22 year old business/mindset coach - AIBU

[2021namechanges]

Have been looking around for a business coach recently. In my investigations I’ve come across some guy who is 22 years old - and from what I can tell - the only business he’s ever “built is the fucking coaching business he’s trying to flog.

Now I may be getting old (am 38) but Aibu to say that quite frankly this is fucking ridiculous. Along the way I’ve found coaches that have also set up and when I take a look at their LinkedIn profiles - in the nicest way - their jobs before will be along the lines of “recruitment agent”, or “PA” - again nowt wrong with this - but being a business advisor - sorry no

I do get that you can retrain but Aibu to say this is absolute nonsense

I think coaching works best when it’s niches down as far as the person can go. But I wouldn’t be put off by age. He could have an excellent business mind.

Pressed send to soon! Though the fact this is his only business is a red flag. And I actually talked about this on a podcast today. There’s a lot of people selling expertise, especially through courses that is all information freely available. If they can’t give you actionable steps, a coach isn’t worth anything.

[quote 2021namechanges]@Rainbowshine thanks - they look a bit more like they offer career coaching though no?
Am stumped at what else to look up - maybe business consultants are more like it (but then there actually tends to be an overlap with what I actually do).[/quote]
Hi have you tried getting on a business course at one of the banks? Natwest do an entrepreneur scheme which you can apply for which have found very good. You need your own business or business idea to apply though. Hope this helps? X

@WorkHardPlayHard1 I imagine NatWest sill refuse as we bank with HSBC. I should have been clearer - it’s an established business (5yrs) but this is more about future direction - me working out processes etc. Basically was growing already but went into overdrive this last year. Now am taking a breath to try and work out the moves forward.

Sorry I guess the post has started to verge into something else.

You need a business consultant - the kind of person who has non exec board roles in small companies. Are there local business networks you can tap into?

I know someone who’s daughter aged mid 20’s is advertising as a life coach , Reiki healer and herbalist . She has her certs on her Facebook page . The certs state that she did a 6 hour online course for each . She is currently unemployed due to Covid and her only job ever has been on a hotel switchboard .

@Doyoumind I think you’re probably right. Am also half starting to think that a management accountancy service may be better to be honest.

I'm shit at this kind of thing and I've no reason to think a 22 year old wouldn't be better. Would need to see a bit of track record, though. The ones on The Apprentice have usually got something. Alan Sugar and Richard Branson were once 22.

If your business is over 5 years old do you meet the requirements to apply for the Goldman Sachs 10k small business programme? It is fantastic, they really help you look at and understand your business and come up with a plan and it’s free if they accept you.
I have a business coach, she’s fantastic - she’s worked in business for about 40 years, built up various businesses of her own and at her peak of her career was CEO of a business she had grown to over 2,000 staff. She just does coaching now, I don’t know if she has any space but PM me if you’re interested (she charges £125 an hour and I see her now and then when I have something to discuss rather than on a monthly retainer).
Otherwise you could look at Action Coach but be really fussy with who you choose as they are a franchise but there are some experienced business owners that run them after they have sold their business.

@GeordieGreigsButtButtZoom

I'm shit at this kind of thing and I've no reason to think a 22 year old wouldn't be better. Would need to see a bit of track record, though. The ones on The Apprentice have usually got something. Alan Sugar and Richard Branson were once 22.

Yeah they were, but I am not sure how many businesses they could have advised on future route at that point tbh. Thoigh their 22 was different to today's graduate's 22. They did start work at 16 iirc.

They did start work at 16 iirc.

Yeah, you're right that it was a different world. Still, a savvy person of that age now might still have monetised a website or social media channel, or started a small business.

I'm certainly not saying anyone who hasn't done that by 22 is lost, it's a very young age. Just saying that I wouldn't disregard someone purely based on it if they did have as much of a track record as someone that young could have, because it's still likely to be better than mine.

Business acumen does seem to be something that people are kind of born with, but maybe I'm just showing how little I know about it by saying that! I'm not business minded at all.

Still, a savvy person of that age now might still have monetised a website or social media channel, or started a small business.

Yeah. There are 12 year olds making more money on youtube than my dh and I together 😂

On a serious note. Can they really though advise a business on their expansion etc really well (not the 12 year olds lol)?
Think about it this way. Would you go and pay someone with much less experience than you to advise you which route might be best to take?

Imagine you've been gardening last 5, 6 years. You want to take it further and maybe build a glasshouse and move onto some more difficult plants. Would you
-ask someone with less practical gardening experience or
-would you ask someone who did it number of times and knows in and outs of it well

It's nothing personal. But it's a fact of life that 22 year old will simply has less experience than someone who was expanding businesses for last 20 years. The former can have good ideas, bit the latter has track record. Since this is about business, a livelihood, not a hobby, I think it's absolutely understandable people will look for the "best" option

I do think it's a bit unreasonable to judge someone's skill based purely on age. And the comparison with a surgeon is comparing apples and oranges.

OK maybe he doesn't offer you what you want but it doesn't automatically make him crap at his job. Just look for someone else who will offer you what you want. If you want someone with decades of experience in a particular field that's fine. Other people might be looking for something else in a coach - a youthful spark and energy, the latest knowledge straight from training, cutting edge social media/internet presence or whatever. Maybe he can offer those things? Who knows.

[quote imalmostthere]@2021namechanges
I see your point, but as far as a young surgeon goes, the doctor who very literally saved my child's life when she was born, was 23. I owe her everything. I think it very much depends on the individual. I also think berating someone trying to make a living in this climate, solely based on age, is harsh. I hope he proves everyone wrong 😊[/quote]
I agree with you here! A 23 year old neuro surgeon saved my relatives life as well. It was fairly odd meeting him before the op as we thought he was very young, but he did his job (with an older consultant and entire team of staff) and did it well. Age isn’t always everything.

Could he go and advice other hospitals on how to run their teams though?

I see your point, but as far as a young surgeon goes, the doctor who very literally saved my child's life when she was born, was 23.

You don't become a surgeon until 36.

Oh

The thing about using Richard Branson as an example or young adults off The Apprentice is that these people aren't telling you how to manage your life or maximise your potential, they're establishing themselves, gaining experience, learning, and setting personal goals... in other words, they're working on them.

It reminds me of the time my green 17-year-old cousin gave me parenting tips for me then 5 year old (I was 34). I mean, you wouldn't take it on board would you? I didn't!

You live it, you learn it. And those are the people you listen to.

A 23 year old neuro surgeon saved my relatives life as well. It was fairly odd meeting him before the op as we thought he was very young, but he did his job (with an older consultant and entire team of staff)

You're talking about a medical student in training, not a qualified neurosurgeon at 23. That doesn't happen here. Let's not Doogie Howser this.

23 year old neuro surgeon - that is simply not possible. It takes about 14 years, including medical school, to train as a surgeon.

OMG yes! Or similarly, I know of at least two men who were TERRIBLE headmasters of independent schools and are now working as consultants for the sector as well as school inspectors. If they turned up to consult I would have to walk out.

In my DCs experience there have been 2 head teachers who seemed unsuited to public facing roles. The first one seemed quite abrupt, borderline rude and didnt appear to like speaking to parents (or children!) at all. The current one is virtually mute (no idea how he is with children). He sat in on a performance the children did to parents, when he had newly joined the school. I felt sure he would congratulate the children and introduce himself to parents. He did neither, nor did he greet parents afterwards. in meetings its glaringly obvious he barely contributes, even when a question is directly addressed to him.

Different people/businesses have different needs. While this persons experience/skill set may not be for you, it may be of assistance to someone else.

Based on OPs description, this coach would seem to belong to a particular subset of life/mindset/success/business coach that has flourished recently. Hallmarks are a very broad net that they will coach (multiple industries, multiple areas of your life), a tendency to talk about 4/5 figure income months and manifestation, and a lack of evidence of any expertise to qualify them to help you. At best they peddle banal content templates for your business, generic mindset leaflets. They mostly want you to sign up for expensive programmes of the back of these. At worst they are advertising to coach other people to coach (And then coach coaches to coach coaches).

So, no age isn't a barrier to having expertise but it is often a clue that the person may be one of the above types of coaches. I have come across teenagers who can claim that they are success coaches in lifestyle, fitness, health and business. I mean really, in your teens??? That is different from someone in their early 20s who has a proven business that they made a success of in a particular field, offering coaching on how to grow in that particular field or using a particular method.

If you haven't come across the former type of 'coach yet, count yourself lucky!

I know someone who’s daughter aged mid 20’s is advertising as a life coach , Reiki healer and herbalist.

I know someone like this too although she's in her 30's and has actually worked in a professional role before all the this mumbo jumbo started. She's a lovely girl but completely batshit and absolutely not in a position to be anyone's "life coach"!

Perhaps it's a sign of how few opportunities there are out there for young people.