There's a debate in the coaching industry now whether coaches should offer long (2+ hour) free sessions to potential clients. 

Those in the "yes" camp argue that you should do it. 

- They say you should "coach-the-socks-off the person" ... 

- Wow them so much that they'll jump over the moon and become a client-for-life ... 

- Impress them so much that they'll refer you 10 of their best friends to become clients of yours this month. 

- And even if none of this happens, at least you got experience, right??? 

In theory, it all sounds great.  But I don't like the free coaching approach. 

If a person isn't invested (paying with real money, not just telling you "thanks",) then the results just aren't the same.  

Can they get something from it?  Sure, but human beings don't put as much value on free stuff. 

If they do get value, they may think that they got everything that they need from that one session, and they can handle it the rest of the way - without your services. 

Regardless of your coaching skills, we all know the results are better working together over a longer period of time, rather than with just one session. 

I've seen coaches get really burned out by these "free marathon coaching sessions" ...

Before we were working together, one of my group coaching clients set up 60 calls for a whole summer (and spent almost 200 hours between setting up the calls and then doing them!)

Do you know how many clients she got from all that time and energy invested in 60 long coaching sessions?

Just two ... and she admitted that they didn't even pay her much! 

Once we started working together, one of the first shifts that I had her make was to change this approach.  To change from the free marathon sessions to 30 minute discovery/strategy/whatever you prefer to call them sessions. 

She would still give value, but it would be her learning about the other person and seeing if it's a good fit to work together. 

NO free coaching. 

In her first 14 sessions this way, she got 4 clients who paid her much more than her freebie marathon ones did, and I know some of the others are coming on board with her soon - so that number will increase. 

She just saved hundreds of hours that can be either spent on her business, or with her husband and children. 

AND she's a happy camper because she's making more money and having a bigger impact. 

If you'd like to be a happier coaching camper, check out the group program that I have coming up: 

Marc