3 types of business coaching: Which is best for you as an entrepreneur?

Coaches. and consultants perform different roles — and business coaching can mean different things to entrepreneurs.

When I first started my business, I decided to hire a coach. I knew nothing about coaches, consultants, or resources available (and back then, we had fewer choices, too).

So I made the worst move possible. I hired a coach who claimed to be focused on helping people reach their goals. The truth was, I needed specific “how-to” information. There was no point in writing down goals and making vision boards: I needed substance.

Eventually, I attended classes and began to learn what to do.

What I didn’t realize was this: When you’re new to a business, or you reach a stuck point, it’s tempting to hire someone to work with you as a consultant or coach. You may even go to a networking meeting and hear someone say, “I wouldn’t be anywhere without my coach.”

But that person may be at a different stage. In my earliest stages, I learned the most from my skills coaches — both copywriting and WordPress. I studied copywriting, so I could produce credible marketing materials. I took a workshop on WordPress websites, which saved me a small fortune over the years. While those trainings were focused on skill development, I also…