Have you ever wondered “Should I start my own coaching business?” I am thinking that is a solid yes, or you would not be reading this. I hummed and hawed about it for years, the only regret I, eventually, had was that I did not start sooner.
"The way to ." - Edwin Markham
If you want a particular lifestyle, you must think about how each choice impacts your desires.
There are a lot of things you need to consider before you start your own business but that is not what this article is about. Today, I am only going to talk about the reasons why you should.
I am going to fill you full of “the grass is greener” syndrome. Don’t get me wrong, there are just as many perks to being an employee as there are being your own boss. The same goes for the downsides, there are plenty to go around on both sides of the fence. However; not everyone was born to be an employee. Some of us were meant to be leaders, creators, and entrepreneurs.
So here is my happy little list of why I say,
Yes, it is a good idea to start your own business.
Freedom – The biggest reason, I feel, one should start their own coaching business is freedom. When you are your own boss you have a lot more freedom. Yes, there will be customers, regulators and possibly investors telling you what and how to do things – but – you have the freedom to make your own decisions. You can even make the decision to not listen to those listed and do your own thing. The choice is yours, just remember so are the results.
You will have the freedom to determine your own work hours. Of course, within reason. You may not get away with sleeping until noon every day and only be available to customers only between the hours of midnight and 3 am – but – you will be able to plan your days according to your own personal schedule. You can schedule your days so you can pick up your kids from school, schedule any appointments whenever you want, or even go grocery shopping in the middle of an afternoon on a Tuesday. (It’s the little things in life, right?)
Being your own boss also gives you the freedom to be your creative self! Every person should strive for this, and when you are calling the shots you are able to do this by building on your own ideas as opposed to implementing them into someone else’s business success.
Challenges– As a business owner, every day will be full of new challenges. You will constantly be learning, creating, problem-solving and more. You will never say that your work is the “same old boring routine, day in and day out” again. I promise you that.
Relationships and Social Life – What kind of social life do you envision, and can you afford it? What about your significant relationships, such as your life partner, spouse, or your kids? These are all impacted by the other life choices you make due to how it affects your health, finances, and so on.
Finances – Did you choose the right career or business to fund the type of lifestyle you desire? What about time? Do you have enough time left at the end of theday to do the things that are important to you?
Personal and Spiritual Development – Do you have time to work on your personal life and spiritual and emotional development? Everyone needs time for self-care, including learning about themselves and taking care of themselves through eating right, exercise, going to the doctor regularly, and even doing things that are considered optional, like getting a mani/pedi or massages.
Hobbies and Fun – What type of things do you want to do for fun, and what hobbies, if any, would you like to participate in? Does your business allow you to accomplish having fun and doing your hobbies too?
Home and Environment– What type of home do you want to live in? Do you want to live in the city in a condo, a house, or do you want to live in the country? Do you prefer to rent, or do you want to buy? What type of atmosphere do you want?
Community Involvement– Where do you see yourself in terms of your community? Do you want to be involved in your church, or do you want to feed the poor or take care of stray animals in your area? What do you want to have the time and funds to be able to make an impact in your community?
I challenge you to go through each of these areas and write a summary about how you envision your life for each one.
Then be very specific about what it will cost you in terms of time and resources to achieve the ideal life you’re designing for yourself.
Do not make assumptions. Look up how much something costs, ask people who have done it how long it takes, and get real information so that you’re not just guessing. The idea is to design a life that you really want to live, and know what it is you need for you to achieve it.
