A Foolproof Guide to Failing Miserably at Your Coaching Business

Let’s be honest. We’re all a bit tired of the “10 Steps to Success” newsletters that flood our inboxes every Monday. They’re great, but sometimes a little a dose of reality can be more powerful.

So, today, let’s flip the script. Instead of telling you how to win, I’m going to give you the ultimate, surefire guide to failing at your new coaching business. Follow these steps precisely, and you’ll be back at your old 9-to-5, nursing a lukewarm coffee, in no time.

Step 1: Go It Alone (The “Lone Wolf” Method)

This is the most critical step. Your first instinct might be to find a mentor, join a mastermind, or hire a coach. Ignore it completely.

Think of it this way: You’re an expert at helping others, so you must be an expert at helping yourself, right? The world of coaching is a solo sport. You don’t need anyone to show you the ropes, hold you accountable, or talk you off the ledge when your first client cancels. You’re a coach, after all. You’ve got this.

Why bother with a mentor who has already navigated the same pitfalls? That’s for other people. You’re a lone wolf. You’re an island. Embrace the isolation.

When you inevitably hit a wall, get stuck on a difficult client case, or find yourself paralysed by imposter syndrome, just sit with it. Don’t ask for help. Don’t risk looking weak. The less you talk to other coaches, the more unique your problems will feel. This will make it much harder to solve them, which is exactly the point.

For those who want to avoid the ‘lone wolf’ approach, we do have free coaching available with our expert coaches – https://coachora.com/book/

Step 2: Mindset? What Mindset?

I know, I know. You’ve heard this a thousand times. But if you’re serious about failing, you need to ignore every piece of advice about working on your mindset.

Confidence is something you either have or you don’t. You can’t cultivate it. You can’t build it. You just have to wait for it to magically appear one morning. Until then, let those limiting beliefs fester. Listen to the little voice that says you’re not good enough, that you don’t have enough experience, or that your friends are just being nice when they say you’re a natural.

So, every time a client says no, take it personally. Every time a marketing idea falls flat, tell yourself it’s because you’re a fraud. Let these small setbacks snowball into a mountain of doubt. After all, if you don’t believe you can succeed, why would anyone else?

Step 3: Be a Ghost in the Machine

Want to be an invisible, forgettable coach? Great! Don’t bother with branding or marketing.

Branding is just for big corporations, right? A logo, a color palette, and a clear message are just a waste of time. Your skills are what matter. People will find you simply because you’re a great coach. Or not. But that’s not your problem.

Why define your niche? Why decide who you help? Everyone needs a coach, so why limit yourself? Cast a wide net. Become the “coach for everyone.” When someone asks what you do, just say, “I’m a life coach.” Watch their eyes glaze over. Perfect.

Step 4: Act Like Your Coaching is a Hobby, Not a Business

Let’s talk about sales. Or, better yet, let’s not. Selling your services feels…icky. It’s pushy. It’s inauthentic. It’s so much easier to just talk about your services in a vague, passive way.

Never, ever make a clear offer. Don’t tell people what it costs. Don’t ask them to work with you. Just sprinkle hints about your availability and hope they do the rest.

If someone asks about your pricing, mumble something about a “free consultation” and promise to “send over more details later.” Never follow up. It’s their job to chase you down, right? You’re a coach, not a used car salesman.

Step 5: Demand Overnight Success

This is the final nail in the coffin. You’ve launched your business. You’ve told a few friends. You’ve posted on social media once. Now, wait for the flood of clients to beat down your door.

It’s been a month, and you only have one paying client? What a failure. You must not be cut out for this. Don’t bother with building a proper business foundation, creating lead magnets, or nurturing an audience. That takes time. You’re a coach. You should have instant success. It’s a sign that you’re just not good enough.

Building a successful coaching business isn’t a sprint. It’s a marathon. But if you want to fail, treat it like a 50-meter dash. When you don’t cross the finish line in a few seconds, get disheartened and give up.

So there you have it: the perfect recipe for failure.

Now, if you want the opposite of all this—if you want to build a thriving, impactful, and profitable coaching business—it’s time to start doing the uncomfortable work. And remember, we’re here to help. We’ll show you how to build your confidence, get qualified, and find the clients you deserve.

Ready to start succeeding?

To dive deeper into building your coaching business, you can attend our coaching programmes which can be found on this link