Most business owners don’t wake up one morning thinking, I need a business coach.

In fact, the owners I enjoy working with most usually say the opposite.

The business is running.
The team is solid.
Bills are paid.
There is real momentum.

Nothing feels broken.

So why would you bring in a coach?

The 8 Out of 10 Owner

There is a particular stage in business I see again and again.

The owner is capable. Calm. Intelligent.
They’re not in chaos. They’re not drowning.
If anything, they feel confident.

I call this the 8 out of 10 stage.

Not perfect. But good enough to believe you’ll figure it out.

And to be clear, often you will. Eventually.

That is what makes this stage so deceptive.

Confidence Isn’t the Same as Control

Here is the distinction most owners don’t make.

Confidence sounds like:

• “I’ve got a good feel for this.”

• “The team is strong.”

• “We’ll adjust as we go.”

Control looks like:

• Clear roles and decision rights

• Leveraging a proven business operating system that has worked time after time

• Priorities that don’t live only in your head

• Outcomes that are predictable, not hoped for

Confidence is internal. Control is structural.

And growth doesn’t punish confidence.
It exposes the lack of structure underneath it.

Why Coaching Can Feel Unnecessary (At First)

If you’re competent, coaching can feel like overkill.

You’re not stuck.
You don’t want noise or interference.
You’ve seen generic advice that doesn’t fit your business.
You trust your judgement, and rightly so.

This isn’t arrogance. It’s capability.

Most owners delay coaching because nothing hurts … yet.

The Hidden Cost of “I’ll Just Figure It Out”

The real cost isn’t catastrophic failure.

It’s things like:

• Carrying every decision in your head

• Rebuilding structure later instead of installing it early

• Slower progress than necessary

• Missed opportunities because everything still routes through you

It’s like driving a car at night with good instincts.

You might arrive safely.
But turning the headlights on is calmer - and repeatable.

When Business Coaching Actually Makes Sense

Good coaching isn’t about rescue.

It’s most useful when:

• The business already works

• The owner is stepping into a bigger leadership role

• Decisions start having more significant second and third-order consequences

• You want to lead on purpose, not by default

You don’t hire a coach because you’re failing.

You hire one because you don’t want to learn everything the hard way.

A Simple Self-Check

No judgement here, just clarity.

Ask yourself:

• If nothing changes structurally this year, am I okay with that?

• Is my confidence backed by a system and proven track record, or is it artificially high because nothing ‘bad’ has happened yet?

• If growth arrives faster than expected, am I ready for it?

If those questions make you pause, that is useful information.

What to Do Next

You don’t need to rush into anything.

But you do need honesty.

Try this:

• Sketch your org chart as it actually operates today

• List the decisions that still rely solely on you

• Notice where you’re holding things instead of leading them

That is where leverage lives.

The Reframe

The best time to install structure is before you need it.

Coaching isn’t a rescue tool.
It’s a way to turn capability into consistency.

And if you ever want a second set of eyes on your plan, not to sell, but to pressure-test it, I’m always open to a conversation - https://www.butleradvisory.com.au/time-with-trent

No rush. Just clarity.