What Does Your Life Look Like When No One’s Looking? | 3 Principles Coaching

We see everyone’s highlight reel on social media. It is easy to look at that and assume what a person’s life looks like. Except, we don’t really know.

I’ve been on both sides of this equation. In 2014 I had a friend come and visit me in London. He marvelled at my life and said something like, “wow, you’ve made it”.

He saw me living in a plush apartment in central London, working for a blue chip company, and enjoying life. Except I wasn’t. I hated my job, detested my boss, and was totally outside-in looking to my coaching career to take off to make me happy. I didn’t realise it doesn’t work that way.

Similarly, it’s always funny to hear people’s thoughts on my life since I became a coach. I’ve had people assume I was making millions and people assume I must be relying on some trust fund because my business couldn’t possibly fund my lifestyle. On the other hand, I’ve coached coaches who looked like they were very successful on social media tell me they were making very little in this profession and vice versa.

I have found what is key is what your life looks like away from social media. Trying to coach people on relationships when your own is falling apart is tough. Coaching people on wealth when you’re living hand to mouth is hard to sell. Helping people find mental health when you’re stressed out would be difficult for anyone.

If you want to grow your practice, it’s important not to overlook the fundamentals. This can be very revealing and has always pointed me to areas where I could grow. As Sydney Banks said: 

“You can’t give away what you don’t have”.

Here’s a short and to-the-point video by Chip Chipman on how ineffective it is to try convincing clients to work with you and what is a better alternative for creating clients: