Most life coaches that I know choose to work from home as it makes sense from both a practical and financial perspective.
It is true that there are relatively few traditional employment opportunities for life coaches and some would say this is what drives them to set up their own practices and work from home.
However, I am inclined to argue the reverse cause and effect.
In other words, the vast majority of life coaches shun traditional employment, preferring the flexibility that comes from running their own coaching practices. As a consequence any corporate opportunities tend to be contracted out rather than serviced in house.
[box type=\”shadow\”]“Wherever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision.”
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Best work from home opportunity? Continued
Disadvantage … no longer
Until fairly recently, the main disadvantage of being a work-from-home life coach would be the constraints on the number of clients one could attract and consequently one’s potential income, particularly if you lived in a smaller town or rural area with fewer people and less disposable income.
Nowadays, not only is this disadvantage rapidly disappearing but the main advantages of working from home as a life coach are becoming more pronounced.
Advances in digital and communications technology are swiftly overcoming the practical hurdles that have until now been associated with working from home.
Virtual face-to-face relationships
The advent of the Internet, increasingly high speed broadband connectivity to the home, wireless network facilities and smart mobile devices are giving us the ability to create virtual face-to-face relationships with people even if we exist at opposite ends of the earth!
Just the other day, I hired someone in Sri Lanka to design a simple software programme to search, highlight and then remove duplicates from a large database. It took about 30 minutes on a skype video call for me to share my computer screen, show him the database and explain what I wanted.
Two days later he had done the job for a very reasonable fee and popped the software application into my Dropbox. Minutes after checking it out I paid by simply clicking a button on a website.
Just a few years ago this would not have been possible.
Skype and journal coaching
In a similar way, life coaches are now able to coach people living hundreds or even thousands of miles away, by using free technologies such as Skype, FaceTime and Google Hangouts for example. The only limitations on who you can coach in this way are suitable payment mechanisms (easy to overcome for most people), time differences and possible language barriers.
Journal coaching, where coach and client interact purely using the written word via an online journaling platform, is becoming increasingly popular.
It ideally requires dedicated training to coach effectively in this way but the great thing is you don’t have to be online when your client is online. You respond to journals at your own convenience. You charge less because there’s a lot less work – but you can service an awful lot more clients in this way!
A vast potential market
Not everyone wants to coach – or be coached – remotely (those that try it are often bowled over by just how convenient and effective it is) but the fact remains that there is still a vast potential market.
Of course if you live in a country where the cost of living is relatively low and you coach people in a country with a stronger currency you have a big advantage.
Universally applicable skills
Because of this and the fact that good life coaching skills are universally applicable (helping people transform their lives is a skill that transcends geographical boundaries) life coaching is arguably one of the best home business opportunities available to people who love working with people.
A lifestyle business
Life coaching is what I would term a ‘lifestyle business’ or a business for people who value being able to dictate their own lifestyle rather than having one that is dictated to them – as is the case with most regular jobs or careers in employment!
Life coaches can choose the number of hours they want to work each day, each week and each month. A coach can schedule coaching sessions to suit his or her lifestyle.
Obviously, more time spent coaching means more income at the end of the day but the coach has the ability to find his or her own ideal ‘balance point’ in this regard.
And the setting up and running of a life coaching practice from home can be done with a minimal investment and low overheads, so your income goes a long way!
Is this the best work from home opportunity?
Food for thought, perhaps.
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When I first certified as a coach, I never thought beyond the work-from-home option, but once I started using Skype, I realised that my business was location-independant.
One of the huge factors of working for yourself is that when you are not working, you are not bringing in an income. That can limit big holidays or long weekends away with the family. Now, whether I am travelling or my clients are travelling, I can continue with our coaching sessions and still bring in an income without putting strain on my finances.
It has given me a huge amount of freedom and flexibility that I had never realised was possible when I first certified.
Thanks for the comments Alana. Yes, indeed, the flexibility is a huge benefit 🙂
Hi Bill
There is more than one way to do this. I have been able to source funding which allows me to coach women in the community. I do this through a local charity which gives me a regular income although not what I could charge for private clients, it does allow me to be able to pursue private clients as well . I live in a rural community so am well versed with issues this brings. You have to think outside of the box.
Very interesting – thanks for the contribution Annette!
I agree wholeheartedly, Bill, that it is one of the best home business opportunities for someone like myself, who loves motivating, inspiring and encouraging people who express a desire to learn and grow.
Awesome – thanks Karen!
Good morning Bill,
I would like to add that a recent survey has revealed that there is massive move in the current working generation. They are looking for companies that are currently aware and practice ‘lifestyle employment’ .
The research also revealed that companies and employees that use ‘lifestyle’ employment’ are far more successful. The flexibility benefits from this approach allows for employees to be extremely productive. The levels of productivity reaches unbelievable new highs.
Just thought I should mention this.
Regards
LennyN
Great to hear from you again Lenny! Thanks for the comments.