How to Launch a Coaching Practice: From Certified Coach to Paying Clients

“Impostor syndrome, fear of putting yourself out there, not wanting to sound salesy… those are just symptoms that you don’t have your storefront set up yet.” Meg Root

In this episode of CoachConnect, Dr. Diego Salinas and Meg Root dig into one of the most overlooked gaps in the coaching profession; the cliff that comes right after certification. They discuss what it actually takes to launch a coaching practice and land your first paying clients.

Meg opens with her origin story. With over 35 years in health, fitness, and wellness, including eight years living and working at a world-class destination spa, she has spent her career helping people live in alignment with their values. After a corporate reorganization ended her role onboarding coaches into workplace settings, she woke up the very next morning and went all in on solving the problem she knew best: helping certified coaches get started.

She introduces one of the most clarifying frameworks in the episode; the difference between launching and growing. Launching means setting up the systems that let you take a client professionally. Growing means everything else: the podcast, the funnel, the course, the program. Most coaches, she argues, try to grow before they have launched, and that is where the overwhelm begins.

Together, Diego and Meg explore why one-to-one comes before one-to-many, why management systems must come before marketing, and why the discovery call is where coaching gets sold… not on Instagram or a website. They also discuss how confidence is simply past success remembered, why the niche appears in the doing rather than the planning, and why going local before going global is the smartest move any new coach can make.

Meg Root – NBC-HWC, Coaching Launch Strategist & Founder of Lean Into Coaching

Meg Root is a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach with master’s degrees in kinesiology and integrative wellness and over 35 years of experience in the health, fitness, and well-being industries. Her career has spanned roles as a group fitness instructor, personal trainer, corporate health and wellness coach, training and development manager, adjunct professor, and conference presenter. She is also the 2023 Coach of the Year at the Health and Well-Being Coaching Conference.

Corporate Wellness & Onboarding Expertise

A pivotal chapter of Meg’s career was spent in corporate wellness, where she coached employees onsite and later led the onboarding of coaches into workplace settings. In that role she developed a structured process for getting coaches up and running in their first week;  building the foundation for what she now teaches coaches launching their own solo practices.

Lean Into Coaching

Meg is the author of the popular Substack Lean Into Coaching, a free publication offering practical strategies and coaching wisdom to help board-certified coaches bridge the gap between training and a successfully launched practice. Through her Lean Into Coaching business she offers one-on-one coaching experiences designed to help coaches step confidently into their professional identity and build the systems they need to find and land clients.

Dr. Diego Salinas is the host of CoachConnect.

Dr. Diego Salinas is a neuroscientist, physician, and health coach. He is passionate about helping coaches grow their impact in the health and wellness space.

As the co-founder of Vibly, he equips coaches with the tools and support to build thriving practices and create lasting change.

Blending medical expertise with coaching experience, Dr. Salinas specializes in behavior change, mental well-being, and the role of coaching in healthcare. On CoachConnect, he explores the strategies and successes of top coaches, sharing actionable insights. A strong advocate for coaching in healthcare, he speaks at industry events and works to make quality coaching more accessible.

CoachConnect with Dr. Diego Salinas is a podcast for coaches looking to grow their impact, refine their strategies, and navigate the evolving world of health and wellness coaching.

Dr. Diego Salinas has a question for coaches and coaching industry leaders: “What makes coaching a powerful force for change?” In this podcast series, he sits down with top coaching professionals to uncover their insights, strategies, and personal journeys.

Each episode of CoachConnect delivers real-world strategies, success stories, and expert perspectives on coaching, mental well-being, and business growth, helping coaches at all levels unlock their full potential.