The Simple Path to Your First Few Clients

“Resistance will tell you anything to keep you from doing your work. It will perjure, fabricate, falsify; seduce, bully, cajole. Resistance is insidious. It will assume any form, if that's what it takes to deceive you. It will reason with you like a lawyer or jam a nine-millimeter in your face like a stickup man. Resistance is always lying and always full of shit.”
— Steven Pressfield, The War of Art

Getting certified as a coach is a big milestone.
But it’s not the start of your coaching business.

In my work with holistic life coaches over the years, one thing keeps showing up: the illusion of progress.

It looks like effort—doing another course, setting up a website, getting more clarity, tweaking the offer—but it doesn’t move you forward. It just keeps you busy.

Because all that complexity—the logo, the website, the colors, the perfect offer—isn’t always progress. It’s often just your nervous system buying time. So it doesn’t have to face the tension of being seen. Of starting messy. Of getting it wrong in public.

And I get it. I tried to do the same when I was starting out.
But the truth is, when you're trying to serve your first few clients, you don’t need 99% of what the online experts say you do: A website, a niche, a funnel, a business name and email, a photo shoot, a social media strategy.

The list is endless.

The first rule of entrepreneurship: start where you are with what you have.

All you need is:
– Your contact list (in your phone & socials—yes, the one you already have)
– A straightforward message
– A Zoom link
– And a willingness to move, make mistakes, and learn from them

You can start with one person a day. (Reach out to—family, coworkers, close friends, mutuals, mentors, or people from communities you’re already part of)

Anyone you genuinely feel could benefit from what you do.

Your message could simply be:

“Hi [Name], I’ve recently become a certified life coach. I’m opening three spots to support individuals navigating [insert transformation or challenge].
You came to mind because [specific reason—something they said, posted, or shared].
If this is something you'd be interested in, I’d be happy to offer you a free session as a gift.”

If you’re sharing it publicly:

“Life update—
I’ve recently completed my coach certification. It’s been a meaningful, clarifying journey.
As part of this next chapter, I’m offering three 30 min free sessions as a gift, to individuals who are currently navigating [insert transformation or challenge].
If that speaks to you—or someone close to you—you’re welcome to reach out.”

And when someone casually asks what you do:

“I recently got certified as a coach. It’s been a really clarifying chapter for me.
Right now, I work with people who are [problem]—I help them [transformation].
If that sounds like something you—or someone you know—could use, I’d be glad to offer a free session as a gift.”

Of course, these are just examples—say it in your own words.
Don’t try to sell. Just offer it with generosity.

If you don't instantly get a reply?
That’s okay. Follow up once or twice. Then move on to the next name.
You don’t need everyone—you just need a few people to say yes to jump-start your practice.

Once they say yes, get them on a call with you.
Let them know how genuinely glad you are to have them as a founding client or early member.

Be clear about what your session includes, and what the next steps are if they want to continue working with you after that.
Then focus on delivering the most exceptional, transformational experience you currently can.

And don’t confuse free with unpaid.
You’re getting paid in:

– Practice: Not studying—actual coaching
– Experience: Each session teaches you something
– Clarity: You hear exactly how clients describe their needs and desires
– Proof: Testimonials and case studies that show your coaching is working
– Flow: People referring others to experience the same transformation
– Confidence: Your body starts to trust that you can hold the space

Once you’ve gone through this phase, that’s when it makes sense to start building your coaching brand and business.
Because now, you’re not building from theory as a coaching student—
you’re building from experience, as a coach who’s walked with real people through real transformation.

So don’t treat it like a launch. Treat it like a real-world learning experience—
That becomes the foundation your coaching brand stands on.

Until next time, keep climbing!

— Shaan