Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway: A Teacher's Guide to Building the Unstoppable Mindset Needed To Start a Coaching Business
Thinking of leaving teaching to start your own coaching business but scared of failing? I get it! The idea of stepping away from a stable career into the unknown can be downright terrifying. But guess what? It's completely normal to feel this way. So here’s some tips on feeling the fear and do it anyway!
Feeling the Fear: Why It's Totally Normal
Please know you're not alone in feeling scared. Fear is a totally natural part of the journey! But here's the thing – every successful coach has faced it. The key is to acknowledge the fear and take action anyway. Think of fear as your inner critic trying to keep you safe. Instead of letting it hold you back, use it as fuel to push forward. Remember, the magic happens outside your comfort zone!
Step 1: Acknowledge Your Fear
Before we even get into strategies, take a moment to acknowledge your fear. Write it down. Seriously, grab a piece of paper or open up a new doc on your computer and jot down everything you're afraid of:
- What if I fail?
- What if no one wants my coaching services?
- What if I can't make enough money?
By putting these fears into words, they become less abstract and more manageable. Plus, seeing them written down can sometimes make them seem less intimidating.
Step 2: Break Down Your Goals
Alright, now that we've acknowledged those fears, let's break down your goals into bite-sized pieces. Imagine trying to eat an entire pizza in one go—impossible, right? Instead, you tackle it slice by slice.
Here’s how to do it:
1. **Big Picture Vision**: What's your ultimate goal? Maybe it's having a fully booked coaching business that gives you financial freedom.
2. **Medium-Term Milestones**: These are stepping stones like getting certified as a coach or launching your first programme.
3. **Short-Term Actions**: Daily or weekly tasks such as setting up a website or creating social media content.
Breaking things down makes them less overwhelming and allows you to focus on small wins that build momentum.
Step 3: Embrace Messy Action
Perfectionism is often what holds us back from starting anything new. We want everything to be perfect before we take that first step. Guess what? Perfection doesn’t exist! The key is taking messy action—starting even when things aren’t perfectly aligned.
Remember when you were student-teaching? It was chaotic and far from perfect, but you learned so much through doing rather than waiting for the perfect moment.
So go ahead and launch that imperfect website or post that not-so-perfect video on Instagram! Each step forward builds confidence and brings clarity.
Step 4: Cultivate an Unstoppable Mindset
Mindset is everything when it comes to overcoming fear and achieving success. Think of it as building mental muscles—you need consistent exercise to get stronger.
Daily Affirmations
Start each day with affirmations that empower you:
- I am capable of achieving my dreams.
- I don’t let fear stop me from creating joy in my life
- I have the power to create the future I want for myself.
Visualisation Techniques
Spend a few minutes each day visualising your future successful self—what do you look like? How do you feel? This practice bridges the gap between where you are now and where you want to be.
Surround Yourself with Positivity
Join communities of like-minded individuals who uplift and support each other. Whether it's online forums or local meet-ups, being surrounded by positivity keeps your energy high.
Step 5: Seek Mentorship and/or Coaching
You don't have to do this alone! Investing in my own business coach was an absolute game changer for me, and inspired me to become a business coach myself.
Seek out mentors and coaches who've been where you are now—they've faced similar fears and come out stronger on the other side.
A coach (aka. ME!) will make your business journey a whoooole lot less lonely! They will be there to support you and hold your hand through this process, as well as sharing valuable insights, accountability and encouragement.
Your Next Chapter Awaits
So here we are—standing together at the crossroads between teaching and coaching. Yes—it’s scary as hell—but also totally exhilarating! You have everything you need to make this work, now it’s all about believing in yourself enough to REALLY go for it.
Feel that fear but don’t let it stop you— take it as what it is… your body telling you that this is REALLY frickin’ important to you!!!!
Take messy actions today because YOUR next chapter awaits & trust me—it’s going be epic!! 🚀💪
