There is a great quote from Alice in Wonderland that goes something like “…if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there”. So, as a coach and entrepreneur, if you don’t know where you are going, your decision-making could lead you to make poor choices – and with many of my clients, it’s into disaster.
If we let our passions get ahead of business pragmatism, we may not see the signs to leading us down the right road to our purpose – and what better way to get us where we are going than to have a road map. But I hear you say,

I know what I want, coaching is my life’s purpose, my passion…I’m here to coach!” That is great, but how many of us sit down and contemplate if what we are doing is a pastime, a hobby, or a bona fide business that will make us money?

Here are some tips to get you started:

Write down – what are my purpose, my vision, and my values using the following suggestions.

Questions:

• What am I here to do? What is my purpose?
• How can I create more value for less effort?
• What is my vision for the future and how will I know when I get there?
• What is the downside of my dream?
• What do I value most and how does that impact me?
• What won’t I tolerate?

Then consider, and write down again, where is my market, who is my audience/clients, do I have competitors, who are they, and how am I different. By this stage, you should be getting a picture of what business you’re in and how you’re going to service it.

Questions:

• What industry, group, or segment of society am I wanting to coach in?
• Is there a need for what I am offering?
• Who are the people within this sector – gender, age, location, socio-economic characteristics, and where do they hang out?
• How do I find them – what do they read, listen to, and follow?
• What is going to stop me?
• Who are my direct competitors?
• What else could my potential clients do rather than see me?
• What do I need to do to fully meet my client’s needs?