If you’re standing at a crossroads, maybe after a career shake-up, a tough personal change, or simply because you feel a deep pull toward something more meaningful, you’re not alone.
More and more people are choosing coaching as their next chapter. Not because it’s easy, but because it’s real. It’s about using your own experiences, lessons, and heart to walk alongside others as they rebuild their paths, too.
Coaching isn’t just a career, it’s a calling.
Why Now? Why Coaching?
The world has changed. According to the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the global coaching industry has soared to $2.8 billion USD, growing 21% since 2015, even through uncertainty and crisis (ICF Global Coaching Study, 2020).
People aren't just craving career advancement anymore, they’re craving clarity, resilience, and hope.
And here’s the beautiful part: if you’ve navigated tough transitions yourself, whether a divorce, a career loss, a relocation, a reinvention, you’re already equipped with something textbooks can’t teach: empathy, resilience, and real-world wisdom.
"You don’t need a perfect life to be a coach. You need a real one, and the courage to use it for good."
— Yedda Stancil, PCC, Executive Coach & Graduate of The International Coaching Group
Coaching allows you to turn your own growth into a gift that helps others find their way forward, too.
Coaching as a Career: Who’s Making the Shift?
You might be surprised who’s stepping into coaching today:
- Young professionals wanting purpose over paycheck
- Mid-career executives tired of the corporate rat race
- Retirees seeking to leave a legacy of wisdom and support
According to GlobeNewswire (2023), the global life coaching market is expected to reach $27.5 billion USD by 2026, driven by demand for personal growth, career transition, and emotional well-being.
And here's another important fact:
53% of coaching clients are sponsored by employers (ICF Global Coaching Study), meaning companies are actively investing in coaching for their teams, creating a huge opportunity for certified coaches.
You’re More Ready Than You Think
Coaching isn’t about being perfect. It's about learning how to:
- Listen deeply, without judgment.
- Ask powerful questions that unlock new perspectives.
- Hold space for someone else's fears and dreams.
- Stay grounded when emotions run high.
If you've ever helped a friend through a tough season, mentored someone new at work, or listened when no one else would, you already have the seeds of coaching within you.
What formal coach training does is turn your instincts into a professional, ethical, and powerful practice.
"Coaching taught me that my struggles weren't my shame—they were my superpower."
— Kerri Sutey, ICF-Credentialed Coach & Graduate of The International Coaching Group
The Professional Path: How to Get Started
To truly thrive and be respected as a coach, formal training and credentialing are essential.
Here’s what the journey looks like:
- Step 1: Complete an ICF-accredited coaching education program
- Step 2: Accumulate coaching experience hours with real clients.
- Step 3: Complete Mentor Coaching with an experienced, credentialed coach.
- Step 4: Pass the ICF Credentialing Exam based on real-world coaching scenarios.
- Step 5: Earn your ICF Credential.
✅ According to the 2022 ICF Consumer Awareness Study, 85% of clients prefer to work with credentialed coaches.
✅ Credentialed coaches report higher client retention, stronger reputations, and more corporate opportunities (ICF Global Coaching Study, 2020).
Real Talk: Is Coaching the Right Next Step for You?
Here’s what to ask yourself:
- Do you feel energized when helping others find solutions?
- Have your own life experiences taught you resilience, adaptability, or new perspectives?
- Are you craving work that feels purpose-driven, not just profitable?
- Are you willing to invest in yourself to learn, grow, and build something new?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, coaching might not just be a career, it might be your calling.
Final Thoughts: You Don’t Need a Fresh Start. You Need a Reframe.
The truth is, the struggles you’ve survived, the transitions you’ve navigated, the resilience you’ve built, they’re not detours.
They’re preparation.
Coaching allows you to reframe your life story as fuel for empowering others.
"When I finally stepped into coaching, I realized my past wasn’t baggage, it was a bridge to someone else’s breakthrough."
— Anonymous ICF-Credentialed Coach
The next chapter of your life could be the most meaningful yet.
And it’s not about starting over, it’s about starting where you are, with what you have, and helping others do the same.
