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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

22 year old business/mindset coach - AIBU

109 replies

2021namechanges · 25/02/2021 17:43

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

OP posts:

Sahm101 · 26/02/2021 11:49

Life coach is just another nonsense made up course that people are trying to promote as an actual career. Why would anyone trust or take advise from someone who has done a few courses?

Emmelina · 26/02/2021 11:53

They’re all over Facebook at the moment - I think it must be a new MLM thing.

Shinyletsbebadguys · 26/02/2021 11:58

This sort of thing makes me roll my eyes. I actually do / did some freelance consultancy. It took me 22 years of high level industry specific management experience experience , an industry specific management qualification, the training and qualifications to then teach that qualification , decades of training experience , publishing books on my industry. That's what qualifies me to be a good management coach in my industry (and no I am not affiliated with any stupid MLM I did / do it through my own back). I had the professional contacts and standing to be able to advise my industries managers . I've owned my own business in the industry (most importantly I've failed and picked myself back up and succeeded again).

Being 22 I physically couldn't have had enough experience to do it. It annoys me that people claim these jobs and aren't even close to the real deal.

Shinyletsbebadguys · 26/02/2021 11:59

The concept of life coach is ridiculous in itself and nowhere close to being a business or management mentor or consultant.

Read Sartre , Nietzsche, Marcus Aurelius ...any number of philosophers / thinkers will help a mindset (mix and match to what works for you) rather than a 22 year old with no experience.

Catscakeandchocolate · 26/02/2021 12:10

I had the great misfortune of working with a woman who had a side business in coaching. She was lazy, sneaky, backstabbing and just shit at her job. Couldn't deliver anything, let everyone down, blamed anyone she could for her failures and pissed off senior stakeholders so she was let go. She keeps bouncing from job to job in our industry but coaches people on how to succeed in the industry. It blows my mind how anyone hires her and how she actualy has the guts to hold herself out as an expert. The only skill I could see she had in the time we worked together was self promotion.

Angrymum22 · 26/02/2021 12:36

Slight tangent.
Why do pp insist on using the phrase ‘like comparing apples and oranges’. Biologically they are identical, the seed carrying part of a plant. The difference is purely visual. A better phrase would be ‘like comparing apples and light bulbs’.
Sorry I just find it really annoying.

idontlikealdi · 26/02/2021 12:40

Why is this all over mn in the last couple of days, have I missed something?!

It's all a load of bullshit anyway.

GeordieGreigsButtButtZoom · 26/02/2021 12:44

The only skill I could see she had in the time we worked together was self promotion.

And that's a skill...some people could do with learning it.

terrywynne · 26/02/2021 12:48

@idontlikealdi

Why is this all over mn in the last couple of days, have I missed something?!

It's all a load of bullshit anyway.

Because they seem to be proliferating due to Covid. There are a lot of promises of high salaries and glamourous insta friendly lifestyle. Who wouldn't want that when you've seen your employment options decimated (as a pp said the young coaches thing does partly reflect a lack of opportunities for young people at the moment) and have been stuck at home for months?

poorbuthappy · 26/02/2021 12:49

@majesticallyawkward

At 22, with no experience there can't be much backup to actually coach anything. The only coaches I've ever met who were actually good and worth the time and money are from one company, all 40+ and most ex-military. Just amazing lives they've led and truly inspiring people but able to hold the attention of a room with no effort.

On the flip side... one 'coach'/mindset/motivational whatever I had to sit through was a 50-something man who stood for an hour and said 'you're all mood hoovers, everyone is shit and you'll never be a deserving 2%-er' (2%-er being part of his theory only 2% of people are actually happy and so worthy of life). He's written a book... I imagine some of these set starting people are reading shit like that and spouting it.

@majesticallyawkward - were his initials SH?

majesticallyawkward · 26/02/2021 13:16

@poorbuthappy I don't think so although blocked out most of it. I wish I could remember the name of his book... I think he's written one for kids too.
He gave away a tshirt as part of it. Singled out the only person who had engaged with him and gave her a bright yellow tshirt. The rest of wanted to applaud the very senior guy who halfway through announced 'this is shit' and left 😂

poorbuthappy · 26/02/2021 13:27

@majesticallyawkward - I saw SH and he was all about mood hoovers and how to deal with them etc etc. I remember asking how to deal with it when the person simply wouldn't engage / listen to you. He told me to repeat their name to them until they listened to you.
Sounds great in a bloody room conference room, doesn't necessarily work in practice.
I remember thinking - christ have you got kids???

NancyPickford · 26/02/2021 16:16

@MrsPinkCock - as others have said, that is simply impossible.

SeldomFollowedIt · 26/02/2021 16:23

I know of a few of these “coaches” and I do agree OP. I know of one professional one who works in London but he does not refer to himself as a coach, rather a transformationalist. He does very well for himself.
Each to their own I guess but if I was truly on the path to a better self, I think I would invest in proper evidence based therapy.

TonightMatthew · 26/02/2021 17:14

Why do pp insist on using the phrase ‘like comparing apples and oranges’. Biologically they are identical, the seed carrying part of a plant. The difference is purely visual. A better phrase would be ‘like comparing apples and light bulbs’.
Sorry I just find it really annoying

That was me.

People say it as it's a well-recognised phrase, and the whole point is that although they both fall into the same category (ie types of fruit) you would never mistake one for the other.

Training as a life coach and training as a surgeon. Both training for a job but you would never mistake one for the other.

Comparing apples and lightbulbs doesn't work because they have entirely different purposes, they are completely different beasts.

I've seen people get het up about a lot on MN but this really takes the biscuit (not sorry)

Pukkatea · 26/02/2021 17:46

Next there will be a post on how chalk and cheese are quite similar, actually.

therealteamdebbie · 26/02/2021 17:58

It's the x-factor generation. The idea that it's easy to get up, make a speech or a plan, and you are a millionaire.

Reinforced by the "working hard is not enough, doesn't bring you anywhere bladibla"

See how far it brings them.

Age in itself is far from everything, but not being able to find decent background to justify your "coach" role means this one 22 year old is nowhere near experienced

Original poster

2021namechanges · 26/02/2021 18:07

@AtTheBeginning

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.

Thank you - this sounds more like it!

OP posts:

therealteamdebbie · 26/02/2021 20:19

No one will ever beat David Brent

GeordieGreigsButtButtZoom · 26/02/2021 20:28

It's x-factor generation. The idea that it's easy to get up, make a speech or a plan, and you are a millionaire.

Plenty of deluded older people on those crap singing programmes. Probably more deluded than the younger ones. You could be forgiven for thinking you can be a pop star even if you can't sing, as long as you've got youth and good looks; God knows that covers enough of the earbleeders in the charts who are clearly supposed to be performing on mute.

majesticallyawkward · 27/02/2021 07:20

[quote poorbuthappy]@majesticallyawkward - I saw SH and he was all about mood hoovers and how to deal with them etc etc. I remember asking how to deal with it when the person simply wouldn't engage / listen to you. He told me to repeat their name to them until they listened to you.
Sounds great in a bloody room conference room, doesn't necessarily work in practice.
I remember thinking - christ have you got kids??? [/quote]
I mean, my kids use that tactic 'mum mum mum mum mum mum MUUUM MUUUUUUUUUM' not sure it would the same affect in the workplace 😂

Thatsnotmygame · 12/03/2022 10:34

I know someone who runs a very successful business and has just started coaching in that field. I would use her for that. However shes also ‘qualified’ as a life coach, which is bullshit plums her own oersonal life is a car crash.

SingToTheSky · 12/03/2022 11:14

That’s hilarious. It’s normal for people that age to think they know/have experienced it all. But they haven’t. It’s just part of growing up!

I remember being most put out that, when I applied for A levels at college, I was too young to do a counselling qualification - you had to be 24 to study it. I certainly had more experience of MH stuff than many other 18 year olds (various diagnoses, psych hospital, abuse etc) but looking back I can see I absolutely did lack the “life experience” on a wider scale!

Laughing at the life coach MLM bot who still needs mum to get her out of bed and wash her clothes :o

Luredbyapomegranate · 12/03/2022 11:40

Yes, it’s hilarious obviously but I think all these jobs need to be regulated -

Hoppinggreen · 12/03/2022 11:45

I am an actual Business Mentor
I have 17 years experience of doing this as well as experience before that in large Corporates. I have also started several Businesses of my own and helped others taking their a Business to exit
This new “Business Coach” phenomenon pisses me right off. It’s basically an MLM scheme for people who know nothing about Business

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