In this short Ask a Coach episode, Trista challenges the idea that clarity and confidence come from precision. Instead, she introduces a powerful concept inspired by the work of Steve Chandler: coaches don’t need a niche—they need a stand.

A stand creates energy. A stand builds trust. A stand gives people a reason to follow you.

This episode is for coaches who are tired of waiting to feel ready and are ready to lead—imperfectly, courageously, and intentionally.

1. Why trying to nail your niche often keeps you stuck
2. The difference between a niche and a stand—and why a stand matters more
3. How conviction creates confidence (not the other way around)
4. What it really means to lead yourself as a coach
5. How to define what you stand for without overthinking it

1. Confidence is built through commitment and action
2. Emotional resilience is a skill, not a personality trait
3. You don’t need to fix yourself before you move forward
4. Leadership starts when you stop waiting for certainty
5. People follow clarity, not perfection

If this episode resonated, ask yourself one powerful question today:

What do I stand for strongly enough that I’m willing to say it out loud?

And then start there.

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Have an idea for a show? Email me at trista@tristaguertin.com

In this episode of 'Ask A Coach,' we share insights from Marcy Holmes, a seasoned relationship coach.

Marcy talks about the essential truth of coaching: while coaches can see and present the best versions of their clients, they must practice detachment and trust their clients' timelines and wisdom.

Marcy elaborates on how to inspire clients to believe in their potential and make changes at their own pace, emphasizing the importance of recognizing clients' inherent capabilities and allowing natural growth.

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:19 Meet Marcy Holmes

00:52 The Core Truth of Coaching

01:10 The Art of Detachment

01:35 Marcy's Insight on Coaching

02:11 Trusting the Client's Journey

You can find Marcy at: Marcy H Coaching – Relationship coaching

Marcy loves helping couples create more connection whether they're currently struggling or want to set a new relationship up for long-term happiness.

In this power-packed mini-episode of Ask a Coach, Reinvention Coach Gail Keyes-Allen drops the truth every new coach needs to tattoo on their brain: don’t believe everything you think.

Gail introduces us to the concept of being “scared-sighted” — that wild blend of fear and excitement that hits the moment you step into your new identity as a coach. She explains why this feeling doesn’t mean something’s gone wrong… it means everything is going exactly right.

If you’ve ever thought:

• “My niche isn’t good enough.”
• “I’m unqualified.”
• “I’m behind.”
• “My ideal client won’t find me.”

…then Gail is here to remind you: none of that is true.

It’s just your nervous system trying to keep you safe.

Gail built a six-figure coaching business at 65 after leaving a 20-year accounting career — and today, at 69, she’s proof that identity shifts don’t come from confidence…. they come from courage. She’s living her most powerful chapter and helping women do the same.

Her message for new coaches is simple and extraordinary:

“You can’t mess this up. Your fear isn’t a stop sign. Let those scared thoughts ride in the backseat while you drive.”

This episode is your reminder to trust your desire, trust your excitement, and — above all — don’t stop.

• “Scared-sighted” is normal — it’s what growth feels like.
• Your anxious thoughts aren’t instructions; they’re just noise.
• Confidence doesn’t come first — stretching yourself does.
• Every coach you admire started unsure and overthinking too.
• Your lived experience is your qualification.
• Reinvention has no age limit — your next chapter can be your most powerful.

Gail is a Reinvention Coach who helps women 50+ whose life looks good on paper but whose soul is calling for more. She left a long, successful accounting career at 65, built a six-figure coaching business in her first year, and now dedicates her work to helping women reclaim their power, rewrite the rules, and launch purpose-driven businesses.

At 69, she is living proof that dreams don’t expire — and neither do you.

Instagram: @theoldblackladychronicles

Substack: The Old Black Lady Chronicles

Thanks for joining us!

If you have a moment to rate, review, share and subscribe to the podcast, that would be appreciated!

In episode 22 of Ask a Coach, host Trista Guertin, master life coach and podcast host, shares her journey and practical coaching tips.

Trista offers a practical coaching tip learned from her training at the Life Coach School that helps coaches navigate sessions when clients believe they have nothing to discuss: asking clients about their feelings to uncover coaching opportunities.

She shares the inspiration behind starting this podcast and the journey so far, highlighting the valuable contributions from guest coaches.

Connect with Trista on Instagram:

Askacoach

Tristaguertincoaching

If you’re a new coach trying to grow your business without losing your sanity, this episode is for you.

Business and balance coach Lesa Frye joins Ask a Coach to share her most important piece of advice for new life coaches who want to build a profitable and sustainable coaching business while still having a life they love.

Lesa has worked with hundreds of high-achieving women who are ready to create success without burnout. In this conversation, she reminds us that your business should never require you to abandon yourself — and that grace, alignment, and clarity will take you farther than hustle ever will.

You’ll learn how to choose a niche that feels authentic, why self-compassion is the real fuel for growth, and how to protect your peace while growing your dream coaching practice.

Lesa Frye is a business and balance coach for high-achieving women who want to grow profitable, sustainable businesses without sacrificing themselves in the process. She helps coaches and entrepreneurs simplify their strategy, protect their peace, and create success that actually feels good.

Listen to her podcast - The Balanced Businesswoman

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

💕 Join Lesa’s Community + Resources

● The Balanced Businesswoman Facebook Community

● Join my Insiders Email List for Weekly Mindset & Business Support

● Book a 60-min 1:1 Escape Overwhelm Coaching Session

Join Lesa on Tuesday, December 3rd at 12 PM EST for a live masterclass:

The Peaceful Path to 2026: Goal Setting Without the Stress

This isn’t about hustling harder or setting unrealistic resolutions. It’s about creating clear,

meaningful goals that honor your values, protect your energy, and truly support the life you

want. You’ll leave with a simple, powerful process for setting goals that actually stick — without

burnout.

👉 Save your seat

In this episode of Ask a Coach, we are joined by the magnetic and truth-telling Serena Hicks — business coach, money mindset mentor, and all-around powerhouse for soulful entrepreneurs who want to make money and feel amazing doing it.

Serena brings her signature mix of wisdom, humor, and real talk to one of the most important mindset shifts every coach needs to make:

Your clients don’t need you — they choose you.

She dives into why your beliefs about your clients (and yourself) shape everything — your marketing, your offers, your energy, and ultimately, the kind of clients you attract.

Inside this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why identity is the real foundation of money mindset
• How to stop seeing clients as “broken” and start seeing them as powerful equals
• The energetic difference between needing clients and being chosen by them
• How your thoughts about people — clients, friends, even dates — determine who shows up in your life

Serena’s message is an invitation to shift from scarcity and codependency into trust, empowerment, and self-leadership. Because when you believe your clients are capable, intelligent, powerful humans — that’s exactly who shows up.

About Serena Hicks

Serena is a Business Coach for entrepreneurs who are smart, soulful, and all about being profitable too. She’s a cat mom living in Dallas, Texas, and a huge fan of loving what is. She offers private coaching, group programs, and online courses at www.SerenaHicks.com.

✨ Listen now to learn how to step into your power, lead from belief, and attract clients who choose you — not because they need you, but because they’re ready to rise with you.

In this episode of Ask a Coach, I’m joined by Tarryne West, founder of The Conscious Coaches Method and The Conscious Coach Community — a nurturing space for coaches who know that coaching isn’t just a job, it’s a calling.

Tarryne has learned that the art of masterful coaching isn’t about the perfect question or the right tool — it’s about who you’re being in the room.

She shares a powerful reframe every coach needs to hear:

In this episode, we explore what it truly means to be a conscious coach — how to trust the flow, be fully present, and build the inner foundation that allows transformation to happen with ease and authenticity.

If you’ve ever felt pressure to “get it right” or perform during a session, this episode will help you breathe again, reconnect with your calling, and remember why you started coaching in the first place.

• What it really means to be a conscious coach
• Why true mastery happens outside your sessions
• How to move from performing to presence
• The role of self-work and nervous system regulation in your coaching
• How to trust yourself and your intuition with every client

Tarryne West is the founder of The Conscious Coaches Method and The Conscious Coach Podcast. With over sixteen years in the coaching industry, she empowers coaches to turn their calling to help others into deeply transformative practices through conscious self-mastery, presence, and integrity.

Connect with Tarryne:

• Instagram: @theconsciouscoachmethod
• Website: theconsciouscoachmethod.com
• Podcast: The Conscious Coach

In this episode of Ask a Coach, Master Life Coach LeAnn Austin, shares her journey from self-criticism to unconditional self-love, which transformed not just her coaching, but her entire life.

LeAnn shares how understanding the nervous system can create more compassion, safety, and genuine connection — both with ourselves and the people we love. She explains why curiosity is the doorway to love and how learning to understand rather than fix can shift everything in our relationships.

If you’ve ever struggled with feeling “not enough,” or found yourself trying to prove your worth through perfection, this conversation will remind you that you already are enough — exactly as you are.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How self-love changes the way we coach, connect, and live
• The link between nervous system regulation and emotional safety
• Why curiosity and compassion open the door to real connection
• How to stop “fixing” and start understanding — yourself and others

About LeAnn Austin:

LeAnn lives in Georgia with her husband and their lively crew of grown kids and grandkids. As a Master Certified Life Coach and teacher, she’s trained in everything from nervous system resilience and trauma-informed coaching to faith-based and relationship work. She’s the creator of Connection Crew Membership and Lovin My Daughter-in-Law Podcast, where she helps people find more connection, fun, and understanding in everyday life.

Connect with LeAnn:

https://www.instagram.com/LeAnnAustinCoaching

https://www.facebook.com/LeAnnAustinCoaching

https://www.youtube.com/@leannaustincoaching4716

https://www.tiktok.com/@leannaustincoaching

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leann-austin-946b011a5/

https://www.pinterest.com/LeAnnAustinCoachingLovinMyDIL/

https://leannaustin.com/podcast

https://leannaustin.com