So, you want to be a coach. Maybe you’ve had a few people tell you, “You give the best advice,” or “You should seriously charge for this.”

Or maybe you’ve been through something—burnout, a big life shift, a transformation—and now you feel this magnetic pull to help others do the same.

But then your brain reminds you:

• “Coaching? That’s not a real job.”
• Or worse: “I can’t just quit my job and start coaching. I have bills, a dog, and a fondness for overpriced matcha lattes.”

Here’s the good news: You don’t have to quit your job to be a coach.

Not at first, anyway.

But if you do it right… if you follow the whispers, build with intention, and start making an impact…You just might quit eventually. And it might be the best decision you’ve ever made.

Let’s Start With the Myth: You Need to Go All-In to Be a Coach

Social media makes it seem like everyone and their cat is “quitting corporate to live their purpose” on a beach with a ring light. And while that’s a vibe, it’s not required to start your coaching journey.

In fact, most great coaches start by doing this work on the side.

That’s right: they coach after work, on weekends, during lunch breaks, or in the margins of life.

And honestly? That’s smart.

You’re building the plane while you’re flying it—testing your niche, honing your skills, and proving (to yourself and others) that you can create results for yourself and others!

Side coaching is not small.  It’s strategic. It’s powerful. It’s the training ground for what’s coming. Which are really big things for yourself and others!

Coaching Isn’t Just a Career Switch—It’s an Identity Shift

When you decide to be a coach, you’re not just choosing a job title. You’re choosing to see the world differently.

• You start listening deeper.
• You start to ask better questions.
• You stop jumping in to fix things immediately for others.
• You start holding space for others when space is needed.

And suddenly, your team notices. Your friends open up to you more. Your partner feels like you’re really hearing them.

You become someone people turn to.

Not because you’re performing, but because you’re practicing the art of presence.

This shift starts to ripple. And while it might feel subtle at first, it’s often the beginning of something much bigger.

Related Read: 5 Signs You’re Ready to Start Life Coach Training

How to Start Coaching Without Quitting Your Job

Okay, let’s get practical. You’ve got a 9-5 (or 8-6, let’s be real), and you’re wondering how to make this coaching thing happen without blowing up your whole life.

Here’s what that can actually look like:

1. Choose a Focus (It Doesn’t Have to Be Always)

Start with what you know, love, or have overcome. Coaching isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being a few steps ahead and deeply invested in your clients’ growth.

Some places to explore:

• What do people already come to you for?
• What challenge have you faced and moved through?
• What are you endlessly curious about?

Don’t get stuck trying to pick the “perfect niche.”

Pick a real one. Something you can start with now that feels natural.

Related Read: Top Life Coaching Niches

2. Get Certified 

If you’re serious about becoming excellent—and especially if you want to charge premium rates—a great life coach certification program can help you master your craft.

Look for programs that:

• Prioritize real coaching skills (not just marketing hacks)
• Offer feedback and practice
• Align with your values and style

Related Read: Reasons to Get A Life Coach Certification Online

3. Build a Backstage Business

Even if you’re not ready to “launch” anything yet, you can quietly lay the groundwork for your future coaching business:

• Create a simple intake form
• Start a basic website or landing page
• Track your sessions and wins
• Keep notes for future content

Treat your side practice like it matters—because it does.

Related Read: The Role of Branding in Your Life Coaching Business 

4. Stay in Integrity With Your Day Job

This part’s important. If you’re still employed, be professional. Don’t coach on the clock. Don’t pitch your coworkers (unless they ask). Don’t do anything that could create weirdness or burn bridges at your current place of employment.

You don’t need to “hide” your coaching journey—but you do want to protect your reputation while you’re building.

And Then It Happens…

You’re juggling your job and your coaching practice, and suddenly… things shift.

• A client tells you you’ve changed their life.
• Your calendar fills up faster than expected.
• You get off a coaching call and feel lit up in a way your job just… doesn’t.

You start dreaming about what it would be like to do this full-time.

And not just dream—you start planning.

This is the tipping point. It doesn’t happen overnight. But it happens.

And when it does, you’ll realize:

• You don’t just want to be a coach—you already are one.
• Now it’s just a matter of deciding how big you want this to get.

Why Coaches Eventually Leave Their Day Jobs (and Why That’s a Good Thing)

Not all coaches quit their jobs, and that’s totally fine. Coaching can be a beautiful side hustle forever. But many coaches eventually make the leap—and here’s why:

1. Fulfillment Starts to Matter More Than Security

You realize the paycheck isn’t enough if your soul is checked out by 10am. You want meaning, impact, and autonomy—and you’re willing to trade certainty for that.

2. Coaching Becomes More Profitable Than Your Job

At first, you’re making a few hundred here and there. Then you raise your rates. You get referrals. You create a package. And one day you look at your coaching income and think, “Wait. I could actually do this full-time.”

3. Your Energy Shifts

Coaching energizes you. Your day job drains you.

You realize that the thing you’re doing for a few hours a week is making you feel more alive than the thing you’re doing 40+ hours a week.  You want more of the good stuff!

4. You Outgrow the Old Version of You

When you become a coach, you become a new version of yourself—more conscious, more curious, more courageous. That version often doesn’t fit inside your old career box anymore.

And so, eventually, the leap isn’t scary. It’s inevitable.

But Let’s Not Romanticize It, Either

Quitting your job to be a coach can be amazing—but let’s keep it real:
It’s also work.

Running a coaching business means:

• Managing your schedule
• Handling marketing and sales
• Staying grounded when you don’t have a “boss” telling you what to do
• Navigating quiet seasons without spiraling about new business.

It’s not a magic fix for your life—but it is a powerful path for people who are built for freedom, growth, and service.

If you’re meant for this… you’ll know. And you’ll figure it out. Because that’s what coaches do.

Signs You’re Ready to Be a Coach (Whether or Not You Quit Your Job)

Let’s wrap this up with a little checklist. If any of these resonate, you’re probably more ready than you think:

• You light up when people have breakthroughs.
• You’re more interested in asking questions than giving answers.
• You find yourself analyzing limiting beliefs for fun.
• You’ve gone through a transformation and feel pulled to help others do the same.
• You want to make a real impact—and live with purpose.

You don’t need to be perfect.

You don’t need to have a massive audience.

You don’t need to quit your job today.

But if you’re reading this with a flutter in your chest…That might be your sign.

Final Word: Be a Coach—On Your Terms

There’s no one way to be a coach.

• You can start small. 
• You can keep your job. 
• You can take your time.
• And still end up changing lives.

And yeah… maybe one day, you’ll quit your job. 

Not out of desperation, but out of devotion.

• Because you’ve built something real.
• Because you’ve found your calling.
• Because you’ve become someone who helps others become more of themselves.

And if that’s not worth following… What is?

Ready to Start Your Coaching Journey?

At Aurum Lumos Institute, we don’t just certify coaches—we cultivate beacons of transformation.

Whether you’re just starting to explore coaching on the side or already dreaming of building a full-time practice, our program is designed to meet you where you are—and guide you to where you’re meant to be.

We combine powerful coaching techniques, neuroscience-backed tools, and purpose-driven practices to help you become the kind of coach who changes lives—starting with your own.

It’s time to answer the call. It’s time to be a coach.

Learn more here.