One of the biggest myths about becoming a coach is that you need to work full-time before you can make full-time progress.
When I started my coaching business, my kids were little. I wasn’t looking for another full-time job—I wanted meaningful work that fit into my life as a mom.
So I built my business around 10 hours a week.
Not someday.
Not after my kids grew up.
Not when life got less busy.
Right from the beginning.
And honestly? I think those limitations helped me build a better business.
Why I Chose to Work Only 10 Hours a Week
When people hear “part-time,” they often think of working around 20 hours a week.
I decided to cut that in half.
Ten hours became my budget.
Instead of wishing I had more time, I asked myself:
“How can I build a successful coaching business within the time I actually have?”
That simple shift changed everything.
Start With the Coaching Hours You Want
The first thing I did was decide how many coaching clients I could realistically support.
For me, that was three one-hour coaching sessions each week.
I opened my daytimer and highlighted three recurring time slots. Those hours became sacred.
They weren’t “maybe” coaching hours.
They were coaching hours waiting for clients to fill them.
Until those clients arrived, I used those same time blocks to market my business.
My Simple 10-Hour Weekly Schedule
Here’s what those ten hours looked like.
Three hours coaching clients
As clients signed on, these became my weekly coaching sessions.
Six hours marketing
Marketing was my biggest priority because clients don’t magically appear.
Those six hours included creating content, connecting with potential clients, and staying visible.
One hour admin
Bookkeeping, client notes, emails, scheduling, and the behind-the-scenes tasks that keep a business running.
Simple.
Nothing fancy.
The Marketing Plan That Kept Everything Simple
One of the biggest reasons I stayed consistent was because I wasn’t trying to be everywhere.
Instead, I followed what I call my 4×1 Marketing Plan.
1. One weekly show
At the beginning, that was a blog.
Today, it’s my podcast.
Your weekly show might be YouTube, a weekly Facebook Live, or something else you genuinely enjoy creating.
The important part isn’t the platform.
It’s the consistency.
When people know you’ll show up every week, trust begins to build.
2. One weekly email
Every week I emailed my list.
Nothing complicated.
When I was blogging, I’d simply copy the first few paragraphs into an email and invite readers to click over and read the rest.
That one email reminded people I was still here and still helping.
3. One social media platform
I showed up Monday through Friday on one platform.
That’s it.
No trying to master every app.
No chasing every trend.
Just showing up consistently for the people I wanted to help.
And it all leads to…
4. Your one niche and offer.
Choose who you help and what you help them through or to. And create a signature coaching package based on that. And charge at least $1000 for 3 months of weekly sessions. That’s where I began.
Repetition Isn’t Boring—It’s Powerful
One of the unexpected benefits of keeping things simple is that you naturally get better.
The more often you create a podcast…
The easier it becomes.
The more emails you write…
The faster they come together.
The more consistently you show up…
The more your personality starts to shine.
Marketing becomes less about following formulas and more about expressing yourself in a way that genuinely connects with your ideal client.
Why Simplicity Works So Well for Moms
When I started my business, both of my kids were little.
In fact, my business is called Bliss Beyond Naptime because so much of it was built during nap time.
Those little pockets of time added up.
Today my son is 17, driving to go mountain biking with his friends two hours away for three nights. Gulp.
Life looks completely different.
But one thing hasn’t changed:
I’ve always built my business around my life—not the other way around.
As your family changes, your schedule will change too.
That’s normal.
Your business doesn’t have to look exactly the same in every season.
My Advice If You’re Just Starting
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t try to build everything at once.
Instead, focus on four simple things:
- Choose one niche.
- Create one coaching offer.
- Build one free resource that attracts your ideal client.
- Commit to one weekly piece of content, one weekly email, and one social media platform.
That’s enough.
More than enough.
You Don’t Need More Time
You probably don’t need another five or ten hours each week.
You simply need a plan that fits the life you already have.
Your coaching business doesn’t have to compete with your family.
It can grow alongside it.
And if I could build mine during nap times and little pockets throughout the week, I truly believe you can build yours too.
Ready to Create Your Own Simple Coaching Business?
If you’d like help creating your own simple marketing plan, choosing your niche, and building a coaching business that fits your family life, I’d love to help.
Learn more about private coaching and book a discovery call today.
