Want to train as a Life Coach - has anyone done this?

[SoftKittyWarmKitty]

For several years I've wanted to start my own business. While ploughing on in my current role (marketing) I've considered loads of SE options but constantly keep returning to the idea of training to be a Life Coach, as I love the idea of guiding people to be the best that they can be and make the most of their life. I've got to the point now where it's time to get my arse in gear and get on with it, or I never will.

Has anyone done this training and if so, which training school/course did you use? As it's unregulated it's difficult to know which would be the most comprehensive and there are loads of courses, although The Coaching Academy seems quite professional.

Do you find it relatively easy to attract clients? Do you enjoy it?

Just after some advice and info really, please, from those who are already in the industry or training to be .

I do coaching and it can be a good career addition, but I do it in conjunction with other parts of my business (and I don't usually advertise it as coaching). I read somewhere recently that most experienced coaches earn about 25% from their personal clients, which means that 75% of their income comes from other areas of their work. That would be about right for me too.

If you have a niche / specialist area then you will probably do better than generalist 'life' coaching e.g. I have 2 niche areas - one is career coaching, but that works for me because I work with organisations where lots of senior managers are facing major career / life change, and I also specialise in relationship coaching, again because I work in a specific related industry and am well known there for other aspects of my work. I know someone who works with groups (parents of teens) and she is a professional in the field and well respected by others who make referrals to her. I know someone who is very successful as a business / executive coach, but she was well known in her niche industry before that.

I don't know anyone who makes a living solely as a life coach - the nearest I can think of is someone who runs their own coaching courses, writes books on caching, and holds teleseminars.

To be succesful you have to have great skills as a coach and great skills as a business person. People won't come and knock on your door you have to search out opportunities, market yourself and run a professional business. I have met a lot of coaches who are probably good coaches, they're very nice people, but they don't make any money because they've never developed business skills. And I know of at least one person who is good at marketing their coaching skills, but is actually a rubbish coach!