That “book a free call” button shouldn’t feel scary. But it often does — and I think it’s worth talking about why.
Before I became a coach myself, I felt the same way. The phrase “discovery call” made me think of funnels, pressure, and politely trying to escape a sales pitch. I was wrong — but I understand why the hesitation is there. And it’s exactly why I wanted to dedicate an episode to this.
So let’s start with what a discovery call is not.
It’s not a sales pitch. I’m not trying to convince you of anything in that 30 minutes. It’s almost the opposite — it’s an honest conversation where we both get to figure out whether working together makes sense. It’s not a test you can fail. I’m not evaluating your business knowledge, your creativity, or how far along you are. And it’s not a therapy session — coaching and therapy are genuinely different things, and I think that distinction is worth understanding.
Coaching focuses on the present and what you want to build. We move forward together, joyfully, in small steps. We don’t dig into the past or work through trauma — that’s not what coaching is for, and it’s not what I’m trained to do. What I am trained to do is hold space for all the real, messy, complicated emotions that come up when you’re building something. There’s a difference between having space for feelings and doing trauma work. In our sessions — including a discovery call — you can be fully human. You’re just not going in for surgery.
It’s also not a free coaching session (those are 60 to 90 minutes for a reason), and it’s not an obligation. You won’t leave owing me anything.
So what is it? It’s a real 30-minute conversation with no fixed agenda beyond figuring out where you are. I’ll ask questions — the kind of questions a coach asks — and we’ll figure out together what you might need, whether that’s coaching, something else, or simply a clearer picture of where you’re standing. You’ll always leave with something useful. And the key question I come back to in some form is this: are you in building mode or survival mode right now? Because that matters. If you’re in the thick of something that really needs therapeutic support, I’ll say so — honestly and without judgment.
Who is this for? Anyone who’s curious. You have something — a practice, a craft, a business idea — and you’re not sure what your next step is. You’ve been wondering about coaching but don’t really know what it does. You’re ready to explore but not ready to commit. That’s fine. That’s exactly what this is for.
How do you prepare? You don’t. I know what questions to ask. Just show up — literally, that’s the one thing I ask. I hold time in my calendar for these calls, and I’d love to use it well.
Book the discovery call HERE. If you’re not sure it’s the right moment, that’s usually a sign it is.
5 Key Takeaways
- A discovery call is not a sales pitch — it’s a two-way conversation to see if working together makes sense, for both of you.
- Coaching and therapy are different: coaching is present-focused, forward-moving, and joyful — there’s space for real emotions, but it’s not trauma work.
- The key question in any discovery call: are you in building mode or survival mode? Your answer shapes what kind of support will actually help.
- You will always leave a discovery call with something useful — even if you decide coaching isn’t right for you right now.
- You don’t need to prepare anything. Just show up — that’s genuinely all that’s asked.
