Hardness doesn't equal value

When your coaching business feels too hard, it’s rarely just about strategy.

In this conversation (a follow-up to Episode #115), Ruth Saville, Alex Whitton and Robbie Swale explore three of the biggest pressure-points coaches face as they try to stay in the work for the long game: self-doubt, money, and the quiet temptation to question everything when things feel wobbly.

Together, we talk about:

Self-doubt: how it shows up, why it’s so persistent, and what helps you stay grounded (including building your own evidence bank of impact)

Tactics and alignment: the difference between “hard because it’s growth” and “hard because it’s avoidable suffering”

Money pressure: why financial scarcity affects how we think, and how simple, practical actions can bring steadiness back

Staying in the game: creating systems that help you keep moving even when you’re tired, overwhelmed, or questioning your path

This is an episode for coaches who want to keep going - without pretending it’s easy, and without needing to take themselves quite so seriously along the way.

And if you’d like support with all of this - building the business and staying human while you do it - you can explore The Coach’s Journey Community here: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/community

Listen to Part 1 of this conversation: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/115-what-do-you-do-when-your-coaching-business-feels-too-hard

Download Robbie’s ebook, An Introduction to The Coaching Business Flywheel, here.

For more information about Ruth, visit https://www.ruthsaville.co.uk/

For more information about Alex , visit http://www.exploregrowbe.com/

For more information about Robbie, visit https://www.robbieswale.com/

Read more about The Coach's Journey at www.thecoachsjourney.com.

Music by My Good Man William: listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KmeQUcTbeE31uFynHQLQg

To support the Coach's Journey, visit www.patreon.com/thecoachsjourney and to join the Coach's Journey Community visit www.thecoachsjourney.com/community.

THINGS WE MENTIONED THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN

Free Ebook: An Introduction to the Coaching Business Flywheel: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/the-coaching-business-flywheel

The Coach’s Journey Community: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/community

Get to know Ruth better: Robbie’s interview with Ruth on The Coach’s Journey Podcast https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-66-ruth-saville-how-to-be-a-rebel-misbehave-more-and-set-your-sights-on-being-a-master-coach

Get to know Alex better: Robbie’s interview with Alex on The Coach’s Journey Podcast https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-64-alex-whitton-balancing-the-being-and-the-doing

Part 1 – What Do You Do When Your Coaching Business Feels Too Hard https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/115-what-do-you-do-when-your-coaching-business-feels-too-hard

The Power to Choose by Robbie Swale: https://geni.us/powertochoose

The Power to Choose in conversation on The Coach’s Journey: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-114-robbie-swale-the-power-to-choose-calm-complexity-and-the-courage-to-be-fully-yourself

The Coach’s Journey – Writing: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/writing

The Coach’s Journey – Videos: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/videos

Joseph Campbell quote from the Power of Myth and Alex’s blog on it: https://www.exploregrowbe.com/blog/what-are-the-rules-we-hold-ourselves-to-where-did-they-come-from-and-how-are-they-serving-us-nownbsp 

Campbell and Bill Moyers talking about Myth, Sacrifice and Bliss: https://billmoyers.com/content/ep-4-joseph-campbell-and-the-power-of-myth-sacrifice-and-bliss-audio/ 

Philosophise this - Silence, Obedience and Joy https://www.philosophizethis.org/podcast/episode-158-the-creation-of-meaning-nietzsche-the-ascetic-ideal-f8k5h-k8xfx

Ashana Crichton on The Coach’s Journey: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/98-ashana-crichton-the-potential-for-true-partnership-if-we-pay-attention-to-power

Chloe Garland on The Coach’s Journey: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-65-chloe-garland-the-jam-donut-principle-quarter-life-crises-and-the-philosophy-of-coaching

Jenny Bird on The Coach’s Journey: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/109-jenny-bird-the-joy-of-sparkly-new-things

The ICF’s Global Coaching Study report - https://coachingfederation.org/resources/research/global-coaching-study/ 

Patrick Quinton-Smith on The Coach’s Journey: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/107-patrick-quinton-smith-clarity-is-revealed-in-momentum-so-build-momentum-and-clarity-will-come

Henrietta Nelson on The Coach’s Journey: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-46-henrietta-nelson-nobody-else-can-put-a-feeling-in-you

Rebecca Norton  on The Coach’s Journey: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/96-rebecca-norton-how-coaching-walks-can-guide-us-to-new-pathways-through-life

Robbie’s book How to Keep Going When You Want to Give Up: https://geni.us/justdoit

Dan Pink – “When” (timing & energy rhythms) https://www.danpink.com/books/when/

Elizabeth Gilbert - Big Magic - https://www.elizabethgilbert.com/books/big-magic/

Ellie Scarf on The Coach’s Journey: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/102-ellie-scarf-our-stories-and-scars-can-be-points-of-connection

Ellie Scarf’s podcast episode, The Funds are in the Follow Up - https://www.elliescarf.com/podcasts/the-business-of-executive-coaching/episodes/2148989827

James Clear, Atomic Habits - https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits

Atomic Habits – Business appendix (PDF) https://s3.amazonaws.com/jamesclear/Atomic%2BHabits/Business%2BAppendix.pdf

The Art of Possibility (Zander & Zander) https://www.benjaminzander.org/the-art-of-possibility/

Robbie’s Zone of Genius blog - https://www.robbieswale.com/the-12-minute-blog/2022/2/3/the-zone-of-genius-the-most-powerful-thought-experiment-for-personal-transformation

The Prosperous Coach (Rich Litvin & Steve Chandler) - https://richlitvin.com/book/