I believe that to truly thrive in both work and life, you need coaches to help you.  You may not need them all the time but learning to outsource makes sense as we can’t do it all on our own. More importantly there are only 24 hours in the day and I am sure you have better things you would rather be doing.

I heard this great talk once where the speaker explained he had 12 different coaches in his life.  We may not need 12 but I felt 5 coaches, each doing different jobs, can make our lives easier and for me they pay for themselves, in making our lives easier, not making costly mistakes and giving us back more time.  See what you think:

For the five types of coaches, let me explain each one and why they are essential:

  1. Mentor for Work: Many companies now encourage mentorship programs to help employees reach their targets and advance in their careers. But even if your workplace doesn’t offer such a program, having a mentor is invaluable. This person could be someone older and wiser, like a relative, or family friend who has retired but possesses significant business acumen and life experience. Their guidance can provide invaluable insights and help you navigate your career path.
  2. Accountability Buddy: This is a friend or colleague with whom you regularly catch up, much like a gym buddy. The idea is to keep each other accountable and on target with your goals. Having someone to check in with can motivate you to stay on track and achieve your objectives, both professionally and personally.
  3. Life Coach: Life coaches are crucial for managing stress, improving sleep, and maintaining overall well-being. I personally focus on meditation, reiki, and sleep habits, though I admit my diet still includes the occasional indulgence like KFC. The point is, life coaches help ensure you’re healthy enough to enjoy your success. After all, what’s the point of achieving great things if you’re too stressed or unwell to appreciate them?
  4. Financial Coach: In today’s complex financial landscape, getting ahead is harder than ever and often a significant source of stress. Many people think they should be able to manage their finances themselves, but statistics show that’s usually not effective and many just survive living paycheck to paycheck. A financial coach can help you navigate investments, savings, and overall financial planning, reducing stress and improving your financial health.
  5. Head Coach: This coach takes a more wholistic approach, meeting with you perhaps every six months to review all aspects of your life and career. Think of them like the head coach of a sports team, who oversees specialised coaches for defence, offense, and strategy. Similarly, a head coach or project manager even like when building a house, coordinates your various specialised coaches, whether they’re property advocates, mortgage brokers, accountants, insurance advisors, or estate planners, ensuring everything aligns with your overall goals.

As a previous financial adviser, the last 10 years of my career, I grew into being the head coach for many of my clients, organising all their other coaches and taking the coordination off their plate. This not only simplified their lives, saved them money but also gave them back valuable time.

When successful people like Richard Branson invest heavily in people who can help them reclaim their time. It might seem excessive to have all these coaches, but successful individuals understand the value of outsourcing. Trying to do everything yourself is like giving yourself a jail sentence with no chance for a break.

So whether it’s five types of coaches or even just one, creating a support system that is there just for you, can help you succeed while maintaining balance and well-being in your life.

Article by Marc Bineham – Money coach, speaker and award-winning author of The Money Sandwich