Hi

Just before Christmas my partner and I did a James Bond marathon (only the latest ones with Daniel Craig). The soundtrack for Spectre has a verse that caught my attention. It asks: If I risk it all, could you break my fall?

This question stuck with me for a while, because this is what some of my clients essentially ask me. They want to leave their jobs to start a coaching business and they want a guarantee that they won’t metaphorically break their necks in the process.

I can’t guarantee they won’t get hurt. The world of business is an adventurous one and the path to entrepreneurship is not without thorns. It’s also different for everyone. What doesn’t touch me might hurt other people and vice versa.

What I can guarantee is that I will:

• Be open about the mistakes I’ve made so they don’t have to repeat them
• Share what I know about building a business to shorten their learning curve
• Help them overcome the mental blocks that prevent them from advancing their business
• Act as a trusted advisor and strategic business partner for them
• Kick their butt when needed (lovingly, of course 😊)
• Be there as a sounding board and support pillar

Sometimes we may be tempted to make promises we can’t keep only to close the deal. The way you start the relationship with a client will set the tone for the entire coaching engagement and setting clear and realistic expectations is an aspect you cannot afford to ignore.

We need to make sure we don’t break yourselves in an attempt to break their fall.

Stay safe and whole and we’ll talk soon.

Alisa