Coach Smarter: Build a Thriving Health Coaching Business
You became a health coach to change lives, but now you’re trying to figure out how to stand out, deliver real results, and build a sustainable business without drowning in all the details. Maybe you’re unsure how to coach effectively, overwhelmed by the endless marketing advice, or struggling to balance it all while still staying true to your mission. You’re passionate about helping others, but you didn’t expect building a coaching business to feel this confusing. That’s where Coach Smarter comes in. I’m Stephen Box, National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach and founder of Unshakable Habits. With more than a decade of experience, I know that thriving as a coach isn’t about doing more—it’s about focusing on what matters most: developing your coaching skills, finding your unique voice, and simplifying your business so it works for you. Each week, I’ll help you coach with confidence, market with clarity, and build a business that lasts. If you’re ready to become a better coach and finally feel confident in your approach, hit the + follow button and join me every week on Coach Smarter.
Episodes
Do you ever feel like getting new clients is an endless grind? You’re spending hours on social media, creating content, and still not seeing results. But what if that’s actually what’s holding you back?
In this episode, Stephen Box breaks down how to build a referral-driven coaching business—without feeling pushy, begging for testimonials, or relying on complicated marketing strategies. Learn how to create an amazing client experien...
You started your coaching business for freedom—but does it actually feel like a business, or just another job? Too many coaches unknowingly bring the same habits from their 9-to-5 into their coaching business, leaving them overwhelmed, stuck, and chasing external validation instead of real impact.
In this episode, Elona Lopari shares her journey from corporate success to entrepreneurship and the key mindset shifts that allowed her t...
Imagine grinding your way to a seven-figure business—only to have it nearly kill you. That’s exactly what happened to today’s guest, Colby Wegter. After pushing himself to the brink and experiencing not one but two major burnouts, Colby was forced to rethink everything about how he worked and ran his business.
In this conversation, we dive deep into the hidden dangers of burnout, why taking a break isn’t enough, and the mindset shif...
Ever had a conversation with someone who seemed like the perfect client—only for them to walk away after you gave them your best advice? You answered their questions, shared insights, and maybe even coached them a little… but instead of taking the next step, they just say, “That was really helpful!” and move on.
Why does this keep happening? And more importantly, how do you turn these conversations into paying clients—without feelin...
Many coaches have been told that success requires being outgoing, high-energy, and always “on.”
But if you’re an introverted coach, that approach can leave you feeling drained, overwhelmed, and questioning whether coaching is really the right fit.
Today’s guest, Stacey Chazin, is a leadership coach who helps introverts transform their natural strengths into professional assets.
In this episode, we explore the biggest myths about int...
Most coaches don’t actually have a time management problem—they have a decision-making problem. And if you don’t get a handle on it, your business will start running you instead of the other way around.
If you’ve ever said, “I need to get [X] done, but I just don’t have time”, this episode is for you. My guest, Scott Maderer, sees this all the time—coaches who sacrifice family time, skip meals, or take on last-minute clients because...
You set up a Facebook group, invited people to join, and started posting consistently… but no one is engaging. Sound familiar?
Many coaches assume that creating a group equals building a community—but without real engagement, it’s just another dead space online.
In this episode, Paul Gowder, founder of a 130,000+ member community, reveals why most Facebook groups fail and what it really takes to build an engaged, thriving community ...
You started your coaching business to help people—not to spend hours scheduling calls, chasing invoices, and managing emails. But somehow, the admin work never stops. You’ve probably thought about automating some of it, but you don’t want your business to feel impersonal or “robotic.”
That’s exactly where Joe Casabona found himself. As a former software engineer turned solopreneur, he thought working harder was the answer—until he n...
Most coaches think productivity is about doing more—but what if the real key is doing less?
If you feel like you're constantly busy yet not making real progress, it’s time to rethink how you work. In this episode, I sit down with Mark Struczewski (aka Mister Productivity) to uncover a simple yet powerful shift that will help you:
By the End of This Episode, You’ll Know:
✅ Cut through distractions and stop...
In this episode of Coach Smarter, Stephen Box sits down with performance coach Rob Tracz to explore how coaches and entrepreneurs can overcome burnout and build a business they love. Rob shares his personal story of hitting rock bottom and reveals his six core principles for resilience, alignment, and success. If you’re feeling stuck or out of balance, this conversation offers practical insights to help you regain control and move ...
In this episode of Coach Smarter, Stephen Box dives into how health coaches can transform free consultations into paying clients. He introduces a simple, four-step framework to guide discovery calls with confidence and authenticity, helping you connect with potential clients and build trust without feeling salesy.
By the End of This Episode You'll Know:
- Why listening is the most important skill in discovery calls.
- The key que...
In this episode of Coach Smarter, Stephen Box breaks down the power of niching down for health coaches.
He explains why having a specific niche is the difference between struggling to find clients and having a waitlist.
Stephen shares practical steps to identify and refine your niche, blend demographics with psychographics, and test your messaging to stand out in a crowded market.
If you're tired...
Are you feeling stuck in your coaching business, spinning your wheels on tasks that seem productive but don’t actually bring in clients? In this episode of Coach Smarter, Stephen Box and business coach Kay Phillips dive into the common traps that keep coaches working hard without results. From procrastination disguised as productivity to the fear of success that stops many in their tracks, this conversation will help you identify a...
There are a couple of big things happening in 2025 and today I'm giving you a behind-the-scenes peek into the changes and the reasons.
Have a question or episode suggestion? Send us a text, we'd love to hear from you!
MORE RESOURCES
- Join my weekly newsletter and get notified when new episodes drop—plus insights to help you coach smarter and grow your business. Cick Here to Join - It's Free!
Are you spending hours trying to perfect every detail of your coaching business before taking action? In this episode of Coach Smarter, Stephen Box uncovers the number one mistake new coaches make and why it’s keeping so many stuck. From choosing the perfect niche to pricing your services and deciding if you really need a website, Stephen tackles the most common questions that new coaches wrestle with—and shows you how to avoid the...
Feeling stuck in your coaching business and unsure how to move forward? Whether you’re just starting out or struggling to gain traction, there are six key skills you need to focus on to ensure long-term success. In this episode of Coach Smarter, Stephen Box reveals these essential skills, the order to prioritize them, and how to start developing each one today.
By the end of this episode, you’ll discover:
- Why technical expertise ...
Feeling overwhelmed by all the skills you need to master as a coach and entrepreneur? You’re not alone. In this episode of Coach Smarter, Stephen Box introduces the 10-80-10 Principle, a simple framework for skill-building that will completely shift how you approach growth in your business. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your expertise to the next level, this principle helps you prioritize what matters most whi...
Are you constantly chasing the next goal, striving for success, but finding it harder to stay present in the moment? As high-achieving coaches, that drive can take a toll on your energy, relationships, and overall well-being—leading straight to burnout. In this episode of Coach Smarter, Stephen Box shares a simple, science-backed practice that takes just five minutes a day but can dramatically shift your mindset and protect your en...
Successful business is all about alignment. You've heard me talk about this multiple times and today I'm leading by example.
You may have noticed that the podcast named changed from Own Your Calendar to Coach Smarter. In this short bonus episode, I explain why I changed the name and what it means going forward.
Have a question or episode suggestion? Send us a text, we'd love to hear from you!
...
The holiday season is busy—family gatherings, travel, parties—but it doesn’t mean your coaching business has to take a backseat. In this episode of Coach Smarter, Stephen Box breaks down why shutting things down completely during the holidays could cost you clients and revenue. More importantly, he shares five simple strategies to stay visible and top of mind without overwhelming yourself or missing out on holiday fun.
By the end of...
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Burden is a documentary series that takes listeners into the hidden places where justice is done (and undone). It dives deep into the lives of heroes and villains. And it focuses a spotlight on those who triumph even when the odds are against them. Season 5 - The Burden: Death & Deceit in Alliance On April Fools Day 1999, 26-year-old Yvonne Layne was found murdered in her Alliance, Ohio home. David Thorne, her ex-boyfriend and father of one of her children, was instantly a suspect. Another young man admitted to the murder, and David breathed a sigh of relief, until the confessed murderer fingered David; “He paid me to do it.” David was sentenced to life without parole. Two decades later, Pulitzer winner and podcast host, Maggie Freleng (Bone Valley Season 3: Graves County, Wrongful Conviction, Suave) launched a “live” investigation into David's conviction alongside Jason Baldwin (himself wrongfully convicted as a member of the West Memphis Three). Maggie had come to believe that the entire investigation of David was botched by the tiny local police department, or worse, covered up the real killer. Was Maggie correct? Was David’s claim of innocence credible? In Death and Deceit in Alliance, Maggie recounts the case that launched her career, and ultimately, “broke” her.” The results will shock the listener and reduce Maggie to tears and self-doubt. This is not your typical wrongful conviction story. In fact, it turns the genre on its head. It asks the question: What if our champions are foolish? Season 4 - The Burden: Get the Money and Run “Trying to murder my father, this was the thing that put me on the path.” That’s Joe Loya and that path was bank robbery. Bank, bank, bank, bank, bank. In season 4 of The Burden: Get the Money and Run, we hear from Joe who was once the most prolific bank robber in Southern California, and beyond. He used disguises, body doubles, proxies. He leaped over counters, grabbed the money and ran. Even as the FBI was closing in. It was a showdown between a daring bank robber, and a patient FBI agent. Joe was no ordinary bank robber. He was bright, articulate, charismatic, and driven by a dark rage that he summoned up at will. In seven episodes, Joe tells all: the what, the how… and the why. Including why he tried to murder his father. Season 3 - The Burden: Avenger Miriam Lewin is one of Argentina’s leading journalists today. At 19 years old, she was kidnapped off the streets of Buenos Aires for her political activism and thrown into a concentration camp. Thousands of her fellow inmates were executed, tossed alive from a cargo plane into the ocean. Miriam, along with a handful of others, will survive the camp. Then as a journalist, she will wage a decades long campaign to bring her tormentors to justice. Avenger is about one woman’s triumphant battle against unbelievable odds to survive torture, claim justice for the crimes done against her and others like her, and change the future of her country. Season 2 - The Burden: Empire on Blood Empire on Blood is set in the Bronx, NY, in the early 90s, when two young drug dealers ruled an intersection known as “The Corner on Blood.” The boss, Calvin Buari, lived large. He and a protege swore they would build an empire on blood. Then the relationship frayed and the protege accused Calvin of a double homicide which he claimed he didn’t do. But did he? Award-winning journalist Steve Fishman spent seven years to answer that question. This is the story of one man’s last chance to overturn his life sentence. He may prevail, but someone’s gotta pay. The Burden: Empire on Blood is the director’s cut of the true crime classic which reached #1 on the charts when it was first released half a dozen years ago. Season 1 - The Burden In the 1990s, Detective Louis N. Scarcella was legendary. In a city overrun by violent crime, he cracked the toughest cases and put away the worst criminals. “The Hulk” was his nickname. Then the story changed. Scarcella ran into a group of convicted murderers who all say they are innocent. They turned themselves into jailhouse-lawyers and in prison founded a lway firm. When they realized Scarcella helped put many of them away, they set their sights on taking him down. And with the help of a NY Times reporter they have a chance. For years, Scarcella insisted he did nothing wrong. But that’s all he’d say. Until we tracked Scarcella to a sauna in a Russian bathhouse, where he started to talk..and talk and talk. “The guilty have gone free,” he whispered. And then agreed to take us into the belly of the beast. Welcome to The Burden.
"SmartLess" with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, & Will Arnett is a podcast that connects and unites people from all walks of life to learn about shared experiences through thoughtful dialogue and organic hilarity. A nice surprise: in each episode of SmartLess, one of the hosts reveals his mystery guest to the other two. What ensues is a genuinely improvised and authentic conversation filled with laughter and newfound knowledge to feed the SmartLess mind. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of SmartLess ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!