After running my coaching business long enough, and having over 1000 conversations with coaches and potential clients every year, I’ve developed a superpower:
My very own “spidey sense”!
No, I wasn’t bit by a radioactive spider … I can’t climb walls … and my spidey-sense doesn’t warn me when evil super villains are nearby.
(for the non-nerds out there, I’m referencing Spider-Man)
But my super power has developed to the point where I can detect whether someone will be a good client or not, which comes very handy for when I’m deciding whether to commit months or even years of working closely with someone.
Here are some of the phrases that sets off my Spidey sense and has me swinging over to safety:
– “Oh, I never pay sticker price. You’ll have to do better with your fee”
– “Move your schedule around or I’ll go elsewhere. I know a TON of coaches who would love to have me as a client!”
– “Don’t you know who I am???”
– “Can you guarantee that I’ll make $x???”
– “Work with me for free. I’ll then pay you from the money that I make …”
When you’re running a business, you have to have boundaries and keep control. If you’re always giving into others, you’ll be running around like a chicken with its head cut off.
If you haven’t develop a feel for this yet, it’ll happen. Get burned enough times (like I did) and you’ll find yours.
If you don’t say the above phrases, and you want to grow a coaching business, check this out (you won’t set my Spidey sense off):
