Why should you invest in yourself? I like the analogy of being on a plane and having to use the oxygen yourself first. If you don't, then you simply aren't in a position to help others. I'm not saying coaching is quite so crucial, but investing in yourself is SO important and really shows how you walk your talk as a coach

Reason One: Start as you mean to go on...from the word go.

(Note - do your homework and review your finances - this is about the best you can afford rather than spending money you don't have right now! Some coaches also offer scholarship programs or places if this is really an issue for you, or offer self coaching or group coaching)

Reason Two: It's all about thinking big to get big results
Being coached at your own level may lead to the comfort zone factor - not challenging yourself sufficiently about what you can achieve. Be your best friend, rather than your devils advocate - escape thinking about the worst by working with your coach on what you DO want. We focus on the pain and why we can't rather than what we can do. Go for a coach who will both challenge you and help you set goals which are both achievable, and some which are a bit out of your current knowledge about how you can achieve!

Reason Three: Once you know what you are willing to invest in yourself, you can gauge where you'd like your client price to be.

What do you think about your beliefs about pricing. I'd been quite happy to invest a good sum in my own coaching, but then when I was setting prices set them low. It was only when I was working with this and my pricing in general with my business coach that I realized the disparity and that meant coaches in the situation I was wanting to work with WERE prepared to invest - I just had to get the offer and value right.

Reason Four: A more experienced coach has tools and tips that you can tap into.

Often the fact that a coach is asking for a higher priced investment is based on their knowledge of the market, plus their experience and trained skills as well as the value and results they've worked with their clients to help them achieve. Often this means as well as being able to ask powerful coaching questions, they may have questionnaires, handouts, suggestions which fit alongside the coaching. These will add the extra support and value to your coaching experience.

Reason Five: You can choose a coach with specific skills and experience that fits where you are stuck or want to up the ante.

You can have as many coaches as is useful for you and your business. I've had both a co-coach and a paid professional coach running side by side, where the co-coach and I have worked on smaller or home based issues, and the business coach has helped me with specific things I am stuck on in my business.

Reason Six: You can listen to the coaching language that they use and consider how this could work / or not, in your own practice.

As a coach, it's useful if you can get your sessions recorded and listen to them back - this is something some coaches offer. Even if you can't do this, spend some time at the end of the calls considering what you felt during the call and what the coach did which evoked this in you.

Reason Seven: You are modeling their success.

You can see what your coach does and why you signed up with them. Now - what modeling and learning can you do for your own business and skills? What do you see which fits with your own model of the world, and could integrate and learn from? Being around successful people, creating a strong social and professional network helps you strengthen your own belief and knowledge that it IS possible

Reason Eight: You'll expect more of yourself as they hold you accountable.

Working with a coach is always a powerful tool to take you to the next step - when you get the right coach for you. Working with your coach holds you accountable and often it's just that accountability which drives you further than you ever thought possible!

Action steps for your own coaching success:

1. Think about what you want or need coaching on at the moment. Use the internet, either search engines or coach training school websites to find coaches who offer what you want to work on.

2. Visit their sites to find out more and call 2/3 to find out more and about the fit with what you want to cover in your coaching.

3. List what has worked for you and not worked for you in coaching before, this will help you when you set up your discussions with your new coach. Coaching relationships are not static entities: to get the most out of them spend time considering how they are working for you and what else would take your coaching relationship to the next level. Then take action. What else would you find valuable? How else can the coach work with you?