Skeptial of life coaches? It’s good to be cautious!
Some years back, an old acquaintance moved into our area. He showed up just enough at community gatherings to invite you to his home—where he’d serve you gourmet food, make you feel like the most interesting person in the room, and casually drop hints about his seven-figure success story.
I thought I knew him. I thought that meant I could trust him. So when he pitched me on a $10,000 coaching program, I told myself he was either a scammer or really confident—and decided he must be the latter.
What I got for my $2,000 deposit was a few amateur videos and weekly Zoom calls where he taught high-pressure sales tactics that made me sick to my stomach. The realization I’d been misled didn’t hit all at once. It crept in as a quiet dread, then solidified when friends started calling with their own horror stories.
I wish I could tell you I spotted the signs from a mile away. I wish I could say I knew all along he was a skilled scammer but an amateur coach. But I didn’t. I let my guard down, acted out of urgency, and made an emotional decision despite the risks.
And that’s the scary truth: anyone can be scammed and not even know it. It’s not about being gullible—it’s about being human. Scammers don’t depend on “foolish” people. They depend on normal instincts like trust, urgency, and hope—the same instincts that make us open to real opportunities.
The worst part is, scams like this don’t just hurt the people who fall for them. They stain the entire coaching industry. One person’s greed can cast a long shadow over hundreds of skilled, ethical coaches who are doing the work for the right reasons.
What makes a good coach different from a bad one?
At the end of the day, the purpose of any life coach is to help you and make a positive difference in your life. If they do that well, they’re a good coach. If they don’t, they’re not.
Sales and marketing skills are valuable when they help good coaches connect with people they can truly help. But when bad coaches use those same skills to trap people, even when they can’t actually help them.
A good coach:
Masters their craft.
Puts you first.
Explains the process.
Makes you stronger.
A bad coach:
Chases your money.
Can’t deliver results.
Pressures you to buy.
Keeps you dependent.
The same standard applies to coaches who train other coaches. If they teach mastery of the craft and effective client acquisition, they’re building a real foundation. But if they teach only sales and marketing, assuming or pretending their students are already qualified, they create something that looks more like a pyramid scheme: an endless chain of coaches coaching coaches to coach coaches. No thanks!
Filter out the scams and amateurs.
I don’t waste time debating with scam coaches or amateurs anymore—I just walk away. And you should, too. But first, you need to be able to spot them. Everyone needs a filter to separates real professionals from manipulative pretenders. Over time, I’ve refined a simple 4-part filter that I now run every coach, mentor, or program through before I invest a single dollar or minute of trust.
1. Check Their Reputation.
Just because you don’t see complaints on their official platforms doesn’t mean they don’t exist.
🔍 Check outside sources like reviews, forums, and community groups.
🗣 Ask discreetly by contacting past clients or mutual contacts.
2. Figure out how their program works.
Just because someone’s really nice doesn’t mean they can help you.
🧠 Ask them how their program works, and how exactly it will help you.
✅ Look for clear steps, measurable results, and real testimonials.
3. Look at Your other options.
Just because you have an urgent need for change doesn’t mean they’re your only option.
🔍 Explore your options.
❌ If they take offense and turn up the pressure, walk away.
4. Compare their prices to industry standards.
Just because someone charges a ton of money doesn’t mean they’re worth it.
🌱 Start small, and only invest more if they deliver.
5. See how they make you feel.
Just because they’re confident, doesn’t mean they’re giving you good advice.
✅ Sessions should make you feel clear, confident, and motivated to grow.
❌ They shouldn’t make you confused, pressured to spend more, or isolated from other perspectives.
Here’s my promise to you.
If you’re considering working with me, I want it to be because you we’re building trust and aligned in serving your interests, not because you were swept up in the moment.
That’s why I’ll never rush you into a decision, act like I’m your only option, or expect you to go all in from the very beginning. I’ll never lock you into something you can’t afford, and I’ll never make you feel bad for asking me challenging questions.
Instead, I’ll invite you to take your time, ask me anything you need to, and see for yourself how my program works before you commit. We can start small and go step by step. That way, you’re not taking my word for it — you’re assessing for yourself whether I’m the right fit for you.
Trust, when placed wisely, allows you to grow.
Now that you know what to watch out for, I think it’s worth remembering that caution doesn’t have to close the door. It’s a tool to help you make better choices, not avoid them altogether.
A good coach isn’t just someone with knowledge or experience. They’re someone who knows how to bring out the best in you. They see your blind spots without judgment. They ask the questions you didn’t think to ask yourself. They help you turn vague hopes into concrete steps, and they hold you accountable in a way that makes you feel stronger, not smaller.
The impact goes beyond the goals you achieve. A good coach helps you trust your own judgment, navigate challenges with clarity, and make decisions from a place of confidence instead of fear. In the end, their greatest gift isn’t just helping you change your life—it’s helping you become someone who can keep changing it for the better, long after the coaching ends.