Over the past six years, I’ve lived my life out loud running a Beachbody coaching business. I’ve shared the high and lows of growing my business online while working full-time as a teacher, throughout a pregnancy, battling stage 4 cancer, and still making time for my philanthropic passions.
Understandably, I’ve been asked on more than one occasion, especially now as I’ve shared the 2018 projection of hitting the seven figure earning mark, “Katy why did you actually start your business? You had a good job with benefits? What made you even begin?”
And often I find myself answering the question with simple answers like, “I really loved the products that I started promoting… or I got great results and wanted to share them too…” Of course these are true statements, but that’s only part of the story.
At the Beginning
When I started coaching, I had already given up the extras, an every other month trim courtesy of a coupon replaced my cut and highlights. I gave up my gym membership and replaced it with a used copy of Insanity, and we gave up all dining out, date nights, and anything that involved throwing a wrench into the spreadsheet.
Insufficient Funds
To be honest, those aspects of my early days of coaching were relevant, but the main reason I started a lifestyle coaching business was because I was incredibly tired of just getting by. I knew there had to be more. There was one occasion at the grocery store when I crossed my fingers hoping there was enough in the bank account for diapers and a gallon of milk. I became mortified when the cashier looked at me and said, “insufficient funds…”
Handcuffed by a Spreadsheet
When I started coaching, my husband and I were working full time. He was a consultant for Dell and I was a full time Reading teacher in a wonderful school district. We lived and spent by the weekly excel spreadsheet budget. We watched every dollar closely, and pinched every penny for things like: credit card debt, groceries, childcare, and a hefty mortgage payment. The spreadsheet ran our lives.
No Emergency Fund
Being handcuffed by a spreadsheet, and having to make sure there was enough money for food, clothes, and bills meant that there was no money for an emergency fund. Do you ever find yourself saying “if only we had some money set aside,” or “what happens if my kids or myself gets sick or hurt, I have no money to pay those bills.” Well, my husband and I said those exact things to each other and prayed that we would never need an emergency fund, until the day we did.
In 2014 I received a stage 4 cancer diagnosis of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. We had my husbands insurance but each treatment (12 total) cost around $1,000 dollars out of pocket, each scan (every 3 months) cost around $2,000 dollars, and I still have yearly scans to this day. This didn’t include all the blood tests, hospital visits, and doctor appointments. The emergency fund that we created from my business meant we did not have to borrow money or take financial assistance from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, which we now contribute to yearly to help raise money for those battling blood cancer.
Ever been there? Have you ever felt like you’re working incredibly hard just to make ends meet? Have you ever caught yourself asking the question, “How does anyone actually get ahead?” That day, I drew a line in the sand and decided to find a solution. We had great jobs, and we really did. And honestly, we were making it work. But I knew that with our work ethic and the drive to do more than just get by, we could do more than just get by. That day at the grocery store, I decided to never let happen again.
Why Did I Select my Partner Company?
I didn’t start a beachbody coaching business with a lot to work with, and this small city girl from Pittsburgh had no social media experience, possibly 100 friends on Facebook, and to be honest, I wasn’t even really familiar with the products I was going to be sharing with others. I selected my partner company because it was an extremely small start up cost, and my husband said to me, “Well Katy if it doesn’t work out, at least we’ll be in shape…” My initial investment was in my own health and fitness goals, and coaching introduced me to making my own health my first priority.
Before I started I lost 20 pounds with Insanity. When my husband began working out, he too lost over 30. I knew that selecting a wellness company meant that I would be cooking cleaner, making my own fitness a priority, and sharing my lifestyle daily through social media (the best kind of accountability there is)!
As I grew my business, and started to learn a little more about our products, I came to realize the benefits of them. I started to FEEL the difference, not just in my waistline but in my digestion, in my skin, hair and nails, and in my sugar cravings.
Perks I Didn’t Know About at First!
When I signed up as a coach, I knew that my first goal was to get my own business investment paid for. I was investing in MYSELF first. To this day, I share with my coaches, that if you don’t think you are worth a $4 a day investment in your health, it’s going to be really hard to help others think they are too.
Within my first month I support seven people in getting started in their fitness journey. I earned my first paycheck within the first week.
- We made enough money to pay for weekly groceries within the first six months.
- In one year, we were looking at our spreadsheet a little differently and FINALLY had an emergency fund.
- Within the first 2.5 years I was a six figure earner.
Throughout the past six years, income aside, Mike and I have traveled around the country on trips earned for achieving monthly benchmarks and helping our team do the same. I’ve traveled to a number of leadership events learning from leaders like Dave Ramsey, John Maxwell and Brendan Burchard. The company has rewarded me with a significant income, yes, but I’ve received quite a lot of swag over the years as well!
We are also a part of an incredible community of people that are cheering you on. Even during my cancer treatment, my team of coaches would sweat for me when I was too weak to do it myself.
So What Does It Actually Take to Succeed?
You should know that when I started this business, I was working full time as a teacher, raising a 2 year old, and I had a small amount of time to work this business. I think there is something about that period of being busy.
I didn’t have time for distraction.
There was no time for scrolling.
I didn’t have time for anything but the business activities that my coach was sharing with me.
I was and still am incredibly, incredibly coachable.
A plan for setting goals was given to me, specific examples to implement those goals and the action needed to make those goals a reality.
I learned from the leaders in my organization.
I was willing to fail in order to grow, and I think above all, I treated it like a business.
As a teacher, I knew the value of being teachable, and I loved the aspect of helping others.
And what’s kept me going?
What keeps me going?
Grit.
So What Can I Expect To Earn within the First Month? 6 Months? Year?
Truthfully, what can you expect to earn really depends on your goals as well as your commitment to achieving them. You should know upfront, that you are in charge of your income. This is NOT a business that gets ya rich quick. This is not a business about just selling a product and moving on to the next lead. It involves a time investment. Depending on your goals and your work ethic, you can begin earning an income within the first week!
In most cases, I work with my personally sponsored coaches to create a first 30 day plan where they can set up with first income goals as well as first promotional goals to open the doors to the compensation plan.
My first week as a coach I earned, $403.00.
My second week as a coach I earned -$19.44.
Yes. I have a strong work ethic, and yes, I have failed often as well. Even from the start!
What’s My Role as Your Mentor?
As your sponsor coach, and when you enroll as a coach, I will be setting you up with the tools to succeed, and you will be added into our fitness community as well as our coach community. Within the first day you will receive a welcome email with your quick start guide. Once you fill in the action plan, I will have a conversation about launching your business, earning your first paycheck, helping your first customers achieve results, and learning more about the products you will be sharing with others!
My job as an upline is not to be your boss, but to guide you to achieve YOUR goals and match the effort you are willing to put forth. You will have the opportunity to enroll in our coach training within your first weeks of signing and be mentored by the top leaders in our organization. All of this is done virtually!
What Are My First Steps to Getting Started?
The first step to getting started is to ask what coaching can provide for you?
Financial independence?
A little extra to do more than just get by?
Pay for the products that you already love?
Then ask yourself how much time you are willing and able to commit to coaching?
One hour a day, like when I started?
Five- Six hours a day?
And lastly, ask yourself what your first goals of the business are?
Do you want to get started on your own health and fitness journey?
Do you love the idea of having your health supplements paid for?
Would it be amazing to earn $500 in your first month?
And remember, this job is 100% virtual!
From there, let’s start the conversation about coaching!
If you want to see my first 3 year progression income, join our glimpse into coaching. I will also share more about our team, our daily activities, and our products all in the Facebook group below.
Click here to join my Facebook group: Sneak Peek into Coaching
