Coaching Is Like a Personal Trainer for Your Mind

Most of us know what a personal trainer does. They push us, guide us, and help us build strength so our bodies are fitter for whatever life throws our way. Coaching is no different—except instead of training muscles, it’s about training your brain, your emotions, and your potential.

Why This Analogy Hits Home for Me

Since my spinal surgery in May, this analogy has become even more personal. My physical abilities were massively curtailed, and I felt it in every area of life.

• I gained 5kg I wasn’t happy about

• My mental clarity slipped

• I noticed myself being grumpier and more anxious than usual

Movement has always been my outlet, and without it, I felt disconnected from my best self. I missed my personal trainer, the exercise routine, and the way training always lifted my mood.

The good news is, even after just three gentle sessions back at the gym, I felt the shift. My energy steadied, my mood improved, and I was reminded of how much stronger I feel when I’m consistently training—not just physically, but mentally too.

That’s exactly what coaching is: strength training for your mind.

Coaching as Strength Training

Just as you don’t expect to lift weights once and stay strong forever, coaching isn’t about a single pep talk or quick fix. It’s about building habits of thought and action that strengthen you over time.

• You grow through sustained effort

• You get stronger when you push past resistance

• You benefit from someone in your corner—spotting blind spots, correcting your “form,” and motivating you when you’d otherwise quit

Strengths Profile: Your Training Plan

This is where Strengths Profile comes in, the assessment I use with all of my clients. Just like a PT would run a fitness test before designing your training plan, Strengths Profile maps out your:

• Realised strengths: the ones you already use and love

• Unrealised strengths: areas of untapped potential, waiting to be activated

• Learned behaviours: things you can do, but which drain you—like burpees for the soul

• Weaknesses: the things you don’t need to overtrain—because success comes from leveraging strengths, not over-focusing on flaws

With this insight, we build a personalised program—choosing carefully where to invest effort and energy.

Real-World Transformations

I’ve seen the results play out again and again:

• Clients who find their voice in meetings, going from hesitant to confident communicators

• Leaders who stop firefighting and start leading calmly and strategically

• Business owners who stop burning out trying to do everything and instead focus on the work that lights them up

These transformations are just as real as any physical change at the gym. The six-pack might be a stronger sense of self-belief, the heavier lift a newfound resilience in the face of challenge.

My Hard 75 Reset

Personally, I’m also excited to be starting the 75 Hard challenge again on Friday 5th September. For me, it’s a full reset—a way to:

• Rebuild discipline

• Sharpen my mental clarity

• Boost resilience

• Reconnect with the physical wellbeing that feeds every other part of my life

And I know it’s going to make me an even better coach, because when I’m at my strongest—mentally and physically—I can show up even more powerfully for the people I work with.

Join Me as an Accountability Buddy

Anyone who signs up for my mental coaching program between now and the next few weeks is more than welcome to join me on the 75 Hard journey. We can be accountability partners—not just in coaching sessions, but day to day, as we both focus on clarity, discipline, and growth.

The Evidence: Why Coaching Works

It’s not just my experience that proves coaching works. The research is clear:

• Confidence & clarity: 80% of people report increased self-esteem; over 70% improve in work performance, relationships, communication, and wellness (Institute of Coaching)

• High satisfaction & ROI: 99% of people who hire coaches are satisfied; the median ROI is 7×, with some reporting up to 50× returns

• Organisational benefits: Companies with coaching cultures see +52% belonging, +30% authenticity, and +27% work/life balance

• Health impacts: In the UK, 82% of people said coaching improved their mental health, and over 80% saw benefits to physical health

• Mental wellbeing: Life coaching can reduce anxiety by 57% and depression by 44%

The evidence is overwhelming: coaching builds strength. It gives you the clarity, confidence, and resilience to face life with more power and more ease. And just like training at the gym, it’s not something you have to do alone.

Final Thought

You’d hire a PT for a stronger body. Why not cultivate the same for your brain and emotions? Because when you’re mentally and emotionally fit, every part of your life becomes easier, stronger, and more fulfilling. And right now, with 75 Hard about to kick off, there’s no better time to start training.

Here's the link to take advantage of the current special 12-month program, you need to sign up my midnight Sydney time on 31st August 2025.

Me, at my middle-aged best earlier this year, February 2025. Hard75 starts September 5th, and I'll be like this again in no time.