The Certification Spiral: Why More Credentials Won't Build Your Coaching Business
Best Damn Coach Podcast: Conversations for coaches, mentors, and service providers to grow a profitable coaching business - A podcast by Amanda Walker

Are you stuck in the endless loop of "just one more certification" before you launch your coaching business? If you're waiting to feel "ready" or "qualified enough," this episode is your wake-up call. After helping a coaching client save $10,000 on an unnecessary certification and watching her replace her teaching salary in just one year, I knew it was time to expose the certification spiral that's keeping talented coaches stuck. In this episode, I reveal the harsh truth: I've seen coaches with walls full of certifications making zero money, while coaches with minimal credentials build multi-six-figure businesses. The difference isn't in the letters behind their names—it's in their willingness to actually coach real people. I share the 3 things clients pay coaches for (none involve credentials), the 6 clear signs you're stuck in the certification spiral, and my 3-step framework to build real coaching confidence without spending another penny on certifications. Key insights include: Why collecting credentials is actually a fear-based strategy The inverse relationship between certifications and confidence How "I'm still learning" is keeping you from making money Why coaches with fewer certifications often make MORE money How to leverage your lived experience into profitable expertise Your clients need you RIGHT NOW—not perfect-you or PhD-you. The courage to start is infinitely more valuable than perfect preparation. FREE DOWNLOAD: 10 Powerful Questions Every Coach Should Know - https://amanda-walker.com/home/questions/ BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL: Learn how the Framework Builder Lab can help you break free from the certification spiral - https://amanda-walker.com/letschat