What's the Difference Between a Small Business Coach and a Consultant?

Like a sports coach, a small business coach works on bringing out the best that's already inside you. In small business coaching, we focus on the "bigger picture" of what it is you want to create for your business (and your lifestyle), and talk about what will keep you motivated to move forward on your dreams, goals and tasks. We focus on developing YOU to your highest potential, as well as developing your business. We encourage you, support you, applaud you, empathize with you. We help you to discover honest insights into where things aren't working. We help you tap the "wisdom within."

The net result of small business coaching is that you create a fool-proof plan for moving forward and the coach partners with you to support you in actualizing that plan in your self-employed business.

In consulting for the self employed, we come to the partnership as an expert, whether it be in small business marketing, web design, strategy planning or starting a business. We teach you skills, like better time management or better Internet marketing techniques. After careful discussion and analysis of what results you're looking to achieve, we sometimes do the work for you. The focus of consulting is to get a project done that will enhance your business.

There is a good analogy that illustrates the difference between a small business coach and a consultant:

* A business coach will help you understand how and why you ride a bicycle, help you to determine what's holding you back from riding properly, and jog along next to you as YOU ride.
* A business consultant will explain why one bike is superior to another, teach you how to ride the bike, and if necessary, ride the bike for you.

Which one is best for you is based on your needs and values, as well your time constraints and deadlines.

We often work in "hybrid" mode, as a coach-consultant. This means that we offer you the best of both professions: advice and expertise when you need it, motivation and brainstorming when you're stuck, insight to build you and your business to your highest potential.