I have been in the wellness industry for over a decade and a health coach for seven years, so naturally, I have always received a lot of business questions from new or aspiring health coaches.
I think we’ve all been there: you got your certificate and feel full of enthusiasm for sharing your knowledge, but then reality hit and you feel overwhelmed and lost. Anxiety and impostor syndrome start to creep in, and social media takes over your life!
And slowly, your enthusiasm is replaced by frustration, anxiety, and self-doubt.
The first year after graduation is crucial
In my experience, the first six months after graduation from a health coach training program are the most critical. Motivation is high, and your mind is really primed for positive change.
But then the reality of creating a business hits, and can feel overwhelming: finding your niche, spending hours on social media, setbacks, and too much effort for too little result.
The more time passes by, the more you feel demotivated and the less likely you are to actually start your own business, and if you haven't done so in the first years after graduation, then it is very unlikely that you'd do so, without some professional help.
After all, you’re a health coach, not a salesperson!
Here is when a health coach mentor comes in handy
Having someone who has been there, who understands your struggles and can pass on some experience and a different perspective is invaluable. Here is how a mentor can help:
1. Creating a business and digital marketing strategy
Finding your niche and creating a simple, but cohesive digital marketing strategy that you can sustain and scale without feeling overwhelmed.
2. Finding your identity as a health coach
There is a lot of emphasis on finding your marketing “niche”, but when you are starting out, that is difficult. Focus on finding your identity as a coach first: what drives you, what’s your story, and what’s your coaching language?
For example, I work with a non-diet intuitive eating approach, because when I was a kid I was on very strict diet, which let me very apprehensive of ever starting a new one. I am a food lover too, so I am passionate about sharing a non-diet approach to healthy food that combines good taste and nourishment. That’s my drive. What is yours?
Finding your identity as a coach is a prerequisite for discovering your niche and developing your branding strategy.
3. Beat impostor syndrome and build your confidence as a coach
Confidence comes with experience, but without clients, you cannot get experience. Many newly qualified health and wellness coaches are stuck in this loop.
Having a health coach mentor shadowing you when you start coaching clients is an instant confidence boost. Less anxiety, more calm, more confidence.
Planning is critical
My best advice…
Start planning before graduation. It will take at least 2-3 months for your social media to build up and show your profile on search engines. In many cases, much more than that.
Start early, at least 2-3 months before the end of your course. With clarity, you can streamline this process and hit the ground running as soon as you graduate.
Mentoring for health coaches
I now have availability for Mentoring for Health Coaches.
I can help you as little or as much as you need, and you can book me for one-off brainstorming sessions or more structured mentoring programs.
Together we can brainstorm new ideas, define your brand identity, create a social media strategy and remove those blocks that hold you back in your coaching practice.
Get in touch for a FREE 30-min chat, to see how we can work together.
I am a health coach helping clients move from emotional eating and yo-yo dieting to a more mindful…
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