How to Be a Working Coach #14: One Third One Third One Third

Hi Reader !!

back to the topic of time management with the latest step in the Working Coach Credo: Manage your time in THIRDS.

Or, as I like to describe it, You Don't Just Coach (And That's Not a Bad Thing)!

If you're a working coach and think your ONLY job is to coach, I have some hard truths for you. Coaching is only one-third of your job.

Let that sink in.

One-third of your time goes to coaching the clients you already have. That's the part most of us sign up for. That's where the magic happens. It's also—let's be honest—the only part that directly brings in revenue.

But what about the other two-thirds?

You've got to find your next clients. And you've got to run your business like an actual business. If you're ignoring either of those, your coaching dream will sputter.

Here's how I think about it:

One-third: Coaching your current clients.

Remember what shows up on your calendar—sessions, prep, follow-ups. It's the work that pays. But if you want to make $10,000 a month, and your rate is $300 an hour, you'll need about 33 monthly coaching sessions. That's roughly eight sessions a week. Totally doable—but only if you have the clients.

One-third: Finding your next clients.

This part takes more energy than most coaches expect. A good rule of thumb? You need at least one or two solid prospects for every billable hour you want to deliver each week. Want 8 hours of coaching on your calendar? Then, keep 16 active prospects in the pipeline. That means writing, networking, posting, reaching out, and staying visible. No one tells you this in coach training, but it's one of the biggest difference-makers over time.

One-third: Running your business.

Invoices don't send themselves. Calendars don't fill on their own. Notes get written up, follow-ups sent, and somebody must keep track of all the details. That's you. Admin and operations can eat a full third of your week—easily. And if you don't schedule time for it, it will either get ignored or bleed into everything else.

Here's the secret: work expands to fill the time you give it.

That's why I use a weekly calendar that carves time for the three thirds, tailored to my strengths. Creative tasks go best in the morning, so I work on marketing and client-finding. I coach in the early afternoon when I'm sharp but settled. Admin becomes an end-of-day job for me. Your rhythms might be different (probably SHOULD be). The key is knowing how your energy flows and using it on purpose.

Don't worry about getting the thirds perfectly balanced every week. That's not the point. The point is to build a system that gives all three areas regular attention. It's the only way to build a coaching business that lasts.

I wish someone had told me this earlier: Full-time coaches don't just coach. They run coaching businesses. That's the job. And honestly? That's what makes it fun.

And what makes it last.

What topics would be most helpful for you to dive into? Let us know.

Cheers,

Jonathan Reitz & the Working Coach Labs Team

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