One of the greatest barriers to launching any new venture is between your ears. Mindset. I was blocked for years from moving forward towards my goal and feeling trapped. But then I heard this phrase: “Don’t say I can’t. Say, how can I?”

I realised immediately that I was trapped but not in the way I had been thinking.

It was actually in the way I had been thinking!!

My trap was in my head!

Understanding that immediately set me free and I began to move forward - even though on the outside nothing had actually changed.

That single shift from “I can’t” to “How can I?” is the difference between stagnation and growth. And when it comes to launching your coaching programme, it’s not just about strategy and tools—it’s about mindset. The way you think about yourself, your business, and the challenges you face will ultimately determine how far you go.

Without a shift in mindset, all the strategies in the world won’t take you to the next level. Coaches who master their mindset are able to break through barriers, stay resilient through challenges, and confidently grow their impact.

The Key Mindsets for Growth

1. Abundance Over Scarcity

One of the most common mindset blocks is thinking in terms of scarcity. You may believe that there’s too much competition or not enough clients out there for you. This thinking leads to fear, doubt, and hesitation.

When I coach my clients in how to launch their first online coaching programme, one of the things I get them to do is to check what competition there is in the niche that they are looking at. My point is simple - if other people are making money in that niche it shows there is a need and it’s likely that you can too!

If no one else is making any money it’s a good indicator that maybe there’s not much to be made!

The shift you need is toward **abundance**—the belief that there is more than enough for everyone. When you adopt this mindset, you start seeing opportunities instead of threats. You become open to collaboration, rather than feeling protective of your space. An abundance mindset allows you to confidently move forward, knowing that success is available to you.

This is also the beauty of an online business - the number of potential clients is not limited to your locale or even your nation. Typically language is the only barrier meaning that if you speak English you have access to a market of over 1.2 billion English speakers who have access to the internet.

Action Tip: Whenever you find yourself in scarcity mode, ask, "How can I?" instead of "I can’t"

2. Long-Term Vision Over Short-Term Wins

It’s easy to get caught up in chasing quick wins—getting your course recorded or building a fancy web page. But scaling requires a long-term vision. You need to see the bigger picture of where you want your business to be in the next 1, 3, or 5 years, and make decisions that align with that vision.

That’s why I always stress laying the right foundation when you’re launching something new and taking the time to really understand **who you are trying to help** and **how you are trying to help them**. These are the foundations of your niche and a critical part of the journey to building a sustainable business.

This shift from short-term thinking to a long-term vision helps you stay focused and consistent, even when results aren’t immediate. It also ensures that you’re building a business that can grow sustainably, rather than one that’s constantly reacting to short-term pressures.

I closed down several business - even one that was turning over £25k a year - because I hadn’t thought through how they were going to scale before I started!

When I launched this business I knew that my model had to be one that worked in less than 5 hours a week. I had to think long and hard about how that was going to be possible before I got going!

Action Tip: Set a 3 to 5-year vision for your business. What do you want your business to look like in terms of clients, income, and impact? Start making decisions that align with that bigger vision.

3. Confidence in Your Value

To launch or scale a coaching business, you have to own the value you bring to the table. Many coaches struggle with self-doubt, especially when raising prices or launching a new offer. You may fear that clients won’t see the value, or that you’re not worth what you’re charging.

The shift here is developing **confidence** in your unique skills, experience, and the transformation you offer. When you believe in the value you provide, it’s easier to offer your services, raise your prices, and attract higher-level clients.

What if you don’t yet have that confidence? Then start helping people in the area that you want to specialise in. Join some Facebook groups and start giving free advice. Watch and see how others help. You’ll soon find your confidence growing when you find that people are genuinely helped by you.

Action Tip: Write down three specific outcomes or transformations people have experienced because of your help. Review these regularly to remind yourself of the value you offer.

How to Start Shifting Your Mindset Today

Changing your mindset is not a one-time event—it’s a process that requires ongoing reflection and action. Here’s a simple framework to get started:

1. Daily Affirmations: Start each day by reviewing your mindset and make any positive shifts you need to make before the day begins. If you’re a person of faith, prayer is key to this. But if not simple meditation where you focus on the key ways you need to think today make such a difference. I have a simple task that pops up very day on my Todoist app that helps me review them.

2. Weekly Reflections: Set aside time each week to reflect on any limiting beliefs that surfaced. Ask yourself, “Where did I think small this week?” and then reframe those thoughts with a growth mindset.

3. Mindset Partners: Find an accountability partner or coach who can help you stay on track with your mindset shifts. Sometimes, it’s easier to see limiting beliefs when someone else points them out.

Conclusion

The strategies and tactics to scale your course, coaching or mentoring programme are important, but they won’t get you far without the right mindset. Shifting from scarcity to abundance, from short-term wins to long-term vision, and from self-doubt to confidence in your value are the true keys to unlocking sustainable growth.

Remember, the next time you’re feeling stuck, ask yourself: “How can I?” That one question could be the start of the mindset shift that takes you to the next level.

How I Can Help

If you’re ready to learn more about creating a successful online course, coaching or mentoring program, here are some ways we can work together to bring your vision to life:

1. Subscribe to The Raw News

If you're not already receiving it, get weekly tips, tactics, and inspiration delivered straight to your inbox to help you build your online coaching program. Sign up here.

2. Join My FREE Facebook Group

Become part of a community of aspiring coaches, mentors and course creators in the Online Course & Coach Accelerator group. Here we share resources, answer questions, and provide feedback to help you grow. Join us here.

3. Sign Up for my Impact & Income Accelerator Program

If you’re ready to take the leap, my Impact & Income Accelerator Program is a 3-6 month course that guides people to turn their knowledge into their first scalable online coaching program so that they can create lasting impact and generate increasingly passive income. More information here.