10 Nov Peer Groups Create Ideas. Coaching Creates Results. (Here’s How to Use Both Without Wasting Time)

Let’s be honest: when you’re stuck between joining a peer group (Vistage, EO, TAB, etc.) or hiring a business coach, you’re not choosing between “good” and “bad.” You’re choosing what job you need done right now – and the best operators deliberately use both.

What Peer Groups Actually Give You (When They’re Done Right)

Picture a confidential room of owners who’ve battled the same fires you’re fighting. You bring a thorny issue; they don’t sugar-coat it. You leave with angles you hadn’t considered, patterns you couldn’t see alone, and the kind of support only other owners can offer.

That’s the core value of a peer advisory group. Vistage describes it as an objective “sounding board” of leaders trading feedback with an experienced chair, not a networking coffee.

If you lean EO, their Forum model is a tightly moderated, confidential circle (usually 6–10 entrepreneurs) that meets monthly to share experience, not advice, in a structured format. It’s deliberately built for depth, safety, and honest reflection.

Bottom line: peer groups create perspective, community, and momentum – a “personal board” that strengthens your decision-making.

What Coaching Does That a Peer Room Can’t

A good coach turns those ideas into action you can measure. You’ll agree on a simple operating cadence (owners, dates, numbers), install systems, and get pushed – calmly but directly – until the habit sticks.

This isn’t a weekly pep talk; it’s structure and implementation. Multiple meta-analyses confirm it: when coaching is tied to real goals, it improves workplace outcomes in a meaningful way.

And yes, the ROI case is solid when it’s executed well. The ICF/PwC research frequently cites a median ~7× ROI for organizations that invest in coaching and track impact -i.e., put in $10k, realize ~$70k in value through revenue, margin, throughput, or leadership gains. (Not a guarantee— ,just a realistic ceiling when the cadence is real.)

So Which Should You Pick?

Wrong question. Ask: what job do I need done in the next 90 days?

If you need new angles, pattern recognition, and energy: join or double-down on a peer group. It’ll surface blind spots fast and sharpen your judgment.

If you need systems, accountability, and measurable movement: engage a coach. You’ll leave each session with owners, dates, and a scorecard, not just ideas.

If you want compounding results, blend them: take the ideas from your peer room into coaching and convert them into playbooks, SOPs, and weekly behavior. That’s where the needle moves.

A 2-Step Play You Can Run This Quarter

Peer room for the “what.” Bring one strategic issue (pricing, hiring, capacity, cash). Listen for patterns, not one-off hacks. Capture two testable decisions.

Coaching for the “how/when.” Turn those decisions into a 90-day plan with checkpoints, owners, and numbers (lead → convert → deliver → cash). Review weekly. Adjust quickly.

That’s discussion into execution. Ideas into systems. Community into results.

03 Nov Why the Best Entrepreneurs Use Both Training and Coaching

Let’s answer the question every ambitious owner asks: “Should I buy a course… or hire a coach?” Honest take: if you want real, compounding results, you use both – on purpose, in the right order.

Training gives you knowledge. Coaching converts that knowledge into execution. When you stack them, you stop collecting ideas and start installing systems.

Training Builds Capability Fast

Great training compresses years of trial-and-error into a few hours. You learn the what and the why – marketing frameworks, pricing models, hiring scorecards, leadership tools. Large-scale evidence backs this up: well-designed online and blended programs can match or even beat traditional classroom results, especially when they’re practical and applied.

But here’s the rub: most training fails not because the ideas are bad, but because the transfer – the leap from “I learned it” to “we do it every week” – breaks down. That’s a known problem in L&D, which is why serious operators measure beyond “I liked the session” and track behavioral change and results (think Kirkpatrick Levels 3 & 4).

Coaching Turns Ideas Into Outcomes

Coaching is the how and when: cadence, accountability, and course-correction. Meta-analyses of workplace coaching are clear – coaching is effective in moving real organizational outcomes when it’s tied to goals and numbers.

And the ROI case is not just folklore. The ICF/PwC research repeatedly reports a median ROI around 7× for organizations that invest in coaching and track the impact. Translation: put in $10k, get ~$70k in value via revenue growth, margin lift, cycle-time reductions, or leadership gains. Not every program delivers that, but the ceiling is real when execution is tight.

Information vs. Implementation (The Real Difference)

Training: “Here’s the plan and the playbook.”

Coaching: “Run the play, every week, until it sticks.”

Research on training transfer shows exactly why the blend wins: coaching after training improves adoption and sustained behavior change because someone’s in your corner turning concepts into commitments.

How Top Operators Blend Them (So Results Compound)

1. Learn the System (Training)

Take the course, workshop, or quarterly bootcamp. Get the frameworks: lead → convert → deliver → cash; pricing and margin math; hiring scorecards; manager 1:1s.

2. Install the System (Coaching)

Weekly or biweekly: review KPIs, make decisions, assign owners and dates, remove blockers. That’s where habits form and results show up on the scoreboard. (This is the part most teams skip and why they plateau.)

3. Keep the Flywheel Turning (Blended)

Use short, targeted learning sprints to add skills, then reinforce with coaching to protect the cadence. Blended learning consistently outperforms standalone formats because you get flexibility and accountability.

What it Looks Like With Us

Training: Focused workshops and GrowthCLUB-style planning days to teach systems and build your 90-day plan.

Coaching: A simple operating rhythm – owners, dates, numbers – so the plan actually gets done, week after week.

Knowledge without implementation is waste. Knowledge with accountability is profit.

Don’t choose between training or coaching. If you’re serious about growth, use training to learn faster and coaching to execute longer. That’s the blend the best entrepreneurs rely on—because it compounds.

Ready to see what that looks like for your business in the next 90 days? Let’s talk.

28 Oct The Coaching Blend That Keeps Businesses Growing (Virtual Consistency + In-Person Momentum)

Let’s be real: business coaching used to mean two people across a table with a notebook. Today, most of the real work happens online – and when you do it right, it’s not a downgrade. It’s a force multiplier.

You get focused sessions, screen-shared scorecards, and decisions made fast – without burning half a day on drive time. Studies across workplaces echo it: digital tools and remote sessions can lift productivity and make cadence easier to sustain.

But this isn’t a “virtual is better” sermon. There’s a reason we still get people in a room on purpose. In-person resets the energy, expands relationships, and deepens commitment.

Leadership programs repeatedly find participants prefer the interpersonal spark of the room – even when both formats deliver learning. That’s why the best answer isn’t either/or. It’s both – by design.

Why We Coach Online Most Weeks

Coach Eric Knam runs the bulk of coaching on Zoom because it’s efficient, flexible, and sticky. It lets owners jump into a session, make the key calls, and get back to customers and teams – without blowing up the day.

Modern virtual workflows (screen-sharing dashboards, working live in planning templates, recording actions and owners) keep things tighter, not looser.

Research on digital connectivity backs this up: done well, virtual collaboration increases flexibility and can elevate output – especially when the goal is consistent rhythm rather than a one-off event.

Translation: online = more reps, fewer excuses, faster cycles.

Why We Still Gather In Person – On Purpose

Every quarter, we make space for GrowthCLUB—a full-day, in-person planning workshop. It’s where you zoom out, compare notes with other owners, and leave with a 90-day plan you actually believe in.

ActionCOACH chapters around the world run this model for exactly that reason: one day to get clear, set priorities, and recharge with a room full of people who “get it.”

Two things happen in that room you can’t fully replicate on camera:

Peer learning kicks in. Someone else’s hot seat exposes the question you didn’t know to ask. Peer groups have well-documented benefits: fresh perspectives, shared accountability, and better follow-through.

Commitment gets loud. In person, goals get social. That nudge matters, especially when you’re stretching targets.

The Blend That Compounds Results

Here’s the operating system behind the scenes:

Weekly (virtual): Short, focused sessions. Review numbers, unblock decisions, assign owners and dates. Repeat next week. (Consistency is the magic.)

Quarterly (in person): One full day to rebuild the plan, trade ideas with peers, and reset the scoreboard. GrowthCLUB is the cadence anchor.

That mix – virtual for consistency, in-person for community – pulls the best from both worlds. Adult-learning research calls this out: blended formats offer flexibility and connection, helping people engage more meaningfully while keeping momentum between meetups.

Does One Format “Work Better”?

Wrong question. Both work for different jobs. Virtual is about frequency and focus. In-person is about energy and expansion. Pick the tool that serves the moment, then stitch them together so your business never loses the thread.

If you’ve been waiting for the “perfect” format before you start, you’re solving the wrong problem. Start the rhythm online. Lock in the plan in person. Then run the play, week after week.

20 Oct Business Coaching Formats Explained: 1:1 vs. Group (How to Choose What Actually Works for You)

Let’s talk straight: both 1:1 and group coaching work – but they work differently. If you pick based on hype or price alone, you’ll waste time. If you pick based on the outcome you need right now, you’ll see momentum fast.

Below is the no-fluff breakdown from Coach Eric Knam – plus a few evidence-backed notes so you can decide with confidence.

If you want speed and depth → Go 1:1

What it feels like: The spotlight is on your business. Every conversation, playbook, and KPI is tuned to your bottlenecks. You move at your pace, not the group’s. That focus is why owners often see the fastest step-change in the first 90 days.

Independent guidance consistently shows that one-to-one coaching is uniquely effective for targeted, high-stakes changes because it’s tailored, private, and intensive.

Why it works:

Customization: You’re not getting generic tips – you’re getting a plan engineered for your market, margins, capacity, and team.

Direct accountability: Decisions happen in the room. Next steps have owners, dates, and numbers attached – weekly. (That cadence is where most ROI shows up.)

If you want perspective and leverage → Go Group

What it feels like: You meet with a small cohort of owners + your coach. You still get guidance – but you also get something 1:1 can’t replicate: peer learning and social accountability. The question you didn’t know to ask often comes from someone else’s hot seat.

Why it works:

Peer learning = faster pattern recognition. Seeing how other operators solve the same problems accelerates your own decision-making. Research on peer/ social learning shows it improves capability, collaboration, and follow-through.

Shared accountability = more follow-through. When peers can see your commitments, you’re more likely to execute. (Yes, that’s a documented effect.)

Cost-efficient entry. Group programs typically cost less per month than bespoke 1:1—useful if you’re early stage and want a strong operating rhythm before you scale into private work.

So… which is “better”?

Wrong question. The right one is: what outcome do you need in the next 90 days?

Personalized strategy + fastest path to a specific result? Pick 1:1 to go deep on pricing, margins, capacity, hiring, manager cadence—whatever is choking growth.

Broader skills + perspective + lower cost? Pick a Group to build your operating system with peer energy (and pressure) behind it.

Both at different stages are common: many owners begin with a Group to install fundamentals, then switch to 1:1 to scale quickly, or run 1:1 while staying plugged into a cohort for fresh ideas.

Remember: when coaching is done well, organizations frequently report strong ROI (often cited around a median ~7×), because execution – not theory – compounds quarter after quarter.

A quick chooser you can use today

Pick 1:1 if…

Your constraints are clear (e.g., pricing, throughput, management gaps) and you want measurable movement fast.

Pick Group if…

You want proven systems, real-world templates, and momentum from seeing how peers make (and keep) commitments each week.

Pro move: Start where your constraint is loudest. Re-evaluate in 90 days and switch (or stack) formats to match your next constraint.

What working with us looks like (either format)

Clarity & KPIs: Map lead → convert → deliver → cash; pick 3–5 priorities with owners and dates.

Weekly cadence: 30–45 minutes to review numbers, unblock decisions, and assign follow-through.

Systems that stick: Ship one SOP a week; train managers to run accountable 1:1s.

Whether you choose 1:1 or Group, the system is the boss – so wins repeat without you playing firefighter.

14 Oct Business Coach or Life Coach: Which One Do You Need?

Let’s cut through the noise. People toss around life coach and business coach like they’re interchangeable. They’re not—and choosing the wrong one is how you end up motivated for a week and right back where you started.

Here’s the clean way to think about it—no fluff, just clarity.

When you hire a life coach, you’re working on you as a person: habits, confidence, relationships, purpose, the day-to-day quality of your life. Sessions feel reflective and future-focused.

You’ll leave with mindset shifts and personal goals that make your life feel lighter and more aligned. That’s valuable. It’s designed to boost personal well-being and fulfillment.

A business coach? Different job. You’re working on you and the business together. The target is profit, systems, team execution, and getting the company to run without you being the middle of every decision.

It’s still supportive—but there’s an operating rhythm underneath: frameworks, KPIs, delegation, pricing, pipeline, manager 1:1s, and accountability so things actually ship. In other words, not just motivation—motivation plus operating tools.

If you’re thinking, “Okay, but which one is right for me now?” try this fast test:

• Feeling personally stuck? Confidence wobbly, energy low, relationships frayed, purpose hazy? Start with life coaching to rebuild the engine that drives all your work. (You can layer business coaching later.)
• Business stuck? Thin margins, firefighting, managers escalating everything, pipeline uneven, no weekly scorecard? That’s business coaching territory—clear 90-day priorities, systems, cadence, measurable results.

A quick word on ROI, because it matters. When coaching is done well, it pays. Industry studies (ICF/PwC and others) repeatedly report a median ~7× ROI—the kind of outcome you feel in revenue, margin, and team performance. That doesn’t mean every program delivers; it means the right program with real execution often does.

So how do you avoid wasting money? Make sure what you’re buying matches the result you want:

• Life coaching = personal clarity and habits that lift you as a human—then spill into work.
• Business coaching = operating system + accountability—weekly numbers, quarterly priorities, SOPs, manager cadence—so profit and time freedom compound.

If the overlap confuses you (it often does), remember the anchor:

Life coaches bring you back to personal fulfillment. Business coaches bring you back to business performance. Pick the anchor that matches the outcome you need in the next 90 days.

A 90-Day snapshot of business coaching (what it feels like)

Week 1–2: baseline the bottlenecks (lead → convert → deliver → cash), set 3–5 priorities with owners and dates.
Week 3–8: ship one system/SOP a week; run weekly reviews that end with decisions.
Week 9–12: delegate owner bottlenecks, tighten the scorecard, reset bigger targets.
That’s how ideas become results—consistently.

Both life coaching and business coaching are valuable—but they serve different jobs. Choose for the outcome you need now; stack the other later if it helps you sustain the gains.

07 Oct Do You Need a Business Coach If You Already Have a Mentor? Read This Before You Decide

Here’s the honest take: a mentor and a business coach aren’t the same—and pretending they are is how owners end up inspired on Monday and stuck again by Friday. A mentor is usually someone who’s walked the road ahead. They’ll share what worked for them, warn you about potholes, and occasionally hand you a shortcut. That perspective is gold. But it’s also informal.

You meet when schedules allow, you leave caffeinated, and… most of the time, nothing in the business actually changes. No scorecard got built. No SOP shipped. No manager was trained to run a tighter 1:1. You got wisdom—but not momentum.

A business coach tackles a different job. Yes, you’ll get experience and perspective, but the engine is process + education + accountability.

Instead of “Here’s what I did back in 2017,” you get the frameworks you can use in 2025: how to map your bottlenecks from lead → convert → deliver → cash, how to translate goals into 3–5 quarterly priorities with owners and dates, how to build a 12-number weekly scorecard, and how to run the cadence (meetings, manager 1:1s, follow-through) that turns plans into results. In other words: a mentor tells you what—a coach makes sure you do the how until it sticks.

Think about your last few months. Did you have great conversations… and the same problems? That’s the ceiling of mentorship when it’s not paired with structure. A coach is the teacher and trainer in one: they hand you the map, show you how to navigate it, then walk with you while you take the reps.

That rhythm—weekly or biweekly, with clear actions and dates—is what keeps you moving when the inbox, the job sites, or the customer fires try to pull you back into chaos.

“Do I need both?” Most growing owners do. Use your mentor to widen perspective and pressure-test big moves. Use your coach to convert insight into systems, KPIs, and behavior change your team can execute without you standing in the middle of every decision. Inspiration without implementation is theater.

When you stack them—mentor for wisdom, coach for weekly, measurable progress—you stop guessing and start compounding.

If you already have a mentor, here’s what adding coaching actually looks like in practice. The first two weeks are about clarity: define those 3–5 priorities tied to revenue, margin, and cash, build the scorecard you’ll review every week, and pick the first few SOPs you’ll ship.

Weeks three through eight are where the muscle grows: one system a week, a 30–45 minute review that forces decisions, and manager 1:1s that end with names and dates—not “great job, team.”

Weeks nine through twelve, you lock it in: remove the owner bottlenecks, tighten the numbers, celebrate the wins, and reset a bolder next quarter. That’s how advice from a mentor stops being a good idea and starts being operating reality.

How do you know if you’re fine with a mentor or ready for mentor plus coach? Be straight with yourself. Are you reviewing numbers weekly, every week? Are your priorities written with clear owners and dates? Do you actually ship one system a week?

Are your managers running accountable 1:1s? Can you point to measurable gains—profit, cycle time, cash flow—that came from those great conversations? If not, you don’t need more stories. You need a structured process and accountability.

Here’s the payoff. Mentors can accelerate judgment and help you avoid expensive mistakes. Coaches hardwire the operating rhythm that grows profit, gives you time back, and builds a team that executes without you. Both should deliver ROI—just in different currencies. One grows your perspective; the other grows your systems and results.

If the business you pictured when you started looks like profit you can count on, a calendar with breathing room, and leaders who carry the load—don’t leave that to chance. Keep your mentor. And add the structure that makes momentum inevitable.

If you’re wondering whether coaching is the missing piece, let’s talk. Bring one bottleneck. We’ll map your next 90 days—no fluff, just a plan you can run starting this week.

30 Sep Do You Need an Executive Coach or a Business Coach?

Let’s say the quiet part out loud: sometimes business coaching fails. Not because coaching is broken—but because a few predictable pitfalls kill momentum before results ever show.

If you’re considering coaching (or you’ve tried it and felt burned), this is your field guide to what goes wrong, why it happens, and how to fix it—so you don’t waste a minute or a dollar.

The 5 Pitfalls That Derail Coaching

Lack of Commitment

Coaching isn’t a magic pill. If you won’t show up, implement, and be coachable, nothing moves.

“You can’t hire someone else to do your push-ups.” — Jim Rohn

Fix it: Block the time. Make decisions fast. Do the homework. Treat commitments like client work.

Choosing the Wrong Coach

Not all “coaches” are created equal. Some read a couple of books; others are certified operators with a track record.

Fix it: Ask for proof. What outcomes did they drive? What’s the framework? What does a typical 90-day plan look like?

Mismatched Expectations (Coaching ≠ Consulting)

If you expect someone to ride in, fix everything, and hand you a shiny, turnkey business—that’s consulting. Coaching is guidance + challenge + accountability while you build the muscle.

Fix it: Align roles and outcomes on paper—before starting. Agree on KPIs, cadence, and who does what.

Short-Term Thinking

People quit too soon. Systems, leaders, and profit take time to compound. Digging up seeds after two weeks doesn’t yield a harvest.

Fix it: Commit to a 90-day cycle (minimum) with weekly scorecards and quarterly resets. Measure trendlines, not day-to-day noise.

The Fit Factor

Coaching is a relationship. If there’s no chemistry—no challenge, no trust—progress stalls.

Fix it: Interview your coach. Look for clear thinking, direct feedback, and calm pressure. You should feel both supported and pushed.

Coaching vs. Consulting: Know What You’re Buying

• Coaching: Clarifies strategy, builds leaders, installs accountability, and helps you execute.
• Consulting: Diagnoses and often implements for you (playbooks, projects, done-for-you builds).
• Smart move: Use coaching to own the operating rhythm; pull in consulting for specialized builds (pricing model, CRM architecture, etc.) when needed.

Self-Check: Are You Coach-Ready? (Score Yourself 0–2)

• I’ll protect 60–90 minutes/week for execution, not just meetings.
• I’ll be direct and coachable—even when feedback stings.
• I’ll decide quickly (not perfect, informed).
• I’ll measure progress with numbers, not feelings.
• I’ll stay in for a full 90-day cycle.

8–10: Green light. 5–7: Address gaps. 0–4: Fix the foundation first.

How to Choose the Right Coach (So You Don’t Burn Cash)

• Outcomes: Case studies with before/after metrics.
• Framework: A repeatable operating system, not random tips.
• Cadence: Weekly/biweekly reviews + quarterly planning.
• Commercial Fluency: Pricing, margin, cash, hiring, throughput.
• Fit: Respect + push. You should leave calls clearer and a little uncomfortable—in the best way.

Coaching doesn’t work when there’s no commitment, the coach is the wrong fit, expectations are off, the time window is too short, or chemistry is missing.

Coaching does work when you commit to a 90-day rhythm, align on outcomes, measure the right numbers, and choose a coach who brings a system—not a pep talk.

23 Sep Do You Need a Coach or a Consultant? Here’s How to Decide (Fast)

Let’s clear up the confusion: a coach and consultant both grow businesses—but they do it in very different ways. Pick the wrong one and you’ll waste money. Pick the right one and you’ll get leverage you can feel in your calendar, P&L, and team.

This guide turns Coach Eric Knam’s video into a straight-shooting, zero-fluff decision tool so you know exactly who to hire—and when.

The Core Difference (Say It Straight)

Consultant = a specialist who fixes a defined problem.

They diagnose, prescribe, and often implement. Think: “Our accounting system is a mess—rebuild it.”

Mechanic model: you hand over the car, they fix it, and give it back.

Coach = an operator who builds your capability.

They guide decisions, upgrade leadership, install operating rhythms, and hold you accountable so the business runs without you in the middle.

Personal trainer + teacher: right form, why it works, and get the reps in.

Short version: Consultants give you the fish. Coaches teach you how to fish—and make sure you actually fish.

Quick Decision Matrix (2 Minutes)

Pro tip: Expecting a coach to do implementation is mismatched. Expecting a consultant to build your team’s muscles is misplaced. Know what you’re buying.

What a Great Consultant Looks Like

• Deep subject-matter expertise (finance, ops, GTM, IT, compliance)
• Clear scope, timeline, deliverables, and acceptance criteria
• Willing to own the build (not just recommend)
• Leaves you with documentation and training so it sticks

Use a consultant when: the problem is defined, the outcome is a build, and speed matters.

What a Great Coach Looks Like

• A proven framework for planning, execution, and accountability
• Weekly/biweekly cadence with metrics and decisions (not pep talks)
• Focus on leadership behaviors, not just tasks
• Trains your team to own systems so momentum compounds

Use a coach when: you want enduring capability, better decisions, better managers, better rhythm—so results repeat quarter after quarter.

The Compound-Return Argument (Why Coaching Pays Over Time)

A consultant may fix a problem once.

A coach builds skills and systems so you can solve the next ten problems without hiring again. That’s compounding—time saved, mistakes avoided, leaders who execute, and a business that scales without you as the bottleneck.

Real-World Scenarios (Which Path Wins?)

• Sales pipeline is invisible; CRM chaos.

  Sequence: Consultant implements the CRM correctly → Coach installs weekly pipeline reviews, activity standards, and manager 1:1s.

• Owner works 70 hours; team waits for answers.

  Coach first: Clarify roles, install meeting rhythms, train managers, build SOPs → Optionally bring in a consultant for a specific ops build.

• Pricing is off; margins thin.

  Consultant to redesign pricing model and product mix → Coach to train the team to sell value, hold margin line, and track KPIs.

How to Avoid Wasting Money (Expectations = Everything)

• Consulting promise: “We’ll deliver X by Y date.”
• Coaching promise: “We’ll build your capability to achieve X, and we’ll track it weekly.”

  Write this down before you start: roles, outcomes, metrics, cadence. If it isn’t on paper, it’s a guess.

Your 90-Day Play (If You Choose Coaching)

Weeks 1–2: Baseline & Priorities

• Map bottlenecks (lead → convert → deliver → cash).
• Set 3–5 quarterly priorities with owners, dates, and metrics.

Weeks 3–8: Systems & Accountability

• Ship one SOP/process per week.
• Weekly 30–45-min review: numbers, wins, stucks, decisions.

Weeks 9–12: Lock-In & Scale

• Train, delegate, and remove the owner from the middle.
• Reset the next 90-day plan with bolder targets.

Ready to Choose the Right Path?

No pressure—just clarity. We’ll help you decide if you need a consultant, a coach, or both (and in what order).

Book a 15-minute Clarity Call with The Business Acceleration Team
Bring one challenge. Leave with a plan.

15 Sep When Business Coaching Doesn’t Work (And How to Make It Work for You)

Let’s say the quiet part out loud: sometimes business coaching fails. Not because coaching is broken—but because a few predictable pitfalls kill momentum before results ever show.

If you’re considering coaching (or you’ve tried it and felt burned), this is your field guide to what goes wrong, why it happens, and how to fix it—so you don’t waste a minute or a dollar.

The 5 Pitfalls That Derail Coaching

1. Lack of Commitment

Coaching isn’t a magic pill. If you won’t show up, implement, and be coachable, nothing moves.

“You can’t hire someone else to do your push-ups.” — Jim Rohn

Fix it: Block the time. Make decisions fast. Do the homework. Treat commitments like client work.

2. Choosing the Wrong Coach

Not all “coaches” are created equal. Some read a couple of books; others are certified operators with a track record.

Fix it: Ask for proof. What outcomes did they drive? What’s the framework? What does a typical 90-day plan look like?

3. Mismatched Expectations (Coaching ≠ Consulting)

If you expect someone to ride in, fix everything, and hand you a shiny, turnkey business—that’s consulting. Coaching is guidance + challenge + accountability while you build the muscle.

Fix it: Align roles and outcomes on paper—before starting. Agree on KPIs, cadence, and who does what.

4. Short-Term Thinking

People quit too soon. Systems, leaders, and profit take time to compound. Digging up seeds after two weeks doesn’t yield a harvest.

Fix it: Commit to a 90-day cycle (minimum) with weekly scorecards and quarterly resets. Measure trendlines, not day-to-day noise.

5. The Fit Factor

Coaching is a relationship. If there’s no chemistry—no challenge, no trust—progress stalls.

Fix it: Interview your coach. Look for clear thinking, direct feedback, and calm pressure. You should feel both supported and pushed.

Coaching vs. Consulting: Know What You’re Buying

• Coaching: Clarifies strategy, builds leaders, installs accountability, and helps you execute.
• Consulting: Diagnoses and often implements for you (playbooks, projects, done-for-you builds).
• Smart move: Use coaching to own the operating rhythm; pull in consulting for specialized builds (pricing model, CRM architecture,

How to Choose the Right Coach (So You Don’t Burn Cash)

• Outcomes: Case studies with before/after metrics.
• Framework: A repeatable operating system, not random tips.
• Cadence: Weekly/biweekly reviews + quarterly planning.
• Commercial Fluency: Pricing, margin, cash, hiring, throughput.
• Fit: Respect + push. You should leave calls clearer and a little uncomfortable—in the best way.

Coaching doesn’t work when there’s no commitment, the coach is the wrong fit, expectations are off, the time window is too short, or chemistry is missing.

Coaching does work when you commit to a 90-day rhythm, align on outcomes, measure the right numbers, and choose a coach who brings a system—not a pep talk.

08 Sep Is Business Coaching a Waste of Money? (Or the Smartest Bet You’ll Make This Year)

Let’s be blunt: plenty of owners have paid “coaches” who delivered little more than a weekly pep talk and a healthy invoice. That’s real—and it’s why the question keeps popping up: Is business coaching a waste of money?

Short answer: Bad coaching is. Great coaching isn’t—it pays for itself, then keeps paying.

The difference is in outcomes.

Why the Skepticism Is Earned (and Fixable)

Coaching isn’t tightly regulated. Anyone can hang a shingle and call themselves a coach. That’s why you’ve heard horror stories: big fees, fuzzy plans, zero ROI.

Here’s the truth Eric lays down in the video: “You’re not buying hours; you’re buying results.” If a coach helps you get clarity, install better systems, and add serious profit, the fee isn’t an expense—it’s a multiplier.

Benchmark to know: Independent studies cited in the coaching industry report a median 7X ROI for business coaching. Translation: invest $10K; generate ~$70K through better revenue, tighter systems, and stronger leadership. Not theory—observed outcomes when coaching is done right.

The Real Cost Most Owners Miss: Doing Nothing

Worried about the price of coaching? Fair. Now ask a harder question:

• How much are stagnant sales costing you every month?
• What’s the price of rework, delays, and firefighting because systems are duct-taped together?
• How many opportunities have you watched competitors take while you “think about it”?
• What’s burnout costing you—in health, in time with family, in key staff turnover?

Not hiring the right coach can be the most expensive decision you make.

What Good Coaching Actually Delivers

Great coaching isn’t motivational speeches. It’s measurable business change:

1. Clarity that moves cash
   Prioritization, focus, and a plan that kills the noise and chases the right numbers.
2. Systems that scale
   Documented process → consistent delivery → faster onboarding → higher margins.
3. Leadership that multiplies output
   Managers who coach, hold standards, and build a team that executes without you.
4. Accountability that sticks
   Weekly scorecards, quarterly rocks, and a cadence that turns intentions into results.
5. Profit discipline
   Pricing, mix, utilization, and operational choke-point removal—tracked, not guessed.

If your coaching doesn’t translate to profit, time, or enterprise value, it’s theater. Demand the real thing.

Quick Math: Is Coaching Worth It for Your Business?

Use this napkin test:

• What’s one core metric you can improve in 90 days?
  Examples: +10% qualified leads, +3 pts gross margin, -15% WIP days, -20% overtime.
• What’s that worth in monthly dollars?
• Multiply by 12 months.
• Compare to a coaching fee.

If the math doesn’t pencil out, don’t sign. If it does—even conservatively—you’ve got your answer.

How to Choose the Right Coach (So You Don’t Burn Cash)

Use this six-point filter:

1. Proof of outcomes: Case studies, references, before/after metrics. Not vibes—numbers.
2. Diagnostic first: They start by assessing your bottlenecks, not pitching a one-size-fits-all program.
3. Plan on paper: 90-day priorities, KPIs, and who/when/how—not “we’ll see.”
4. System + cadence: Weekly/biweekly check-ins, dashboards, and a quarterly reset.
5. Commercial fluency: Pricing, margin, cash conversion, hiring, ops. They speak P&L, not platitudes.
6. Chemistry & challenge: You feel respected and pushed. If they only nod, they’re not coaching.

Who Should Not Hire a Coach

• Dabblers. If you won’t implement, don’t waste your money.
• Excuse-makers. If every roadblock is “the market” or “my people,” you’re not coachable yet.
• Hour shoppers. If you buy minutes instead of outcomes, you’ll miss the point—and the payoff.

What Working With a Real Coach Feels Like

• The fog lifts. You know exactly what matters this week.
• Meetings get shorter. Agendas tighten, decisions speed up, results show up.
• Firefighting fades. Systems replace heroics. Fatigue drops; confidence rises.
• Momentum compounds. Small wins stack into big ones: more profit, more freedom, more optionality.

Think less “rah-rah,” more “precision tune-up with horsepower gains.”

Is Business Coaching a Waste of Money?

Not if you choose the right coach and do the work. Done right, coaching is an investment with a multiple, not a line item to resent.

Your Next Step (Low Risk, High Signal)

If you’re curious what this looks like in your business, let’s talk. Worst case, you walk away clearer than you started. Best case, you just found the partner who helps you build the business you actually want.

Book a 15-minute clarity call with Coach Eric Knam and The Business Acceleration Team.
Bring one bottleneck. Leave with a plan.