Life coaches are experts at helping other people solve their problems. They know how to brainstorm ideas and come up with potential solutions to life’s challenges. However, life coaches have challenges of their own. Here are three lesser-known challenges of being a life coach.

Lesser-Known Challenges of Being a life coach

1. The first few years can be hard. First, the first few years of your life coaching career may be difficult. Life coaching is rewarding, but starting your own practice can be hard. It can take five years before you see your hard work start to pay off, and that can feel like a very long time. You also may go through many ups and downs as your business develops, which can be hard on your finances and your confidence.
2. Clients will move on whether you want them to or not. Next, an uncomfortable truth of being a life coach is that your clients will leave. Whether you are ready for it or not, your clients will eventually decide that they are done with coaching. Unfortunately, they can decide this even if they have not reached their goals. Clients may have to end their sessions with you for many reasons, including finances, career changes, or personal limitations.
3. Your friends and family won’t be your audience. Finally, one of the worst realizations you will have to come to terms with is that your friends and family will not be your clients. It is tempting to believe that you have a good foundation if you have a large family or network of friends and coworkers. Unfortunately, they may not take you seriously. This can be detrimental to your confidence, but once you look outside of your circle, you will be able to develop an audience interested in your expertise and skills.

If you are passionate about helping other people solve their problems and reach their highest selves, then you may be interested in becoming a life coach. A certified life coaching course, such as Coach Training Alliance’s Certified Coach Program, can help you hone your skills and develop a practice in just six months.