The Coaching Industry, The 1% & The Bubble of Privilege

Are we changing the world, or simply perpetuating wealth disparity?

A change from my usual content style up until this point, I know.

But this topic has been ruminating in my mind for some time…

And after having a poignant conversation with a colleague and fellow female entrepreneur also deeply committed to the spiritual path, who shared the same thoughts… I felt this was the right platform to speak on this.

First, Context.

When I started my coaching business at the beginning of 2020, and experienced quick financial success through the pandemic, I rejoiced.

I truly felt I was making a difference.

I was helping other spiritual, heart-led entrepreneurs, coaches, artists and healers grow their businesses and serve their clients.

I felt my impact was making ripples. I serve the coaches and healers, who in turn serve their clients.

But by 2021, something started to shift.

I noticed that most of my clients who were also coaches, started working with coaches also.

It became this cycle of coaches coaching coaches coaching coaches.

Now not all my clients at the time were coaches.

Some were composers and artists, some were leadership experts working in corporate spaces, some were therapists and healers. (Today most of my clients are multi-disciplinary business owners who do multiple things and serve in multiple ways.)

Even still, I couldn’t help but feel like my ability to make an impact through my coaching was limited to the 1%.

In my attempt to build a business earning 6-figures+ in revenue annually, I cultivated an environment where I was only surrounded by people who were financially successful. This was especially true online.

My social media feeds were full of entrepreneurs earning $10k, $20k, $50k, even $100k+ per month.

I was surrounded by millionaires both on and offline.

I purposefully put myself in programs, masterminds, and spaces where I was surrounded by people earning more than me, with the belief that I would ‘calibrate’ to their level and learn about wealth through observation.

By the end of 2021 I started to experience some real big financial stagnation in my business. My income was hovering around the same mark monthly despite my attempts at growth and large investments in programs that promised financial returns… programs that only those who had large financial resources could afford.

At the same time I also observed many women, in an attempt to start their business and achieve the glamorous lifestyle of 6, multi 6 and 7 figure businesses whilst thinking they could work 10-20 hours per week, throw money they didn’t have at these high-ticket programs that promised the world, in the meantime going deeper and deeper into debt.

Now I am all for personal responsibility. And I do believe it is up to each and everyone of us to vet our investments and be smart with how we spend our money.

And yet, I couldn’t help but feel like I was part of a world where we were only interested in serving the 1%, and quickly becoming more and more disconnected from the reality of the rest of humanity…

A world that was quickly becoming more and more inaccessible by the day, as more coaches jumped on the bandwagon of charging ‘high-ticket’ with the promise of offering the world in return.

Was their talk of philanthropy in these circles? Absolutely. And I will say that many of the wealthiest in these circles I do know to be generous, genuine and heart-led.

There was the mission of ‘big wealth in the hands of good people’ which I felt resonant with…

And yet the topic of philanthropy always seemed to come second to the designer bags, the private jets, the luxury lifestyle.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with buying a designer bag if you want it.

And yet there’s plenty of people who have become convinced they need more and more of these things. As though ‘luxury’ items somehow represent the gold standard of success… when in actuality it probably won’t make a real difference to their life.

Recently I saw a post in a well known Facebook Group for female entrepreneurs, about the topic of investing and financial literacy, and how this isn’t a common conversation for many women. The woman who wrote this post (who is someone who teaches investing and financial literacy) shared how there’s a lot of content on the internet about how to ‘earn’ more money, but not a lot on how to ‘invest’ it so you begin to build real wealth.

As I read the comments on this post, many of the women shared things like “What makes you think this isn’t a common conversation?” and “This is a common point of conversation in my world”.

As I read these comments, I felt a pit in my stomach. I know the women commenting meant well, and many had themselves come from destitute situations and had catapulted themselves from an existence of survival to absolutely thriving.

Still I wanted to shake them and shout “You do realise the ‘world’ that you exist in is a tiny bubble that constitutes the 1% of wealthiest and most privileged in the world, right? The majority of people outside of these circles aren’t having these conversations. Especially women who have become so used to their money being managed by the man of the house.”

I, too, have been at tables where investing and building wealth is normal conversation. I started attended seminars on financial literacy when I was 21 years old.

But as I sit here, having recently immigrated with my husband back to Canada after living in Australia for 8 years, living at my parents house rent-free while my husband and I save every penny we earn for my continued education in Theology & Psycho-spiritual therapy, and (hopefully) a deposit for our own home in Toronto…

I feel a responsibility to do more than simply serve at exorbitant prices that only the other 1% can afford.

“Do you realise you’re part of the 1% wealthiest most privileged pocket of humanity? How does that make you feel?”

I was having dinner with my parents and their friends, all of whom are educated, successful professionals and business owners, when one of our dinner guests asked me this.

I really had to think about it before I answered.

The truth is; Yes, I do realise I am part of this pocket. Thanks to the generations before me that put in the hard work. In 3 generations my lineage went from poverty to wealth.

And how does it make me feel? I don’t feel guilty about this privilege, which I know many people do when they stop to think about it… it does make me feel like I have a responsibility. An obligation to help move humanity forward. Since my time and energy is not needing to be spent on sheer survival, which is the situation for most people, and what my parents and grandparents had to focus on for much of their life, it means I am freed up to focus on innovation and using my gifts to ultimately serve God, in whatever way he is asking it of me.

Everyone has a role in society.

There is a place for people to serve the 1%.

I am part of a business mastermind right now, and all of my mastermind sisters are entrepreneurs like me who are doing good work in the world. If it wasn’t for our mastermind coach serving people like us, we wouldn’t be there. (And goodness it’s been helpful as I’ve been transitioning from full time entrepreneur to soon-to-be full time student.)

But I personally want to be part of a bigger conversation, and a bigger solution.

One that is available for all humans that want to be a part of it, regardless of wealth class, race, culture or faith.

This is part of the premise of The Modern Mystic.

It is a space for every seeker, at any stage of their spiritual journey.

I truly believe, God is the solution to many of the challenges we face in society today. The more we open our hearts to God, the more we will naturally be driven to create a world that works for everyone - humans and otherwise.

The only requirement for this space, is to be open to other faiths, to be open to learning, to be open to discussion.

A narrow view on spirituality won’t bode well here, not because it’s ‘wrong’, but simply because someone with a narrow view on faith or spirituality probably won’t resonate with what I share here, as I explore the intersection of many religions, approaches to faith and healing, and look at our practical human struggles from a spiritual view point.

And contrary to my private mentorship offers, this space is much more accessible.

Last week I turned on the ‘paid’ tier. Moving forward the paid subscription will include access to the podcast and audio versions of longer teaching pieces, monthly live spiritual practice & Q&A, and whatever I choose to add to it as this project evolves, all available at $8 per month (or cheaper if you elect for the annual option.)

A lot of content I will also make accessible to the free tier, because it feels important for me right now to offer that.

Whatever money I do earn from the paid subscription will be put towards my continued education, as a Masters student of Theology & Psycho-Spiritual Therapy, which will help me move forward with the TMM vision of elevating global consciousness by making spiritual wisdom practical & accessible for the contemporary seeker.

If you feel called to contribute to this little corner on the internet through a paid subscription, I will be incredibly grateful. But I am equally grateful for free subscribers, and anyone who engages with me in this space.

The monthly discussions I will continue having with incredible guests hailing from various spiritual backgrounds & traditions will remain free.

It’s time the ‘1%ers’ come back to service as a main focus.

After all, service is the Christian way, and the way of Christ is the one I’ll be exploring in more depth through my studies in Theology.

So now, as I learn what it means to walk with Christ, alongside my other teachers…

It’s time for me to embrace service in a way I haven’t done before.

Who’s with me?