I talked today to a friend who I met several years ago, as members of an association for professional coaches. While the national association is going strong, our local chapter disbanded a few years ago. We reminisced about coaches we knew from the local chapter and where they are now. I was struck by how many trained coaches are not making a living at coaching. Some had decided to take on full-time jobs in other areas (e.g., teaching, psychotherapy, remodeling and home repair.) Others are supported by spouses with jobs to pay the mortgage and grocery bill.

I’m extremely grateful that I’ve been able to earn a living and support a family of four as a coach and consultant. Part of this is due to the fact that I embrace the business aspect of being a solopreneur. As one of my coaching friends said in email last year:

"What I know about you? You love the business…..;) and it shows in everything you do."

It’s true. I do love the business. I love creating something from nothing, including marketing materials, coaching programs, podcasts, blogs. I don’t mind writing proposals. In fact, I’m good at it. I’m comfortable with talking about money and see the world as a place of abundance, not scarcity. I drive to results and am willing to build a little at a time, over time. I like the challenge of figuring out a niche and then building a brand. I put my time into building the revenue pipeline. New coaches don’t realize how many sample sessions and free speaking gigs (and blog posts!) you do to fill the pipeline. I like using technology to reach more people and be more efficient with my time. I learn from my mistakes. I stay connected with my audience. I make new, meaningful connections all the time and create lasting relationships with the best of them. 

This is not meant to be an essay on how wonderful I am. (On my worst days, my husband would provide you with an entirely different description.) It’s meant to underscore that being a solopreneur is not for everyone, even if you know your craft well and love the work.

The coaching schools are getting better at providing support for new coaches who aren’t naturally inclined to be small business owners. I’m hoping that individuals who are finishing their coaching training now will have a higher success rate.

The lesson here is not what you’d expect to hear from a coach:

Following your passion is sometimes not enough. Sometimes it falls short.

You heard it here first.