Have you ever noticed how hard it is to get real perspective when you’re deep in your own business?

When you’re the one making the decisions, juggling everything, and trying to keep momentum going, it’s no surprise that seeing the bigger picture—or spotting what’s really holding things back—can be tricky.

That’s one of the biggest values of coaching. Not having someone tell you what to do, but having someone outside the day-to-day noise who can ask better questions, help you think more clearly, and point to things you already suspected but hadn’t quite pinned down. Sometimes it’s about gently challenging assumptions you didn’t know you were making. And sometimes—let’s be honest—not so gently. (And yes, if you know me, there’s usually a bit of humour or sarcasm in the mix too.)

It’s rarely about serving up silver bullets. In fact, it’s more about drawing on the quiet confidence that comes from someone who’s seen behind the curtain of dozens—or hundreds—of other businesses. It’s about frameworks, ways of thinking, better ways to plan, prioritise, or delegate. The things that sharpen decision-making. You could figure it all out on your own… but it might take years and a few unnecessary bruises.

But where coaching really earns its keep, in my experience, is on the inside—headspace and mindset. And often, that shows up in the language people use. Ask any client of mine and they’ll probably laugh about how often I pick them up on phrases like “I’ll try,” or “I need to,” or “I hope to.” The words always reveal the underlying beliefs—whether they’re helpful or limiting.

Most of us have habits of thought that helped get us this far but don’t help us move to the next stage. Things like control, avoidance, second-guessing, perfectionism, a tendency to overwork or under-trust. All normal. All human. And often all invisible—until someone holds up a mirror.

It’s rarely dramatic. Usually, it’s a quiet insight that changes how you think or lead. Slightly at first. Then, over time, significantly.

That’s what I’ve seen time and again: when the person grows, the business flows. Not because they suddenly work harder—but because they show up with more clarity, more intention, and more impact.