Before we begin, let’s clear the air. I love coaching.

I’m a certified professional coach. So, this article isn’t intended to belittle or take the spark out of life coaching. The purpose is to show you a little more grey and a lot more transparency.

On the Internet, it’s not uncommon to see people who attest to making $50,000 in 7 days flying around the world. Some life coaches claim they make $600,000. But really, I ask myself: “Who makes $600,000 a year as a life coach?”

When Promises Don’t Deliver

The reality is this: a majority of life coaches do not earn $600,000 per year and may never earn that much. The problem with life coaches who showcase their hefty bank account balance, is that they are often promising six-figures and big bank accounts for others and simply not delivering.

The promise of half a million is enticing, isn’t it? Especially if the person promising these type of earnings claims that they themselves earn $30,000-$50,000 per month.

But I am a positive realist.

I do believe that there are some life coaches that deliver on their lofty promises. But these results are not typical and don’t happen for everyone. For example, a friend of mine is $20,000 dollars out of pocket, was unceremoniously kicked out of the online groups that she belonged to and is now starting from square one.

Her coach promised her—and kept promising her—the sparkling pile of money that was just around the corner. After eight months of working with this coach, who shall remain unnamed, with several thousand dollars borrowed, she couldn’t pay anymore. As a result, she claims the coach kicked her out of the program’s public Facebook groups and wouldn’t respond to her emails.

This was not the happy ending she was looking for.

Life Coaching, Truth or Lie

Life coaches often claim they make a ton of money. Some certainly do, but I can relate to the fact that those who do a) spend the money and b) invest the time. In my last launch I spent over $10,000 on advertising alone. This is not something I tell people, but I’m feeling a fresh perspective is well overdue.

Meanwhile, one coach (I know) stayed up for 20-hours a day for several weeks answering questions and helping people out in her Facebook group.

Did I mention the cost of paying for your website copy? The investment for a great copywriter is around $1,300 per page.

Of course, life coaching like any profession has its downsides. But the reality is I don’t see the pitfalls publicized. All I see these days is the six-figure lifestyle, jet-setting to Paris to enjoy a long weekend retreat.

That’s the raw and the real truth behind life coaching. Yet, there is also the positive side too. But you’ve most likely heard that all before: six-figures, adventure travel, work from wherever, when you want to and so forth and so on.

Will The Real Life Coach Please Stand Up?

If you are thinking about becoming a life coach, or are currently a professional life coach, do it with integrity. When you share your six-figure launch, share your good, bad and ugly. Be vulnerable. The world is seeking life coaches that are willing to stand up and let the real truth be seen. Flaws and all.

For me, I’ve had my fair share of challenges and no doubt, you will too. Hopefully you have someone transparent enough to guide you, a coaching program to assist you in handling those moments and embrace your truth.

A successful coach to me means total transparency and this rests on integrity. Do your homework, do the math and don’t fall into some of the alluring traps that the world of life coaching can (and cannot) offer you.

Be different. Be an honest and open coach. The world needs it. Heck, I’m waiting for it.

This article has been edited and condensed.

Sarah Liddle’s street cred is impressive. As the founder and Director of Coach School, the life coaching industry’s not new to her. She has diplomas in life coaching, career coaching and human resource management and is working on a Bachelor of Law. She practices inner and outer healing of the ecology of a person through her training as a Reiki master. Her goal is to interweave all her talents to wake people and uplift them to their truest potential. Connect with @thesarahliddle on Twitter.

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