Episodes

  • #188 - Let The Money Be A Side Effect (Throwback Episode)

    #188 - Let The Money Be A Side Effect (Throwback Episode)
    Dec 8 2025

    We're revisiting an episode that was first published in February this year - Why? Because I've been soooo sick and didn't record this week, but also because this is a really important episode when it comes to your money mindset.

    If you’ve ever found yourself obsessing over where the next client is coming from or feeling that gut-wrenching panic when someone says no, this episode is for you. I am talking about the biggest mindset shift that makes signing clients easier: stop chasing money and start focusing on connection, trust, and service. When you do, the money becomes a natural side effect.

    This isn’t about sitting back and hoping for the best. It’s about showing up, doing the work, and playing the long game. When you stop leading with desperation and start building real relationships, everything, clients, sales, opportunities, flows so much more naturally. And let’s be honest, growing your business feels a lot better when you’re not constantly stress chasing.

    FREE MASTERCLASS

    Today we kick off Unearth Your Edge - my free 3-day masterclass series for coaches, where we’ll refine your niche and messaging so start attracting and enrolling the right people.

    For more info and to register, click here: https://gillmoakes.com/unearth

    (This throwback episode mentions the March dates of our last event - this round is actually 8th / 9th / 10th December - 5pm UK / 12pm EST)
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    14 mins
  • #187 - Unearth Your Edge and Never Get Lost In The Sea Of Sound-The-Sames Again

    #187 - Unearth Your Edge and Never Get Lost In The Sea Of Sound-The-Sames Again
    Dec 1 2025

    If you're a coach who's ready to change lives but you're struggling to stand out from all the other coaches saying the exact same things... this episode is for you.

    It's completely natural when you're starting out to look at what other coaches are doing. But here's what happens: you end up reading other coaches' Instagram bios, checking out their websites, and without even realising it, you start mimicking the language you're seeing everywhere. The result? Your messaging becomes beige. Safe. Generic.

    And when potential clients are scrolling through Instagram or reading emails, they can't tell the difference between you and any other coach out there.

    What Is Your Edge?
    Your edge is the combination of everything that makes you unmistakably you:

    - Your values - the hills you're willing to die on
    - Your lived and learned experience - all the lessons you learned the hard way
    - The things you believe that not everyone agrees with
    - The perspectives that make some people nod furiously and others hit unfollow (brilliant!)
    - Your authentic personality - not the professional coach version you think you should be
    - Your messaging - the things you can't stop talking about

    This Can't Be Outsourced
    You can't shortcut this work. You can't copy someone else's positioning. This isn't the glamorous bit of building a business - but it's the difference between a coaching business that actually grows and makes you money versus one that constantly struggles to attract the right people.

    It's the difference between feeling confident in who you are and what you offer versus feeling like an imposter every time you post on social media.

    Join Me For Unearth Your Edge

    I'm hosting a FREE three-day masterclass starting December 8th (8th, 9th, and 10th at 5pm UK time). This is the foundational work I do with clients in my MASTERY accelerator - and people have told me this masterclass alone has changed the trajectory of their business.

    Here's what we'll cover:
    Day 1: Who You Are - Getting crystal clear on your values, your story, and what you bring to the table that no one else does
    Day 2: Who You Serve - Refining your niche based on genuine alignment between who you are and who you're meant to serve
    Day 3: How You Communicate - Creating messaging that actually converts by articulating what you believe in a way that resonates with the right people

    90 minutes on Zoom each day. Time for questions. Workbooks for each day. And I promise you: this is going to move you forward in your business.

    Numbers are capped so everyone gets space to ask questions - so grab your spot now at gillmoakes.com/unearth

    Unearth Your Edge - FREE Masterclass: gillmoakes.com/unearth
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    27 mins
  • #186 - Planning on Purpose - Part 2: How does your business need you to show up next year?

    #186 - Planning on Purpose - Part 2: How does your business need you to show up next year?
    Nov 24 2025

    This week, it's part 2 of our mini-series on Planning On Purpose - all about stepping confidently into next year. I'm talking about the critical identity shifts you need to make to bring your 2026 vision to life.

    Building on last week's foundational planning episode, I explore the importance of aligning your daily actions with the person you need to become to realise your goals.

    I outline five key identity shifts:

    • moving from reactive to intentional
    • perfectionist to practitioner
    • people-pleaser to values-led leader
    • scarcity to abundance
    • isolation to connection

    It's all about adopting a daily practice of making small, consistent decisions that align with your future self.

    AND, if 2026 is the year you're committing to seriously growing your coaching business, then you don't want to miss my FREE 3 day masterclass Unearth Your Edge, starting on 8th December 2025.

    Over 3 days, live on Zoom together, you'll learn:

    1. How to embrace and leverage your uniqueness

    2. How to refine your niche

    3. How to nail your messaging to consistently attract & enrol your ideal clients.

    Places are limited, so secure your spot here now: https://gillmoakes.com/unearth

    ALSO MENTIONED

    Check out my 18 week business accelerator for coaches: https://gillmoakes.com/mastery
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    39 mins
  • #185 - Planning On Purpose: Part 1: Are you going to do what it takes to make next year YOUR year?

    #185 - Planning On Purpose: Part 1: Are you going to do what it takes to make next year YOUR year?
    Nov 17 2025

    Where the hell did this year go? If we're not careful, 2025 is going to race past us and we'll all be sleepwalking into 2026...
    In this first part of a two-part series, I'm sharing the exact planning process I take my private coaching, LEGACY clients through at the end of each year. This isn't about hustle culture goals or pushing harder. It's about creating a year that actually reflects what YOU want, not what Instagram tells you your year should look like, not even what I tell you it should look like...

    Because here's what I've learned from coaching really ambitious women: most of us don't fail because we lack strategy. We struggle because we're following strategies that weren't created by us, for us.

    This is planning that matters. Planning that works. Planning on purpose.

    What You'll Learn:

    • Why Planning Actually Matters
    • The Three Essential Planning Steps
    • The Biggest Mistake Coaches Make

    Resources Mentioned
    Free Workshop:

    Planning on Purpose: November 20th, 2025
    Hosted with the Institute of Coaching Studies
    (Replay available if you can't attend live)

    SIGN UP HERE: https://coachingstudies.org/events/coaching-business-masterclass-2026-planning/

    Book Recommendation:
    "Free to Focus" by Michael Hyatt - exceptional resource for yearly planning and productivity

    The Institute of Coaching Studies:
    My absolute number one recommendation for coach training.

    Reflection Prompts:
    Before you start planning for next year, take time to reflect on 2025:

    What worked this year that you want to do more of?
    What didn't work that you're ready to let go of?
    What did you wish you'd made time for?
    What do you wish you'd never started?

    Email your reflections to info@gillmoakes.com - I'd love to hear what's coming up for you.

    COMING NEXT WEEK...
    Part 2 is coming next week, where we'll dive deep into the mindset piece: Who do you need to BE to bring your vision to life? What is your business asking from you in terms of how you show up?
    This two-part series, combined with the free workshop on November 20th, will give you everything you need to make 2026 truly YOUR year.

    About This Series
    This is the exact planning process I've refined over years of working with ambitious women coaches. It works because it's not about doing more or pushing harder, it's about intentional, purpose-driven planning that creates a business supporting your life, not consuming it.

    Connect With Gill
    Have reflections to share? Questions about planning your year? Email me at info@gillmoakes.com
    Join the Planning on Purpose Workshop: https://coachingstudies.org/events/coaching-business-masterclass-2026-planning/
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    30 mins
  • #184 - The Permission You're Waiting For (Spoiler: It's Not Coming)

    #184 - The Permission You're Waiting For (Spoiler: It's Not Coming)
    Nov 10 2025

    That permission slip you're waiting for... the one that says you're ready to charge what you're worth, claim your niche, or call yourself an expert? I'm afraid it's not coming. Not from a certification body, not from a certain number of clients, and definitely not from your follower count.

    In this episode, I'm diving into why we crave external permission, the three permission traps keeping brilliant coaches stuck, and what self-permission actually looks like (spoiler: it's harder than waiting for validation, but it's the only way forward).
    If you've been telling yourself "I'll be ready in January" or "once I have X, then I'll do Y", this one's for you.

    What We Cover

    The Permission Paradox

    - Why we're trained to wait for external validation (and why it's keeping you small)
    - My own journey from blocking everyone on social media to hosting this podcast
    - The uncomfortable truth: staying small has to feel worse than the fear of being seen

    The Three Permission Traps

    Trap #1: The Qualification Trap

    - Why collecting certifications won't make you feel ready
    - The truth: clients buy transformations, not certificates
    - You're qualified the moment you can deliver results

    Trap #2: The Numbers Trap

    - "Once I have 10 clients, then I'll raise my prices" (and other lies we tell ourselves)
    - How you can build a six-figure practice with 500 engaged followers
    - Premium pricing attracts better clients - not the other way around

    Trap #3: The Timeline Trap

    - "I'll be ready in six months" (no, you won't)
    - Why perfect conditions will never exist
    - Clarity comes from action, not contemplation

    What Self-Permission Actually Looks Like
    Self-permission isn't a feeling, it's a decision. And it requires:

    • Radical responsibility (no one else to blame if it doesn't work)
    • Tolerance for discomfort (charging premium prices before you feel 'worth it')
    • Redefining "ready" (willing to try ≠ perfect)

    The 5-Step Framework for Giving Yourself Permission

    1. Name what you're actually waiting for (get specific - it's probably imaginary)
    2. Identify the cost of waiting (what are you not building? Who are you not serving?)
    3. Make the decision as if permission has been granted
    4. Take the first uncomfortable action (not perfect action, next action)
    5. Build your evidence bank (track every win, collect every testimonial)

    The Bottom Line
    The permission you're waiting for isn't coming from out there. It's been inside you the whole time. You just have to be brave enough to claim it.
    Stop waiting. Start building.

    Your Invitation
    What's one green light you've been waiting for that you could give yourself today? Not in January. Not when you have more clients. Not when you feel more confident. Today.
    What would you do if you just... decided?

    Work With Me
    If this episode resonated and you're ready to stop waiting for permission, let's talk about MASTERY - my 18-week signature program for coaches who are done playing small.

    MASTERY isn't just strategy (though you'll get a complete roadmap for building a highly profitable coaching practice). It's also the mindset work of backing yourself before you have external proof. Of embracing your unique edge. Of owning your value. Of moving forward even when it's uncomfortable.

    Because here's what I know: you don't need more qualifications. You don't need more followers. You don't need more time.
    You need clarity. You need strategy. You need someone who sees you and believes in what's possible when you bring the whole of who you are to your business... Let me help you.

    Find out more: https://gillmoakes.com/mastery

    CONNECT WITH ME
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gillmoakes/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillmoakes/

    WORK WITH ME
    Check out my FREE monthly workshops: https://www.gillmoakes.com/workshops

    Check out MASTERY: https://gillmoakes.com/mastery

    Book a call to explore the next right move for your business: https://go.oncehub.com/gillmoakeschat
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    41 mins
  • #183 - Simplify Everything: Why Less Is More in Your Coaching Business

    #183 - Simplify Everything: Why Less Is More in Your Coaching Business
    Nov 3 2025
    Feeling overwhelmed by your coaching business? In this episode, I'm sharing my current obsession: simplification. I share why most coaches overcomplicate their businesses with too many offers, platforms, and tactics, and why less is actually more when it comes to building a sustainable, profitable coaching practice. You'll learn why complexity is usually a symptom of lack of clarity, hear the story of why I closed a profitable membership to choose alignment over income, and get a practical framework for figuring out what to keep and what to let go in your business. What You'll Learn Why coaches overcomplicate everything (and why "more" doesn't actually mean better)The real reason behind business complexity: lack of clarity on who you serve and what transformation you offerMy story of closing The Collective - choosing alignment over a profitable revenue streamWhat true simplification looks like: one clear offer, one clear client, one clear messageThe three questions to help you decide what stays and what goes in your businessA practical exercise to audit everything in your business and strip back to what matters The Three Questions Framework 1. Does it energise you? Not every moment, but overall, does this thing light you up? Do you look forward to it? Or is it consistently draining you before you even begin? 2. Does it serve your ideal client? Not just any client, but YOUR ideal client. Does this offer, platform, or piece of content actually move them closer to the transformation they desire? 3. Does it move the needle? Is this thing actually contributing to your business growth? Is it bringing in revenue, building relationships, or establishing your authority? Or is it just busy work? Practical Exercise List EVERYTHING in your business: every offer, every platform, every content type, every marketing tactic, every systemCircle the things that light you up AND make you money (both, not just one)Question everything else - does it really need to stay? Remember: Being busy doesn't equal being effective. My Simple Business Model Three ways to work with me (I've been doing this a while so I do have more than one offer): Mastery - my 18-week foundational accelerator program for early-stage coaches building their coaching businessEvolution - coming in 2026 - for coaches ready to scale beyond 1:1 client workLegacy - Private 1:1 coaching for ambitious women building a legacy body of work Content ecosystem: ReWild Your Business Podcast (weekly)LinkedIn & Instagram Newsletter (weekly)Substack (long-form deep dives) Everything points to the same transformation: bringing all of who you are to your work so you can grow a profitable, fulfilling business. Your First Yes Your First Yes - is a simple guide for early-stage coaches struggling to find their first few paying clients. It focuses on the handful of actions that genuinely move the needle without the complexity of a massive marketing ecosystem. Download here: https://www.gillmoakes.com/your-first-yes Connect with me: Website: gillmoakes.comInstagram: @gillmoakesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillmoakes/ If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review and share it with a coach friend who needs to hear this message.
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    23 mins
  • #182 - The Content Marketing Trap (And How To Free Yourself From It)

    #182 - The Content Marketing Trap (And How To Free Yourself From It)
    Oct 27 2025
    Let me be honest with you: what worked in marketing a couple of years ago really isn't working anymore. And if you're someone who's still trying to crack that algorithm, who believes your success is entirely governed by the quality of your content, this probably isn't what you want to hear. But it's true. I'm seeing genuinely brilliant coaches burning themselves out creating endless content. Posting multiple times a day. Creating daily reels. Sophisticated carousel posts. Graphics. Jumping on every trend. And they're just not seeing a return on that massive amount of effort. Here's what's really happening: the coaching industry has created this closed shop of engagement. Your amazing content is mostly being seen by other coaches who are also stuck on the same hamster wheel. Not your actual ideal clients. Content Marketing Still Matters (But It's Only One Piece) I'm not saying content doesn't matter. Of course it does. But it's ONE piece of a marketing ecosystem. Your overall marketing strategy needs to be bigger than just a content strategy if you want to build a business that's sustainable for the long haul. Think of it like this: content marketing is the lighthouse - shining out, hoping to attract your ideal clients. But there's another side to that coin, and it's the one thing that's never stopped working. The thing that cannot be hacked, gamified, or outsourced. Relationship marketing. The searchlight piece where you go out and actively build relationships that lead to clients, collaborators, and introducers. Why Everything Changed Just a few years ago, you could post consistently, use the right hashtags, jump on trending audios, and the algorithm would reward you with visibility. More reach meant more engagement, which led to new followers, discovery calls, and sales. I'm not saying it was easy then, but it was more straightforward. More predictable. There was less noise and a hell of a lot less AI-generated crap clogging up everyone's feeds. Now? Complete opposite. The algorithms change every other week. No one knows what's getting prioritised anymore. Platforms are oversaturated. Our attention spans are tiny. And people are absolutely exhausted from posting constantly without seeing results that match their effort. The uncomfortable truth: If your entire marketing strategy is built on content creation and visibility determined by an algorithm, you're building your business on quicksand. What Actually Works: The 80/20 Flip Here's what I want you to think about: how are you spending your marketing energy right now? If you're spending 80% of your time creating content and 20% building relationships, I want you to flip it completely. Spend 20% of your time creating really good content that genuinely reflects who you are and what you believe. Then spend 80% of your time having actual conversations with people. This looks like: Showing up in DMs When someone sends a genuine connection message, reply with substance. Have an actual conversation. Don't automatically dismiss everyone as a pitch-slapper. Leaving thoughtful comments Not just a thumbs up or heart emoji. Actually show you were interested in what they shared. Ask questions. Be curious about them. Following up with people If someone told you a month ago they were working on something, check back in. Ask how it's going. Show them you remember. Show them you actually give a crap. Remembering what matters When you build real relationships, you remember what each other says. You're not just talking about business, you're connecting as humans. The Three Kinds of Relationships to Build As you're building these connections, think about three types of relationships: Potential clients - people who could work with you Potential collaborators - people you could create with or partner with Potential introducers - people who could refer clients to you Not everyone needs to be a direct client. Build a genuine network across all three categories. But Can This Scale? I hear you. You're thinking, "Gill, this sounds lovely, but I can't have individual conversations with everyone. I need something that works at scale." Here's the thing: as a coach selling high-ticket programs, you absolutely need to be having individual conversations with the right people. If you're in scaling mode with more leveraged offers, then yes, use paid advertising to drive enough traffic to override the algorithm. But for mid to high-ticket coaching? Conversations are non-negotiable. It might not be the magic bullet everyone wants, but I'm telling you the truth. Quality Over Quantity. Always. I'd rather have a smaller, deeply engaged audience than a massive following of people who couldn't give a crap about what I do. If you prioritise relationships over algorithms, your business will grow. Maybe not overnight. Not in a viral explosion. But steadily. Sustainably. In a way that feels good to you. That's what we're all after, isn't it? A business that actually works for us. That feels ...
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    33 mins
  • #181 - Rewilding Your Relationship With Money

    #181 - Rewilding Your Relationship With Money
    Oct 20 2025
    Let's be honest. Your relationship with money is probably one of the trickiest, most emotionally charged relationships you'll ever have. And I'm not talking about spreadsheets or financial planning here. I'm talking about how you feel about money, how you treat it, and how it's quietly shaping your decisions without you even realising it's happening. This week, we're going back to something I haven't talked about in a while: money mindset. Because here's the thing. Most of us didn't choose the money stories we're carrying around. We inherited them from our parents, our teachers, the culture we grew up in, and that whole toxic online abundance messaging that makes you feel like an idiot if you haven't manifested a private account in the Cayman Islands. (Thanks for nothing, The Secret.) What You'll Learn In This Episode: The money stories you inherited and how they're dictating your behaviour right now. Things like "money doesn't grow on trees" or "people like us don't have that kind of money" get wired into your nervous system, and suddenly abundance doesn't feel safe anymore. Why money isn't moral. Money isn't a reflection of how worthy or spiritual you are. It's not a moral compass. Money is neutral. It's energy. And when we treat it like it's moral, we start hustling for work we don't want, undercharging because we want to seem like good people, and over-delivering to prove our value. The two ways we try to control money and why neither one represents freedom. You're either constantly chasing money and making it the focus of everything, or you're pretending you're above caring about it at all. Both are about control. Both are ego. What it means to rewild your relationship with money. Coming back to a natural rhythm where money flows through you, supports you, and nourishes what matters, but isn't the all-or-nothing driving force of your business. Five things you can start doing today to shift your relationship with money: Name the inherited stories (whose voice are you hearing?)Track the flow (where does money move easily and where does it get stuck?)Look at your pricing (are you charging for acceptance or honouring your energy?)Practice receiving (compliments, help, opportunities, all of it)Redefine what wealth means for you The distinction between wealth and worth. Wealth is external and movable. Worth is internal and doesn't change. You cannot let money carry your self-esteem. You cannot let money have that much power. The Big Truth: Money doesn't respond to guilt or scarcity. But it does respond to clear, aligned action. It responds to purpose. It responds to flow. When you spend money in alignment, it circulates. When you invest in what you believe in, it multiplies. When you hoard it out of fear, it stagnates. And here's the weird thing: when you stop with the proving and the grasping and the chasing, that's when money starts to flow. That's when money becomes the side effect of intentional, aligned work. That's what I want for you. This Week's Journaling Prompts: Where in my business am I still asking money for permission? (Permission to rest, to create something different, to feel successful, to feel safe?)What part of me still believes that wealth and worth are the same thing? And what could happen if I stopped believing that?If money and I were in an honest relationship, what conversation are we long overdue to have? (What needs forgiving? What needs claiming? What needs renegotiating?) Don't rush these. Sit with them. See what comes up. Links & Resources: Download the Fix Your Money Mindset Workbook - One of my oldest lead magnets and still works a treat because it's a goodie. It'll help you reframe your way of thinking about money: https://www.gillmoakes.com/fix-your-money-mindset Email me your reflections: info@gillmoakes.com (I genuinely love hearing from you when something lands)
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    27 mins