Why You Need the Fun Factor to Build a Successful Health Coaching Business

My current business isn’t what I thought it would be when I first began a health coaching business over seven years ago. But, it’s perfect for me.

As a tech developer and coach, my work requires a keen eye for detail, problem solving skills, an ability to manage code, an understanding of health coaching, and a love of color and images.

That probably doesn’t sound like a whole lot of fun to you, but I can’t think of a better combination.

If I did only website design and development, I’d miss the relationships I have with my coaching clients.

If I offered only business coaching, and didn’t “get my hands dirty” building websites for my tech clients, my days wouldn’t be as much fun.

Sometimes I look at what my colleagues are doing, and start to wonder: “should I offer only tech development? Or only business coaching?”

It’s a unique combination. But it’s a good fit for me, no matter what everybody else is doing. Once I created a business I enjoy, I began experiencing success, after so many years of struggling.

Are you in love with your health coaching business?

How much of your health coaching business do you truly enjoy? How much fun is it to you?

As a health coach, you’re helping people transform their lives, so you feel some satisfaction in your work. But that’s not what I’m asking.

Is there something you would love to be doing that you resist because you believe you “shouldn’t” or because it’s not what your colleagues are doing?

I was talking with a health coach client today who was trying to come up with new programs to offer. She told me she was tired of “banging her head against the wall” year after year.

She’s not alone feeling this way. I know I can relate. Can you?

The truth is, if you don’t enjoy your business, you’ll always feel like you’re fighting for success instead of experiencing the flow of it all.

So what’s missing?

The FUN FACTOR!

There are certainly many pieces to the health coaching business success puzzle. You work hard to get all the marketing right, and create the kinds of offers you think are going to attract clients. And year after year, real success (by your own definition) eludes you.

Could it be the fun factor is missing for you?

In your health coaching business, for example, maybe you offer six-month programs of two calls per month with a bunch of handouts included.

Now that’s all well and good – if it’s fun to you!

I’ve had clients tell me they love to lead cooking classes, but don’t enjoy the one-on-one coaching programs. When I ask “So why do you still offer private programs?” it’s usually answered with a list of “shoulds”.

You look at what your colleagues are doing, you seek out business building advice, and yet you often fail to listen to yourself. Only you know the secret to your success, because only you know what feels good to you.

Stop fighting yourself, and start having fun.

Consider the many unique skills you have to offer your tribe. Write a list.

Of those, what do you most enjoy doing? What services feel the most fun to you? When you build your programs and services around what you love to do, you will more easily attract clients to you.

If you love one-on-one coaching, but don’t enjoy running around town every day, stop seeing clients in person and build a virtual health coaching business.

If talking about food all day doesn’t light you up, change the focus of your practice to what does. Become a relationship coach, a healthy communications coach or a mindfulness mentor.

The same goes for your marketing. For example, if you hate to write, but love to speak, add audio or video to your monthly newsletters instead of forcing yourself to write articles.

Give yourself permission to have fun.

What about all the “necessary evils” for your health coaching business that need to get done? If doing bookkeeping, updating your website, organizing your files or sending out newsletters is anything but fun for you, find someone else to do this stuff.

Hire a bookkeeper, get a tech expert on your team, find a local college student to be your intern.

Focus on what’s fun and drop or delegate the rest.

This is your business, and your life. Start designing it around what you love. Allow yourself to feel the flow and you’ll soon discover how much easier it can all be.

Talk to me: comment below to tell me what you love about your health coaching business, or what you’re going to add (or subtract) to up your FUN FACTOR!

To your awesome biz,
Heather