Would you rather listen to this article? Click here to download the mp3.

I hope you know this by now. I know I talk about it all the time and so do probably hundreds of other coaches.

That said, it’s amazing how many coaches really don’t have a niche or don’t think it’s important.

I hear all the time that the reason someone doesn’t have a niche is that they are fearful they will be leaving someone out. I understand that, I understand your wanting to serve anyone who wishes to work with you.

You know my niche, working with women after 50 to build on line coaching businesses. Have I worked with women under 50? You betcha. Have I worked with men? Of course.

Even then, I can’t work with everyone. I can’t work with someone who wants to train horses or design websites. Those are not topics I know enough about to help them.  I can not be a ‘jack of all trades’ and coach anyone and I doubt you can either. None of us is an expert in it all.

So, first of all figure out WHY you want to start or sustain a coaching business. This might not seem very important and maybe you feel like you will figure that out later and now you just want to get going!  I get that but I still will push you to be very clear on why you want to start this business or why you want to continue in your business.

Being an entrepreneur is not the easiest path to a pay check.  When you are struggling, when you feel like your business will never get off the ground, when you are ready to pull your hair out, you sure better be able to remember WHY you are doing all this to yourself.  Is it to serve your clients so they have a better life, to live their strengths, to have better relationships or be healthier?

Ask yourself this question: What am I an expert in? Make yourself a list. Then ask: Do I love these people and can I be with them all day long and still love them when the day is over? You may laugh at this but it’s very true.  There may be areas you are an expert in but the people in that group are not people you really care about. Even if they have the money to pay you handsomely, if you don’t love them, you will be miserable.

You have you own business so you can be sure that what you do and who you do it with is something you truly love.
That’s just a very first step in getting your business off the ground.  What are you an expert in? Do you love these people? Can they pay you?
And yes, you do need a Niche!

Action Step: My Coaches request to you: Make a list of the things in your life you are an expert it. Narrow it down to those groups of people that you really enjoy being around.  Now narrow your list down even farther by asking, can these people pay me?  (HINT: if they can’t then your business will only be a hobby.)