What’s the Opposite of Business Coaching Burn-Out and Burn-Up? Burn-On!

What’s the Opposite of Business Coaching Burn-Out and Burn-Up? Burn-On!

June 01, 20192 min read

In a previous post, I shared two rookie mistakes I see all the time: business coaching burn-out and burn-up. What’s the antidote?

A little something I call burn-on.

Burn-ons know they’re in it for the long haul. They understand that building a successful business coaching practice can be intimidating. You might struggle with doubts about your level of experience, your ability to position yourself well with clients, phone reluctance, the ins and outs of entrepreneurial budgeting, and even a lack of working capital.

But burn-ons have gone all-in and have no plan B. They plan well, work hard, and stay the course even in the face of adversity.

They understand that successful marketing campaigns aren’t one-and-one. Instead, they’re the result of consistent effort to a list of ideal prospects over a period of years. Not weeks. Not months. Years.

They understand that there are no magic bullets. Instead, success in business coaching is the result of hard work over time.

They understand that a set-back today brings you closer to success tomorrow. They have a clear vision that keeps them going.

They keep my “secret formula for success” in mind:

Do the RIGHT THINGS in SMALL AMOUNTS over a LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

How to Be Sure What the Right Things Are

Of course, in order to do that, you’ve got to be sure what the right things are.

Many cases of business coaching burn-out aren’t the result of a lack of hard work–but working too hard on the wrong things!

Many cases of business coaching burn-out aren't the result of a lack of hard work--but working too hard on the wrong things!

There are two ways to fix that:

  1. Trial and error. Get out there and pound the pavement. Make mistakes. Learn from personal experience exactly what works and what doesn’t. It might take some time, but if you stick with it, you’ll get there.

  2. Learn from those who have gone before. Find out what successful coaches do and replicate their efforts. Leverage their experience to shortcut the time, effort, and cost of growth and development.

Both are effective. One is just a heck of a lot faster than the other. (As a coaches’ coach who preaches the value of working with an expert who can hold you accountable, you can probably guess which option I recommend.)

Want a comprehensive look at the right things you should do at the beginning of your career? Get my FREE ebook, How to Become a Business Coach and work your way through it. It will put you on the path to success by leveraging the trial and error I experienced when I was first starting out. Enjoy!

Eric Dombach is an investor, entrepreneur, senior executive, and consultant to PE firms and family offices. He has founded two professional service firms that achieved 7-figure exits. As the leader of a business consulting firm and a network of more than 6,300 business consultants, Eric is dedicated to developing leaders, building dream teams, and growing SMBs. He is also a published author, known for his Amazon best-seller, "The Million Dollar Business Coaching Firm." Eric has an MBA from the University of the People and a B.S. in Engineering from Messiah University. He has been married to Deborah since 1993, and they have four adult children. He enjoys reading, world travel, and playing jazz-fusion guitar.

Eric Dombach

Eric Dombach is an investor, entrepreneur, senior executive, and consultant to PE firms and family offices. He has founded two professional service firms that achieved 7-figure exits. As the leader of a business consulting firm and a network of more than 6,300 business consultants, Eric is dedicated to developing leaders, building dream teams, and growing SMBs. He is also a published author, known for his Amazon best-seller, "The Million Dollar Business Coaching Firm." Eric has an MBA from the University of the People and a B.S. in Engineering from Messiah University. He has been married to Deborah since 1993, and they have four adult children. He enjoys reading, world travel, and playing jazz-fusion guitar.

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