I was recently asked to take part in an online coach forum - one of those things where a number of supposed experts are asked questions by the organiser in return for a little publicity. I watched the previous episode in preparation. There were a range of coaches involved, from what seemed to be a skincare specialist through to qualified psychologists.  I was impressed by the amount these people and their clients were earning (there was a sort of income inflation through the event, from "6-figure incomes" at the start to "8-figure incomes" at the end - a princely income for any coach).  Currencies were not mentioned. I was also impressed by the fervent belief in coaching on display.  Many of them had, it seems, invested eye-watering amounts in their own coaching whilst living as a single parent in a garret and now, after getting a return in a matter of months, were dedicating their lives to serving clients. You might sense some ambivalence in my words.  I feel about...

It is sometimes insightful to think about what stage of growth your clients' businesses are in.  This will not only help you identify the challenges they face but also help you think about your marketing; that is, which growth stage are you targeting? You could start by reading this HBR paper on the stages of business growth (The Five Stages of Small Business Growth by Neil C. Churchill and Virginia L. Lewis link ). It's rather old but remains, like all good management models, relevant today. It provides a useful tool for gaining insight into an individual business, its stage of development, strategy and challenges. You might see this model as somewhat inaccessible to your clients, the owners of small businesses; maybe they would see it as theoretical or corporate.  From the practical, over-worked perspective of a business owner, the theories don't look like their business. They must be talking about someone else. You could talk to them about a simpler, three...