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    95% of Business Coaches & Consultants Are Failed Business Owners

    Not all business coaches have built a real business. Learn the 3 questions to ask before hiring a mentor. Hire a verified business builder, not an influencer.

    James Grafton

    James Grafton

    · 4 min read

    Business coach reviewing financial statements with client – verified track record
    95% of Business Coaches & Consultants are failed business owners.
    I say this every year, and every year it gets more true.

    The Coaching Industry Is Full of Grifters

    The coaching & consulting industries are full of grifters.
    The biggest culprit is in the NDIS over the last 2 years.
    These "coaches" and "consultants" are disguised salespeople selling a dream they have never actually lived.

    The Common Cycle

    Here is the common cycle I see:
    ❌ They start a business.
    ❌ They fail to handle the operations, the cashflow, and the staff.
    ❌ They pivot to "Business Coaching" to teach others how to succeed at the thing they failed at.
    They aren't selling you expertise.
    They are selling you the Marketing that WORKED ON THEM.
    They preach "Automation" but have never managed a team.
    They preach "7-Figures" but have never seen a P&L with a 15% net profit margin.
    They preach "Freedom" but spend 12 hours a day DMing strangers on LinkedIn.

    The Reality Check

    If you are looking for a mentor, stop looking at their car or their "lifestyle" photos.

    3 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Mentor

    Ask them these 3 questions:
    1️⃣ The Track Record: What business have you built that didn't involve selling advice that I can VERIFY?
    2️⃣ The Scale: How big did that business grow (Revenue? Staff count? Profit margins?)
    3️⃣ The Exit: How much did you sell it for, or is it still operational?
    If there aren't clear and succinct answers... run.
    Great business builders are not afraid to talk about results and numbers.

    Hire a Verified Business Builder, Not an Influencer

    You cannot learn how to build a $2M+ business from someone who is scared to show you their numbers, or has only ever built a "Personal Brand."
    Hire a verified Business Builder. Not an Influencer.

    About the Author

    James Grafton, author

    James Grafton

    Known as 'The 8 Figure Business Coach', James specialises in scaling owner-operated businesses through leadership coaching, business mentoring, and virtual CFO services.

    View James's profile →

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