Find the full transcript for this episode and other resources for coaches at prosperouscoach.com/244.

Also mentioned:
Episode 243 about how to prevent refund requests 
Fill out the application to work with me in my VIP mentoring program for coaches.

In my first year of helping coaches to build their coaching business, one of my clients asked for a full refund after I spent 6 months of private work with her. I was floored and had not seen this coming!

I found out later that she had asked for a full refund from her coaching training school as well and I knew that this was really about her needing money.

I had a phone conversation with her and told her that I couldn’t in good conscience refund her because I had already given her my time and her post program results were her responsibility — something I could not control. 

But she threatened to complain to Visa, Better Business Bureau and PayPal, so I gave her a full refund to remove those threats. 

I thought it was just as well that she wouldn’t be a coach. And, I felt compassion that her financial straits were such that she was searching for money.

I will never again give a full refund for time that I already spent one on one with a client unless my integrity is clear that I should.

Find the full transcript for this episode and other resources for coaches, including ways to work privately with me, at prosperouscoach.com/243.

Episodes mentioned in this episode about different angles for getting better results with Discovery Calls enrolling coaching clients:
162
198
217
241
242

A coach emailed me asking for an episode about refunds and money-back guarantees for coaching. The person didn’t share their name. A shout out to you!

I love requests for episode topics. Contact me through my website anytime. And before you do … search for topics there from my 8 years of blogging and 5 years of podcasting to find tips and insights quickly. There are few things I haven’t already covered before. Refunds is one of them.

Refunds are not a fun thing about running a coaching business but they don’t have to be painful either.

I’ll cover in this episode a set of things you can do right now, in advance of any request for a refund including all the ways to stop requests from ever happening. 

And I’ll cover in Episode 244 — the next one — when you need a refund policy or guarantee, how you can respond to a request for a refund in different circumstances and what to say.