The Business Of Coaching

Sarah Short
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To be a coach, one must have clients. To have a coaching business, those clients must be ones who pay. This podcast is designed to support qualified coaches to build robust, financially viable coaching businesses.

  1. 3D AGO

    Success Leaves Clues with Janet Davies

    About the Guest Janet Davis began her professional journey at the age of 15, driven by a motivation to become a pharmacist. After studying at Nottingham University and completing clinical training in the NHS, she transitioned into the pharmaceutical industry, where she spent the majority of her career. Janet climbed the corporate ladder to reach global leadership levels, managing teams and navigating complex organisational cultures. After nearly four decades of full-time employment, the disruption of the pandemic led her to a period of deep reflection, ultimately resulting in her retirement at the end of 2022 to "find the shape of herself". Today, she is a qualified coach, credentialed through the International Coaching Federation (ICF), specialising in guiding others through the emotional and psychological transitions of retirement. About the Episode In this episode, Janet and Sarah explore the "insidious" nature of corporate culture and the long road to reclaiming one's true identity after decades of "fitting in". Janet shares the "six-month advice" that actually took 16 months to fulfil—the time it truly took to "detox" from work and feel like herself again. Key discussion points include: The Goldfish in the Pond: How corporate values and unspoken rules shape us so subtly that we often don't realise we've been "chiselling bits of ourselves off" to fit the mould.The Weight of Identity: Janet discusses her personal journey with body image and mindset, and how shedding physical weight became a metaphor for moving closer to her "real self". Professionalising Coaching: Why Janet sought out high-standard training involving psychology and neuroscience rather than just relying on her previous management experience.The Reality of Marketing: Janet’s transition from a highly regulated industry where social media was a "legal risk" to finding her authentic voice on LinkedIn and even TikTok.The Magic of Validation: The experience of signing her first paying clients and seeing them validate the "ideal client" profile she developed during her training. Have you enjoyed this episode? Find out more and take the FREE quiz at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thecoachingrevolution.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the FREE Facebook group at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildacoachingbusiness⁠

    36 min

  2. MAR 26

    Success Leaves Clues with Beverley McCluskey

    In this episode of The Business of Coaching, we sit down with Beverley (Bea) McCloskey, a former corporate pharmaceutical professional turned successful coach. Bea shares her powerful journey from the high-stakes world of big pharma to a catastrophic burnout that eventually became the "gift" that launched her business. If you’ve ever felt like you’re spinning 25 plates at once—or keeping 25 browser tabs open in your brain—this conversation is for you. About the Guest: Beverley (Bea) McCloskey is a specialist coach and mentor with a deep-rooted background in the corporate pharmaceutical industry. Having spent much of her career in field-based roles for global giants like AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, and Novo Nordisk, she experienced firsthand the transition from high-performance sales to leadership and dedicated coaching roles. Bea’s professional journey took a pivotal turn following a catastrophic burnout and a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome, triggered by a combination of high-pressure work and challenging personal circumstances. After a two-year recovery period, she transformed this lived experience into a successful business. Today, Bea focuses her expertise on helping women in the pharma sector—her "ideal client" who mirrors her own experiences from 15 years ago. She works with high-achievers to help them navigate the pressures of corporate life, avoid burnout, and rediscover joy in their careers by balancing soft and hard power. Key Takeaways: The "Tell-as-Coach" Trap: In many corporate environments, coaching is often mistakenly used interchangeably with "training" or simply telling people how to do their jobs.The Cost of Perfectionism: Bea reflects on how her perfectionism wasn't about excellence, but rather an "away motivation" fueled by a terror of making mistakes.The Reality of Burnout: Burnout isn't just about working too hard; it’s a multifactorial collapse of resilience often triggered by a combination of personal and professional challenges.The "Niche" vs. The "Chasm": Having a broad niche like "women in danger of burning out" can feel like a chasm where no one can hear you. Success comes from a "tight focus" on people who share your specific lived experience.Employee vs. Business Owner: Transitioning from an employee mindset to a business owner mindset requires a "different manual". Simply replicating corporate structures (like expensive websites and VAT registration) doesn't equate to having a business if you don't have clients. "I thought I had a niche, but it was a chasm and no wonder no one could hear me... My words were just words. They were not targeted." — Beverley McCloskey Have you enjoyed this episode? Find out more and take the FREE quiz at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thecoachingrevolution.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the FREE Facebook group at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildacoachingbusiness⁠

    20 min

  3. MAR 19

    Success Leaves Clues with Dorothée Dorsch.

    In this episode of The Business of Coaching, Sarah Short is joined in the studio by Dorothée Dorsch, a high-level communications specialist turned executive coach. Doro shares her powerful story of how a high-stakes corporate career led to a dramatic physical wake-up call and how she used that experience to build a professional coaching practice that resonates with senior leaders. About the Guest: Doro Dorsch Doro spent nearly 30 years climbing the career ladder to reach the highest levels of business area responsibility in the marketing and communications sector. Her daily life involved managing global teams, navigating complex internal office politics, and making high-stakes decisions for major companies. After a stress-related health crisis, Doro discovered the transformative power of coaching and now specialises in helping senior marketing and communication leaders navigate the same pressures she once faced. About the Episode Dorothée and Sarah discuss the transition from "hiding behind a corporate logo" to building a personal brand with precision and courage. Key highlights include: The Body's Warning: Doro recounts the frightening moment her body stopped "politely telling" her it was too much and began "screaming" via a stress-related hearing loss.The Loneliness of Leadership: A deep dive into the "3 a.m. worries" and the "is this it?" feeling that plagues many successful senior leaders who have ticked every societal box but lack happiness.Marketing with a "Long Breath": Why even a marketing expert needs a structured process and a supportive community to maintain the persistence and consistency required for business growth.Early Success: Doro shares the "German realistic" approach to her business and the joy of signing her first corporate client much earlier than expected.Professional Credibility: How following a clear process led a client to choose Doro over other coaches, specifically because of her professional materials and consistent messaging. Have you enjoyed this episode? Find out more and take the FREE quiz at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thecoachingrevolution.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the FREE Facebook group at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildacoachingbusiness⁠⁠⁠

    24 min

  4. MAR 12

    Why Now is the Best Time to Market Your Coaching Business

    In this solo episode, Sarah breaks down exactly why now is the best time to learn how to market your coaching business. She explores the surprising similarities between the art of coaching and the art of marketing, and explains why the average coach's website completely misses the mark. If you don't have a corporate black book full of contacts, and you are tired of relying on "mates rates" or associate work, this episode will help you shift your perspective. Learn how to generate steady inbound inquiries so your discovery calls become simple chemistry checks! Key Takeaways: Coaching and Marketing Are Alike: Both disciplines are client-centred. Both are processes. Both require consistent action. Finally, both are widely misunderstood by outsiders.It's All About the Client: Marketing is about the client, not the coach. Your marketing must focus on a target audience and the big problem they are struggling with. There is only one star of your marketing show, and it isn't you.The Website Trap: The average coach's website acts like an online CV filled with coaching philosophies. This doesn't generate inquiries because potential clients only care about themselves and their needs, not your resume.The Search Volume Reality: Very few people are actively searching for a coach online. Unlike therapy, which people understand, coaching is broadly misunderstood, leading to minuscule search volumes.The AIDA Framework: Effective marketing moves your target audience through Awareness, Interest, Desire, and Action. As marketers, we must show we understand their struggles (Awareness), which leads them to notice us (Interest), want to hear more (Desire), and ultimately book a call (Action).The Ultimate Goal: Good marketing generates a steady flow of inbound inquiries. By the time these prospects book a call, they already know you can solve their problem, meaning you don't have to "prove" the value of coaching. Have you enjoyed this episode? Find out more and take the FREE quiz at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thecoachingrevolution.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the FREE Facebook group at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildacoachingbusiness⁠⁠

    7 min

  5. MAR 5

    Success Leaves Clues with Angelina Blackwood Hernandez

    In this episode of The Business of Coaching, Sarah sits down with the inspiring Angelina Blackwood Hernandez to discuss her remarkable journey from a 20-year career in Higher Education HR to running a thriving coaching and yoga business. About the Guest: Angelina Blackwood Hernandez Angelina spent two decades navigating the complexities of HR within the university sector. Despite reaching a managerial level, she found herself facing burnout and a sense of "is this it?" within the repetitive academic cycle. As a Black woman in those environments, she often dealt with unprofessionalism and microaggressions that she initially internalised before finding the clarity to step away. Today, she is a qualified health coach and yoga teacher who has successfully replaced her full-time income by serving a highly specific niche. About the Episode: Sarah and Angelina pull back the curtain on what it actually takes to build a successful coaching business while balancing a full-time job and a household of four children. Key highlights include: The "False Start": Angelina shares her experience of spending money on Facebook ads and running hundreds of free discovery calls that led nowhere because she lacked a proper marketing strategy.The Power of a Specific Niche: How Angelina moved from a broad "weight loss" focus to helping "fed-up Black women in HR in Higher Education" figure out their next move.Doing the "Scary Things": From overcoming the fear of posting daily on LinkedIn to attending industry conferences, where she was surprised to find people already knew her from her content.The ROI of Commitment: Angelina reveals that in her first year with The Coaching Revolution, she made back eight times her initial investment.Living the Dream: A look at Angelina’s "dream life"—working in her hoodie, teaching yoga, and coaching clients she truly cares about."Stop ignoring it or putting it off until next time. Get on the challenge, commit to it, and just see what it feels like." — Angelina Blackwood Hernandez Ready to find your own focus?Join our next free Nail Your Niche challenge. You can register at thecoachingrevolution.com/nailyourniche.

    26 min

  6. FEB 26

    Credibility as a Coach

    In this solo episode, Sarah tackles one of the most common - and frustrating - misconceptions in the coaching industry: the idea that your coaching certificate automatically entitles you to high-paying clients. While qualifications are an absolute non-negotiable for professional standards, they aren't what actually gets clients through the door. Sarah breaks down the crucial difference between your coaching delivery skills and your client acquisition skills. If you find yourself endlessly collecting new qualifications while your client roster remains empty, this episode will help you step off the hamster wheel and start building true professional credibility. Key Takeaways: The Client's Perspective: Potential clients rarely care about the specific flavour of coaching qualification you hold. Instead, they only care about what is in it for them and how you can help. The Weighing Scale Analogy: The skills required to build a business sit on a weighing scale, requiring a perfect balance. On one side are your coaching delivery skills, and on the other are your client acquisition, marketing, and selling skills. The Source of Real Credibility: True professional credibility relies heavily on your deep understanding of the client's unique situation. You must be able to articulate that understanding clearly so the client believes you are their ideal coach. "Can Pay" vs. "Will Pay": There is a major difference between a client who "can pay" and one who "will pay". Having available funds does not automatically give a prospect a compelling reason to hire you. The Qualification Collector Trap: It is incredibly common for coaches to become "qualification collectors" in an attempt to build their credibility and confidence. However, it is fundamentally difficult to provide additional value to clients that you do not actually have. Have you enjoyed this episode?Find out more and take the FREE quiz at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thecoachingrevolution.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the FREE Facebook group at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildacoachingbusiness⁠⁠

    9 min

  7. FEB 19

    Success Leaves Clues with Julija Martinkeviciute

    In this "Success Leaves Clues" episode, Sarah sits down with Julija Martinkeviciute, a structural engineer turned coach who is already making massive strides just a few months into her journey with The Coaching Revolution. Julija shares her major "penny-drop" moment about the power of marketing and why stripping away coaching jargon is the ultimate key to connecting with your ideal clients. If you've ever struggled to articulate what you do, felt intimidated by competition in your niche, or wondered why your audience isn't connecting with terms like "limiting beliefs" or "burnout," this episode is packed with actionable insights just for you. Key Takeaways: Finding the Right Niche: Julija shares her transition from structural engineering to coaching engineers who are struggling to navigate high-stress environments and the transition into people management. The Power of Pre-Qualification: Effective marketing acts as a natural pre-qualification process. By the time a prospect reaches a discovery or sales call, they already know who you are and that you understand their problem, eliminating the need to "prove" the value of coaching. Ditching the Jargon: Translating "coach-speak" into "client-speak" is the defining skill that separates thriving coaching businesses from those that struggle. Abundance in Your Niche: Finding another coach in your specific niche should feel exciting rather than threatening, as your approaches can complement each other perfectly. Defining the Undefined: It is vital to break down broad buzzwords like "burnout" and "stress" into relatable, everyday client experiences and warning signs. Want vs. Need: People will only buy what they want. As business owners, we must understand what our clients actively desire and thoughtfully wrap the coaching they actually need around that want. The Ideal Client Avatar (ICA): Getting ultra-specific about your ICA ensures your marketing feels like a conversation with a real person. This hyper-focus allows you to ignore the rest of the world and direct your message entirely to the people you are meant to serve. Have you enjoyed this episode?  Find out more and take the FREE quiz at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thecoachingrevolution.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Join the FREE Facebook group at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildacoachingbusiness⁠⁠

    31 min

  8. FEB 12

    Pastoral Care for Coaches

    In this solo episode, Sarah dives into the concept of pastoral care and why it’s the missing ingredient in most coaching business programs. Using her signature "blanket of security" metaphor, Sarah explains how to bridge the gap between what clients think they want and what they actually need to succeed. What Does "Pastoral Care" Look Like in Practice? Sarah details the high-touch support included in her program to help coaches move from anonymous names to collaborators and friends: Daily Interaction: Online community access for questions and a daily framework for marketing. The Virtual Water Cooler: Daily "Zoom Cafes" designed for hanging out and building relationships, not just working. Accountability in Action: Bi-weekly co-working blocks and weekly accountability calls to set the week up for success. Continuous Growth: Bi-weekly training sessions on business-building topics and extra 1-to-1 support when "life happens." "We wrap what they want—knowledge and skills—into what they need: the support and accountability to implement them." Ready to join the revolution? If you're tired of going it alone and want a coaching business that is supported by a community that has your back, listen in to hear how we are changing the business of coaching. Have you enjoyed this episode?  Find out more and take the FREE quiz at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thecoachingrevolution.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Join the FREE Facebook group at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildacoachingbusiness⁠⁠

    6 min
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About

To be a coach, one must have clients. To have a coaching business, those clients must be ones who pay. This podcast is designed to support qualified coaches to build robust, financially viable coaching businesses.

Information

  • Creator
    Sarah Short
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    128
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Sarah Short
  • Show Website
    The Business Of Coaching

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