The Business of Executive Coaching

As I map out my plans for 2026, I have been thinking about how quickly we jump into revenue targets and marketing tactics without asking an equally important question: Does my business actually support the life I want and the impact I care about? In this episode, I talk about the three priorities most coaches bring into business: financial security, meaningful work and the flexibility to live a life that truly fits. These intentions often fade into the background once planning begins, so I share how to bring them back into focus as you shape your strategy for the year ahead. If you are ready to plan for your 2026 business goals with life in mind, this episode gives you a great starting plan. If you want support as you build your 2026 strategy please reach out to find out whether Corporate to Coach Accelerator is the right fit for you. There are just a few spots left before pricing increases in the new year. Book a call at elliescarf.com/bookacall or learn more at elliescarf.com/cca.And don’t forget to connect with me on LinkedIn.

Planning brings its own kind of energy. There is the excitement of shaping a strong strategy for 2026 and the reality that looking back over the year can be difficult Many coaches would rather stay in the dreaming stage than revisit what actually happened in 2025, especially if we tend to jump straight to what did not go perfectly. This episode invites you to approach reflection in a way that feels lighter and more purposeful. We explore why acknowledging your progress matters, how your subconscious responds to what you celebrate, and why your assumptions about the year often differ from what the data reveals. I’m also sharing four practical prompts designed to guide your review of 2025. These questions help you recognise the wins you may have overlooked, balance out the negativity bias that naturally appears, clarify what you have learned, and understand where your clients or opportunities actually came from this year. It is a simple and coach friendly process that supports you to plan for 2026 without the hustle energy, while still giving due attention to the insights we need to process (positive and negative) for 2026. If you want to go deeper into your 2026 strategic planning, you might want to join me inside the Corporate to Coach Accelerator where we are deep in planning mode. The Corporate to Coach Accelerator is a 12 month, hands on programme that helps you replace your corporate income with more👉 Book a call at elliescarf.com/bookacall or learn more at elliescarf.com/cca. And don’t forget to connect with me on LinkedIn.

As the year winds down, you might be noticing that familiar tension. The desire to finish strong combined with the reality that you are tired. You need a break.And if you are like many coaches, you might also be feeling the pressure to build the “perfect” strategy for 2026 so you don’t start the new year on the back foot. This episode (and indeed the new few episodes on this series) are about how to do both. To honor the fatigue of the end of year AND to use our time well to prepare..And so I am pleased to share six intentional and coach friendly actions you can take before the year ends that will strengthen your identity as a business owner, expand your future capacity and set you up beautifully for a powerful 2026 without adding hustle, urgency or overwhelm.These are small, doable shifts that support both your business and your wellbeing.Check out the episode now and let me know which ones feel supportive for you as 2025 winds down.If you’re ready to grow your executive coaching business and work with more of your ideal corporate clients, join the Corporate to Coach Accelerator. It’s a 12-month,hands-on programme that helps you replace your corporate income sustainably.👉 Book a call at elliescarf.com/bookacall or learn more at elliescarf.com/cca.And connect with me on LinkedIn.

I’m thrilled to be joined in this episode by Lisa Saunders. Lisa is an extraordinary and experienced coach, supervisor, team coach and facilitator whose career spans more than two decades across corporate HR, leadership development and deep transformational coaching work. In our conversation, Lisa shares her journey into coaching and consulting via a senior HR roles. She talks about the pivotal moments that shaped her path as well as the serendipity that propelled her business. Lisa brings so much depth to her clients through executive coaching, due in no small part to her deep passion and commitment to her continued personal growth. Here’s what we cover: ✅ Lisa’s corporate to coach story✅ The power of coaching for leaders in roles that seem impossible to sustain✅ Why authenticity, safe exploration and unfiltered thinking matter in effective coaching✅ How Lisa works at a transformational level by going beneath the conscious layers to unlock impact✅ The surprising influence that competitive horse riding has had on her coaching presence, relational skills, leadership lens and resilience✅ How the pandemic transformed her business and why it ultimately became a gift✅ What it looks like to build a coaching business that supports the life you want✅ The balance between deliberate effort and being in the right place at the right time If you’re building your coaching business or supporting high performing leaders, this episode offers a refreshing and very human perspective on growth, resilience, presence and the power of saying yes. You can connect with Lisa Saunders on LinkedIn to explore her work in leadership coaching, supervision, team coaching and equine facilitated development. If you'd like support to help you grow your business, you may like to join Lisa with me inside The Corporate to Coach Accelerator, a 12-month hands-on program designed to help you replace your corporate income more quickly and sustainably. Book a call with me at elliescarf.com/bookacall or learn more at elliescarf.com/cca.

I’m delighted to be joined in this episode by leadership and branding expert Janine Manning, who brings nearly two decades of experience supporting executives and entrepreneurs to show up with clarity, confidence, and credibility. In our conversation, Janine shares how she helps new and emerging executives as well asbusiness owners navigate visibility challenges. From imposter syndrome to personal brand development and beyond, authenticity is key in Janine’s approach to tackling these challenges. You’ll also hear all about Janine’s career journey, from PR and marketing roles to executive coaching - and how that has shaped her passion for helping others lead and communicate. Here’s what we cover: ✅ The three anchors every leader and entrepreneur needs. ✅ How imposter syndrome shows up for executives and coaches (and how to work with it). ✅ Why visibility isn’t about being loud. ✅ The importance of understanding your strengthse. ✅ How to navigate comparisonitis. ✅ Practical ways to stay connected to your purpose and track your wins. Janine also shares her journey of transitioning from corporate leadership to running her own coaching business, including what she’s most proud of, how she manages the tech and systems side of entrepreneurship, and the mindset shifts that helped her grow sustainably. If you’ve ever struggled with self-doubt, comparison, or the challenge of being more visible while staying genuine, this conversation will give you a grounded, strength-based approach to showing up as the leader and business owner you want to be. Connect with Janine Manning at janinemanning.com or on LinkedIn, where she shares valuable insights on leadership, confidence, and executive presence. Janine also shared details of 2 books on Imposter Syndrome: The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women - Dr Valerie Young Own Your Greatness - Lisa Orbe-Austin If you’re ready to grow your executive coaching business more of your ideal corporate clients, I’d love to support you inside The Corporate to Coach Accelerator. It’s a 12-month hands-on program designed to help coaches to replace their corporate income quicker. You can book a call with me at elliescarf.com/bookacall or learn more at elliescarf.com/cca.