Today I’m bringing you something a little bit different from my usual format because I’ve been inspired this weekend by two books I've read on my recent trip away. I’ve been diving into fiction lately — my way of relaxing and unwinding — and the wisdom that’s come through has been magical.

I just started reading The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, and I also finished The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. What blew me away was how both authors, in their introductions and Q&As, shared advice that’s incredibly relevant to life coaches growing their businesses and I had to share it with you.

Lessons for Life Coaches from Creative Masters

Whether you’re aiming to sign 3, 5, or even 10 clients per month, building your coaching business requires navigating visibility, creative output, and feedback — just like authors and artists. Most coaches I work with are aiming to replace their corporate salary and make coaching their primary source of income, so these lessons are especially relevant.

Hearing from creatives who’ve succeeded in different industries — authors, musicians, actors — offers so much wisdom for life coaches. These creatives face massive exposure, visibility fears, and public opinions on a much larger scale. If you feel nervous about being seen, imagine what it’s like for someone with millions of fans, critics, and followers.

Embracing Feedback and Criticism as a Life Coach

Tolkien’s introduction in The Lord of the Rings is a treasure trove of wisdom. One passage, in particular, stood out to me:

“Some who have read the book, or at any rate have reviewed it, have found it boring, absurd, or contemptible... But even from those who enjoyed my story, there is much that fails to please.”

How relatable is that for us as life coaches? Every post, every offer, every podcast episode — someone will find it unappealing, and someone else will absolutely love it. Your work won’t please everyone, and that’s not the goal.

Navigating Self-Criticism as a Life Coach

Tolkien also admitted to being his own harshest critic. Life coaches, this is our reality too. The internal voice is often more brutal than any external critic. But like Tolkien, you are under no obligation to rewrite your work for every opinion. Your creations are enough as they are.

Life Coaching is an Evolving Art Form

One key difference between coaches and authors is that our work is constantly evolving. Books are finalized, songs get recorded, but our coaching evolves with us. Some of my trainings from three years ago are still brilliant today — not because they are perfect, but because they were the perfect transmission for that version of me. Trust that your work today is perfect for today’s clients.

Wisdom from Nicholas Sparks for Life Coaches

Nicholas Sparks also shared advice for aspiring writers that applies beautifully to coaching businesses:

“Learn as much as you can about publishing. Learn how it works, how to market your book… Publishing is, after all, a business.”

Replace “publishing” with “coaching,” and you have a key truth for your business. To coach, you must first understand the business of coaching — how to get visible, how to market yourself, and what your clients need from you.

“Finally, write. You can’t be a writer without writing.”

For us? You can’t be a coach without coaching. The more you coach, the more you evolve. Your business grows hand-in-hand with your artistry.

Own Your Evolution and Share Your Inspiration

This episode is my invitation to you to embrace your own creative evolution, just like Tolkien and Sparks. Share your passion. Trust that your work will reach the people who need it most — and it’s okay if it doesn’t please everyone.

Your audience needs your unique voice and perspective, and it’s a gift that your visibility is still manageable. As you grow, you’ll build the foundation to handle more exposure. Until then, enjoy the creative process — and keep coaching.