I’ve been building my health coaching practice since 2020 and have invested tens of thousands of dollars into various business programs and 1:1 coaches.
Since becoming a coach, I haven’t been without my own coach. At the beginning of my journey I got into $30,000 of debt, which I’m still pulling myself out of, because I threw money at (almost) anyone who claimed they could help me. There were numerous months I saw multiple coaches each week, sometimes 4, while at the same time taking courses that also offered group coaching. I’ve learned quite a bit about what works for me and what doesn’t, and I’m hoping some of my lessons can help you too.
Lesson 1: Invest with Discernment. As an early business owner, I was hungry to succeed, so I’ve had to learn to monitor my emotions before I invest. Every year was deemed the year “I’d make it!” Anytime I resonated with a coach or program, I paid for it with my credit card immediately. I gave my power away to each coach or course that I thought would make me successful. The truth is that only I can make myself successful, resources only help.
People are good at selling themselves, and I was an easy sale, so I’ve had to learn discernment. If I resonate with a program, I sleep on it for days or weeks; I look to see where that kind of information is already available to me (such as previously purchased programs or even YouTube); I check myself to see if I’d be giving my power away to the program or if I’d be using it strictly as a resource.
Surges of excitement diminish after a little time, so I now wait until the initial excitement of exposure to an offer wears off and I can think clearly. This alone has saved me thousands of dollars. And just because I say no to something right now doesn’t mean I can’t reexamine my decision later when I might have more funds to invest, or when I’m at a more aligned place in my business to invest- for example, I have no need to enroll in a program to scale my business when I only have a few clients.
Because I was enrolled in so many programs at once, I constantly heard conflicting information. One coach told me to cold message 50 people a day, but another said not to because it comes off as desperate. For that, I say listen to your gut. I’ve learned that cold messaging isn’t for me right now, but it works for others, and that’s OK.
Which leads to Lesson 2…
Lesson 2: Honor Your Business. You’ll witness tons of opposing strategies in the business world. The thing is, nobody has your business or your soul. You don’t have to try or continue strategies that scream “NO!” in your heart. You are your business’ best advocate.
This lesson includes honoring the soul of your business. Take a moment to think about yourself. What qualities make you you? Do you have fierce energy, or slow and nurturing energy (or both depending on the situation); are you sarcastic or 1900’s proper; are you a prankster and love humor; do you love to discuss politics?
Now think about the qualities of your business. What’s the purpose of your business? Does it entertain? Does it heal people or animals? Does it create art? Does it love big bold branding colors or neutrals? The energy of you and your business could be similar or different.
We’ve all seen perfectly tailored Instagram business accounts with a million followers, but that doesn’t mean you can’t grow your account without being as perfectly curated and organized as a Marie Kondo closet. Personally, my brain doesn’t think like a Marie Kondo closet when it comes to my social media feed, but it does think that way when it comes to my closet.
You don’t don’t have to do things in business just because Instagram Ingrid had success doing it. Your business is your baby, and you wouldn’t mother your tiny human the same exact way someone else would mother theirs because you have your own unique brain, values, qualities, and desires.
Lesson 3: Mindset is Everything. Having awareness of your thoughts is key when you want anything in life, whether it’s a million dollar business, health that keeps you energized and happy, or a fairy-tale relationship.
Scarcity mindset kept me from my desired income for years. The thought “it’s hard for me to get clients” kept me from getting clients. Stay with me here.
When I have a thought of lack, it produces chemicals in my brain that lower my frequency. This might sound woo-woo, but the reality is that everything vibrates at a frequency. I’ve seen many concerts, and leaving a dub-step show never feels as uplifting as leaving a Bob Marley tribute show. Just as music or movies deliver a frequency, so do our thoughts and bodies.
If we keep thought cycles that don’t feel good when we think them, we stay on the frequency of those thoughts.
This is when delusion can come in handy. Instead of “I have no clients,” try on the thought, “my clients are in my orbit right now. Any day can be the day I sign my next one.” To me, the second thought feels much better.
One positive thought can lead to another, and the higher your thoughts vibrate, the higher your frequency vibrates.
A prosperous business vibrates at a high frequency because it’s on the frequency of desire, success, and joy. To get there, you must tune your body everyday. Positive thoughts will be easier some days than others, and that’s alright; we’re all human. But the more you practice higher vibe thoughts, the easier it’ll be to come up from mental spells of negativity.
You are powerful. With your mind alone, you can create your desired reality.