You have to be committed in order to become a life coach and attract clients consistently. But many life coaches are not committed and end up failing, just like in many other businesses. What’s the difference between the successful coaches and the ones who weren’t? Commitment! Now most of the coaches who end up failing would like to be committed too, but they don’t know what commitment really is in the coaching world or how to get committed.

Commitment is when no matter what happens, you do what you’re committed to. Period. There’s no force. No struggle. Just a decision. Obstacles, deterrents, things in your way. None of it matters. The thing you’re committed to is what matters the most, above all else. Not as a matter of putting it on a pedestal, but again a matter of decision. For example, I’m pretty sure you’re committed to paying your bills next month. That no matter what happens, you’re going to find a way to do it. Even if you lose your job or are in debt. You’re going to find a way. If you have kids, you’re going to find a way to take care of them. It doesn’t matter. Your kids will get fed and nourished. Period. There are some things that you know you’re committed to, even if you can’t always know how it’s going to happen.

If you’re going to be successful at anything, the primary ingredient is commitment. Some people are great at committing. It’s easy for them to make a decision and go for it. For other people, it’s not quite the same. Many people quit before they ever begin. They don’t even try or think that they could try. Many other people try and fail. And then after too much struggle, frustration, and disappointment, they quit. They weren’t committed either.

I wish I could give you a formula on how to commit, but there is no formula for human choice. Commitment is a choice, not a mandate, not compulsory, not impossible, not for the special people. Commitment is a choice given to every human being. And human choice has no manual that can be written about it.

But there are certain factors that if present, can contribute to a perfect storm that makes commitment much more likely to occur for you. And you control these factors!

The first factor is your willingness. You must have an exceptionally large capacity for willingness. Willingness to learn. To be awkward. To practice repeatedly. To fail. To grow. To do what you learn. To keep going in spite of struggle. Willingness to be on the plateau even when you can’t see the results on the horizon. Willingness to go the distance until you complete whatever you’re committed to. Without willingness, commitment CANNOT exist.

The second factor is your belief that you can do it. That you can do what you’ve committed to. And if you doubt or fear that you might not make it, then you have to stay open to the possibility that you might believe. You must work towards belief and overcoming those fears so you can believe.

The third factor are your natural motivators. Short-term motivators always fizzle out. Your motivators provide all the momentum that carries you through the obstacles and on to your goal. Short-term motivators are anything that’s selfish. Long-term motivators are anything that is for other people, some cause or something outside of you. A purpose bigger than yourself.

The fourth factor is quieting your mind of all fear, distraction and doubt. Learn to master your fears. Learn to let go of distraction. Learn to listen to the still voice inside you.

The fifth factor is listening to your gut feeling, the truth inside you. Listen to what your heart says. Listen to that still voice of truth that sometimes you distract yourself from. That still voice of truth is the one urging you to commit and to move forward no matter how afraid you are. That still voice is the one begging you to be of greater service and contribution to the world and to let go of your selfish desires.

The sixth factor is courage, which is an extension of willingness. You must have considerable courage to act upon what the still voice inside you says, no matter the voices from within or from others, no matter the obstacles, fears, or impossibilities of you achieving what you commit to.

If you have all these factors in your life and practice them, you will find commitment so much easier to come by. And you’ll have what it takes to be a successful life coach and attract clients.