In this insightful episode of the summer “Back to Basics” series, Kat welcomes Charlie Jett—veteran coach, Harvard MBA, and submarine-force officer turned business strategist. Together, they tackle a persistent myth in the coaching world: that once you’re certified, clients will come calling. Spoiler alert—they won’t.
Kat and Charlie break down the practical realities of building a coaching business, focusing on what truly creates success: defining your niche, communicating value, creating connections, and playing the long game. With warmth and candor, they discuss the mindset shift required for coaches to go from struggling to thriving—while staying aligned with their mission to help others.
Key Takeaways:
- Coaching certification doesn’t guarantee clients; marketing and messaging do.
- Clients don’t buy credentials—they invest in solutions to their problems.
- A clear, specific niche makes connecting with ideal clients much easier.
- You must know where to find your ideal clients and how to speak their language.
- Market your coaching through honest storytelling and real human connection.
- Free consultations offer potential clients a valuable taste of what coaching can provide.
- Always ask for referrals, even when a client doesn’t say yes right away.
- Don’t rely on a single method of marketing—experiment and track what works.
- Give yourself time to build your business like any other profession.
- Measure your outreach efforts—what gets measured gets managed.
About Charlie Jett
Charlie Jett is a certified professional co-active coach (CPCC), internationally credentialed PCC, and certified Positive Intelligence coach (CPQC). He specializes in career strategy, skill development, Positive Intelligence, and guiding coaches through CTI certification.
A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with an MBA from Harvard Business School, Charlie brings deep expertise from his multifaceted career, which spans executive coaching, entrepreneurship, top-level executive search, and military service as a nuclear submarine officer. He is also a best-selling author of three career-focused books and serves in leadership roles with the Harvard Business School Club of Chicago.
Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
Kat’s free training “Consultations That Inspire and Sell” available here.
Join the free Soul Driven Success Community for Coaches.
Learn more about Soul Driven Success courses and programs — email [email protected]
Upcoming workshop “Coaching with Confidence” on Monday, July 28. More info in the free Soul Driven Success community for coaches.
