Not if you're to enjoy that highly rewarding, fulfilling and lucrative career in a profession that offers such an outcome to the small minority who are smart enough to themselves to make it happen..

It seems like there’s a “coach” for everything these days, from yoga and how to lose weight, to marketing and sales and how to use any one of a number of social media platforms to make money.

And there’s nothing fundamentally wrong with any of this.

The Coaching profession is one the noblest endeavours of a civilised society, a profession existing solely to elevate men and women to ever-higher levels of consciousness, success and accomplishment…

… and Coaching, in it's true, authentic form, is the most transformational process known to mankind…

… so making it easily and readily available to as many "coachable" people as possible has to be one of the most important and honourable pursuits in elevating our societies and species out of the ignorance which blights us.

You’d have to agree with that, yes?

The problem is, the terms "Coach" and "Coaching" are so overused, misrepresented and abused, what most people experience under the banner of "Coaching" is nothing of the sort.

And, good intentions aside, as much as it pains me to say this about my own profession…

Firstly, you have no idea if you’re dealing with the real deal or not. Setting yourself up as a “Coach” these days is as simple as calling yourself one.

All it takes is a website or, even easier, a profile on a social media platform.

Newsflash: it’s no different with Coaching "certifications”.

The overwhelming majority of "certifications" are not independently assessed, backed-up and verified by an industry regulatory body.

There's no quality control.

The Coaching profession is like the wild west. You can't just call yourself a doctor, lawyer, dentist, surgeon or accountant without earning the appropriate credentials from a formal professional training and qualification…

… but you can in the Coaching industry.

Beware the many wolves in sheep's clothing.

Which leads to the second reason:

They call themselves Coaches, yet lack the necessary formal training, qualification and character traits to deliver the service they claim to provide.

And even plenty who are trained fall short - failing to invest in continuous professional development - and the very services they expect their clients to invest in.

Coaching is unique approach, the art of a specific methodology underpinned by an equally specific set of skills, techniques and methods.

Many of those who mislead their clients do so without knowing. Some do and don’t care - because Coaching is such a highly marketable term.

Either way, both violate the client and the profession they claim to represent.

I’m not suggesting the services offered by these so-called “Coaches” doesn’t add some value…

… however, the truth is, most self-proclaimed “coaches” nowadays are acting in a teaching/mentoring/consulting role… and consequently they not only fail to bring the service their clients pay for, they deny them the very experience by which they see substantial and sustainable transformation in results.

Because it will cost you (which is reason #3).

Even though mentoring has its place - and is necessary and desirable in any profession (I have a business mentor myself), it is categorically not Coaching, serves an entirely different purpose…

… and is nowhere near as transformational in its impact.

The upshot of this?

The word “Coach” has been so devalued and cheapened, latest research from the business research group IBIS group reveals Coaching is now seen by the consumer as a commoditised service…

… and that's surely an insult to those who have the personal and professional integrity to seek to continually improve on their ability to bring the most transformational process known to mankind.

Because despite the magnitude of the challenge, it does bring an unprecedented opportunity to the Coach who is willing to discover how the Elite Influencers of this profession make their mark so masterfully…

… and distinguish themselves from the rest of the industry.

And as you’ve read this message to this point, it tells me three things about you:

There’s no shame in this whatsoever.

On the contrary, the desire to grow and become the very best Coach you can be is a trademark attribute which is non-negotiable in the career of an Elite Influencer.

The only shame would be if you chose to ignore the opportunity to discover the central tenets of masterful influence, knowing you may be short-changing your clients by denying them the very transformational experience they need, want and deserve.