The Coach's Journey - build a coaching business with integrity

What if almost every coaching challenge you face in your practice could be solved with better coaching contracts and clearer agreements?That’s what Robbie dives into in this short episode.Drawing on his own coaching practice, experiences in supervision, and lessons learned from mentors and peers, Robbie explains why contracting with clients is one of the most important skills a coach can develop… and how better contracting could have solved almost every challenge he’s ever brought to supervision. He shares how he builds contracting into every part of his work: from the very first client conversation, through re-contracting midway, to closing an engagement with clarity.Robbie explores the written coaching agreements he uses, the questions he asks clients, how he contracts with stakeholders while keeping confidentiality intact, and why he has stopped sending written coaching notes. Along the way, he also reflects on ICF ethics, the role of supervision, and what really matters for coaches who want to build a meaningful, sustainable business.In this episode, Robbie talks about:Why most coaching challenges come back to contracting and agreementsThe questions he asks to set up effective coaching contractsHow he re-contracts with coaching clients partway through an engagementThe importance of private goals when coaching within organisationsWhy he stopped sending coaching session notes and what he does insteadHow ethics, supervision, and simplicity shape his coaching practiceIf you’ve ever wondered how to contract in a way that supports your clients, strengthens your coaching practice, and makes your work more impactful, this episode offers plenty to take away.Download Robbie’s ebook, An Introduction to The Coaching Business Flywheel, here.Buy The Coaching Business Flywheel Booster Pack - including all the emails Robbie sends to his clients at every stage of his business, plus a flowchart, coaching agreements and his favourite emails for creating clients. For more information about Robbie, visit https://www.robbieswale.com/Read more about The Coach's Journey at www.thecoachsjourney.com.Music by My Good Man William: listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KmeQUcTbeE31uFynHQLQgTo support the Coach's Journey, visit www.patreon.com/thecoachsjourney and to join the Coach's Journey Community visit www.thecoachsjourney.com/community. THINGS ROBBIE MENTIONED THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED INThe Coaching Business Flywheel: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/the-coaching-business-flywheel Robbie’s article about starting coaching sessions well: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/writing/how-to-start-your-coaching-sessions-so-they-practically-run-themselves The Coaching Business Flywheel Booster Pack: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/the-coaching-business-flywheel-booster-pack Robbie’s Meaningful Productivity workshops: https://www.robbieswale.com/meaningful-productivity-workshop-series The video version of this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhjuhKWx9iA Episode #8, containing this and lots more nuts and bolts of coaching: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/robbie-on-structure-first-conversations-marketing-price Simon Feldman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonfeldman/Robbie’s video with ways of talking about coaching: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/106-how-to-lead-a-powerful-first-conversation-with-a-potential-coaching-client Robbie’s video about endings and reflecting on coaching: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/91-how-to-create-a-powerful-ending-to-a-coaching-engagement Miles Downey – Effective Modern Coaching - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Effective-Modern-Coaching-Developing-Professionals/dp/1441186102 Robbie’s conversation with Miles Downey on The Coach’s Journey Podcast - https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/ep-14-myles-downey BetterUp https://www.betterup.com/ 64 Million Artists https://64millionartists.com/ The ideas of Zone of Genius and Zone of Excellence: https://www.robbieswale.com/the-12-minute-blog/2022/2/3/the-zone-of-genius-the-most-powerful-thought-experiment-for-personal-transformation Mike Toller on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-32-mike-toller International Coaching Federation (ICF) Code of Ethics https://coachingfederation.org/ethicsFree Ethics Training from the ICF https://learning.coachingfederation.org/products/ethics-training

Ever since she was a child, working in her father’s clothes shop in Derbyshire and standing on a box to see over the counter, Jenny Bird has spent her life being interested in people.She drew upon the principles of communication honed during those formative years as she blossomed into one of the United Kingdom’s very first master coaches, going on to co-author renowned coaching titles such as The Art of Coaching: A Handbook of Tips and Tools, and How to Work with People... and Enjoy It!In this episode of The Coach’s Journey Podcast, Jenny describes the experience of leaving community education and training to be a coach at the turn of the century, when stacks of materials were posted across the Atlantic and she joined conference calls with coach trainers located all over the world.Throughout her training and her early forays into coaching at global corporations and in the NHS, Jenny surveyed the landscape of personal and development for those who do things differently, describing her “joy for sparkly new things”.By consistently forging relationships with innovators and brilliant thinkers throughout the field, Jenny has enriched her career. She shares invaluable wisdom accumulated across her career through her books and in her role as co-founder of Coach Continuum, which provides CPD, networking and supervision to help coaches flourish.Jenny and host Joey Owen also talk about:The benefits of being a risk takerHow to barter your way to getting what you wantPartnering generously and being paid what you are worthHow to tend to your LinkedIn gardenBringing poetry and creativity into coaching to cut through to the emotionJenny also shares some invaluable advice to new coaches, outlining the mindset, behaviours and conditions that form the essential foundations of a successful business. THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN:- Ruchi Shah-Mehta https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruchi-coach/- Coach Continuum https://coachcontinuum.com/- CoachU https://www.coachu.com/home/- Thomas Leonard, The Portable Coach https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=L0IVLyDUQ14C&printsec=copyright&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false- EMCC https://www.emccglobal.org/accreditation/- ICF https://coachingfederation.org/- The Clean Sweep Questionnaire https://www.lifecoach.com/free-quizzes/clean-sweep-quiz/- Common factors theory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_factors_theory- AoEC https://www.aoec.com/- Sarah Gornall https://peopleuntapped.com/ourglobalteam/sarah-gornall/- The Art of Coaching https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=9OuPCgAAQBAJ&printsec=copyright&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false  - Coaching Development https://www.coachingdevelopment.com/- Business Network International https://www.bni.com/- Quotes from golfer Gary Player https://www.yourgolftravel.com/19th-hole/gary-player-quotes-from-the-black-knight/- Animas https://www.animascoaching.com/- Erik de Haan http://www.erikdehaan.com/

Shruti Sonthalia says purpose is her superpower. A strong sense of purpose helped Shruti to demolish seemingly insurmountable barriers to becoming a Master Certified Coach and a globally renowned industry figure, and in this episode of The Coach’s Journey Podcast, she implores all coaches to find their ‘why’.Shruti began her journey without coaches around her to learn from, living and working in a culture that assumed expertise was the preserve of men with white hair. Believing it was her purpose to create sacred spaces in the workplace, Shruti grafted with steadfast resolve to defy the gatekeepers and doubters who stood in her way.By taking the path less travelled and proving herself time and again, Shruti developed a work ethic that took her to the top of her profession, empowering leaders across global markets to embody a coaching mindset.She pays forward her expertise in the training curricula she devises and delivers to the next generation of coaches, founding her structured, evidence-based approach on the values and principles she speaks about in this episode.In this conversation, Shruti invites us all to ask: which parts of our journeys do we struggle to own? And how might addressing them enable changes within us that ripple out to the ecosystems we operate within?Shruti and host Neil Mackinnon also talk about:- Whether coaching has the same effectiveness in different areas, geographies, and realities- Accessibility of supervision as a vital aspect of coaching’s growth and integrity- The learning we can take from our own procrastination- How a coaching mindset can help us embody shared power- The principle that says that which you focus on expands, and how to harness itTHINGS WE TALKED ABOUT THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN:- AoEC - Academy of Executive Coaching https://www.aoec.com/ - ICF - International Coaching Federation https://coachingfederation.org/ - ICF Foundation https://foundationoficf.org/ - Shruti's paper on effectiveness of coaching in emerging markets https://radar.brookes.ac.uk/radar/file/08d2850c-51fe-42ab-aeea-e7ec829bc5a9/1/IJEBCM%2022_1_10.pdf - London School of Economics https://www.lse.ac.uk/ - Yannick Jacob on The Coach's Journey Podcast https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/97-yannick-jacob-going-beyond-blueprints-to-challenge-the-status-quo-of-coaching - Richard Layard https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Layard,_Baron_Layard - Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4069.Man_s_Search_for_Meaning - Martin Seligman https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Seligman - David Foster Wallace, This Is Water https://fs.blog/david-foster-wallace-this-is-water/ - Theory U by Otto Sharma https://www.amazon.co.uk/Theory-Learning-Emerges-Futures-Business/dp/1576757633 - Robbie Swale’s writing on resistance https://www.robbieswale.com/the-12-minute-blog/2025/3/28/the-more-resistance-we-feel-towards-a-call-or-action-the-more-important-that-call-or-action-is-to-our-souls-evolution - The War of Art by Steven Pressfield https://www.amazon.co.uk/War-Art-Through-Creative-Battles/dp/1936891026 - IFS, parts work, what’s in the way is the way https://matthewharwood.uk/ifs/ - RUHCO https://ruhco.org/

A commitment to “directional correctness” has helped Patrick Quinton-Smith solve existential questions on the way to becoming the co-founder of a multigenerational coaching consultancy, Gen Z Coach.In his fast-paced career, Patrick has overcome huge challenges by remaining true to his philosophy of maintaining a steady direction – even when sidewinds threaten to blow him off course.When rapid success in the energy sector failed to bring Patrick fulfilment he took a bold step towards coaching, giving up one day per week to build his business. Just three years on, he works full time at the head of a consultancy that coaches young people while helping businesses to lead multigenerational teams more effectively.Patrick speaks about the importance of the power of a clear and deep purpose and mission. He also explains the role of breathwork and emotional awareness in becoming a skilled navigator along his particular journey, which has taught him valuable lessons about the roots of his self-worth and the nature of what drives him forward.This episode offers a refreshingly frank account of just how hard it can be to overcome fear, doubt, adversity and the deeply personal challenges that we all face as we seek to grow and live in accordance with our values.Patrick and host Alex Whitton also talk about:- The number of times you might have to receive a “no” before achieving your goals- The benefits of having a niche, and how to let your niche find you- How to weather the storm of lean spells and hold onto the bigger picture while building a business- What we can learn from the challenges that scare us- The relationship between adventure and growthTHINGS WE TALKED ABOUT THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN:- General Assembly – Seven Career Coaching https://sevencareercoaching.co.uk/career-and-life-coaching-blog/seven-x-general-assembly-future-proof-your-career-in-2019-beyond - Bulb Energy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulb_Energy - Derek Appau - http://linkedin.com/in/dereka/?originalSubdomain=uk - Mindset by Carol Dweck https://fs.blog/carol-dweck-mindset/ - Coaching for Business course, City University https://www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/prospective-students/courses/short-courses/coaching-for-business - International Coaching Federation https://coachingfederation.org/ - Gillian McMichael, Full Circle Global https://fullcircleglobal.com/ - Joel Burgess https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachjoelburgess/?originalSubdomain=uk - 16 'no's video/post https://www.linkedin.com/posts/maya-raichoora_getting-nos-and-rejections-used-to-crush-activity-7351498362937901057-teIC/ - Diary of a CEO, “roll the dice” https://www.tiktok.com/@steven/video/7504384000891391254 - The Coaching business flywheel - https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/the-coaching-business-flywheel 

In this episode, Robbie walks you step‑by‑step through how he leads the first conversation with a potential coaching client - with authenticity, honour and integrity, and without being salesy or pushy. Packed with clear guidance and real‑world examples, you'll learn how to:Prepare clients in advance and set expectations before the callModel leadership in the first conversation to build credibility and trustGuide the conversation through contracting, coaching, and honestyLead naturally toward a decision: no pressure, just clarity about what comes nextIf you’re tired of ‘discovery calls’ or ‘coffees’ that feel awkward or wind down without clarity… this episode is for you.Download Robbie’s ebook, An Introduction to The Coaching Business Flywheel, here.Buy The Coaching Business Flywheel Booster Pack - including all the emails Robbie sends to his clients at every stage of his business, plus a flowchart, coaching agreements and his favourite emails for creating clients. For more information about Robbie, visit https://www.robbieswale.com/Read more about The Coach's Journey at www.thecoachsjourney.com.Music by My Good Man William: listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KmeQUcTbeE31uFynHQLQgTo support the Coach's Journey, visit www.patreon.com/thecoachsjourney and to join the Coach's Journey Community visit www.thecoachsjourney.com/community. THINGS ROBBIE MENTIONED THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED INThe Coaching Business Flywheel: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/the-coaching-business-flywheel The Coaching Business Flywheel Booster Pack: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/the-coaching-business-flywheel-booster-pack The video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/ub_gFNZ8bsY Episode #8, containing this and lots more nuts and bolts of coaching: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/robbie-on-structure-first-conversations-marketing-price My video about contracting as a coach: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhjuhKWx9iA Phil Bolton on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-2-phil-bolton-from-forensic-accountant-to-the-go-to-career-coach-in-london-and-on-to-work-with-ceos-mds-and-founders Rich Litvin: How To Coach Someone You Don't Yet Know - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1mBCDWOX-I Jamie Smart on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-16-jamie-smart Giovanna Capozza on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-20-giovanna-capozza Rich Litvin: The Art of the Proposal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjwzfLIA8w0

What does it really look like to take your coaching practice on the road?In this short episode, Robbie and Alex Swallow get together to explore the possibilities and challenges of coaching as a digital nomad — or simply working remotely and flexibly as a coach.They talk about their experience working from Costa Rica, Dar es Salaam, cafés in the UK, and the practical and emotional realities of taking coaching work on the move. This conversation is filled with candid reflections, personal stories, and valuable tips for coaches curious about location-independent work.Together, Robbie and Alex discuss:What it’s really like to coach while travellingThe difference between remote work and being on holidayThe impact of environment on coaching conversationsEnergy management, internet mishaps, and time zone headachesWhy solo digital nomad life might not be as dreamy as it soundsThe power of experiments — like working from a different UK city — to test what worksHow being in new places can boost creativity and reflectionIf you're a coach who’s ever dreamed of working remotely, coaching from anywhere, or building a location-independent coaching business, this episode offers encouragement, perspective, and a few gentle warnings…Download Robbie’s ebook, An Introduction to The Coaching Business Flywheel, here. For more information about Robbie, visit https://www.robbieswale.com/For more information about Alex, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexswallow/Read more about The Coach's Journey at www.thecoachsjourney.com.Music by My Good Man William: listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KmeQUcTbeE31uFynHQLQgTo support the Coach's Journey, visit www.patreon.com/thecoachsjourney and to join the Coach's Journey Community visit www.thecoachsjourney.com/community.

What if the way you sell your coaching is getting in the way of the coaching itself?In this solo episode, Robbie shares how his thinking and practice around selling coaching packages has evolved — from charging by the session, to selling time-bound coaching engagements that prioritise impact, flexibility and real transformation.This candid, behind-the-scenes reflection covers everything from awkward money conversations to powerful client breakthroughs — and invites coaches to rethink how they price and package their work. Drawing from his own business journey, the coaching he’s received, and the coaches he's supported, Robbie lays out a compelling case for selling periods of time, not sessions.Whether you’re new to coaching or looking to grow a more sustainable, generous practice, this episode will help you:Reflect on how your current engagements are serving you — and your clientsExplore how time-based engagements can build trust, accountability and transformationSet ambitious goals with clients in ways that feel natural and expansiveAvoid the session-counting mindset that can limit both coach and clientSee how changing the way you package your coaching can change the value clients see in it. Embrace the idea of being a companion on your client’s journey — not just a service providerWith honesty and nuance, Robbie invites you to experiment with what works for you — and to create coaching offers that feel both nourishing and powerful.Download Robbie’s ebook, An Introduction to The Coaching Business Flywheel, here.For more information about Robbie, visit https://www.robbieswale.com/Read more about The Coach's Journey at www.thecoachsjourney.com.Music by My Good Man William: listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KmeQUcTbeE31uFynHQLQgTo support the Coach's Journey, visit www.patreon.com/thecoachsjourney and to join the Coach's Journey Community visit www.thecoachsjourney.com/community.THINGS ROBBIE MENTIONED THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED INThe video version of this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzeyK2yvWOI Episode #8, containing this and lots more nuts and bolts of coaching: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/robbie-on-structure-first-conversations-marketing-price Joel Monk on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-6-joel-monk-conversations-at-the-cutting-edge-of-coaching

Every village and every community throughout human history has relied upon people who can facilitate conversations, allowing sacred truths to be passed along generations. In a modern world gripped by a process of massive transformation, this vital, ancient work now falls to coaches.That is the view of Bob Singha, a master coach who has spent 28 years helping people connect the day-to-day reality of their lives with the eternal teachings of their ancestral heritage. In conversation with Alex Swallow, Bob reflects on his evolution as a coach and as an elder, which he sees as a process of remembering rather than one of learning.Across decades of work with young people around the world, facing lives blighted by trauma and violence, Bob has found that communities everywhere face similar problems, and that the solutions to them lie in the deep wisdom of our ancestral memories.Using stories as medicine and as conveyors of wisdom, Bob helps people to remember something about themselves.In this conversation, Bob and Alex acknowledge the call being sounded for coaches who don’t feel at home in the standard business models that commodify and separate us. They also illustrate the remarkable role coaches can play in connecting communities with the intelligence that gave birth to them.In this episode, Bob and Alex also talk about:- How studying something as if you’re going to teach it leads to accelerated learning- Our connection with the sages, the rishis, the sadhus and fakirs who throughout history have integrated spiritual wisdom and worldly responsibilities- The power of the question: what are the whispers of your ancestors saying in this moment?- The relationship between the way we play games and the way we live our lives- A hilarious story that revealed to Bob at a young age the importance of language, and how we can use it to speak to both the temporary and the eternal.THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN:- Timothy Gallwey https://theinnergame.com/ - John Whitmore https://www.performanceconsultants.com/about-us/sir-john-whitmore/ - Tony Robbins https://www.tonyrobbins.com/- Stephen Covey on interdependence https://challengingcoaching.co.uk/stephen-covey-interdependence-the-deeper-facts/ - Spark Inside https://www.sparkinside.org/ - The Coaching Inn https://thecoachinginn.podbean.com/ - It Takes A Village https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llpz6bADkZU - Gladeana McMahon http://gladeanamcmahon.com/ - Anthony Eldridge Rogers https://uk.linkedin.com/in/anthonyeldridgerogers

How do we keep working when tragedy shakes our lives? If seismic events disrupt our foundations, is it possible to build something new with confidence?For Ellie Scarf, suffering a heartbreaking loss led to profound changes that have moved her from her zone of excellence into her zone of genius, where she draws upon her experiences to offer her coaching clients an approach and a service that is uniquely her own.In this episode of The Coach’s Journey Podcast, Ellie recounts the steps that took her from working as a lawyer in top tier legal firms to becoming a national sales coach for a billion dollar company. She describes how her coaching work was in the midst of a booming resurgence after the COVID-19 pandemic when tragedy struck.In conversation with host Ruth Saville, Ellie explains how she integrated her profound emotional experiences into a new way of working, turning her pain into a point of connection that deepened her client relationships.Now, alongside the client work that brings her joy every day, she also runs the Corporate To Coach Accelerator, building foundations for people on the runway to launching a business, and supporting coaches who are pivoting to leverage their skills in new ways. She is also CEO of Lucent Global coaching consultancy, which supports leaders and companies through significant periods of transition.She also has her own podcast, The Business of Executive Coaching Podcast, where she is just as inspiring a host as she is a guest in this episode.In this episode, Ellie and Ruth also talk about:·      A brilliant strategy to solve the problem of building business development into your schedule·      How to meet your clients where they’re at on their particular developmental journey·      What happens when non-directive coaching comes into conflict with a knowledge gap·      How many coaching programmes selling quick pathways to success prey on people’s fearsEllie also shares one crucial tip for anyone coach who is struggling to bring in business at the moment, offering a tried and tested way to make progress during lean times.Things and people we mentioned (that you might be interested in):- Tony Grant https://www.sydney.edu.au/science/news-and-events/news/2020/02/07/vale-professor-anthony-grant.html- Dr. Suzy Green https://instituteofcoaching.org/suzy-green- Masters course in Coaching Psychology at the University of Sydney https://www.sydney.edu.au/handbooks/science-pg/coursework/psychology-coaching.html#:~:text=The%20Master%20of%20Science%20in,working%20with%20non%2Dclinical%20populations.- The Positivity Institute https://thepositivityinstitute.com.au/- The Positivity Prescription https://thepositivityinstitute.com.au/product/the-positivity-prescription/- Dr. Susanne Cook-Greuter https://instituteofcoaching.org/author/cook-greuter-susanne- Robert Kegan’s theory of adult development https://aliveandthriving.substack.com/p/kegans-theory-of-development-framework- Bill Torbert’s development theory https://developingleadership.net/bill-torbert- The GROW model https://www.performanceconsultants.com/resources/the-grow-model- The House of Change model https://www.thevirtualtrainingteam.com/articles/change-management-models-the-change-house/- Dr. Louise Kovacs https://au.linkedin.com/in/louise-kovacs-9ba55a- Myers Briggs overview https://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/myers-briggs-overview/- Dr. Saba Hasanie https://www.linkedin.com/in/saba-hasanie-dprof-mcc-icf-1747572?originalSubdomain=sg- The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-big-leap-gay-hendricks?variant=32205677625378- Lucent Global https://www.lucentorg.com/about- Corporate to Coach Accelerator https://www.elliescarf.com/cca- The Coaching Business Flywheel https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/the-coaching-business-flywheel- Ellie’s podcast episode on metrics for coaches https://www.elliescarf.com/podcasts/the-business-of-executive-coaching/episodes/2148566834- Tim Ferriss’ billboard question https://medium.com/@podclips/the-top-25-answers-to-tim-ferriss-famous-billboard-question-3f19fba1a49c- The upper limit problem https://melodywilding.com/are-you-unconsciously-afraid-of-being-happy-why-we-self-sabotage-with-the-upper-limit-problem/

The question that new coaches ask most often: do I need a niche and how do I choose one?We don’t know why that idea is so pervasive among new coaches, but it is, so when Robbie got a question about it from a subscriber recently, he thought he’d make a short episode about it.Excuse the audio - he recorded on his phone - and see below for links to a few things he mentions in the episode.For more information about Robbie Swale, visit https://www.robbieswale.com/Read more about The Coach's Journey at www.thecoachsjourney.com.Music by My Good Man William: listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KmeQUcTbeE31uFynHQLQgTo support the Coach's Journey, visit www.patreon.com/thecoachsjourney and to join the Coach's Journey Community visit www.thecoachsjourney.com/community.HERE ARE LINKS TO SOME OF THE THINGS WE MENTIONED: Katie Harvey (a coach with no niche) on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-1-katie-harvey-14000-hours-of-coaching-being-part-of-the-uk-coaching-vanguard-and-being-a-generalist-coach The Coaching Business Flywheel: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/thecoachingbusinessflywheel The Coaching Business Flywheel Booster Pack: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/the-coaching-business-flywheel-booster-pack

To celebrate the 100th episode of The Coach’s Journey Podcast, Robbie takes us back to where the whole Coach’s Journey adventure began: the story of how he grew his coaching business so it could support him full time, less than two years after he started training as a coach.As you’ll hear him say in the introduction, coming back to this story - which forms the basis of Robbie’s most-read piece of writing about coaching - reminded him how, when it comes to the fundamentals, little has changed in how he thinks about and works on his business.Indeed, much of what you’ll hear Robbie talk about in this episode maps onto The Coaching Business Flywheel, brought to life through the eyes of a new coach, fresh from experiencing the successes, failures, glory and mistakes of the first two years of his business.In particular, Robbie gets into:The principles of invitation and referral as a way to build a coaching business.How to find shortcuts to the client critical mass.Why you MUST keep coaching.How if you aren’t making space for your business to grow, you may not be serious about coaching.We hope you take as much inspiration from this story as thousands of coaches have over the years.And thanks for being with us on this amazing journey - we hope you’ll be with us for the next 100 episodes!For the transcript of the episode and loads of links, visit: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/writing/how-i-became-a-full-time-coach-less-than-two-years-after-starting-my-trainingIf you like this episode, you’ll love Robbie’s ebook, An Introduction toThe Coaching Business Flywheel,visit https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/the-coaching-business-flywheelFor more information about Robbie, visit https://www.robbieswale.com/Read more about The Coach's Journey at www.thecoachsjourney.com.Music by My Good Man William: listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KmeQUcTbeE31uFynHQLQgTo support the Coach's Journey, visit www.patreon.com/thecoachsjourney and to join the Coach's Journey Community visit www.thecoachsjourney.com/community.THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN:The first episode in our series giving an overview of The Coaching Business Flywheel: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/75-how-to-grow-your-coaching-business-coaching-business-fundamentals The second episode in the series, focusing on Connecting with People: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/77-how-to-make-connections-who-become-clients-coaching-business-fundamentals The third, focusing on offering people the opportunity to experience you more, is here: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/80-dont-wait-for-coaching-clients-create-them-coaching-business-fundamentals The fourth, focusing on creating insight for people, is here: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/82-want-more-clients-create-more-insight-coaching-business-fundamentals The fifth, focusing on talking about how you work and how much it costs, is here: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/83-if-you-want-to-make-more-money-talk-about-money-more-coaching-business-fundamentals The sixth, focusing on working with clients and generating referrals, is here: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/85-get-more-referrals-for-your-coaching-business-coaching-business-fundamentals A diagram of The Coaching Business Flywheel: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/the-coaching-business-flywheel Katie Harvey on The Coach’s Journey: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-1-katie-harvey-14000-hours-of-coaching-being-part-of-the-uk-coaching-vanguard-and-being-a-generalist-coach Phil Bolton on The Coach’s Journey: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-2-phil-bolton-from-forensic-accountant-to-the-go-to-career-coach-in-london-and-on-to-work-with-ceos-mds-and-founders Joel Monk on the Coach’s Journey: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-6-joel-monk-conversations-at-the-cutting-edge-of-coaching Mike Toller on The Coach’s Journey: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-32-mike-toller Catriona Horey on The Coach’s Journey: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-4-catriona-horey-too-far-away-from-the-joy How to choose a coaching training programme: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/89-how-to-choose-a-coaching-training-programme- The Coach’s Journey Community: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/community The Coaching Business Flywheel Booster Pack: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/the-coaching-business-flywheel-booster-pack The full transcript of the episode, including lots more links: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/writing/how-i-became-a-full-time-coach-less-than-two-years-after-starting-my-training

In a world so focused on productivity, Coach’s Journey founder and host Robbie Swale is interrogating what this word really means.His work on the concept of meaningful productivity explores up questions like: “What do I need to do in order to be at peace with myself?” And: “Do I want to be more productive or simply not feel like I’m failing all the time?”In this episode of The Coach’s Journey Podcast, Robbie joins Joey Owen for a conversation that gets to the very heart of Robbie’s work as a leadership and careers coach with over 2000 hours’ experience, and as an author whose decade-long writing practice has led to valuable contributions to the field, such as The 12-Minute Method and The Coaching Business Flywheel. Robbie and Joey tackle fundamentally important questions about how coaches can make a difference in a world ravaged by conflict and division, how to stay humble in our work, and how to ensure we feel at peace with ourselves.You will hear Robbie and Joey speak about the importance of living and working with a code of honour, about learning to trust the strange and unexpected things that arise in coaching sessions, and how to integrate spiritual practices into your life through the rituals, hobbies, passions and habits you already do.If you would like to be doing more of what really matters to you, feeling better about the work you are doing, and living a rich life regardless of your financial situation, this episode is for you.Robbie and Joey also talk about:- How to cultivate a practice of trust that conversations happen at the right time- Not lying to ourselves about what we “have” to doThe places in our lives where we can practise presence and connection- How to manage your focus, attention and attitude in order to actively work towards the goals that matter most to you- The power of telling a story twice to embed an idea in your memoryThey also explore practical ways to keep yourself in the energy possibility, and Robbie shares the story of how “crashing and burning” while running a coaching event taught him powerful lessons about group dynamics, scapegoating and the importance of contracting.THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN:- Episode 45 of The Coach’s Journey Podcast, with Raquel Ark https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-45-doing-the-right-thing-even-when-its-hard-raquel-ark-interviews-robbie- Rich Litvin https://richlitvin.com/- The 12-Minute Method https://www.robbieswale.com/the12minutemethod- Workshop with Robbie and Claire Pedrick https://www.3dcoaching.com/artful-coach-soulful-business/- Robbie’s article about leading with honour (A Man Got to Have a Code) https://www.robbieswale.com/writing/2024/10/11/a-man-got-to-have-a-code-leading-with-honour-iii- The Meaningful Productivity Blueprint https://www.robbieswale.com/meaningful-productivity-blueprint-download-page- Gay Hendricks, Zone of Genius https://www.robbieswale.com/the-12-minute-blog/2022/2/3/the-zone-of-genius-the-most-powerful-thought-experiment-for-personal-transformation- Robert Holden, questions about purpose https://www.robertholden.com/blog/9-questions-help-find-purpose/- A Warren Buffet story about how he helped the pilot of his private jet prioritise more https://passionateaboutoss.com/the-story-of-mike-flint- Seth Godin on setting fees https://seths.blog/2024/11/understanding-pricing/- Parkinson’s law https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkinson%27s_law- Douglas Hoffstatter’s law https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hofstadter%27s_law- Ramit Sethi’s podcast https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/podcast/- Ffelyn Uchaf https://www.felinwales.org/- Jim Dethmer and Joel Monk on Coaching from Sourcehttps://www.coachesrising.com/podcast/jim-dethmer-coaching-from-source/- Frank Turner, The Way I Tend to Be https://frank-turner.com/tracks/the-way-i-tend-to-be/- Frank Turner, The Gathering https://frank-turner.com/tracks/the-gathering/- Frank Turner, Journey of the Magi https://frank-turner.com/tracks/journey-of-the-magi/- Internal Family Systems (IFS) drama triangle https://www.stroudtherapy.com/news/2024/02/25/dramatriangleifs- David Gemmell https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Gemmell- The Wheel of Time novel series https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wheel_of_Time- The ‘Yes, And’ teambuilding exercise https://openpracticelibrary.com/practice/yes-and/https://www.radicalagreement.com/post/yes-and-and-improv-teamwork- David Deida https://deida.info/- Freedom to Learn https://freedomtolearn.org.uk/- An Introduction to The Coach’s Journey Flywheel https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/the-coaching-business-flywheel

Being made redundant 18 months after moving to America transformed Ashana Crichton’s life because, in her own words, when you take away the security blanket you have to leap into something new.In this episode of The Coach’s Journey Podcast, Ashana fondly recalls having the rug pulled from under her feet, because it set her on the path to becoming a certified Master Executive Coach and the founder of Arc Growth, which cultivates spaces of shared belonging for influential leaders and under-represented mid-career professionals.Having returned to her native London after five years abroad, Ashana issues a plea to remove the stigma around the term ‘life coaching’ in the UK, which she sees as a barrier to inclusivity and accessibility, and she shares reflections from her groundbreaking work with the Diverse Executive Coaches Network.Ashana delivers coaching and consultancy to businesses wishing to progress diversity, equity and inclusion, and here she offers crucial insights on the way biases and power imbalances can impact coaching relationships, along with practical guidance on how to address them.This episode is a manifesto for the power of working in true partnership with our clients, as Ashana illuminates the vast potential of knowledge, experience and inspiration that can be shared when we create the conditions for coaching’s unique value exchange.In this episode, Ashana and host Alex Whitton also talk about:• How to allow time for context to emerge before asking questions that can overwhelm our clients• Unexpected responses and how to harness them in supervision• The benefits of doing a lot of things and not expecting anything from them! • Reverse-mentoring programmes, where leaders are signed up to be mentored by a team member with a different lived experienceTowards the end of this episode, Ashana shares the tools, skills and approaches she uses to continually further her personal and professional development, and expand her already broad horizons.THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN:- The Association for Coaching https://www.associationforcoaching.com/ - Alex Whitton on the Coach’s Journey Podcast https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-64-alex-whitton-balancing-the-being-and-the-doing - The Bridging Project https://www.thebridgingproject.co.uk/ - The Diverse Executive coaches network https://diverseexecutivecoaches.co.uk/ - Hay, J (2007) Reflective Practice and Supervision for Coaches. Open University Press https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=lV-wefs6JoUC

Growing up with a father and brother who were “never wrong” left Yannick Jacob seeking a life that wasn’t about right answers. That led him to coaching, and more specifically to existential coaching, a space where humanity’s oldest and most profound questions – and the plethora of answers to them – can be explored at a deeper level.Yannick is an existential life and leadership coach, a positive psychologist, and the programme director of the Accredited Certificate in Integrative Coaching (ACIC) at the School of Positive Transformation. In this episode of The Coach’s Journey, he shares what he learned about himself in order to hear his calling and live his truth as someone driven to explore the whole spectrum of what life has to offer.Host Neil Mackinnon helps Yannick to illuminate the links between his many passions, such as existential philosphy and DJing, and to demonstrate how integrating his variety of interests enriches his all areas of his work.Yannick also discusses his groundbreaking Coaching Lab, which offers the chance to witness highly experienced coaches live at work, and Rocket Supervision, which provides coaches with the support they need to practice at the top of their game.This episode will resonate with anyone who wants to feel empowered to shake up traditional coaching paradigms and create a practice that feels authentic and energising, as Yannick brings his remarkable breadth of experience and expertise to bear on some of the most fundamental questions we face as coaches and as human beings.In this episode, Yannick and Neil Mackinnon also talk about:Courageous choices, and how embracing discomfort can help to build meaningEnlarging your sphere of influence to enable people to connect with youThe power of being financially committed to something, and the benefits to your clients of raising your feesWhen we should be brave enough to challenge the traditional frame and share more of ourselves with our clientsYannick issues a rallying cry to everyone in the coaching space to frame their space, sculpt the approach that works for them, and lean into their passion for their own way of doing things.THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN:Rocket Supervision www.RocketSupervision.com Coaching Lab www.GoCoachingLab.com Yannick’s Nuggets (mailing list) https://gocoachinglab.com/nuggetsDr Nash Popovich https://www.personalwellbeingcentre.org/nash-popovicMartin Seligman https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_SeligmanRS Lazarus on the Positive Psychology movement https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232977091_Does_the_Positive_Psychology_Movement_Have_LegsSoren Kierkegaard https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%B8ren_KierkegaardJean-Paul Sartre https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Paul_SartreNew School of Psychotherapy and Counselling https://nspc.org.uk/Christopher Neubert https://human-edge.com/team/christian-neubert/The Academy of Executive Coaching https://www.aoec.com/An Introduction to Existential Coaching: How Philosophy Can Help Your Clients https://www.aoec.com/Yannick’s book, An Introduction to Existential Coaching: How Philosophy Can Help Your Clients Live with Greater Awareness, Courage and Ownership https://www.amazon.co.uk/Introduction-Existential-Coaching-Philosophy-Awareness/dp/0367139995Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory https://www.simplypsychology.org/bandura.htmlCoaching Starter Kit https://rocketsupervision.com/coaching-starter-kit/Erik de Haan http://www.erikdehaan.com/Peter Hawkins https://thoughtleadership.org/staff-member/peter-hawkins/Montessori https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montessori_educationThe Coach’s Journey Flywheel https://www.animascoaching.com/about-animas/our-team/nick-bolton/Nick Bolton, Animas https://www.animascoaching.com/about-animas/our-team/nick-bolton/Heron’s six categories of intervention https://challengingcoaching.co.uk/herons-six-categories-of-intervention/Nancy Kline https://www.timetothink.com/nancy-kline/ICF https://coachingfederation.org/

How do our surroundings affect our ability to think? And can we connect with our sense of place and purpose by immersing ourselves in nature?In this episode of the Coach’s Journey Podcast, walking coach Rebecca Norton brings her combined expertise in coaching and mountain leadership to bear on these questions and many more, in conversation with host Alex Swallow.Rebecca and Alex explore the lasting impact that access to the natural world has on our lives, from infancy through to adulthood, and how the coaching walks that Rebecca offers her clients help them to navigate new pathways – both in the physical environment and their internal worlds.Rebecca, who delivers workshop facilitation and social prescribing alongside her coaching and “wonder walks”, describes how she carefully built up her coaching business while continually developing her skills and experience as an outdoor activities instructor.She links the idea of being a tourist in your own city and developing curiosity about new perspectives with the importance of getting alongside coaching clients and seeing the world through their eyes.The many twists, turns, ups and downs of Rebecca’s adventures in the hills act as a powerful metaphor for journeys through the challenges of careers, relationships, families and life decisions. Just as her clients gain new perspective on their lives as they ascend into the hills with Rebecca, so do we as she reflects on her unique, brilliant approach to coaching conversations and many other aspects of her work.In this episode, Rebecca and Alex also talk about:The power of experiencing coaching techniques from both sidesHow to integrate experiences as we train and gain qualificationsThe barriers we place between ourselves and our own fulfillmentSeeing who we need to become in order to achieve our goalsHow to lower the importance of gaining a client when building your coaching businessRebecca also reminds us that personal development can be a grueling expedition, and that if we fail to interrogate our deeper purpose and connect the ‘why’ that guides us, we can be at risk of losing our way. She generously ends this episode with an array of tips to help coaches stay at their best.THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN:The Coaching Academy https://www.the-coaching-academy.com/Skill Force https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkillForceWonder Walks https://senseofdirection.life/wonder-walk/Peter Sage https://petersage.com/The Life Coach Directory https://www.lifecoach-directory.org.uk/ The Self-Love Journal: https://senseofdirection.life/product/self-love-journal/

GiveDirectly is an extraordinary organisation, working to end extreme poverty through an idea that is simple but revolutionary: give cash directly to people in extreme poverty and let them decide what they need most. Research shows this approach is not only effective but also deeply empowering.Since I (Robbie) first read about GiveDirectly in 2017, it has been the focus of almost all my charitable giving: I find the research-backed practices and incredibly meaningful recipient stories so compelling that almost every time I have thought in detail about the organisation and what they do, I have increased my regular giving.In this special Podcasthon episode of The Coach’s Journey Podcast, Stephanie Hill, the VP, People at GiveDirectly, joins me to explore the connections between teaching, coaching, and leadership, and to outline the transformational work that GiveDirectly does.From her days working to recruit and develop thousands of teachers in New York City to her role in helping a rapidly scaling global nonprofit build strong teams, Stephanie shares deep insights into learning, growth, and the power of trusting people to know what they need.In this episode, we discuss, on GiveDirectly:Why giving cash directly to the poorest people in the world works!Common misconceptions about cash transfers as a form of philanthropy.Amazing stories from GiveDirectly’s recipients.The Power of Trust – why both great coaching and effective philanthropy start from the belief that people know what they need.And on learning, coaching, culture and more:The Gradual Release Model – how great teaching (and coaching) helps people build confidence and autonomy over time.Lessons from Scaling – what it takes to grow an organization quickly while keeping core values intact.Building a Culture of Learning – how GiveDirectly fosters ongoing development among its globally distributed team.Leading with Values - how has GiveDirectly taken its company values and actually brought them to life.Stephanie’s personal leadership journey – what she learned from recruiting and training 5,000 teachers a year and how those lessons apply to coaching, leadership and organizational growth today.This episode is packed with wisdom for coaches, leaders, and anyone passionate about learning, development, and making a meaningful impact.I can’t wait to share GiveDirectly’s amazing work with you, but it’s not just that this is an amazing charity that made me want to feature GiveDirectly on the show; it’s that it’s a charity whose work closely aligns with the philosophy of coaching.At its heart, coaching is about trusting people, believing they have the answers within them, and supporting them to make the best choices for their own lives.GiveDirectly operates on the same principle. Rather than imposing solutions, it hands people the resources to create their own change. For coaches who want to make a difference in the world beyond their work, I can’t think of a better organization to support: if you’ve never quite found a focus for your charitable giving that really resonates, or if you’ve ever wondered how you can contribute in a way that aligns with the values of coaching — courage, trust, empowerment, and belief in human potential — GiveDirectly could be a powerful answer.If you have a few pounds or dollars to spare this month or every month, consider giving to GiveDirectly. They will send it to someone for whom those few pounds or dollars will go further than you can possibly imagine, as part of a story of courage, empowerment and trust in the beauty of human nature.For more information about GiveDirectly, visit: https://www.givedirectly.org/ or https://www.linkedin.com/company/givedirectlyTo donate to GiveDirectly, visit: https://www.givedirectly.org/donate/For more information about Stephanie, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-hill-1232028For more information about Robbie Swale, visit https://www.robbieswale.com/.Read more about The Coach's Journey at www.thecoachsjourney.com.Music by My Good Man William: listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KmeQUcTbeE31uFynHQLQgTo support the Coach's Journey, visit www.patreon.com/thecoachsjourney and to join the Coach's Journey Community visit www.thecoachsjourney.com/community.THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN:Rutger Bregman: https://www.rutgerbregman.com/Bregman on tax at Davos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8ijiLqfXP0Bregman’s TED Talk - "Poverty isn't a lack of character; it's a lack of cash": https://www.ted.com/talks/rutger_bregman_poverty_isn_t_a_lack_of_character_it_s_a_lack_of_cash/ Utopia for Realists: https://www.rutgerbregman.com/books/utopia-for-realists GiveDirectly Live: https://live.givedirectly.org/ GiveDirectly’s Research: https://www.givedirectly.org/research-at-give-directly/ Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs GiveDirectly Donation Link for the US: https://www.givedirectly.org/donate/ GiveDirectly Donation Link for the UK: https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/5197#!/DonationDetailsHow to donate to GiveDirectly from other countries: https://www.givedirectly.org/giving-internationally Teach for America: https://www.teachforamerica.org/TeachFirst: https://www.teachfirst.org.uk/The GROW Model: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GROW_model Inner Game of Tennis by Timothy Gallwey: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Inner-Game-Tennis-ultimate-performance/dp/1035047926 GiveDirectly NPR Article: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/12/02/781152563/researchers-find-a-remarkable-ripple-effect-when-you-give-cash-to-poor-families Carol Dweck and Growth Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/Mindset-Psychology-Carol-S-Dweck/dp/0345472322Elena Aguilar and "Mind the Gap": https://www.edweek.org/education/opinion-the-key-to-working-with-adult-learners-mind-the-gap/2018/02 Fred Kofman: https://www.fredkofman.org/The GiveDirectly Values: https://www.givedirectly.org/givedirectly-values/ The Leadership Pipeline (book): https://www.amazon.com/Leadership-Pipeline-Second-Edition-Developing/dp/0470894563How to Help GiveDirectly: https://www.givedirectly.org/how-to-help/Work at GiveDirectly: https://www.givedirectly.org/careers/ Podcasthon: https://podcasthon.org/ Book your place at Robbie and Claire Pedrick’s event in Malvern in 2025: The Artful Coach and the Soulful Coaching Business. Read more here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/3dcoaching/1504338 FULL BIOGRAPHY FROM STEPHANIE Stephanie began her career as an educator. After university, she joined Teach For America in New York City and taught English Literature to low-income High School students in The Bronx while getting her Master’s degree in teaching. She then worked for Teach For America as a coach to cohorts of new teachers.After a brief stint as a recruiter, she joined the New York City Department of Education to build a new model for teacher preparation - one that would integrate theory and practice and include a longer, more intentional gradual release of responsibility for new recruits. The program also created a new career-ladder position for the supervisors of these aspiring teachers - experienced educators who were selected and trained to not just share their classroom, but also provide targeted, actionable modeling and feedback that would accelerate the learning process.Stephanie worked to scale that program to prepare over 500 new teachers for NYC’s hardest to staff schools each year, while eventually taking on leadership of the city’s overall teacher recruitment and preparation - where she led a team to recruit and place over 5,000 new teachers each year.In April of 2020, she joined the international non-profit organization GiveDirectly as their first VP, People, just as the organization was going through a period of rapid growth, with ~75% headcount increase year over year. GiveDirectly takes an innovative approach to aid by giving unconditional cash to people living in extreme poverty, often using a technology-forward approach to maximize efficiency (and therefore dollars to recipients). Stephanie is proud to have led the People function for the past 5 years - building and defining recruitment, people operations, learning and development, talent planning and employee engagement for the organization.

In this episode of The Coach’s Journey Podcast, hosts Robbie Swale, Alex Swallow and Alex Whitton reflect on some of their most practical takeaways from over 90 episodes of the show. These are the things that they have taken and used in their coaching and coaching businesses… and you can too!In particular, they talk about:Working over a period of time not a number of sessions.Creating rolling coaching engagements.Making the invitation to a coaching session a gift.Using neuroscience in the sales process.What to do when your client says they need help making a decision.Constantly humanising ourselves and others.Focus on serving (and sales and leads being an indicator of that).Going to the toilet in coaching sessions and creating insight when you do it.Creating clients by writing on a napkin.And loads more!Plus, they open the episode exploring the value of focusing on inspiration, and we get to hear what has been inspiring each of them recently.There are links to the episodes and resources they discuss in the shownotes below.Download Robbie’s ebook, An Introduction to The Coaching Business Flywheel, here.For more information about Robbie, visit https://www.robbieswale.com/Read more about The Coach's Journey at www.thecoachsjourney.com.Music by My Good Man William: listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KmeQUcTbeE31uFynHQLQgTo support the Coach's Journey, visit www.patreon.com/thecoachsjourney and to join the Coach's Journey Community visit www.thecoachsjourney.com/community.THINGS WE MENTIONED THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED INFree Ebook: An Introduction to the Coaching Business Flywheel: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/the-coaching-business-flywheelRobert Holden: https://www.robertholden.com/Jennifer Garvey Berger on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-42-jennifer-garvey-berger-the-answer-to-either-or-is-bothPete McKee: https://www.petemckee.com/The Invention of Nature - Alexander Humboldt: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Invention_of_NatureGoethe: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Wolfgang_von_GoetheThe Coach’s Journey Community: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/communityChronos and Kairos: https://www.robbieswale.com/the-12-minute-blog/2025/1/24/chronos-and-kairos-enlist-both-the-gods-of-timeToku McCree’s second appearance on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-54-toku-mccree-zen-and-the-art-of-coachingClaire Pedrick and Lucia Baldelli on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-55-claire-pedrick-and-lucia-baldelli-the-human-behind-the-coachPhilip Crocker on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/88-philip-crocker-coaching-is-the-most-natural-thing-in-the-worldEpisode #8 of The Coach’s Journey Podcast, with loads of other nuts and bolts stuff from Robbie: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/robbie-on-structure-first-conversations-marketing-priceThe Coach’s Journey Video Page: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/videosBill Small on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-48-bill-small-the-key-to-creation-is-dealing-with-being-uncomfortableMyles Downey on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/69-myles-downey-what-is-effective-coaching-performance-coaching-when-to-be-directive-changing-clients-maps-of-reality-and-moreChris Joseph on The Coach’s Journey Podcast (Alex’s key moment is 1:05 in): https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-19-chris-josephAmy Brann on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/87-amy-brann-neuroscience-for-coachesMarcia Reynolds on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-14-marcia-reynolds-becoming-world-number-five-coachin-guru-rgdph-b5j29Pbil Bolton on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-2-phil-bolton-from-forensic-accountant-to-the-go-to-career-coach-in-london-and-on-to-work-with-ceos-mds-and-foundersCatriona Horey on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-4-catriona-horey-too-far-away-from-the-joyMinor Arias on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-3-minor-arias-living-by-design-glz56Joel Monk on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-6-joel-monk-conversations-at-the-cutting-edge-of-coachingJamie Smart on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-16-jamie-smartMarie Quigley on The Coach’s Journey Podcast (Alex’s bit is 46 minutes in): https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/71-marie-quigley-living-in-fulfilment-is-a-radical-act-ybxylSheffield Coaching Exchange: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/sheffield-coaching-exchangeRuth Saville’s Leeds Coaching Walk: https://www.ruthsaville.co.uk/leeds-coach-walksCoaches Walking LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12827884/The Coach’s Journey Community: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/community

So many coaches find themselves lost in comparison as they work on their coaching businesses. In this TCJ Short, an excerpt from Episode #42, you can hear developmental psychologist Jennifer Garvey Berger sharing the metaphor she uses to support her clients to gain more perspective on the impossible comparisons they create for themselves.As Jennifer and Robbie discuss, even just hearing this metaphor will help anyone who finds themselves trapped in comparison to gain even a tiny bit more perspective, so that they can respond differently in the face of comparison pressures.Listen back to Episode #42 in full here, for Jennifer’s story and many amazing ideas and tips for you and your coaching business, including a broader discussion of comparison for women and the underpinning ideas of complexity and vertical development: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-42-jennifer-garvey-berger-the-answer-to-either-or-is-both You’ll also find links to everything Robbie and Jennifer discuss on that page.To learn more about Jennifer, visit https://www.cultivatingleadership.com/team-member/jennifer-garvey-berger or https://twitter.com/jgberger.For more information about this episode’s host, Robbie Swale, visit https://www.robbieswale.com/Read more about The Coach's Journey at www.thecoachsjourney.com.Music by My Good Man William: listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KmeQUcTbeE31uFynHQLQgTo support the Coach's Journey, visit www.patreon.com/thecoachsjourney and to join the Coach's Journey Community visit www.thecoachsjourney.com/community.FOR LINKS TO EVERYTHING DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE, VISIT: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-42-jennifer-garvey-berger-the-answer-to-either-or-is-both Download Robbie’s FREE ebook, An Introduction to the Coaching Business Flywheel, here: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/the-coaching-business-flywheel Read about Robbie’s upcoming workshop with Claire Pedrick here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/robbieswale_the-artful-coach-and-the-soulful-coaching-activity-7285744469444812801-gBzq?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop Book your place on the workshop, The Artful Coach and the Soulful Coaching Business: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/3dcoaching/1504338 Listen to Robbie and Claire discussing artful coaching and soulful coaching businesses in Episode #92: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/92-the-artful-coach-and-the-soulful-coaching-business-a-joint-episode-with-clare-pedrick-and-robbie-swale  ABOUT JENNIFER GARVEY BERGERThe co-founder and CEO of Cultivating Leadership, Jennifer blends deep theoretical knowledge with a driving quest for practical ways to make leaders’ lives better. She coaches executives and executive teams, and designs and teaches leadership programs.Jennifer has written three highly acclaimed books on leadership and complexity and how to grow the capacities we need for the world in which we live. She hopes her newly-released fourth book, Unleash Your Complexity Genius, will change your life.When she’s not working with clients and colleagues, you can find her in the French countryside, where she has bought a house with eleven friends who live in community and try to keep the dog from terrifying the cats.

In this unique crossover episode of The Coaching Inn and The Coach’s Journey Podcast, hosts Claire Pedrick and Robbie Swale come together for the first time to discuss their upcoming collaborative workshop, The Artful Coach and the Soulful Coaching Business, scheduled for 10th May, 2025. This episode is a delightful blend of humor, insightful conversation, and a deep dive into the themes of artful coaching and soulful business practices.In particular:Claire delves into the concept of the Artful Coach and why she prefers that to the idea of ‘mastery’.Claire unpacks why it’s not coaching when the coach is doing more thinking than the thinker.Robbie shares the accidental discovery of the phrase, The Soulful Coaching Business, and why it aligns with what he has seen in the coaching industry.Robbie explains how we can follow our fear to create a business that fulfils us without us having to compromise who we are.As Claire and Robbie wrap up the episode, it’s easy to feel the excitement and anticipation they have for the upcoming workshop… they hope to see you there!Book your place on the workshop, The Artful Coach and the Soulful Coaching Business: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/3dcoaching/1504338Robbie’s longer description of the workshop: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/robbieswale_the-artful-coach-and-the-soulful-coaching-activity-7285744469444812801-gBzq?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktopBook your place on the walk the following day: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/3dcoaching/1206619Download Robbie’s ebook, An Introduction to The Coaching Business Flywheel, here.For more information about Robbie, visit https://www.robbieswale.com/Read more about The Coach's Journey at www.thecoachsjourney.com.Music by My Good Man William: listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KmeQUcTbeE31uFynHQLQgTo support the Coach's Journey, visit www.patreon.com/thecoachsjourney and to join the Coach's Journey Community visit www.thecoachsjourney.com/community.THINGS WE MENTIONED THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED INClaire on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-44-claire-pedrick-cutting-through-complexity-and-simplifying-coaching Claire on The Coach’s Journey Podcast with Lucia Baldelli, talking about The Human Behind The Coach: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-55-claire-pedrick-and-lucia-baldelli-the-human-behind-the-coach Robbie on The Coaching Inn: https://thecoachinginn.podbean.com/e/in-conversation-with-robbie-swale-how-to-start-when-you-re-stuck/ and https://thecoachinginn.podbean.com/e/in-conversation-with-robbie-swale/ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKVEJqdqiTg and https://thecoachinginn.podbean.com/e/s4-episode-24-claire-pedrick-s-3d-supervision-community-with-guest-host-robbie-swale/ Claire’s workshop with Ruth Davey, also in Worcestershire: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/3dcoaching/1506834 Henley Business School: https://www.henley.ac.uk/ Robbie’s ebook, An Introduction to The Coach’s Journey Podcast Flywheel: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/the-coaching-business-flywheel Fred Kofman: https://www.fredkofman.org/sobre-fred-kofman-ing.php Elena Aguilar and Mind The Gap: https://www.edweek.org/education/opinion-the-key-to-working-with-adult-learners-mind-the-gap/2018/02 Jennifer Garvey Berger on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-42-jennifer-garvey-berger-the-answer-to-either-or-is-both The War of Art: https://stevenpressfield.com/books/the-war-of-art/ Book your place at Robbie and Claire Pedrick’s event in Malvern in 2025: The Artful Coach and the Soulful Coaching Business. Read more here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/3dcoaching/1504338 BIOGRAPHY FROM CLAIREClaire Pedrick is, in her own words, a human who facilitates other people’s thinking. She is a business owner. A mother. A friend. A volunteer. An MCC Master Coach with over 13,000 hours of experience. And she is the author of Simplifying Coaching and host at The Coaching Inn podcast.About these descriptions, Claire says: “All of these are true and each will impact how we start a conversation. With some definitions you might assign me power which I do not deserve.”Claire established 3D Coaching in the 1990s to bring together the simplest and best learning from coaching, to support people in organisations to have more effective conversations with an edge. Coaching for more than 35 years, she believes that the essence of coaching is simple and that it takes time to learn to work that simply.

This short episode contains Robbie’s answer to a question every coach should ask themselves, especially if they want a sustainable coaching business: how do create a powerful ending to a coaching engagement?It’s so easy as a coach to completely miss the opportunity to create meaning and transformation at the end of our coaching programmes.But that's what's possible if we pay attention to this key moment in our work.In this episode Robbie explains:What I learned about endings from my coaches, like Rich Litvin and Joel Monk.The exact words I use with clients to help make the ending of our work a part of their transformation.What I say to create the possibility for more referrals from my clients after our work. How we can support our clients to rewrite their scripts around endings.There are links to most of the people and resources Robbie mentions below.Download Robbie’s ebook, An Introduction to The Coaching Business Flywheel, here.For more information about Robbie, visit https://www.robbieswale.com/Read more about The Coach's Journey at www.thecoachsjourney.com.Music by My Good Man William: listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KmeQUcTbeE31uFynHQLQgTo support the Coach's Journey, visit www.patreon.com/thecoachsjourney and to join the Coach's Journey Community visit www.thecoachsjourney.com/community.THINGS ROBBIE MENTIONED THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED INThe video version of this episode: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/91-how-to-create-a-powerful-ending-to-a-coaching-engagement Robbie on the Better Bolder Braver Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqhR6lGgNgA The episode of The Coach’s Journey Podcast Flywheel Series about working with clients and creating referrals: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/85-get-more-referrals-for-your-coaching-business-coaching-business-fundamentals Episode #8 of The Coach’s Journey Podcast, with loads of other nuts and bolts stuff from Robbie: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/robbie-on-structure-first-conversations-marketing-price His video about working with clients over a period of time not a number of sessions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzeyK2yvWOI&t=0s Joel Monk on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-6-joel-monk-conversations-at-the-cutting-edge-of-coaching Rich Litvin: https://richlitvin.com/ Claire Pedrick on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-44-claire-pedrick-cutting-through-complexity-and-simplifying-coaching Robbie and Claire Pedrick’s event in Malvern in 2025: The Artful Coach and the Soulful Coaching Business. Read more here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/robbieswale_the-artful-coach-and-the-soulful-coaching-activity-7285744469444812801-gBzq?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop