The Masterful Coach

Explore Lydia Bai's inspiring transformation from uncertainty to confidence as she embraces advanced coaching techniques and personal growth through Master Coach Training.

When I first started Master Coach training, I had actually just finished the Create Your Killer Program. It was so life-changing because hearing you talk created so much value in my life: the coaching foundations, the thought work, everything. I didn't realize that even though I wanted to be successful in my business and be a better coach, thought work wasn't enough. I needed more.

At the beginning of Master Coach Training, my business had maybe three to four paying clients. I was having doubts; it was really hard to get clients. I gave myself until the end of the year, or I would go back to my previous job in finance.

The way that Master Coach Training is laid out is that while I'm learning concepts and tools for my clients, I am also learning them for myself. I am the biggest benefactor. I feel like I have become superhuman because of all the emotional work and how consistently Molly coaches.

Molly provides so much support in Master Coach Training, even outside of what we learn. I asked for help with consultation sessions, and Molly provided a framework for me to apply in my consultations that has really given me specifically what I needed to really lift off.

Using the framework, I can breathe and take the call wherever a client needs it, and I know what she needs because of the work from Master Coach Training.

I had the opportunity to go to a few networking events and moderated a panel in L.A. as a Stanford alumni. Before Master Coach Training, I would have gone into these events focused on meeting people and getting clients. But this time around, I went in loving myself and knowing that everything I did to prepare was more than enough and that I was going to have an amazing time. I didn't need to do more, be more, or add more pressure on myself.

And I had so much fun. I got four or five new consults, and after moderating the panel, people asked if I did this professionally because I was so good. I felt so relaxed and had a great time.

Lydia's Website

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As a coach and entrepreneur, creating adequate space for your business and family life is one of the most common challenges. In this bonus episode I sat down with my client Meg to work through her own dilemma with kids out of school on a work day.  

One of the best things about this conversation is the reminder that YOU do have permission to make decisions that are best for you and your big picture goals. Yes, you can be clear on your personal life values and priorities. Yes, your business and personal aspirations are also allowed to take up space in your life. What if (are you ready for this), your life and your business are NOT in competition for your time? Maybe they actually work together. I hope you love this episode! 

Master Coach Training provides a comprehensive approach to coaching by integrating knowledge of the nervous system, emotion-focused modalities, and advanced cognitive work. This training equips you with the tools to drive meaningful client transformation.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 12th, you have the chance to join a Master Coach Training Q&A call. It's the perfect opportunity to address any questions and learn more about what this transformative program can offer you. You can Register Here.

Molly's Website: MollyClaire.Com

Master Coach Training 2025 Application Open 

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As a coach building your business, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with doubt and insecurity. If you ever feel stuck in inaction or consumed with self-doubt, this episode is for you! I’m coaching my client Marianne about the doubt and fears that keep arising. As you listen in, make sure to think of how all of this applies to you!

I'm thrilled to announce that the Master Coach Training program is officially open for enrollment! The program kicks off in January, and now is the time to enroll if you are a coach who wants to be phenomenal at what you do.

Whether your interest lies in enhancing your cognitive techniques, mastering emotion work, or exploring somatic practices, this program is designed to equip you with the skills to work safely and effectively with your clients. If you're eager to gain a deeper understanding of the nervous system and refine your coaching methods, now is the time to seize this opportunity.

For those ready to take the next step, please submit your application through the link here. I am looking forward to welcoming you into this transformative journey and seeing you on a live call soon.

Molly's Website: MollyClaire.Com

Master Coach Training 2025 Application Open 

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On this week's episode of The Masterful Coach, Molly Claire interviews one of her Master Coach Trainees, Jackie Swainson, about her coaching experience before, during and after her time in Master Coach Training.

The previous trainings I had been in seemed like they were only touching the surface; you could tell there was more. I didn't really have the depth I wanted to go or help clients go to. I could feel in my body that something was missing. Having struggled with anxiety for years, I knew that it wasn't just in my head, that there was a physical response, a nervous system response. I wanted to somehow connect all of the pieces together. I did a lot of research and heard your name a lot. I thought this is a woman who can really teach me something. You can read all you want, but I love being taught. 

I can see and hear and feel what my clients are saying, what they are telling me, and what they are meaning. It is like reading between the lines; you get this intuition, this sort of sense of where they are. And that helps me ask questions that will guide them where they may not want to go, but I can guide them gently. I can give them perspective and help them find a perspective that is different because I am looking not just at what they are telling me; I'm looking at them; I'm listening to them. I am able to help my clients get into their hearts. I am learning alongside my clients.

What I learned the most is that I can trust myself. And if I can trust myself, other people can trust me. I am building that trust and personal connection. It is the foundation.

Jackie Swainson is a Master Certified Life Coach, and a woman of deep faith who has been able to help herself and dozens of women through midlife transitions to create a great life and celebrate who they are. For 3 years Jackie has had the privilege of coaching women to find joy joy in every day, even in midlife. She believes every midlife woman deserves a great life filled with joy, regardless of her circumstances. Her personal experiences have fueled her mission to help her clients create the changes they desire.

Website: JackieSwainsonCoach.com

Molly's Website: MollyClaire.Com

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Have a question or thoughts about the podcast? Don’t hesitate to contact Molly at:

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Molly’s book: The Happy Mom Mindset: mollyclaire.com/book

Please help Molly reach even more like-minded individuals! Simply post a review of the podcast on your favorite platform (or two). It is so appreciated.

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[00:00:00] Molly: All right, coaches. I'm so thrilled to have one of my master coaches in training here and also advanced certified coach Midore Midore. Welcome. Thanks for being here. 

[00:00:14] Midore: Thank you for letting me be here. I'm so excited to share my experience with you and your program. 

[00:00:23] Molly: I know. I'm so glad to have you here because we've, we've worked together for a while now, and it's just been really fun to watch you.

Grow and evolve as a coach and just your expanded abilities. And of course, we'll talk about this more and get you all up to speed on what we're talking about. But, you know, Midore, as we're diving into this conversation, I'm thinking about some of our recent case study calls where. You're bringing a client situation and you're asking questions.

And it's just been so fun to see how, um, the way that you are understanding your clients and navigating the challenges that come up with them. It's almost like there is not only is there a greater skill level for you. But you have that confidence right alongside it, and you're able to see more things going on with your client more easily and more quickly, which is just really fun to have seen that all I'll come to light.

So, yeah, so glad to have you here. So tell, tell my audience, um, who are you as a coach? What do you do? Who do you focus on? 

[00:01:38] Midore: Yeah, I am a holistic life coach, and I dedicated to empower purpose driven individual to expand their vision and achieve meaningful goals. And my focus is on helping clients deepen their self connection, manage their time and energy and establish boundaries that align with their core values.

So that it transform their obstacles into opportunities for lasting change. 

[00:02:17] Molly: Yes. I love it. And I think, you know, as you were, as you were talking Midore, and I'm thinking about, I think this idea of being a holistic coach, a lot of people hear that word. And sometimes they think about holistic physical health.

They're thinking about supplements. And I think that, That's why it's really important, I think, as we're using this word to talk about what that means. And for you, it means this whole person approach, right? That we study and master coach training. And, um, and as I was listening to, to you share what you do and thinking about some of your clients that you are working with to achieve goals, it's so evident that.

You are taking the time to create that self connection with them. And you're really taking a, a big picture, look at what's lacking for them. And then you're really able to help them fill the gaps in all of those areas, which is much different than just having kind of one approach and one tool only that you can use with a client.

[00:03:19] Midore: I, um, myself being in your program and really understanding what my values are. And then when I really dialed in what they are, that decision making became so Much easier than ever before and ever since I have that tool I am able to Make a decision quickly. I am able to set the boundaries better and Communicate with the loved ones so much more effectively.

[00:04:02] Molly: Yeah. I love that you brought that up because, um, and in just a minute, I need to make sure to flag this in my mind as I'm, as I'm talking with all of you and having this conversation with Midore, because I want to tell you a little bit about how Midore, uh, first came to master coach training, but. You know, as you were talking Midore, I love that you brought up this key element of the self work in master coach training, because I talk a lot about the four components, which is safe and effective thought work, emotion focused work, the nervous system and action focused strategies.

And those are for sure, those four fundamental pieces. And underneath all of that in the work we do is, are some of these core concepts in master coach training. And one of them first and foremost is really a deeper understanding of self and connection with self. And, um, and what I love that, that you just highlighted Midore is that.

For you, as we have done that deeper work, that self work, all those things that, that people come to a coach for help with, right. Making a decision, setting boundaries, managing their time, all of those things become easier because of that strength of foundation. And then, as you were talking about your clients as well, um, You know that what an amazing tool to not only be able to speak to thoughts, emotions, nervous system and actions, but to be able to have a process that is so profound that your clients are able to.

Really just be more clear on what they want and therefore make decisions much more easily. 

[00:05:55] Midore: Yeah, I do help them clarify that at the beginning of my relationship with my client and that has been, um, um, significantly, um, a game changer. Um, In my relationship with my clients and their relationship with themselves.

[00:06:18] Molly: Yes, yes. Oh my gosh. That relationship is such a big deal. I want to come back to that. So I'm going to back up just a minute for all of you. So when Midore first, when you first came to me, you were, you came for advanced certification in motherhood and family life coaching in part, because you felt Lacking in the, the knowledge of the motherhood space, right.

And wanting to, to be available for your clients in that way. 

[00:06:46] Midore: I. I never, um, uh, biologically have any child and, but I have clients who are mothers and grandmothers. I always felt this feeling of, I don't deserve to, or I'm not. Good enough to teach or coach them. 

[00:07:13] Molly: And 

[00:07:13] Midore: then even though I power through the, with the thought work, 

[00:07:18] Molly: I can 

[00:07:18] Midore: do this, but deep down there was that hidden emotion sometimes that peeks through.

I wanted to be able to coach anybody with more confidence. 

[00:07:34] Molly: Yeah. And I think what's so relevant that Midore is bringing up, all of you listening, thinking about. I think sometimes we can think that the answer is just to have more, maybe knowledge about motherhood or more knowledge about goal setting or more knowledge about whatever it is we're helping our clients with.

And then also we can have like the flip side of this where we think, Oh, well, we don't really need to know more. We just, we need to close that gap on our confidence on our, you know, trust the tools that we have and trust what we know. And what I think is much more accurate to say is that for, for all of us, me included, there are going to be knowledge and skill gaps forever, right?

For the rest of our career. And so I think it's more helpful to, to look at and think about what are the things I need to know and learn? What are the skills and how can I also understand and get support in Closing my own confidence gap and, and really having some attention to and resolution of, um, those emotions, right.

That are keeping me from feeling fully capable. So I think it's important to look at both and that's really what we do in, well, in advanced certification and master coach training as well. 

[00:08:54] Midore: Yeah. One of the things that really helped. Helps me, um, all the time that you ask me or you say things like, find a way to support you.

What do you need to support? You doing this and that and so forth and that gives me a permission to Care for myself as a result. I'm able to find the solution faster 

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Have you heard whisperings that the coaching industry is overcrowded and that the "life coaching bubble has burst?"  If so, you're not the only one hearing this rumor.  Today, we are going to talk about what's really going on in the industry and what you should be focusing on as a coach in 2024. 

The life coaching industry is booming!  Yes, that's right.  The US life coaching market was valued at $1.5 billion in 2022 and is expected to surpass $2.29 billion in 2032 (Vision research reports). 

Also, the industry's revenue grew from $2.85 billion in 2019 to $4.65 billion in 2022, representing a 60% increase.  

So why are some people concerned that it's become overcrowded, making it harder for coaches to succeed?  Why are people worried that the so-called "life coaching bubble" has burst?  

In this post, we'll explore five truths you need to know to understand the reality of life coaching today, including a few misconceptions that are perpetuating the rumors and fears. 

The demand for personal development services, including life coaching, is on the rise. With increased awareness around mental health, productivity, and holistic well-being, more people are seeking out life coaches.

The global coaching market was valued at over $2.85 billion in 2022, according to the International Coaching Federation (ICF), and has been growing steadily for years.

Think of the life coaching industry as the fitness industry. As more people become conscious of their health, the demand for personal trainers increases, even though there are more trainers entering the market. Similarly, as people prioritize their emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being, the need for coaches continues to grow.

While the term "life coach" might seem broad and crowded, specialization is where many coaches are finding success. Coaches who focus on niche areas such as executive coaching, relationship coaching, or mindset coaching are thriving.  What I love about the work I do with my own Master coaches in training is that they are able to specialize and stand out as they create a program, but they are learning the fundamentals of a well-rounded approach.  When you can have an understanding of the whole person in front of you and what they need from a mindset perspective, emotion work, action strategies that work, and even the nervous system - it allows you to dive deep into your chosen specialty and truly stand out with results. 

According to a report by ICF, 62% of coaches now offer niche-specific services. This specialization allows coaches to differentiate themselves and serve specific client needs.

Consider the medical field: while there are many general practitioners, specialists like cardiologists or neurologists can focus on a particular area and are often in high demand. Life coaching works similarly, with niche coaches standing out and finding their market.

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It is so important to have effective coaching. Of course, we want to help our clients, and that is why we are in the coaching business. Effective coaching also impacts your business's bottom line and is more impactful than you may have realized.

According to a Nielsen Trust in Advertising Report, 92% of consumers trust recommendations from friends and family over any other form of advertising.

In order to grow your business, you do not need to be a master of marketing. Marketing is a very important part of the equation, but when you are providing truly effective coaching that is creating real change in your client's lives, it opens the door to more meaningful connections through referrals.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (one of the largest professional services networks in the world) conducted a global study that found that 96% of clients are likely to repeat a coaching experience if they achieved positive results.

Not only does creating results for your current coaches open the door for new referrals, but when you are working with a coach and able to help make meaningful changes in one area of their business, they will likely not want to let your relationship go. They will want to continue your work together. And you get to continue to watch your coaches grow.

There are many myths about how to gauge your effectiveness as a coach, which, if you are stuck in the cycle of believing, can actually prevent you from becoming a more highly skilled coach. Here are a few of these myths and how to break free of those thoughts.

Truth: You have more of an ability to influence your client's growth than you realize.

A Gallup study on workplace performance shows that 70% of the variance in team engagement is directly related to the quality of the manager or coach.

The more skilled you are as a coach, the more progress your clients will make. In turn, you will get more referrals and renewals.

Truth: Thought-work/mindset work used in isolation can be detrimental. (link to that previous blog post)

If you are only focused on thought work with a client, you are missing out on key information that will lead you to effective coaching. Being a safe and skilled coach requires you to look at the "whole person," taking into account your client's thoughts, emotions, nervous system, and behavior patterns and looking at how they all intersect. Looking at thought-work in isolation can be detrimental. 

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Maybe you have that one difficult client who is so resistant, and no matter what work you do with them, they just don't seem to "get it."  

You're not alone, and there are reasons for it! And within those reasons lie the answers. 

Traits of difficult clients: 

1. Resistant

2. Doesn't want to go deeper

3. Frustrated

4. Stuck in the same cycles

Remember that many factors come into play when working with clients on behavior changes, mindset work, or transformations involving emotional components. Their current state is a reflection of conditioning, experiences, and behaviors that have been programmed into the nervous system to automate them. 

Changing behavior patterns, re-programming thought patterns, and processing emotions takes time. It also takes skill and nuance with those skills as a coach. The best way to help your clients, even those who seem "difficult," is to understand the full picture of why they are behaving/thinking/feeling the way they do with a "whole person" approach. 

Often, when you are working with "difficult" clients, what you're experiencing is the stress response in the nervous system. It's not that they are difficult at all, it's just that they have a body, brain, and nervous system that is working. As a coach, this is an opportunity for you to fill in the skill or knowledge gap for your client.

What makes this worse… is if you think of them as " difficult," which is most likely not helping the situation. Anticipating difficulty will put you in a tighter and closed emotional space, making it more likely that you will push them in ways that aren't helpful or be closed off from the wisdom of what they really need. 

When it comes to "resistance" with clients, while this can be one of the most frustrating things for many of my coaches, it's also the most magical thing to work through! Anytime there is resistance, there is something really important underneath it. When we can be willing to lean into the resistance and learn (with the skills to do so safely with our client), that's when we can unlock some of the things that our client needs to pay the most attention to. 

Before I share a story, I'll preface this by saying that a client isn't always ready (or even emotionally equipped to) lean into it. This is why the skills to understand your client and all that's coming into play for them are vital as a coach.  

I had one client years ago who was particularly resistant, that could have been percieved as a difficult client. Together, we could see this pattern over and over again in our sessions. Even worse than the resistance - she was criticizing herself for it. We decided to make space for the resistance. We decided to acknowledge it in the "room" with us, and we allowed it to be okay. This was just the starting point, but as we looked at what was underneath it, this client experienced a softening of her resistance. The topics in our sessions became more relevant to what was really going on for her. And the best part was that we started to release some of the shame that kept her shut down and feeling fearful far too often. 

This is just one example, but remember that resistance is real and has a reason. When resistance is present, we can be grateful that we know where to lean. There is fear associated with it, and as skilled coaches, we can treat that fear with care. 

Okay, all of you "let's take a deeper dive" coaches - I know how frustrating it can be when you're trying to help a client uncover what's underneath, and they just don't want to. Can you relate? I had one client who came to me through Katrina Ubell's podcast, where she does a dive deep into what's going on under the surface. I, of course, assumed she was craving that deep work. Yet, week after week, whenever I tried to go there, she would pull us right back to the surface.  

Here is my big message to you- let it go! While we can think we need to go deeper with our clients to support them, sometimes we DON'T. The only reason that sessions will feel difficult is that you believe that the session should be something different than it is. Each client will have a different "language" that they speak. This is why a comprehensive understanding of thought work, emotion work, the nervous system, and action strategies is so important! It means that as a skilled coach, you can use your client's language or "entry point" and incorporate the deeper work in ways that will impact them without requiring them to "speak that language" or emotions or thoughts, or whatever it is you're hoping they will speak to. 

Let's talk about the frustrated client who is stuck in the same cycle. Have you ever had a client who continues to do the same thing, week after week, and revisits the same stuck thought patterns? The "difficult" thing about these clients for you as a coach is often the worry that you're not doing a good enough job, or wondering if anything will ever change, and maybe even the blame they send your way as the coach. You may even tend to vacillate between washing your hands of it because you know they have to create their results and the opposite end of the spectrum where you're feeling responsible for being able to get them to move forward. 

It's true that a client is the only one who can actually take action, make shifts, and be open. And it is also very true that you, as the coach, have more influence than you may realize.  

There is no need to go to either extreme. Instead, fill the skill gaps, understand your client, and get curious. 

If you've ever questioned how to work with difficult clients, let's talk about a few things to consider, starting with understanding that it is normal that we are stuck in cycles. The nervous system programs behaviors to be automated. Our emotion patterns repeat. And we have the same type of thought patterns in many situations. Stuck is normal. So what can you do? 

1. How are you engaging in the cycle? Change the way you engage

2. What language do they speak?

3. What need do they have? 

4. How can you begin and end with curiosity? 

Coaches, some clients will be more difficult for you to coach, but that doesn't mean it won't get better. Continue to understand your skill gaps and fill them. Practice different "points of entry" or "languages," and learn more if you need to. Rethink your approach, be willing to lean in and experiment, and pay attention to your thoughts about your clients that are getting in the way of you serving them to the best of your ability. 

This week on the podcast, I'm diving deep into a topic that's close to my heart—how a thought-work only approach to coaching can be not just limiting but downright detrimental. Trust me, I don't use the word "detrimental" lightly. It's a strong term, and I'm here to unpack why I believe it's crucial to broaden our understanding of transformation beyond mere thought management.

Typically, I like to keep my energy positive, but today's message carries a weight that I can't ignore. Too many mindset coaches are feeling frustrated with their thoughts, emotionally activated, or caught in a cycle of self-criticism that no amount of "mind management" seems to alleviate. If you've ever sensed that something is missing in a thought-work-only approach—whether for yourself or your clients—you are sensing something important. 

I've been in that dark place personally and coached dozens of people who found themselves there too. I've witnessed firsthand how an overly simplistic focus on thoughts can lead to critical self-judgment and emotional distress. While it's always been a priority for me to help my clients soften that harsh internal dialogue and create safe practices, I'm speaking out now more than ever about what every coach must know.

While I've touched on elements of this topic in the past, this week, I'm taking a stand. If you believe that thoughts are everything when it comes to transformation, it's time to reconsider. Yes, changing your thoughts is powerful. But when we use thought work in isolation, it can also be damaging. This thought work only perspective neglects vital scientific insights about how our thoughts, emotions, and nervous systems interact.

If you're feeling a bit of resistance to what I'm saying, that's okay. I understand. I once fully embraced the notion that all problems stemmed from thoughts. While I saw incredible transformations during my early coaching years, it wasn't long before I began noticing adverse effects among my clients. At first, I attributed these to a "misuse" of thought work. But the reality was more complex.

The key takeaway here is simple yet profound: not all feelings arise from thoughts. Emotions have their own narratives and are often stored within our bodies, carrying important messages. The nervous system plays a crucial role in this interplay, and a "thoughts create feelings" perspective ignores that. In fact, 80% of messages travel from our bodies to our brains, not the other way around.

For example, a sympathetic nervous system response can hijack your thinking, shutting down your prefrontal cortex—the part of your brain responsible for rational thought. This is why relying solely on thought work can backfire. Ignoring the emotional and physiological aspects of our experiences can heighten trauma responses and create a cycle of cognitive bypassing.

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Redefining success is an empowering process that leads to genuine fulfillment. By embracing internal journeys, focusing on intrinsic motivations, and valuing inherent worth, individuals can break free from societal pressures and achieve a more balanced and meaningful life.

Confidence is a cornerstone of personal and professional success, yet many struggle to define or cultivate it.

Confidence and success are two words often thrown around in the world of coaching and personal development. However, their true definitions go beyond surface-level interpretations. Delving deep into these concepts can reveal profound insights and strategies essential for coaches and their clients. This blog post encapsulates a recent enlightening conversation, providing valuable takeaways for those seeking to transform their approach to confidence and success.

Confidence often feels like an elusive quality that many strive to define and cultivate. Rachel Brooks says it's not just about exterior accomplishments or outward appearances. True confidence starts within.

Rachel elaborates that real confidence is about sifting through life experiences to discern what serves us in the present moment. It's about validating what's inherently valuable and beautiful within oneself, something easily dismissed in the rush of daily life.

Confidence, like many admired traits, starts from within. This journey often involves rediscovering and nurturing an inner spark that life's challenges might have dimmed. Individuals can gradually transform their external realities by focusing on what's within.

The butterfly's struggle to escape its cocoon is a perfect analogy. This struggle is not just a hardship but a necessary process that enables the butterfly to develop strength. Similarly, life's challenges, traumas, and societal pressures shape us as individuals and can lead us to evolve into more confident and capable versions of ourselves.

The concept of success often correlates with achievements and external validation. However, we challenge you to redefine your definition of success and focus on the importance of fulfillment.

Fulfillment is subjective and varies from person to person. It's an art that requires introspection and alignment with one's core values and purpose. Rather than working to acquire accolades, focus on finding genuine fulfillment in your daily activities. Redefining success by focusing on what brings you joy is part of how you can uniquely bring your gifts to your coaching clients and others.

Rachel Brooks is a multi-passionate entrepreneur, speaker, author, and podcaster. She founded and created "The Confident Woman," a lifestyle and media brand focused on empowering and equipping women with the tools and resources they need to create lasting change from within. Her journey and expertise provide a solid foundation for her message: true confidence comes from within, and every woman has the potential to rediscover and amplify it.

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