That’s a good question, isn’t it?
People invest in cars, houses, and even in less useful items, all the time, but rarely, if ever (for many of them), do they invest in themselves.
In this article, I wanted to discuss the question of why you should invest in yourself, and what the benefits would be if you did.
According to an estimation of the benefits of coaching, you could improve the following:
- Your self-confidence by 80%
- Your relationships by 73%
- Your communication skills by 72%
- Your life/work balance by 67%
- Your business Management by 62%
Those may just be few average numbers, but the truth is that most people who have hired the right coach for them, would confirm to you that it has changed their lives.
There isn’t the shadow of a doubt, that coaches are doing a heck of an amazing job.
If you want my two cents on that, I feel that a good coach, could also save you on medical and drug bills, because when you are OK mentally, the rest tends to work much better as well.
That’s why coaches are more and more popular, and usually pretty busy professional people.
With the help of a good coach, you can improve in ALL areas of life.
People do get that, that’s why many have decided to invest in coaching.
However, before you decide to hire a coach, there are a few important things that you need to know.
What a Coach Cannot do for you
A couple of things that a coach will never be able to do are:
1- Do the work for you
When you were a toddler, you mother would prepare your meals, right?
She would buy the ingredients, cook them, season them with just enough salt, and even make sure it was at the right temperature, so you wouldn’t get burned.
But what she absolutely couldn’t do for you, is eat that meal for you.
That stopped the day you were born.
A coach is a little bit like that mom. I can make sure you are fed well, with all the ingredients and love that you need, but I can’t eat and digest what I’m teaching you, for you.
A coach will guide you, reveal some hidden things about you that you may have never known, give you some exercises to do to, ask you the right questions and help you find the answers you’ve always been looking for…
But it is your job to work with what your learning.
A coach can’t change you. You have to be one who wants to change by taking the necessary actions.
2- A coach will never tell you that you need a coach (even if they know you, and can see it like the nose in the middle of your face)
At least, I don’t.
You are to be the one who decides that you need and want a coach. People who are not ready/willing to be coached are un-coachable.
You have to feel worthy enough to even start with coaching.
Many people, as I mentioned at the onset of the post, will invest in “shiny things” much faster than they would ever invest in themselves.
In many cases, it’s because they don’t think that they are not worthy enough. That alone is a sign that such person needs coaching, big time, but unfortunately, that doesn’t make them coachable.
What Can a Coach do for you
A coach can provide life changing benefits to you.
A coach can help reveal new perspectives on your personal challenges and dilemmas.
As they say, you can only be as wealthy and successful as your growth, and a coach can most definitely help you grow.
Here are few benefits that you can expect from a coach:
- Help with your decision-making
- Help with your self-confidence, your productivity, your vision, your goals, your personality traits…
- Help with your personal, professional and relationship challenges.
- Help to increase your effectiveness and results.
- Help to have a whole different view on life
A good coach will know how to ask you pertinent questions that will reveal things about you, and to yourself.
But more importantly of all, a coach will help you get CLEAR.
When you get clear about your purpose in life, everything is lifted, and good things start showing.
Clarity is probably the most important item that a coach will work on with you, because without clarity there is not improvement in anything, and most certainly, no success.
Why You should Invest in Yourself
When you invest in a car, you already know that that car is starting to devaluate the minute you drive it out the parking lot, whether it’s new or not.
When you invest in a house, you may or may not, eventually, make some money on it.
When you invest in your personal development. In yourself. You can actually get back a hundred fold on your investment.
More wellbeing, more balance, more happiness, more focus, better results, better relationships, more money, etc.
That’s a lot of return on investment if you ask me.
What do you think?
Your return on investment overall is well above and beyond those words.
Is Coaching Different than a Mastermind Group?
My immediate answer to this question is, yes!
One on one coaching is very much different than a mastermind group.
While a mastermind group may be beneficial, remember that it’s only as beneficial as the group is committed.
Some master mind groups are very committed while others are very lacking in this regard.
It may also very well depend on it it’s a free mastermind group or one you are paying for.
When you hire a coach to help you in whatever area of your life you need help with, they will be committed to you one hundred percent.
They will make sure that your experience with them will be a successful one.
That’s the service they offer to you, but that’s also their whole career that depends it.
They are committed to creating positive results for their clients.
I am, as a coach, and my coach is to me.
A good coach is totally committed, and cares deeply for their clients.
Your coach is committed to your success like their life depends on it.
You might not find all or any of such qualities in a mastermind group.
So, while I do encourage you to join a good mastermind group if you feel that it will help you, I do not want you to confuse a mastermind group and a one on one coaching.
So, here is my Advice to you…
Invest in yourself, if you feel that you’re not where you want to be in your life right now.
With the right coach, it will be the best investment you’ve ever made.
If you are not sure if coaching is for you at all, I invite you to click the banner below and request your 30 minutes free consultation.
My coaching has grown to a new level, and continues to grow, so reserve your spot now!
The title of your post caught my eye today, Sylviane, because I’ve had similar conversations with many people recently. We do forget to invest in ourselves, take care of ourselves, be nice to ourselves! And yet we are our most valuable resource. You made a great point about investing in a car and how it devalues. But an investment in yourself will give you a return over and over. Coaching is a great example and there are many other ways you can also invest in yourself – give yourself time to reenergize, eating well, all that stuff. And it always helps to share the experience with someone else. Another person can give us an outside perspective and see things more clearly than we can ourselves. I wish someone would come up with a really good word because I don’t think coaching or consulting or any of those does it justice. It’s a great service!
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Hi Carol,
That’s true, there are many other ways to invest in yourself beside having/hiring a coach. As you mentioned, eating healthy, exercising, reading up-building material and so forth can greatly contribute to investing in yourself. I do all of those myself 🙂
This year, I decided to go up a few levels with my business, and I realized that I needed the help of someone that will make me see my missing links, help me work from the inside out better, and I’m already so excited of what will come out off of that!
I’ve had a tough 2014, but 2015 is going to be like nothing before. I know that, already. That’s why I wanted to encourage people into investing in themselves too.
Thank you for your input, and have a great day, Carol.
Hi Sylviane,
The difference between the great companies and the mediocre companies always come down to investing and improving yourself as a leader and a business.
The details are we are able to make the shifts and the changes, but we cannot see the details many times ourselves. It comes from others who have walked the road and can see the ones you’re taking.
I learned a long time ago to invest in myself in and through a lot of different means. Masterminds have been great but my biggest breakthroughs always happen when I have a coach who works with me 1-on-1 and can expose things I can’t see or teach me new things I didn’t know.
As an online marketing coach and business coach for web designers, developers, social media and graphic designers I couldn’t agree with you more… you cannot help someone until they have the right mindset that they want to help themselves.
Otherwise, we are doing one another a huge disservice. I’ve had people tell me they don’t have the money when I know they do, but it’s okay. For those folks it just means they aren’t ready or they are not there and it’s their way of trying to back out without confrontation.
I give them that space. It’s my job as a coach to help them even if that means letting them figure some things out on their own or comfortable with the idea of having to get uncomfortable.
Fantastic post Sylviane. You are AWESOME!!!!
I hope you’re having a great week to this point?
~ Don Purdum
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Hi Don,
Ah, I thought that someone like you would like a topic like this one!
Like you, I know many people who can afford having a coach, but I know they don’t have one. I’m not talking about me, they don’t have a coach, period.
Now, I didn’t either, but for me it was really a matter of not being able to afford it, really.
But things are getting better for me, and I am so ready to grow, grow, grow, now. But I know all too well, that at times we need an outside look on our own situation. This is priceless. And more times than not, the ONLY way to improve.
As you know, your type coaching is on the list of the things I want to explore as well.
This year is a gigantic leap for me, compare to last year! This is my year, I know it. I won’t be backed down any longer. And gosh, do I believe in being coached.
As for those who don’t need coaching, I applause them for having swallowed the all knowing pill that made them an instant success. That has never been me. But that’s also what makes me a good coach, on the other hand 🙂
Thanks so much for your comment and you have a fantastic day!
Hi Sylviane
A million dollar advice you offered in this post without charging a dime and between the lines communicated to your target audience the real message which you wanted to deliver to them. This is called the height of perfection to communicate withoug letting the receiver to know what he has gotten while reading something else.
I like the second point you mentioned about what a coach can’t do for you and that is why he won’t tell people they need a coach.
Investing in ourselves should be our top priority to enhance our productivity and increase the rate of return of our venturing into a business or a job.
Thanks a lot for sharing this useful post.
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Hi Mi,
I love to hear that “A million dollar advice you offered in this post without charging a dime and between the lines communicated to your target audience the real message which you wanted to deliver to them. This is called the height of perfection“.
Wow, thank you, Mi!!!
I think I’m getting better and better at this! That was the goal 🙂
Frankly, some people spend years and years struggling and struggling because they don’t want to pay for coaching, but if they had they would probably be way ahead by now.
But like I said, not everyone is coachable, and I sure don’t want to coach just anyone, only the ones that are looking for me.
Thank you so much for your input 🙂 I appreciate your visit.
Hey Sylviane
Great post with excellent points. It is funny because I was just thinking about this very topic today. So many people are reluctant to invest in their own personal development, but wouldn’t think twice about whipping out their credit card if their precious television were to go bust. Coaching can be particularly powerful because of that personal attention. I may be biased as a coach myself, but it really is one of the most powerful tools I think. Have a great day!
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Hi Kelli,
I’m glad you’re bringing up this point. Boy, do I know people like that. They couldn’t live without a TV and would replace it right away, but would never invest in a coach.
Well, on Christmas Eve my desk top died, and because a computer is my working tool, I had to rush out and buy a lap top that very day, but I’m also investing in myself right now, big time, because I’m planning on growing my business, and I feel that I need some help at this point to move forward.
By the way, we made some adjustments with commentluv, so I hope you won’t get any more trouble when you try commenting here 🙂
Congratulations on your wedding 🙂 Very happy for you guys.
Hello Sylviane =)
Great advice with personal coaching. I may not be up to snuff with popular terms but a personal coach (or coaching) can also come from a mentor, correct?
The reason why I ask that is because that’s what I’ve done myself. It started off as being coached, but the personal, in-depth way I was navigated and shown a better path to redesigning my site and how to balance both aspects of my business changed my views of not only my business, but the coach.
I look to him as a mentor. Someone I’ve grown to admire, trust and have confidence in.
Truth be told, it wasn’t easy. You’re spot on about ME having to decide whether to have a coach or not–because it didn’t occur to me that I was stubborn, fixed in my ways or had a habit of doing the right things in the wrong order!
(how’s that for a mild slap, eh?)
This has turned out to be one of the better decisions in my career and the changes keep happening, and all for the better =).
Best news of 2015 for me so far is that my website is now ready to grow and can support me in sales as I rebrand all my fantasy books for youth and their families.
Awesome. Awesome. Awesome!
Invest in yourself? No question the BEST choice if you want to progress to your fullest potential.
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Hi Jaime,
Sure, a mentor is a coach, and they are various types of coaching as well.
The easiest people to coach are the open minded ones of course, and I don’t think that too many coaches want to coach people who are close minded. Perfect, no, but with some type of willingness at least.
I’m so glad that you realized that you needed to be more open minded, and it seems that even though you felt that resistance, they were able to make something out of you 🙂 It’s great to have a mentor.
Your site looks great, and what’s even better is that you’re very excited about it, which is very important for branding. Whoever advised you, did it well. It’s great that you did invest in yourself to grow as well. Yes, the best thing one can do for any type of improvement.
Very nice to see you here. Thanks for coming 🙂
Hello Sylviane,
I love how you used the investing a house or car scenario to compare the investment in ourselves. We should all consider investing in ourselves in some way. Not only does it help us but our clients/readers as well.
I’ve heard a lot of great things about mastermind groups. I kind of thought it was a lot like coaching and now I know there is a difference.
I prefer a coach because I like the one on one setting. I have a great coach and she’s also a dear friend. I am lucky that I can turn to her for anything and she gives me the right guidance. I would not have grown had it not been for her. I think getting a coach would be the best investment we can make for ourselves.
Great post Sylviane. I hope you’re having a great week my dear.
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Hi Corina,
Sure, mastermind groups are good, but as I mentioned they are as good as the members are motivated, though. Now one on one coaching is way more expensive then group coaching for a reason, you know 🙂 That reason is that one on one is always more beneficial than groups. And mastermind group, well, it’s a group, so just something to keep in mind.
Lately, I hired a coach to help me improve with my own coaching business, but also in many other areas of my life. I am certain that my blog, my business and my life as a whole is going to start showing my leaps and bounds 🙂
Thank you for sharing your thoughts here, Corina.
Hi Sylviane,
What great advice! We do have to invest in ourselves! I’m living proof lol. I invested in self development and was able to gain the confidence I needed to start my own business off line way back in the day. I had to reprogram my subconscious for that.
When it comes to business you know I am of the school of thought that one must pay to play! I’ve invested in my blog, blog hosting, and then many many coaches along the way. Did I worry about money? NO!
When working with a coach, they see us as we cannot. They will help us along the way and be supportive. I cannot remember how many coaches I’ve hired through the past few years, but each one helped me achieve a step toward building my business. It is worth it.
One must remember that you need to be “coachable” and listen to your coach! Just had to stick that in there lol.
-Donna
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Hi Donna,
You are one who walks the talk. I actually recently hired the perfect coach for me, to help me exactly where I need help right now 🙂 So, I just don’t preach with this post, I’m applying what I’m preaching.
Even coaches need a coach, just like dentists don’t usually clean their own teeth. A coach will see what we ourselves are not able to see.
This year is my year, and I have many wonderful goals that I am going to achieve. I am sure of that. And this was the exact perfect time for me to hire a coach that will help me to get where I want.
There is an affirmation that I keep repeating every single day since last spring, which is “I am attracting only the right people into my life” and since then I’ve attracted some great people, indeed. I am convinced that’s how I attracted this coach. I’m so excited!
Thanks for your input, Donna.
Hi Sylviane
great insights in this post!
Only lately,
I found out the awesome results of all my work, investing in my reputation, online visibility and personal development.
I’m convinced that coaching can be a wise investment if you understand its power and potentialities.
Thanks for sharing such good information,
have a great friday!
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Hi Erik,
I’m very glad that you realized how important it is to invest in your personal development.
I recently invested in it myself, big time, and I that’s why I know now more than ever that I’m going places, as they say 🙂
I encourage anyone to do the same!
Thank you for your input.
Hi Sylviane great post, and a very important reminder that we have to invest in ourselves. This has been something I’ve been reluctant to do in the past, sadly I used to think materialisticaly and if I couldn’t see or feel what I’ve purchased then it would be a waste of money.
Thankfully these days I think differently, and one of my goals this year is to expand my knowledge particularly in web design. I’m also getting coaching to help me balance work and life properly, I now appreciate that investing in yourself is so important I’m glad you brought this topic to light.
Have a great weekend 🙂
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Hi Fabrizio,
Like you, when money wasn’t great, I was reluctant myself in hiring a coach, but yet again, how can I expect clients invest in me as a coach if “I” am reluctant in investing in a coach myself? I think that we should always lead by way of example.
Thank you for your input and have a wonderful weekend.
Hi Sylviane
First of all thanks for the post. Lots of informative information. I have always been apart of mastermind groups and love them. However, as you mention, mastermind groups are very different to one on one coaching. I first tried mentoring a few months ago and find it far more useful then masterminds. Don’t get me wrong, I still love masterminds and will continue to be a part of them. But mentoring I find just so much more helpful. We need to invest in ourselves or we will not be able to improve ourselves much.
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Hi Charlotte, and welcome to my blog.
Thanks you for confirming what I’m saying.
Of course, mastermind groups are great, but if you really need an extra push. A aha moment that will help you improve in key areas of your life, there’s nothing like a good coach.
Thanks for adding value to my post.
Hey Sylviane,
This was a decision I made years ago. Although I like those material things, I found that I’m not as material as most people I know. I became more interested in investing in myself than anything else. So, for starters, I read a book that really started my journey before I started any business, and that book was Anthony Robin’s “Awakening The Giant Within”
I was unemployed, having trouble finding a job, and the depression started to kick in. I knew I had to do something, so I looked at the options I had and exponentially used them to invest in myself like going to the gym everyday and going to the bookstore. That’s all I did, and it kept me focus and confident that my situation was temporary.
So with that said, I came up with the concept that we have a magnet inside of each one of us. In order to attract what we want, we have to focus on what we want by investing more in ourselves, which makes our magnet stronger. Well I tell you, it worked and the rest is history!
I believe this is the result of what you are talking about here in this post. Investing in yourself will make you the type of person that can attract anything you want. I guess you can say this goes along the lines of Law Of Attraction!
Thanks for the share Sylviane! Have a great rest of the week!
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Hi Sherman,
I really like how you explain that. Yes, the law of attraction is like a magnet inside of us that would attract what we focus the most on.
No body is perfect and going to be a positive thinking machine 24/7 days in and days out, but we must pay attention to what we focus on most of the time. A coach will help his or her client to do that, and catch all the bad habits that one may be carrying around and which prevent them to grow and live the life they are meant to.
I’m so glad you invested time and efforts in yourself and got better 🙂 Way to go.
Thank you for coming by.
Hi Sylviane
As usual your posts are always thought provoking. You hit the nail when you reminded us about investing in ourselves. It is easy to invest in commodities but seems hard to invest in ourselves.
I know coaching is the best investment when it comes to personal development. In my country, coaching isn’t really popular. What you call coach is what we know as mentoring. I do have a mentor that helps in my personal development and it has helped me a lot.
You are right that a coach can only show you the path but it is you that has to take the step. Thanks for sharing.
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Hi Ikechi,
A coach or a mentor is the same things really, just different terms.
I’m so glad you have a mentor to help and guide you.
Yes, for sure, a coach or mentor can only guide you, but can’t do the work for you 🙂
Thank you for your valuable input.
Hello Ms. Sylviane
I really enjoyed reading this post. You nailed it right on the importance of investing in ourselves before anything. The dividends are greater than any material item we invest in.
Yes there is a big difference in coaching verses mastermind groups. I have been in the coaching business going on eight years and I can attest that when someone has to pay for the services that a coach provides, they will become winners, just because they are making a monetary investment.
One with One coaching (what I named it) is very rewarding for the client but for the coach as well.
I love this post and I will share it.
Thank you from one coach to another.
Gladys
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Hi Gladys,
I hope you’re doing OK, and that you’re son is going to be OK too.
That’s so true. That money investment alone will make a difference in the mind of someone who is being coached. They will make more efforts to do the work and make it work for them.
Thank you for coming and for your expect input.
Hi Sylviane!
Loved the article!
As a coach, I do see a lot of people expecting work to be done for them. I help them navigate through the process, so that they begin to understand that I can’t do the work for them.
Nor can I provide all of the answers for them. They have to be able to make informed decisions that will be right for their life and family.
Once they figure thay out. The system works a lot better than they expected and they end up being satisfied customers.
Karla Harmer
Hi Karla, and welcome here.
That’s why I think that as coaches we need to let our client understand that at the end of the day they need to do their part. As we say, we can take the camels to the water, but we can’t make them drink.
Thanks for your input.
Hi Sylviane,
One of the most important things here is that it pays to invest in a coach. I think most people don’t know until they experience having a coach how it helps them. Most people don’t want to pay the money but the small investment usually gets you huge returns in the area of discussion, i.e., whatever you hired the coach for.
It is also different than a Mastermind Group and you’re also right in that in a Mastermind group, the good that you receive from it is only as good as the members in the group.
Very good information for those who are on the fence about Mastermind vs. Coach or if someone should even get a coach. You’ve broken down so everyone can understand the benefits. Great job.
Barbara
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Hi Barbara,
Yes, I feel that when you hire a good coach, you do get return on your investment, so I put my money where my mouth is and I’ve hired a coach to get to where I want to get faster this year. I’m giving myself 3 months 🙂
No a mastermind groups are not the same, because the group doesn’t own you anything. For example, when I asked our group to keep me on my toes (keep me accountable) about writing my book, I’ve got no reminder message except for one, and it was like over a month ago 🙂 So, that’s a good example right there.
Coaching work, and I feel that many people need some of that!
Thank you for coming by and have a wonderful weekend!
Hi Sylviane,
First I want to apologize for not having been by your place in a while. I know you’re familiar with what’s been going on in my life lately, things have been just crazy for me. I haven’t been online as much as I should have nor have I been blog hopping much. Things have been so busy lately but I’m hoping to see the light at the end of the tunnel soon.
Now on to this topic. Boy do I agree with you.
To me it’s like anything else in life. Things change, they evolve and at times we need to learn how to move forward. It’s like being in a certain profession. You’re always going to have to learn new things and most of the time you’re not able to do it on your own. You need help and guidance.
It’s the same thing for ourselves. If we want to continue moving forward in life and improving ourselves we need help. I’m on my third coach right now because although I got the help I needed at the time I used a coach twice (one of them was you), additional things crop up or areas we need to work on further and we need that assistance to help guide us.
I love what you said about how people will invest in cars, houses and even in less useful items but rarely, in themselves. There are a lot of proud people out there who think they don’t need help but if they only gave it a chance I think they would have a whole new outlook on that.
Great share and I’m off to read another post of yours. Trying to get all caught up.
Enjoy your weekend.
~Adrienne
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Hi Adrienne,
That’s OK, you don’t have to apologize for not being here, I know you’ve been more than busy, more like kind of overwhelmed with shores, and that’s not fun.
I think that pride and the feeling that we know it all better ourselves, can prevent people from hiring a coach at time, indeed.
But for myself, I see that hiring a coach is just like putting a zoom in on my mirror. To tell you the truth, I know enough stuff so not be blown away by another coach, but what that coach can do is help me zoom in better to where I need it.
Another great thing to having a coach is that you can let it all out, just about like with a psy, and that alone is very good for letting go and give room for growth.
I’m glad you are seeking help too, Adrienne. The way to go.
Thank you for coming.