Coaches especially need to put skin in the game to grow.
“Skin in the game as a Coach is critical for growth.
Going out on a limb, taking big risks, & investing substantial sums with no sign of instant gratification ins sight, all contribute to Personal & Professional Development.
Resting on your laurels is easier.
But it gets you killed.”
-Ray Zingler on X
I love the private sector coaching business for many reasons.
As a serial entrepreneur with a freak obsession for coaching & teaching, it was the lane that was built for me.
I truly believe it is my professional calling.
But the reason I love it is because I am a fiend for growth.
And in the private sector, the old adage, “if ya ain’t growing, you’re dying” is undoubtedly true.
There’s no “Taking the summer off!”
“Long weekends!”
“Holiday Breaks!”
You bust your ass every day, Christmas, too.
Or, you get your ass kicked.
The private sector forces accountability & quality.
If you don’t provide it, you don’t exist.
And the world doesn’t care about your story or feelings, either.
This most certainly isn’t the case in many fields that reward tenure over output.
I couldn’t sleep at night resting on senior status while chasing a pension. No thanks.
I have to create.
I have to work.
I have to produce.
It’s in my DNA.
I remember the first big leap I took when I was around 21 years old and bought my first home.
I was cruising in my small home gym.
Things were good, but I was cruising.
During this time my business was growing, and I knew eventually I would need more space.
Along came an opportunity for a bigger location and I had choice to make.
Keep doing what I was doing, or go all in?
All in was serious for me at the time.
It required me to float my current mortgage, put another $75k cash down on another property, and then pull an additional $25k out of a gun safe and hand it to a contractor I didn’t know to renovate my spot.
And when that was done, I got to have 2 mortgages in my early 20’s. (Along with all the other ‘starting life’ expenses).
I’ll be honest, I didn’t want to do it.
But my mentors told me “All In”.
And All In I went.
Looking back, I would have 2x’d the risk without blinking. It was the best decision I ever made for my personal and professional development.
I encourage you to put skin in the game.
Skin in the game FORCES growth.
Go win.
