Life Coaching Lessons — ‘Don’t Barter; Build Your Belief Instead’

Catalina Park
3 min readJul 31, 2024

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I remember, close to a decade ago, I was fresh out of the coaching school, proud to hang my certification on the wall. It was a major accomplishment, especially given the past few years that were full of trials and tribulations.

So here I was, ready to coach the world, a piece of paper to prove that I had what it takes but no clients.

Here’s where I learned lesson 3 — Don’t barter; build your belief instead.

I began as instructed by my mentors to help people as much as possible anywhere I went and the people I was helping were getting great results. I was doing this in exchange for their advice or their services.

I helped people overcome anxiety, end body dysmorphia, heal decades-old traumas, repair strained relationships, overcome co-dependency, build businesses from their passion, generate 5 and 6 figures in their business, and so much more, yet I had very little income to show for it.

Was I a good coach? Yes, I was.

Was I an amateur business person? Yes, I was.

While my skills were top-notch, my beliefs about who I was as a coach and how much I could earn were very flimsy.

I know that there are endless amounts of business models, and I teach coaches now to create a business around their life, not the other way around, but the problem wasn’t what I was doing, but what I was believing.

When I decided to become a mindset coach and then evolve into a mindset coach for coaches and entrepreneurs, it was because I understood that even though I knew what to do in my business and I knew how to help my clients, if I didn’t believe in myself as a business owner, I would continue to have a hobby and not a business.

So, if you’re a coach reading this and you think that swapping sessions with another coach will help you build your business and your confidence in what you offer, you’re wrong.

I’ve done it. My clients have done it. It doesn’t work!

Why doesn’t it work?

It is because in bartering, they see you as a colleague, and they don’t have much skin in the game. Most people don’t really value their time but really value their money, so they’ll show up and do sessions with you, but if you ask them to pay you, they’ll probably say ‘no’ or that they can’t afford you. Imagine what kind of messages that sends to your subconscious.

On the other hand, when you work with a client, they see you as a trustworthy professional. They give you permission to challenge them. They pay you, which creates close to, if not half, of the transformation for them. You show up in a different headspace. You believe that they want what you have to offer because they voted “yes to your services” with their decision, their money, their energy, and so much more.

So what’s my suggestion?

Charge for your services, no matter how small. This helps you build your belief in yourself and in your ability to be a paid coach. Treat your clients like they paid you a thousand dollars for the session and show up like a high-paid coach every time.

No matter what, stop exchanging your services with others. It only validates the belief that no one wants to pay for your services.

So tell me, do you practice this habit of bartering instead of working on building your belief?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

If you like this content make sure to follow me for more and send me a message. I’d love to get to know you!

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Catalina Park

Money Mindset Coach & Author | Creator of "The Successful Coach Planner" - helping coaches become successful in business