Are you a long runway or short runway coach?

Before you judge your progress, make sure you’re asking the right question. Because if you’re on a long runway, your takeoff (success) looks different, and that’s not a bad thing. It’s the difference between unnecessary failure and guaranteed success.

Author

Michelle Sera
July 08, 2025 • You can read this in:6 minutes

Welcome to The Find Coaching Clients Newsletter for learning where to focus your energy, so you can find plenty of clients.

Your coaching business isn’t “not succeeding”, it’s just on a different runway.

Here’s something most coaching business advice leaves out:

The pace of your growth has less to do with how hard you’re working… and everything to do with the runway you’re on.

Some coaches are using paid ads, pushing offers in front of thousands of eyeballs a day. That’s a short runway. Fast takeoff. More speed, more risk, more budget, less time to prepare for take off. And you’re typically building the plane while you’re speeding down the runway.

Others, maybe you, are building trust through content, conversations, and aligned visibility. That’s a long runway.

Steady build. Deeper roots. You get to see what’s working and adjust as you go. You have more time to plan and prepare for take off.

Neither is better.

But the problem comes when you're measuring your long runway progress against someone else’s short one.

This week, let’s shift that. You’re not behind the curve. You’re just building something more sustainable.

Now, here’s what you do next…

Run one tiny experiment this week. Just one.

You’re not overhauling your strategy. You’re choosing one small, low-stakes action that gives you information, energy, or momentum.

Pick one of these and try it in the next 48 hours:

  • Create a simple freebie (even just a Google Doc) and offer it to your list to see if it’s of interest.

  • Ask your audience one question you’re genuinely curious about.

  • Tell your list that you're thinking of creating [insert idea here], and ask them to hit reply and say “I’m interested” if they want to know more.

These experiments don’t need to “go viral” or turn into sales overnight. They just need to tell you something about what your people want, and that’s what builds traction over time.

Your only job? Try one and see what it teaches you. And keep testing ideas until you get a response. Even one counts. 

Then, when you get that response, move forward with it.

Want help with that? Keep reading.

You don’t need to chase speed. You need a rhythm that actually works for you, and keeps you moving toward what matters.

That’s what we do inside Coach Growth Lab. It’s where solo coaches learn what actually works, apply it, and grow until results start stacking. 

Not with overwhelm or one-size-fits-all formulas, but with practical tools, focused strategies, and just enough structure to help you stay consistent, get comfortable experimenting, and grow with confidence.

This is your space to stay in motion, confidently, consistently, and without losing sight of the take off.

Join the waitlist and get 50% off when doors open:

Trust what you’re building, even when it’s quiet.

There’s a specific kind of resilience that comes with being a coach. You’re holding space, managing your mind, and believing in something that hasn’t fully arrived yet.

That’s strength.

Every time you choose to stay connected to your vision instead of spiraling into doubt? That’s the work. 

Every time you run a tiny experiment instead of shutting down or giving up?
That’s momentum.

And every time you choose to believe there’s a way forward for you, even when there’s no immediate evidence?
That’s power.

So if this week feels quiet, remember:
You’re not waiting. You’re building. You’re moving down the runway. 

And you’re getting closer and closer to the point of take off.

Years of working behind the scenes of multi-million dollar coaching brands helped me to see the difference between a long runway and a short one.

And why so many coaches feel discouraged - they see the big brands on short runways and wonder why they’re long runway isn’t creating the same “speed” of results. It’s a perspective shift. For another perspective shift, listen to this episode on The Solo Coach Podcast: How to Make a Promise You Can Deliver Every Time. I think you’ll like it.

On Coach Diaries, I share The 3 Types of Buyers Hiding in Your Audience and How to Reach Them. It’s a big ah-ha moment. Take a look. It will help.

Plus you can watch the latest video to hear an update on my super ambitious goal to grow my email list by 4,000 subscribers in 2025 without any paid ads or complicated strategies.

Much love.

Content and offerings from ElevatedMind® and Michelle Sera are for educational and informational purposes only and do not replace professional medical, legal, financial, or psychological advice. You are responsible for your own decisions, actions, and results. From time to time, I may use affiliate links in this newsletter.