Why Some Clients Make You Love Coaching... and Others Make You Want to Quit

ELF vs HALF Clients

Let me share with you something I've learned after years of working with everyone from elite athletes to weekend warriors and busy executives trying to get their health back on track.

Not all clients are created equal.

If you've ever found yourself dreading a check-in, rewriting emails three times to "soften the tone," or questioning your career choice after a brutal session, you've got a HALF client situation.

The ELF Client: Easy Lucrative Fun

These are your unicorns. The reason you fell in love with coaching in the first place.

Working with ELF clients feels like you're operating in your zone of genius. You finish sessions energized, not depleted. They're not just good for your revenue - they're good for your soul as a practitioner.

What makes them special:

• They're aligned with your values and approach

• They follow through on what you give them

• They pay your rates without negotiating

• They communicate clearly and respect boundaries

• They get results and give you credit for guiding the process

Right now, 36 out of my 40 clients are ELF clients. That didn't happen by accident. It happened because I charge premium rates, communicate expectations clearly from day one, maintain consistent touchpoints, and keep my clients highly engaged in their process.

The HALF Client: Hard Annoying Lame Frustrating

These clients are energy vampires. They consume 80% of your mental bandwidth while delivering 20% of the impact.

The warning signs:

• They question everything instead of trusting your expertise

• They're always price shopping or asking for discounts

• They ghost sessions, ignore feedback, or make excuses

• They create drama that shouldn't be your problem to solve

• They don't get results... and somehow that's your fault

I've got 4 HALF clients right now, and I'm actively working to zero that out. Not by firing them necessarily, but by changing the environment and raising standards.

What I've Learned About Getting More ELF Clients

You don't attract ELF clients by running generic marketing or discounting your services. You don't get them by lowering standards or letting desperation drive your lead generation.

You get them by being unapologetically you. By communicating your values in your content. By speaking directly to the 10% who are ready and willing to invest properly, while ignoring the 90% who are hunting for quick fixes.

I don't run challenges, flash sales, or high-pressure funnels because I don't want clients who need to be tricked into working with me. I want partnerships, not transactions.

The Bottom Line

Some HALF clients can become ELF clients if you create the right environment with clear systems and boundaries. But not all will transform, and that's fine.

You're not here to save everyone. You're here to do exceptional work with people who value exceptional guidance.

Keep Raising the Bar,

Paul Oneid MS, MS, CSCS