Why I quit Beachbody Coaching
This post is a long time coming and honestly, I’m not even sure how necessary it is, but I don’t like loose ends so I’m announcing it anyway. As of October 2018, three years almost to the day, I’ve officially stopped taking on new clients as a coach with Beachbody.
There, I said it…
Disclaimer
This is not your typical post about MLM’s and how they’re a scam. I’ve heard the stories about people losing thousands of dollars or uplines that bully them into buying and selling more products but for me, it just wasn’t my experience. Maybe I got lucky with the team I’m on or maybe Beachbody really is one of the good ones. In any case, if you came here for juicy-hater-drama you are going to be disappointed.
A little backstory
I began coaching because I needed something for me. As a stay at home mom, who has worked all her life, I struggled to find my identity in this new role. I had a hard time justifying spending time or money on anything that wasn’t kid-related. This self-imposed pressure made me feel guilty and resentful. Coaching gave me an excuse to do be creative.
For a little over two years, it worked, and I had a lot of fun! I talked about fitness, food, and family. I had a great time making graphics for my posts and fun videos of me stumbling through workouts. I showed off my new abs, which by the way, I was really proud of. I shared my feelings on life and motherhood. I was real and raw, and I think I helped some people along the way.
Even if they never purchased a thing, which let’s face it, I wasn’t so good a the selling part, I felt like my silly little hobby was a bright spot in people’s newsfeed.
First, the good stuff
Personal Health
Even the most bitter and angry ex-coach will tell you Beachbody programs really do work! Also, even though my nutrition cleaned up well beyond Shakeology and portion containers, 21 Day Fix help to start some great habits. Before I got pregnant with my third child, I was sporting some pretty sweet abs, and thanks to Beachbody, I’m on my way to getting them back!
My Team
I met and was inspired by some really cool people. My upline’s team is the exact opposite of the drama-filled horror stories you might read about. They are all really supportive people in this business for the right reasons, and our leader is probably the most positive person I have ever met.
My Clients/ Friends
I know it sounds hokey, but I LOVE my clients, A.K.A., the Honey Squad! My business never grew much beyond my “warm market,” so nearly ALL of my clients are friends and family or referrals from friends and family.
I reconnected with a girl I went to elementary school with, and to this day, I am so grateful for her friendship. I also made some new runny buddy friends too.
I used to host these workouts at my house on Saturday mornings. Most of the people who came were good friends. Everyone would bring their kids and dogs and we would all pile in my garage and push play.
They didn’t know it, but those workouts got me through Nick’s graduate school years. It kind of makes me tear up when I think about it. I was lonely and so tired. Having those ladies there to talk to really helped me through some long days.
Personal Development
As a coach, you are encouraged to engage in some form of personal development. I LOVE this “vital behavior.” I would not have read these amazing books, or found these awesome podcasts, or used these life-changing apps on the regular without coaching.
It’s ironic, but the thing I like most about coaching is actually the thing that empowered me to focus on other passions.
I learned things like, “What if joy were the only measure of success?” and “When you get clear on how you want to feel, the pursuit itself will become more satisfying.”
Over time, I realized coaching was not creating the joy I was looking for in my life and my heart was no longer in it.
Me
Without coaching, I would not be in pictures. I read this article in Scarry Mommy and it really hit home. Coaching forced me to get in front of the camera and I have some really cute pictures and videos to show for it.
the not-so-good stuff
New passions and changed priorities
If you really want to make coaching work, even as a side hustle, you have to put in a lot of time and some money. Makes sense right? You want to make full-time money, you need to put in full-time hours. You want a thriving business you need to invest in that business.
Once my husband finished graduate school, I wanted to spend my free time with family rather than be glued to my phone sending out “invites,” replying to messages or managing challenge groups. Slowly, I started to lose interest in the behaviors that make a successful coach successful.
Then, about a year ago, I updated the About Page to this blog. I wrote a Bucket List and nowhere on that list was anything related to Beachbody. I wanted to write and to raise awareness for causes I care about.
We all have the same 24 hours in a day and I wanted to spend mine doing the things I love the most.
Warped sense of self-worth
Having an online business and using social media to promote that business can sometimes affect your sense of self-worth. I became tied to those likes and comments and responses as a measure of how much people liked me in real life.
I would spend hours trying to get one post just right then hit the share button and sit and wait. If I didn’t get a response right away I would start to panic.
I’d think about how people might be reacting to what they see. Maybe they’re rolling their eyes. Maybe they think I’m “one of those annoying-scammer coaches.” I started to worry about making sales goals or wonder if this is even worth it.
My relationship with social media was unhealthy. This cycle brought a lot of unnecessary stress into my life and for someone who struggles with anxiety, I didn’t need the extra material.
A problem with authenticity
I started to get bored with myself. How many times can I write about challenge groups getting “back on track” and still be authentic?
Also, there is this constant pressure to post. I spent so much time trying to figure out Facebook algorithms and hashtags it was ridiculous.
Something would happen and rather than enjoy the moment I would think about how to turn it into a post so I could check that box for the day.
I also didn’t like the pressure I put on myself to “expand my network.” It gave me an icky feeling whenever I made a new “friend” on Facebook I hoped would turn into a customer… Just writing this makes me cringe.
I became so wrapped up in learning how to do social media that I forgot to just be a person using social media. I needed a change.
To Everything, There is a season
The other day I had lunch with my coach. I wanted to thank her for introducing me to coaching and to a new way of looking at my stay-at-home-mom life. When I told her I wasn’t taking on new clients she kind of gave me a hard time for feeling the need to “make it official.”
I guess for all intents and purposes not much has changed, but it’s important for me to say what’s in my heart.
Technically, I’m still a coach because who doesn’t love a discount? I have a small roster of coaches and clients made up of friends and family and referrals and I’m dedicated to helping them with whatever they need.
I’m still a huge raving fan of Beachbody. My husband and I still drink Shakeology and Performance products regularly, I do a 3 Day Refresh a few times a year and we both would not be working out with ANY kind of consistency if it weren’t for Beachbody on Demand.
I truly enjoyed my time as a coach. I can’t promise you won’t see a silly video of me now and then, but this season in my life is over and it’s time to move on to other passions.
Have you ever been a coach with Beachbody? What were favorite/not so favorite parts of coaching? I’d love to hear about your experience. Drop me a comment on Instagram or Facebook
