Pricing Variable #1. The Coach’s Expertise

There are no regulations in the coaching field. That means (in theory) you could decide you want to be either a life coach or a health coach and set up shop. With zero experience. This isn’t the case for most coaches.

Most coaches have some level of training. This should be displayed on their website. Along with their experience.

It’s important to be up front about how long and in depth their training is. Some coaching trainings are a few days. (This may not be a problem if they have a lot of experience after that.) Others have trained for years at top medical schools with years of clinical practice.

It's Normal to Pay for Experience

When building your dream house, would you prefer the cheapest architect? Or the best and most experience?

The one who’s going to build you exactly what you want?

When it comes to your health, wellness and happiness, you deserve the best experience. The health coach who’s going to build your dream life with you.

Pricing Variable #2. Accountability or a Proven System?

Many health coaches offer “accountability”. You decide the “plan of action” and they hold you accountable.

The health coach helps you stick to your plan of action. But what if you haven't picked the best course of action?

They say doctors shouldn’t treat their own family. And they definitely shouldn’t self diagnose.

Will Your Plan Work?

Our brains aren’t objective. They tell us what we want to hear. Our emotions get in the way.

The problem with making changes is understanding how your brain sabotages your efforts.

Your brain might pick a good course of action. But there's a good chance it won't.

Then self doubt starts to creep in. Your results start to slow down. You blame the plan. And start again.

But was that self sabotage? Or was your plan not great?

Is the Plan One that Suits You?

Some health coaches have a rigid system that you have to stick to whether you like it or not. (Here are the exact meals you need to eat every day for the next month whether you like them or not.)

Pricing Variable Number 3. How Much Time Support Do You Get?

There are several variables when it comes to support. How are you supported between your one on one sessions?

Pricing Variable Number 3. How Much Time Support Do You Get?

There are several variables when it comes to support. How are you supported in between your one on one sessions?

Many health coaches offer “accountability”. You decide the “plan of action” and they hold you accountable. People say doctors shouldn’t treat their own family and they definitely shouldn’t self diagnose. Our brains aren’t objective. They tell us what we want to hear. Our emotions get in the way. Half of the problem with making changes is understanding how your brain can self sabotage your best efforts.

Other health coaches have a rigid system that you have to stick to whether you like it or not. (Here are the exact meals you need to eat every day for the next month whether you like them or not.)

The True Cost of Transforming Your Health

It’s easy to see coaching as an hourly transaction. A better question to ask yourself is. “At the end of the day, what will change in my life?”

What Does Your Future Look Like Without Change?

What would happen if you continued life as you are? What will your life be like in 20 years?

If you’re overweight, you’ll either stay the same weight or put on weight.

In 20 years time you may have developed a lifestyle illness such as diabetes.

You may have problems with mobility.

How much will that cost you in medical expenses, lost earnings and heart ache?

What Does Your Future Look Like If You Make Changes Now?

If you make sustainable changes you can carry on for the rest of your life, how will your life be different in 20 years?

You’ll be your ideal weight.

You’ll be strong, toned, able to move your body and do all the things you want. 

You’ll feel amazing in your body and your mind. Full of energy. Productive. Ready to take on life.

You’ll avoid lifestyle diseases.

There’ll be knock on effects in other areas of your life.

You could use all that energy to get a raise at work.

Or grown your business.

You could take up a new sport that you never thought you could.

You could made new friends who share your passion in ball room dancing/ salsa/ rock climbing / yoga / pilates.

Right now you’re standing at a cross roads.

You can chose the path where life stays the same. Or you can chose to make changes.

Which one will your future self prefer?

And how much would your future self be willing to pay for it?

How much do you value a year of healthy living? A year of feeling amazing and enjoyable healthy living. How much do you value 20 years of healthy living? Or 40?

The Annual Cost of 40 Years of Healthy Living

Let’s say you’re 40 now. Leading a healthy life, you could live an active life until 80 (and beyond.)

That’s 40 years of healthy living.

Say the health coaching you want is $10 000. That’s $250 a year.

That’s $21 a month.

Would your future self be willing to pay $21 a month to have a healthy body? To do all the things you want to do?

Is your current self willing to invest that amount of money so you can be healthy in the future?

“It Feels like such a Luxury having a Coach”

People think having a coach feels like a “luxury item”. The sort of thing top athletes have. Or people who excel in their field of expertise.

On one level healthy coaches are a luxury item.

But don’t many people aspire to have luxury items? A new iPhone, a large screen TV, a comfortable car, your dream house?

A Coach is the Difference Between Success and Failure

The reality is that people who excel at things, such as top athletes do have coaches. They know they wouldn’t excel if they didn’t have a coach. They understand having a coach is the difference between success and failure.

Or if you have a business coach. The difference between a successful business and one that’s limping along.

In your health and wellness, the difference between having a healthy life, full of energy and purpose. Or limping along thinking “I want to change things but don’t seem to make it happen”.

“I Ought to be able to do this Myself”

Another comment that I hear. If that were the case, we wouldn’t have a worldwide problem with lifestyle diseases.

We'd all be super healthy!

It isn’t that you don’t know what you need to do. In broad terms you need to eat more healthily, more vegetables, less packets and exercise more.

The issue isn’t knowledge, it’s applying.

And that’s where the problem lies. The rickety bridge between the habits you have now and the habits you’d like to have.

You start walking across the bridge. Life happens and you find yourself back with your current habits. That’s the nature of habits.

Just because you “ought” to be able to do something, does that mean that’s where your time and energy is best spent.

Think of people climbing Mount Everest. It’s common practice to hire a “Sherpa”, a local guide who’ll lead you to the top and back in safety.

Your Time is Valuable

There are many things in life that people chose not to do themselves. Clean their house or garden, decorate their home, change a car tyre or the oil. Simple things we could do if we put our mind to it. We prefer to pay someone else to do it so we can use our time differently.

It’s so much easier when you have a “Sherpa” to do the heavy lifting for you. Carry your bags and point out the points of interest along the way so that you can enjoy the journey.

Is it Really About the Money?

Finally, is money really the issue?

Another game.

Imagine that the results of the coaching were guaranteed. There's no way you can fail to achieve your goals.

Would you think that it was money well spent?

If the answer is "Heck Yes!" then money isn't the issue. You're worried that the results aren't guaranteed.

It's hard to make changes and your "habit brain" will put up obstacles and barriers. It doesn't like change!