There was a long period of time where I struggled massively to attract coaching clients. I wanted so badly to be a life coach. I struggled for 8 years in fact trying to be successful in my own business. During that time I wanted so badly for someone to reach down to me, to help me, to pull me through, to give me some hope.

I eventually found a way to be successful which had to do with my own willingness, commitment and experience more than anything else, mixed with some great mentors along the way. I told myself that when I became successful I would offer what I felt I never got. I would reach down and do my best to pull people up. I would be their strength and help them when they didn’t have the strength to help themselves.

After a year of doing this, I’ve realized it’s largely a waste of time. It’s akin to the mother hen breaking open the eggshell so her chick can get out. In the long run, it doesn’t help the chick. I’ve realized that no matter how desperate or hopeless some people are, how screwed up, how far away from success they are, or how dire their situation might be, that THEY actually hold within them the power to do something about it and no one else.

They can only get help when they are willing to have help. They can only make progress when they are willing to allow it in. I’ve met many people who have said they want to be a life coach, be successful and get more clients. And yet, no matter how hard I try to help them, they stay in the same spot. They don’t do anything. They don’t make large steps in their progress. They don’t get the results they SAY they want.

And yet, there are other people in similar situations that make massive leaps in their progress. They start to get results. And I don’t have to do as much or exert as much effort to help these people. They seem to help themselves. Even though their situation may be as dire or worse than other people I exert so much more energy to help.

There’s two critical points here. First, all the help and all the assistance in the world you need is literally at your fingertips at all times if you are ready to allow it in. Second, all the power to change and make progress begins and ends with you. No one can do it for you. And you DO have the power within you. No matter how much you may feel otherwise. The second key is all about your willingness. Your willingness to move forward, to have things be different, your willingness to commit in spite of all the evidence around you that says otherwise.

As a coach, I had to make the decision to shift my energy to those who were truly willing to receive it. To those who were willing to act and move forward. My learning is that I can’t save everyone. Your learning is that all the power to succeed lies already lies within you, and that you can move forward, get clients, and truly change your circumstances if you have a high degree of willingness.