It’s 10 o’clock at night. I’m standing in the woods next to a lake with eighteen barefoot people in line to walk across burning coals.
And all I can think to say is “Hell naw dog”.
Several years ago I was recruited to join a coaching firm.
I had been doing some ad-hoc coaching and mentoring for a few people I knew - friends and a few business owners who were referred to me. Nothing all that structured.
So when this company reached out based on some things I was writing about, it looked like a golden opportunity.
I interviewed with the principal of the firm. Didn’t love him (but they wanted ME! said the ego).
The upside for me to grow my practice was all there: assessment tools, coaching tools, other coaches to learn from and a firm who had a growing reputation.
I went all in.
I was absorbing for the first few weeks - meeting with the other coaches, training on their tools and setting up calls. But then the weekly check-in calls with the team turned into a sales meeting. It wasn’t about impact - it was about volume. And I started to think this was a mistake.
I kept grinding, but I am not a cold call guy.
The process of selling coaching is one where the ultimate goal is to get the prospect crying. Emotional about their hopes and dreams, and sold on the idea that I’m the one to help them live it.
It felt gross.
So I fell further behind in the weekly sales calls.
And then four months in we had a retreat at the founder’s lake house. Everyone went - eating meals together, attending workshops in the living room and staying over on mattresses on the floor.
On night two there I was in the woods. With the line of people ready to “dispel any limiting beliefs they have”.
I watched the others and politely passed.
The following Monday I got a call from the team lead who started off with “We’re not sure….” and I cut him off and said “we are definitely not a match” and quit right there.
I felt like it wasn’t right from the jump.
And yet, being recruited felt like validation, and validation is a hell of a drug when you’re not sure what you’re building yet.
Leaving took eleven words on a Monday morning. It could have taken eleven words in month one. The cost wasn’t the bad decision - it was the four months of not making the next one.