God called you to be a coach. Wow – what a wonderful privilege. And a big responsibility. But that’s okay. You’re motivated, excited, and well-trained.
You are good to go…
Except for one itty-bitty thing – the “M” word. Marketing.
To coach you have to get clients, and to get clients you have to market. Market your business. Market yourself. And you’ve not learned those skills. In fact, truth be told, you’re pretty sure you never wanted to learn those skills.
Self-promotion, networking meetings, building a website, choosing a niche, trying to catch up with the technology curve, charging money for coaching that people want for free….
You feel completely inadequate.
As we say in coach lingo, there is a gap. A huge gap.
So, the temptation comes to try to fill that gap on your own through…
Determination – Through sheer brute strength you’ll break down every barrier convinced that “If it’s going to be, it’s up to me.” And determination may achieve the goal but it will wound your spirit.
Denial – “If God called me to do this, it will all just magically work out. Clients will just appear at the door.” And so you wait, and wait and wait for a thriving business that never comes.
Despair – “Surely God didn’t intend marketing to be so hard and take so long, so He must not have intended for me to be a coach.”
But there is one other way to bridge the gap and that’s by embracing your inadequacy.
Here’s the truth. Marketing is too hard, the road is too long, and you aren’t equipped. But that’s not an obstacle, it’s an invitation.
An invitation to embrace our inadequacy, lean deeply into God and experience the beauty and sufficiency of Christ.
And in that marketing journey, we learn things we’ve never learned before…
When we are…
Weak – He is strong
Confused – He is wise
When others reject us – He still accepts us
Anxious – He is our peace
Discouraged – He is our hope
Scared – He is our rock
Faithless – He is faithful
When we embrace our inadequacy through the ongoing journey of marketing, we’ll not only have businesses full of clients but lives and hearts that are full of Christ.
It’s Your Turn
What part of marketing makes you feel inadequate? Let us know in the comment section below.
And would you please consider sharing this important message by clicking on the Facebook or Twitter share button below? Thank you so much!
Thank you so much for this direct Word to me! Bless you.
I’m so, so thankful that it was helpful! God is good.
Thank you so much for this direct Word to me! Bless you.
I’m so, so thankful that it was helpful! God is good.
I’ve often said that the is a correlation between marketing with coaching and raising support/fundraising/developing ministry partners (I’m on staff with The Navigators, as well as a coach, and we’re required to raise 100% of our support.). It strikes me that I could replace marketing with one of the other three terms and it would apply equally as well.
Hi Tom, I have often thought the exact same thing! Thanks for confirming that for me. And wow – raising 100% of your support AND marketing your coaching business is a big, big job. A God-sized job. I’m praying right now that God will equip you and give you everything you need to serve Him in both these ways.
I’ve often said that the is a correlation between marketing with coaching and raising support/fundraising/developing ministry partners (I’m on staff with The Navigators, as well as a coach, and we’re required to raise 100% of our support.). It strikes me that I could replace marketing with one of the other three terms and it would apply equally as well.
Hi Tom, I have often thought the exact same thing! Thanks for confirming that for me. And wow – raising 100% of your support AND marketing your coaching business is a big, big job. A God-sized job. I’m praying right now that God will equip you and give you everything you need to serve Him in both these ways.
Thanks for the inspiration Kim!
You are so welcome, Patti. Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks for the inspiration Kim!
You are so welcome, Patti. Thanks for stopping by.