How a Life Coach Can Bring Out the Bill Gates in Your Kid

By Hal Elrod

Gallup studies show that 70% of high school students want to start their own companies. That’s great news. But here’s the problem: almost none of them knows where to start. Believe it or not, maybe they need a life coach. Before you dismiss the idea, think of what a life coach can actually teach your children.

Life coaches specialize in providing both the structure and inspiration necessary to create the life you truly desire. As a parent, you’re no doubt doing an excellent job at creating the atmosphere necessary for your child to succeed. But a life coach can help take that one step further. And, if your child already has an entrepreneurial background, well that is even better.

I started as a life coach several years ago, and I’ve seen first-hand eager young entrepreneurs build million-dollar businesses with the help a life coach can provide. Here are some other ways a life coach can help bring out the Bill Gates in your kid:

* Life coaches often bring specific expertise that many parents may lack. As mentioned above, even the best parents can’t offer a budding entrepreneur the same kind of advice that an experienced business owner can. You aren’t admitting defeat if you hire a life coach to give your kids the best chance at success.

* Life coaches help kids break through barriers. Kids today are faced with so many negative messages that it can be hard for them to stay on track. Life coaches specialize in helping them do just that. Again, life coaches will never replace good parenting, but they can supplement what your kids are already learning at home.

* Life coaches provide another source of inspiration. Let’s face it, kids want to know you understand where they’re coming from before they’ll open up and listen to your message. A life coach who has “been there and done that” not only brings technical expertise to the party, he can also serve as a source of inspiration. For example, one of the things that gives me credibility as a life coach is that I’ve actually run successful start-ups of my own (I started my first business at 15!).