You’ve finally started your coaching business, and everything feels shiny and new.
You’re excited. Passionate. Pumped.
New ideas for coaching services and packages are coming through hard and fast.
Although it’s just side hustle coaching for now, you know you’re going to switch to a full-time business soon.
“One in three Americans currently has an alternate way of making money other than their job,” says Ajit Nawalkha, the co-founder of Mindvalley Coach. But here’s something many newbies in the industry don’t realize: the start of your journey can be extremely hard to navigate. Mistakes made now can cost you a lot later.
Think about it…
This is the starting line. The point where you begin to invite clients, build your reputation, and grow your coaching practice.
If you don’t get on the right track now, it may take months or even years to correct rookie mistakes and become a full-time coach.
Here are three approaches from Ajit on how to scale a side hustle business in coaching.
1. Start strong
Knowing how to start a side hustle is one thing. Building a thriving coaching business on the side when you’re not the best coach you can be—that’s impossible.
Especially if you don’t understand how to include core coaching principles and practices in your sessions. Your clients won’t have results, and your business will never get off the ground.
“Knowing your strengths and using them to get you started is the easiest way to start your coaching business,” Ajit advises. “It also adds to your current experience.”
So commit to learning everything you can about becoming an extraordinary coach.
- Enroll in a reputable coaching program or course.
- Read great coaching books.
- Attend weekend seminars and retreats.
- Find a mentor to discuss your side hustle business ideas.
When you do this, you’ll see your coaching skills improve. Exponentially.
And you’ll start to build an awesome reputation.
This is one of the fastest and most powerful ways to create a long waitlist of eager clients and lifelong fans and followers.
2. Become visible
The coaching industry is growing at an incredible rate.
“Coaching has become a favorite when it comes to creating an alternative income,” Ajit points out. “It is fun; it’s progressive. There is more demand every day.”
In fact, it’s the second-fastest growing industry in the world—the average yearly growth is 6.7%. But it means nothing if no one knows you exist.
From the first day you start your business, focus on learning side hustle marketing methods you can expand on with time. In other words, master becoming visible in a crowded marketplace.
Make this your priority. Understand how to craft a personal brand and establish your authority.
Learn how to pick a niche and market yourself so you will be seen, heard, and trusted by all the right people.
These are the essentials that will get your coaching business moving forward quickly.
There’s no need to feel overwhelmed. Just take it step by step—but get going.
If you don’t, your dream of going full-time will remain just that. A dream.
3. Don’t rush it
You may have found your purpose, but so many new coaches feel the pressure to go full-time in just a few months. Or even weeks.
This is a massive mistake. When you rush toward your goal of going full-time, you’ll start to cut corners. You’ll use bad hacks and risky shortcuts where you shouldn’t.
You’ll take on clients who aren’t right for you, charge prices that don’t reflect your worth, and cut back on your ongoing learning and development as a coach.
You’ll also feel tremendous pressure and stress to keep going even when you’re drained and depleted. This will block you from coaching at your highest level, and it will damage your reputation.
And here’s the irony…
The faster you try to get to full-time status, the slower you progress.
What does Ajit suggest? “Early in your career, if you set a low expectation of yourself, you stand a chance of actually meeting it.”
So take a deep breath and take it a little slower. Focus on sustainable success, not quick wins.
You want to be a transformational coach who’s been around for decades. Not just a “flash in the pan” nobody remembers after a few months.
And who knows? Before you know it, you could be the one consulting as a side hustler.
Scale your impact, scale your income
Helping someone through their transformation, even if it’s through side hustle coaching, can be one of the most fulfilling things you can do with your life. What could be better than helping and serving others while making a great living?
These three powerful strategies are a great start to creating a solid foundation for your business.
Go deeper by learning the roadmap and skills you need to build a stable and profitable coaching career. Join us in the free Become a Mindvalley Certified Life Coach masterclass.
