I once had a client who had a bad case of the "should-a's"
She was a nice lady who wanted to become a coach, and she knew a lot about the coaching industry from following it for years.
She knew all of the names.
She knew their programs.
She knew their videos and their popular blog posts.
You'd think that this would give her a leg-up starting out in the industry.
But she had a case of the dreaded "should-a's": that's when you look back in regret that you missed the boat with something, and spend more time obsessing over lost opportunities than pursuing new ones right now.
Several times on every call, when we were bouncing ideas around, they came out.
She'd say: "I had the idea to do X years ago, but so-and-so did it right after that. I should-a launched it before him!"
Or:
"So-and-so basically stole my idea ... I was planning to do that! I should-a ..."
It seemed like every major player in the personal development world took an idea that she had and ran with it to amass fame and success. It was like they were hiding outside her house with high-tech listening equipment and scanning her emails, just waiting to grab the brilliant ideas that she as "just about" to run with.
Whenever I suggested that my client consider going with another idea that she had, she came up with another reason why it wouldn't work. Usually, it was because she saw another coach that was doing something that she thought was too similar to it.
It's pretty obvious that this attitude wasn't helping my client.
Nothing is truly original. Everyone borrows from others, and puts their own spin on it.
If you're looking to come up with something that's 100% original, you'll never do anything.
You have your own unique voice and talents to put a stamp on it. Just because someone else has a program that helps whoever doesn't mean that you can't contribute to that marketplace.
That client and I didn't work long together. Honestly it drove me nuts and after beating my head against the wall for long enough we parted ways (amicably).
Don't get stopped by the should-a's, If there's an idea that's been grabbing you and you know that it can help people, just get out there and do it.
Stop driving yourself nuts over-thinking it.
If you're ready to stop overthinking things and to take action to build your coaching business, the June issue of Secret Coach Club heads to the printer tomorrow night.
This issue is a special themed-one showing how to start your own podcast and have it bringing revenue into your business.
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Marc Mawhinney