I am a hopeful, optimistic individual. I can find the silver lining in just about anything, or identify ways to cope–then thrive–when handed a challenge or crisis. This quality is a part of what makes me a great coach since it allows me to help others to do the same.

But guess what? I'm human. I sometimes feel weary and negative, especially during this world-crisis brought on by Covid and the current state of our political affairs. I can confidently say that most people are operating on a less predictable mood cycle nowadays. The turmoil that we've experienced in 2020 took us from an acute fight, flight, or freeze response to the chronic stress phase, which is where we are now. We've done our best to adjust to that awful thing that we're calling “our new norm.”

The adaptability of the human race does not, however, mean that we are thriving.

Many people have come to me, not just feeling down but also experiencing things like shame and/or confusion about their mental (and often physical) state. Some individuals endure daily stressors; others are perplexed because, until now, they were managing just fine. I often hear people say that Covid hasn't affected them much. So, they wonder why all of a sudden do I feel like this?

Between the political division in our country, concerns around the impact of climate change, and the global assault brought on by Covid, we are all climbing an uphill battle. Eventually, no matter how well you have managed the constant disruption to life as you know it, exhaustion sets in. Of course, you feel sad (or whatever it is that you feel). And you and your feelings are entirely normal.

Give yourself permission to feel.

So, you feel sad, angry, lonely, or whatever you are experiencing. Give yourself permission to feel whatever it is that comes up for you. Look what's going on in the world–no one is immune to the impact of a worldwide crisis.

Acceptance is the first step toward changing your mental state. We need “permission” to feel. By acknowledging your feelings, you will push any guilt, shame, and confusion to the curb to make room for healing. Like a petulant child, when emotions are ignored, they only grow louder and become more difficult to tame.

Of course, you do!

Do you feel down? Of course, you do!

Here's a little mindset exercise for you:

Think about how you feel. What negative state is alive inside of your body and mind right now? Name it out loud.

Now say, “I feel [insert feeling here].” Follow that by saying, “Of course, I do, and I have every right to feel this way.”

This helps your mind to acknowledge that there is nothing wrong with you. Given all that has changed in your world, possibly ranging from illness, loss of a loved one, financial problems, stress, covid-worry, or general sadness about the sacrifices you've made, you have every right to be someone other than your “normal” self.

When I respond to my clients' concerns about their emotional state with the magic words, of course, you do, a new awareness and acceptance sets in.  They always feel better by the end of our discussion for many reasons, including:

• They now know that what they are going through is normal; they are not alone.
• They've discovered what is at the core of their feelings and now they can work through them.
• It's a relief to acknowledge negative feelings, rather than stuff them down.
• The energy and motivation to affect change are more accessible.
• There is an acknowledgment that they will feel better; this isn't forever.
• They feel safer.
• Articulating their feelings and the consequences of them somehow frees them from the burden.
• When appropriate, we create a plan to help them feel more empowered. Or, a plan to slow down to contemplate and nurture themselves.

If you are struggling with a myriad of emotions during this time (of course, you are!), seek out support. As little as one conversation with a coach or therapist can make a world of difference. Nurture yourself, because you deserve it.

The post Here’s What to do When Negative Thoughts and Emotions Sneak Up on You appeared first on Marla Tabaka.

Entrepreneurs tend to get down on themselves for putting things off, so when a business owner develops a habit of procrastination, it will eventually damage the business–and the psyche. It's worthwhile to get to the root of this problem, rather than steep in blame and shame.

You may believe you have a time management issue, but you'd be wrong–sort of. Procrastination does lead to time management issues, but that's only a symptom of the bigger picture.

And, nope, it's not laziness; some of my most ambitious, successful clients used to procrastinate (oh, and I've done my share of it too), so it's not that.

What is procrastination? It's usually a stress response, not a time management issue or a blasé faire attitude. We all know that being an entrepreneur can be stressful, and it gets even worse if you're unclear and/or unhappy about your vision and goals.

Procrastination can get out of control.

Have you noticed that the longer you put something off, the more difficult it is to get it done? More things pile on, and you're too deep to climb out before you know it. This results in something called the procrastination accumulation effect. The resulting stress may include feelings of inadequacy, guilt about what is left undone, and fear of failure.

Ok, Marla, I'm stressed out, and I procrastinate. Now what? I have one word for you: Clarity!

Do you know what your vision is? Are you confident about its viability? Do you have a step-by-step plan to achieve your goals? If you don't know where you're going, you can't possibly get there. Of course, you will get lost in some form of procrastination. You may engage in busy work and not use your time efficiently. Odds are, if you haven't gotten really clear on your vision, model, strategy, values, and passion by now, you probably won't. Not until you get qualified help (raising my hand!) to create clarity and a plan.

Procrastination may be a sign that you hate what you do.

One of the leading causes of stress in entrepreneurs is a lack of money, which means they believe they can't afford hiring or outsourcing. You've taken on so much of the work required to keep the business going that you don't have the time to grow your business. It's frustrating that you procrastinate on this tedious work because it's not what you were born to do. It would help if you had clarity here too.

In reality, the savings that you associate with doing the work yourself is an illusion. If you had an extra 20-hours a week to work on growth, could you increase your revenue? Sure, you could. Spend your time focusing on the work that drives profits, and you'll be able to bankroll a part-time person before long.

Self-doubt and fear lead to procrastinative habits.

Fear is at the root of stress-related behavior, including procrastination. If you didn't have anxiety (or perhaps subconscious worries), you would have already achieved your vision or gotten close to it by now, right?

Imposter Syndrome feeds procrastination.

Many entrepreneurs suffer from Imposter Syndrome. Therefore, they procrastinate because it wards off any risk of being exposed to the negative consequences that they perceive as inevitable. Again, this is common and normal–there is nothing wrong with you.

Fortunately, the stigma associated with therapy and coaching has finally shifted. Entrepreneurs understand that they should not be on their journey alone. Whether you work with a coach and/or a therapist, your odds of success will exponentially increase once you believe in yourself and your vision. Let's get to work!

The post Procrastination Making You Miserable? This is Just What You Need appeared first on Marla Tabaka.

Why does it sometimes feel so much easier to walk the path of doubt and negativity, rather than be positive and confident?

The bad news is that our brains are predisposed to negative thinking, and we are more inclined to engage deeply with the resulting emotions. It feels like there's not much to positive emotions because they tell you that everything is okay, so there is no need to think about them for very long. Sad, but true, it's easier to preoccupy the brain with negative thoughts.

“Wait a minute,” you're probably thinking. “You mean I have to deal with these nagging voices in my head forever?”

The answer is yes–and no.

It is possible to get your bullsh!t thoughts (because that's what they are) under control. It takes discipline to challenge your negative thoughts and form new habits, but it will change your life. It will also make your business more profitable.

I call it BullShifting!

Here are a few tips that you'll learn in my BullShift™ Group. If you're a solopreneur who knows your business can be more, but you keep getting stuck, this group is for you.

For now, carve out a few minutes here and there to begin forming these habits. And then, tell me about your success–and challenges!

Separate the B.S. from reality.

One negative incident can override a dozen (ok, a hundred) positive achievements. You have many client success stories, but when one client judges you, all of those achievements go out the window. You'll question yourself, rehash the event, dwell on what you should have done differently, and beat yourself up for it.

Stop!

Start doing this instead: keep a diary of your wins. Put emails from happy customers in a folder for quick access. Entrepreneurs forget their achievements easily, mostly because they don't take time to celebrate them. The next time you doubt yourself go read about all of the things that you have done right. You are a Rockstar, and don't forget it!

Disrupt the loop of negative thinking.

If you spend a good portion of your day thinking trash about yourself and the world around you it will rule your life. Your brain is a computer, and it's up to you to program it. Your negative life experiences have programmed your brain to produce draining loops of unpleasant thoughts. It's automatic and feels easier and more natural than thinking good thoughts, especially about yourself.

There are so many ways to reprogram your brain; my favorite is EFT tapping, and you'll get plenty of that when you join the BullShift™ group. For now, begin to physically change your state when the head trash starts talking.

It can look like going for a walk or run or watching comedy for a good laugh. Or, (and this one is crazy-sounding) get your butt up out of the chair and pace the room repeating positive affirmations—loudly. Stand tall and accentuate your words. Shout it out!

I AM strong, smart, and UNSTOPPABLE!
I'm DAMN good at my work; I'm AMAZING!
No one else can tell me how to feel, I ROCK and I KNOW IT.

Go ahead; no one's around. Give it a try!

Kick catastrophic thinking to the curb.

Oh, how quickly the mind travels down the path of destruction! How often have you felt down or panicked about something that didn't end up as bad as you thought it would be? When your thoughts get out of control–imaging disaster over a positive outcome–ask yourself if these imaginary events are absolutely, positively true. The answer is usually no.

Find the good in the bad.

The goal is to stop your magical negative thinking when something goes wrong, so this may sound counterintuitive. I want you to think about the worst-case scenario. I've been forced to use this strategy many times in life, as I'm sure many of us have. Typically, even an outcome we dread isn't as bad in real life as it is in our fantasy world. In fact, during some of the most devastating times in my life, I've conquered negative thoughts by finding good in the bad when I faced the worst-case scenario.

When your fear is larger than you are, it makes all things impossible. Stand up to your internal bully and look at the truest facts (not your negative magical thinking), ask for help, and be kind to yourself. Your world will be a much better place.

The post How to Stop Negative Thinking. Oh Yes, You Can appeared first on Marla Tabaka.

Entrepreneurs are more likely to plan the future than evaluate the past. But how can you fix something when you don't know it's broken? How will you celebrate achievements when you don't realize how significant they are to the big picture? If you do not conduct an annual review of your business, it's likely that you’ll go year-to-year with the same troubled systems, processes, and problems. Even if you had a great year, you want to grow. By establishing what is and is not working for you, you'll create a more powerful plan to support your future growth. 

If you have a written plan for your business, use it as a guideline to ascertain your achievements, delivery of goals, and where you missed the mark. Here's a guideline for your business review. Customize it to meet your needs to make planning for the future years a snap.

Set your intentions.

Understand exactly what you want as a result of performing this exercise. A review includes separating yourself from the business to access a bird's-eye view. It's wise to disconnect yourself emotionally by approaching the process with curiosity, rather than fear and criticism. Set an intention to celebrate the wins and identify opportunities to pivot where necessary. Go into this process with a positive mindset and look forward to your results–because no matter which way it goes, you're about to make it better.

Make a list of questions.

Being intentional about your process sparks creativity and prevents you and your team from overlooking important pieces of information. Examples include:

• What are my (our) achievements?
• How did they impact our growth?
• What did we learn in the past year and how did it support our growth?
• What were our biggest disappointments?
• Did we implement a strategy to pivot or constructively address the disappointments?
• Did we have unexpected expenditures and how can we plan better for next year?

Schedule proper time for your review.

A proper annual business review is not done in one afternoon. This is a deep dive into your business, values, and goals. Keeping the pace is important, so schedule time slots in each day during one particular week. Your needs may dictate more or less time. Don't shortchange yourself; everyone from your team to your customers deserve this time and attention.

Identify your metrics.

What do/will you use to measure your company's performance? Certainly, your financial statements. Other metrics may include: email list growth, your website's Google analytics, conversions, customer retention, new customer growth, and podcast downloads and new subscribers.

Carefully review your metrics and ascertain what contributed to your growth, as well as best practices for further growth. Are there any other tools and resources you can add to your metrics dashboard?

Recognize and celebrate the good stuff.

I am constantly helping entrepreneurs interpret the significance of their achievements. Many tend to focus on the letdowns, which only serves to keep them from success. When you focus on the negative you are subconsciously inviting more of it into your life.

Review all of your achievements and then list the top three. Note any tools and processes you used to achieve them–don't forget pure talent and your magnetic personality.

Review last year’s goals and identify future goals.

Identify which goals are worth keeping, which will be eliminated, and how you will redirect your energies to realize your desired outcome. Don't be hasty in eliminating worthwhile goals that did not pan out. Instead, look at other avenues you might take to achieve them. Your new list of goals should include the long term (3, 5, and sometimes 10 years) and short term (immediate through 12 months).

Review company values and culture.

I always remind entrepreneurs that if you don't intentionally build a company culture, it will build itself–and you won't like the results. Even if you're flying solo, having well-defined values offers you a roadmap to your success.

What did you do this past year to cultivate a positive culture? What opportunities were missed? How will you be even more intentional about it in the upcoming year?

Follow up.

Once you've completed your review and planning process, schedule a monthly, or quarterly meeting to perform mini-reviews. This is a living document, fluid like water. Make changes, note your wins, and continue to celebrate them.

The post Here’s Your Guide to a Smart Annual Small Business Review appeared first on Marla Tabaka.

Below are only a few of the signs indicating that a business coach can help to elevate your personal and professional mindset and help to grow your small business in the most effective, expedient, and profitable way possible. But first, for those who fear they cannot afford a great coach, I want to paint a financial picture for you.

What does a business coach cost?

Really, the question should be, “how much more money can I make if I hire a great coach”. Still, the cost is a factor. Business coaches typically range from about $6,000 to $25,000 a year. Don’t make the mistake of believing that you get more for $25,000 than you do for, say, $15,000. Sometimes it’s only the marketing that’s more impressive, and other times you truly are paying for experience and success rates.

If you speak to a prospective coach and don't feel synergy, or you are uncertain if you're a good fit, then interview more coaches–don't settle. A business coach isn’t likely to tell you upfront how much he or she charges (it’s not good business), but most will schedule a no-cost consultation and reveal pricing there. Speak with coaches you believe you cannot afford, along with those who are less expensive. You are most likely to get your return on investment with a seasoned coach at your side.

Return on business coaching investment:

Coaches report clients’ ROI from seven to 49%. To me, ROI is a difficult discussion because it’s subjective. In my opinion (and that of the people I’ve worked with) there’s a significant return on investment that is not directly seen on spreadsheets: the removal of mental barriers that prevent success. With that said, not all business coaches focus on personal growth and mindset, so make that a topic of discussion when you interview your prospective coaches.

All-in-all, I can only speak for myself and the results that my clients experience (beyond eliminating the emotional barriers to success). I’ve helped solopreneurs go from very little monthly income to 20-30 thousand monthly. Entrepreneurs with scalable models have seen as much as 348% growth within two years (yes, you read that right). One particular client came to me averaging $120,000 a year in revenues, with about $34,000 in profit. Within 6 months she broke the million-dollar mark. A few years later she hit 45 MILLION in annual revenues.

Typically, my clients make back the money they’ve invested within 3-4 months, but of course, I cannot make any promises. So, when you think about whether or not you can afford a coach, think more about how the investment will pay off. An ethical coach will not take your business if he or she is not reasonably certain they can help you (the client’s level of participation is out of our hands).

Ready to find out if you will profit from business coaching? Contact me to find out!

What are the signs that you’re ready for a business coach? Here are 3 of many:

1. You feel overwhelmed and, at times, very lonely.

Only you are completely vested in the outcome of your decisions and, ultimately, your business. Even your spouse may not “get it”.  Your coach’s success is based on your success; we want you to succeed with every cell of our being. Working with a coach makes decision-making easier. Decision overload is a common block to progress and breeds more problems, but your problems are not unique to you. Believe me, we coaches have been through just about any obstacle and limiting belief you can think of many times over with previous clients (and in our own businesses). Coaches know what works and what does not, so there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. In addition, many coaches will help you get crystal clear on your vision, values, and strategy, which also eases the burden of decision-making and can rapidly increase profits.

2. Your business model works on paper, but not in reality.

You know it can work, so why isn’t your business making enough money? Entrepreneurs get too close to the problems to see the solutions. Your coach will take you outside of your business to a 5000-foot view of it. You will see your business from a fresh perspective and have an experienced person to collaborate with and help create processes and strategies to make your small business work.

Secondly, you’re probably in your own way.  Whether it’s conscious or unconscious self-sabotage, your monkey-mind stops you in your tracks. A talented coach will help you break the self-sabotage habit and develop and maintain an empowering mindset.

3. You want a safe place to process, vent, and brainstorm.

Many prospects with already profitable businesses come to me for support, accountability, and collaboration. They need a place to collect their thoughts, affirm their choices, and bounce around ideas. Successful people understand the power that’s found in a great coach/client relationship. They aren’t necessarily looking to fix anything but to continue to evolve, grow, and prosper.

Yes, you're ready for a business coach.

How about it? Are you ready for a business coaching relationship? Typically, it costs you nothing to find out. Feel free to contact me or ask your peers for their coach’s names, search online, and inquire on social media. You will find many of us out there who want to help you, but you are the only one who can determine which person feels just right for you.

Contact me for your complimentary consultation today!

The post Should I Hire a Business Coach? 3 Signs That Say You’re Ready appeared first on Marla Tabaka.

When clients bring an agenda into every coaching discussion, it is likely to block progress on something even more important. When the ongoing focus remains on a list of questions, updates, and goals, you and your coach won't have the opportunity to tap into your subconscious mind often enough. The REAL problems aren't usually addressed.

In fact, I find that clients who are overly diligent about an agenda are usually avoiding difficult discussions; whether it's a conscious decision or not, this falls into the self-sabotage arena and blocks progress.

So, if coaching isn't strictly about a laundry list of goals and activities, what really matters?

Commitment.

Many people believe that they are committed to the process, and to a successful, happy future, but they block themselves from really diving in. Your coach should call you on it and support you as you learn to open up, allow yourself to be vulnerable, and create sustainable, meaningful change internally, in your business, and in your personal life.

Below are a few things that a great coach measures to identify whether or not his/her client is fully committed and means business. These are things that matter to your coach–and should definitely matter to you!

Commit fully to business coaching sessions, or not at all.

In my old business model, I accepted clients on a month-to-month basis. I found that some of my clients would cancel coaching sessions at the last minute, schedule sessions weeks apart, and delay beginning a new month. These are not the people I want to work with, so I changed my model. Now, I require a 6-month or 1-year commitment payable upfront–and what a difference it's made! 100% of my clients are all in. All of them make amazing progress, and every one of them continues to discover deeper layers within.

Demonstrate to yourself that you are committed to growth and success. Treat your business coaching session like a critical meeting with a client; you would not cancel it because you're too busy or because Johnie forgot his lunch. Also, take your work seriously; if you feel that you don't have the time to work on your goals, then work on that limiting belief with your coach. You must make the time by reorganizing your business and priorities.

Block out distractions during your coaching session and pay attention.

I can always tell when a client has a browser or their email open. You may be the queen or king of multi-tasking, but you're fooling yourself if you believe you're still absorbing your coach's words. I've had clients who had to resort to driving to a park to resist distractions and find some peace and quiet for their sessions. Do whatever it takes.

Be honest and open- be vulnerable.

This is the most important element in an amazing relationship–with yourself and with your business coach. Many entrepreneurs have told me that, since the business is paying for the business coaching sessions, they don't want to talk about themselves. That's crazy! In many ways, YOU are your business. If you are not happy, focused, and whole, the business will fail. Period, end of story.

If you are unable to achieve a well-rounded, open, and honest relationship with your life or business coach, one of two things are most likely at play: either you don't trust your coach, or you don't trust yourself. Talk about your deepest fears and anxieties. An amazing coach is in your life to help you reframe and resolve limiting beliefs–to help you expand your comfort zone and shift your paradigm. An amazing coach will help you to achieve absolute confidence and to believe in yourself. This is the stuff that a life-changing experience is made of!

The post Coaching Sessions: 3 Surprising Things Your Business Coach May Want You To Do appeared first on Marla Tabaka.

Stop the self-sabotage! Once you accept the truth behind the value and worth of your services, prospects will pay more–much more.

You're an expert. In the most rudimentary language, this means that you know more about your topic than the average person, especially your target market. It also means that the sharing of your expertise will help others achieve or improve upon something that would otherwise have been very difficult or nearly impossible. How much value do you place on what you know and your method(s) of delivery? Probably not enough.

Speakers, trainers, coaches and service providers can easily underestimate the value of their offerings because there are few or no cost of goods sold and overhead is negligible. But that's not the only reason they tend to diminish their worth; internal messaging is the biggest culprit.

In working with small business owners and solo-practitioners as a business coach over the years, I've seen a pattern of thinking that, frankly, keeps people poor. I've even experienced it myself–perhaps you have as well. The pattern I'm referring to is the ongoing questioning of the worth of your services, undervaluing them (therefore yourself) internally. You may believe that this negativity doesn't show on the outside, but you'd be wrong. When you diminish the importance and uniqueness of your knowledge, it's impossible for your prospects to set a high value on what you offer. The energy behind your sales pitch simply will not match that of a highly valuable end result.

I've actually come to believe that well-delivered information, inspiration, and emotional support are priceless. While priceless isn't acceptable in negotiations, embracing this theory will help you to set–and get–fees that are commensurate with the actual worth of your services.

Here are a few of the statements I've heard from people who are stuck in this loop of negative thinking. I call them lies, or excuses because they are only a means of self-sabotage that keep you from taking an emotional risk. It's time to stop the lies and accept the truth.

1. Lie: It's just common sense, anyone can figure this out.

Truth: If they could have figured it out on their own, they would not be seeking your help. Perhaps they have pieces of the puzzle but haven't put them together yet. Many experts tend to diminish their wisdom because it comes so naturally to them. What is simple to you may feel like rocket science to another. Your ability to turn rocket-science into manageable information is, as I said, priceless.

2. Lie: They can find this information online; they don't need me.

Truth: If you are a trainer or teacher, much of what you teach is most likely available online and in books. People are busy, some aren't great at collecting information, and most are willing to pay for the opportunity to access what they need through one convenient resource. Additionally, you put your own unique spin on the information, making it a meaningful process–unlike reading long articles and sifting through uninformed opinions in on-line forums.

3. Lie: I probably don't know as much as I think I do. I might be found out!

Truth: Ask yourself if you know more than your prospect. Perhaps they do know a lot, but are they acting upon it? Can you make it easier and more likely for them to take action? The answer is yes. You make peoples' lives easier and richer. Again, priceless.

4. Lie: What if they tell me it's not worth much? I may be facing rejection!

Truth: What if's create a tumbleweed of possibilities. Why not turn your negative what if's into positives? What if your client adores you to the moon and back? Understand that if–I should say when–a prospect says no, it probably has nothing to do with you at all. Don't assume that a “no” is a reflection on your talent and worth. Your prospects are dealing with their own limiting beliefs, including a perceived lack of funds.

5. Lie: If my client(s) fail, it will be my fault–It will mean I'm not very good at this after all.

Truth: Boy, this one used to be a biggie for me until I had a life-changing realization: not everyone is ready to do what it takes to get the results they desire–even if they say they are. As the old saying dictates, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink, some of your clients will not show up as superstars. You're great at what you do and many of the people you work with soar to success with you at their side, right? To achieve a one-hundred percent success rate when you base your success on that of another is an act of self-sabotage. That's the truth.

If you have a challenge believing in yourself, muster up the courage to ask for help from a professional. You are so worth it!

The post 5 Harmful Lies Entrepreneurs Tell Themselves (and how to stop doing it) appeared first on Marla Tabaka.

This post celebrates the benefits of business coaching but first, we'll dig into a question often asked.

Why hire a business coach?

You will see a robust ROI when you hire a great small business coach. Depending on where you're at in life and business, that ROI may quickly be reflected in your bottom line. I have one client, for instance, who had an annual income of $120,000. Two years later her business broke the 4-million-dollar mark! Now, this is not the norm but remarkable results are almost always achieved when an entrepreneur (who is ready to succeed) works with a great business coach. The most lasting and powerful return on investment lies in increased confidence, greater clarity, and removal of the internal and external barriers that stand between you and success. When that happens, profits will soar.

Top 10 Benefits of Business Coaching

Here are ten ways an experienced business coach can help you achieve your dreams. Yes, I limited myself to only ten!

1. Business coaching will help you achieve clarity.

You may know what you want, but do you know how to get there? Cluttered thoughts, too many ideas, too few ideas, uncertainty. These things all prevent clarity. The benefit of business coaching for someone who goes a million different directions is that your coach will help you sort your thoughts and get rid of the clutter that doesn't serve you.

2. Bullshift™ your negative thinking.

We all encounter internal barriers, like fear, confusion, and doubt. I use my life coaching skills and powerful modalities like EFT Tapping to help my clients conquer these…and then, look out, world! I call this Bullshifting!

3. Establish and understand your values.

A solid business is built on the leader's values. When you know and understand the values that you bring into your business then, and only then, will your business become everything you need and want it to be.

When you complete a values process, every decision you make in the future will be easier. Your values will give you a roadmap to success.

4. Clarify your vision.

Believe it or not, many small business owners don't know where (or how) they want to take their business in the future. Another benefit of business coaching is to gain greater clarity about your short- and long-term vision. Once you clarify what you want, you will revisit or shape your vision based on what you now know about yourself and your dreams. Clarifying your vision will ignite your passion, That entrepreneur's passion is contagious and will inspire others to believe in you and your business.

5. Get to your Why.

The process of getting to the “why” is one of the most difficult things for entrepreneurs to achieve. Nearly every entrepreneur I've worked with either mistakenly believes she/he knows their why, struggles to find it, or hasn't even tried to identify their Why. If your Why doesn't practically bring you to your knees in desire, joy, and determination, then you don't get it yet. Your coach should have a very high success rate in helping people find their Why. If not, keep looking.

6. Create your Plan.

When all of the above is in place, you'll most likely need a revised plan or a new one altogether. See your exciting vision at the top of a staircase, with landings every ten steps. Beginning at the top and working backward, a strategic coach will help you to construct this staircase, with each step being a goal that leads to the next landing; your milestones.

7. Stave off the loneliness.

I always say that behind the desk of an entrepreneur lies what can feel like the most lonely place in the world. Huge decisions, difficult actions, and the not-knowing make it so. When I hired my first coach the relief was immediate. A business coach's success lies in his/her clients' success. But it's not just that; a truly amazing coach cares and that just plain feels good! Your business coach is not physically with you but will be on your mind every time you encounter a challenge or have to make a decision. You'll hear her words in your mind, you'll recall the sage advice he once offered, and you'll feel supported every step along the way.

8. Business coaching will remind you to celebrate.

Entrepreneurs have this awful habit of either dismissing, overlooking or glossing over their achievements. Your coaching sessions offer you a safe place to revisit these and shout your successes from the rooftop because your coach will help you recognize the enormity of your achievements and cheer you on to the next!

9. Go big.

Likely, your current vision is just too small so see your business as a brick path. Each brick is an action or result that takes you closer to your dream. What happens when you get to the end of the path? You'll realize that it's not the end at all because you'll want to keep building. Your coach will teach you to think big and work with you on strategy. A great business coach will help you to remove your self-imposed limitations.

10. Find balance.

No success is worth achieving if it takes you completely away from the people and activities that are important to you. Life balance, by my definition, doesn't mean that every single day is perfectly balanced. It means that you have the freedom to do what you want to do with the people you want to do them with. It means being present with your child by learning to focus on what's going on in the moment. It means that you can make the time to take proper care of yourself, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Yes, it is possible and your coach will teach you how.

Final Thoughts

Overall the benefits of business coaching are far-reaching for you, your business, and also your personal life. You will learn new techniques and new strategies that will last you for a lifetime.

Business coaching will help you become the entrepreneur you know you can be.

I dare you to try it!

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