Why Coaching Works (Even If It's Not What You Think)
Let me start with something unconventional: coaching won't make you the next big mix engineer. It won't instantly fill your calendar with A-list clients. And it definitely won't give you someone else's life or career.
But here's what it will do: transform how you think about your work, your potential, and most importantly, yourself.
Addressing the Skepticism
I hear it all the time:
"Coaching is just expensive cheerleading." "I can figure this out on my own." "I need real clients, not advice." "It's just not worth the investment."
These reactions are valid. I had them too. But they miss something fundamental about what coaching actually does.
The Reality Check
A recent coaching client came to me wanting to "make it big" like his favorite mixer. He had the technical skills, some good credits, but something wasn't clicking. Through our work together, we discovered he was trying to replicate someone else's path instead of creating his own.
This is where coaching actually creates value - not by giving you a roadmap to someone else's success, but by helping you define and build your own.
What Coaching Really Does
1. Challenges Your Assumptions
Most engineers I work with are stuck not because they lack talent, but because they're operating on assumptions they've never questioned. Coaching creates a space to examine these beliefs and replace them with more empowering ones.
2. Provides Strategic Clarity
When you're in the day-to-day grind of mixing, it's hard to see the bigger picture. Coaching helps you step back and develop a strategic view of your career and business.
3. Accelerates Learning
While you can figure things out on your own, coaching helps you avoid common pitfalls and learn from others' experiences. It's the difference between wandering through a maze and having a guide who's seen the path before.
4. Creates Accountability
We all know what we should be doing. Coaching creates a structure to actually do it. It's not about motivation - it's about implementation.
The Transformation You Don't Expect
The most powerful changes often happen in unexpected ways. A recent client came to me focused entirely on growing his client list. Through our work together, he realized his real challenge wasn't finding clients - it was charging what he was worth and setting proper boundaries.
This insight didn't just improve his business; it transformed how he approached his entire career.
The Investment Question
Yes, coaching is an investment. But consider this: how much is it costing you to:
Undercharge for your work
Take on clients that drain your energy
Spend years figuring out what others learned in months
Stay stuck in patterns that limit your growth
Why It Works
Coaching works because it combines three essential elements:
External perspective from someone who understands your industry
Structured approach to identifying and overcoming obstacles
Consistent space for reflection and strategic thinking
The Real Goal
The goal of coaching isn't to make you into someone else. It's to help you become the best version of yourself - technically, professionally, and personally.
Moving Forward
If you're considering coaching, ask yourself:
Am I ready to examine and challenge my assumptions?
Am I willing to invest in my growth?
Am I open to perspectives that might challenge my current thinking?
The answer to these questions matters more than any external factor in determining whether coaching will work for you.
The Bottom Line
Coaching won't give you someone else's life or career. But it will help you build something potentially more valuable: a sustainable, fulfilling career that aligns with who you are and what you want to create.
And that's worth far more than trying to be the next [insert famous mixer here].
If you're ready to explore how coaching might help you grow, let's talk. Not about becoming someone else, but about becoming the best version of yourself.
