August is a funny time of year.
For some, it's a chance to switch off, recharge and spend time with family. For others, it's a reminder that another summer is almost over and the goals they set at the beginning of the year are still sitting on the shelf.
It's often during this time that people start reaching out to me about coaching.
They tell me they want more confidence. More discipline. Better health. A stronger mindset. A clearer direction.
They tell me they're ready to change.
But here's the uncomfortable truth I've learned after coaching people from all walks of life.
Most people don't actually want change.
They want the result of change.
There's a big difference.
Everybody Wants The Outcome
Everybody wants to be fitter.
Very few people want to train when they're tired.
Everybody wants more confidence.
Very few people are willing to repeatedly put themselves in uncomfortable situations to build it.
Everybody wants success.
Very few people want the consistency, sacrifice and patience that success demands.
That's because we naturally chase comfort.
Human beings are wired to avoid pain and seek pleasure.
Growth requires the opposite.
Growth asks you to become comfortable with being uncomfortable.
That's where most people stop.
Change Requires Honesty
One of the first things I ask any coaching client is a simple question.
"Where are you lying to yourself?"
It usually catches people off guard.
Because deep down, we all know.
We know when we've stopped putting in the effort.
We know when we've blamed circumstances instead of taking responsibility.
We know when we've accepted standards that are lower than we're capable of.
Until you're honest about where you are today, it's almost impossible to build a better tomorrow.
Coaching isn't about making people feel comfortable.
It's about helping people see clearly.
Sometimes that's uncomfortable.
But it's necessary.
Information Isn't The Problem
People often think they need another book.
Another podcast.
Another motivational video.
Another morning routine.
The truth is, most people already know enough to dramatically improve their lives.
Eat better.
Move more.
Sleep properly.
Keep promises to yourself.
Stop making excuses.
Stay consistent.
None of that is revolutionary.
The challenge has never been knowledge.
It's execution.
That's why accountability changes everything.
It's much harder to ignore your own excuses when someone else is holding up the mirror.
Excuses Sound Sensible
One thing I've learned over the years is that excuses rarely sound ridiculous.
In fact, they usually sound perfectly reasonable.
"I'm just too busy."
"I'll start after summer."
"Things are hectic at work."
"I've got too much going on."
Maybe all of those things are true.
Life is busy.
Work is stressful.
Children need your time.
Unexpected things happen.
But here's the question.
Do those challenges stop you completely...
Or have they simply become your reason for staying where you are?
There's a big difference.
Successful people don't have fewer problems.
They've simply decided that their standards won't change because life gets difficult.
The Best Clients Aren't The Most Talented
People often ask me what separates the clients who achieve the biggest transformations.
It isn't age.
It isn't fitness.
It isn't money.
It isn't intelligence.
It's ownership.
The best clients take responsibility.
They don't spend months explaining why they can't.
They spend their energy figuring out how they can.
They accept feedback.
They stay coachable.
They understand that growth isn't about being perfect.
It's about being willing to improve.
That's a completely different mindset.
Coaching Doesn't Create Change
This might surprise you.
Coaching doesn't change people.
People change people.
A coach simply provides the environment.
The questions.
The accountability.
The challenge.
The perspective.
The work still belongs to the individual.
I've never transformed anyone.
They transformed themselves.
I simply helped them see what they were capable of long before they believed it themselves.
That's the privilege of coaching.
Watching somebody become the person they were always capable of becoming.
Final Thoughts
If you're reading this and you're waiting until September...
Don't.
Don't wait until the kids go back to school.
Don't wait until work calms down.
Don't wait until Monday.
Don't wait until you feel motivated.
Because motivation comes and goes.
Standards don't.
If you genuinely want to change your life, stop asking whether you're ready.
Ask yourself whether you're willing.
Because willingness is where transformation begins.
Everything else is just another excuse.
Your move, what's one excuse you've been telling yourself that you're ready to let go of?
If you didn't already know, I've created a membership site through my company Kaizen Summit. It's a private personal development community filled with exclusive content, challenges and good people. If you'd like to become part of it just hit the link below.