Today, I want to come clean.
Not with guilt.
But with honesty.
I have a confession.
After 14 years of business coaching and over 40 years in the business world, I’ve learned a lot. I’ve gained valuable skills by logging my 10,000 hours in my industry of being the best I can be. I’ve gained tremendous wisdom. I’ve been in the trenches myself, with owners, executives, teams, and leaders at every stage of growth. I’ve earned my stripes.
And over the years of this growth, I have finally realized and accepted the fact that –
Some of my clients are smarter than I.
More successful than I.
More educated than I.
Have acquired more wealth than I.
Run bigger companies or carry flashier titles.
However, that simply does not matter.
I’m there to coach, and I am really good at it.
Success Looks Different When You Know Who You Are
In the early days, I dealt with imposter syndrome just like anyone else.
I wondered:
“Who am I to challenge this person?”
“What if I don’t have all the answers?”
“What if they realize I’m still figuring some of this out myself?”
But over time, with repetition and results, those voices quieted down.
Because I stayed in my lane.
I didn’t try to be the smartest person in the room.
I focused on being the clearest.
The most grounded.
The one asking the question no one else had the courage to ask.
That’s what coaching is.
Not impressing.
But revealing.
Not knowing it all.
But knowing how to help others access more of what they already have.
You Do Not Need to Be the Star to Make a Difference
Here’s the truth:
Some of the best players in the world are not great coaches.
And some of the best coaches never had the stats to match their students.
You don’t need to be a better player than your client.
You just need to be someone who can make them better. Period.
I’ve coached business owners and leaders who run companies anywhere from 1 million to a 100 million. Had anywhere from 10 to 1000 employees.
Here’s the thing. It doesn’t matter who or how big and successful they are.
They still need someone to challenge them.
They still need clarity.
They still need perspective.
They still need strategy.
That’s where I come in.
That’s where every great coach comes in.
And that’s what makes this work so powerful.
Every Leader Has Blind Spots
No matter how successful someone is, they still need a mirror.
They still need someone who will ask the questions that no one else is willing to ask.
Say the things that no one else is willing to say.
Leadership is sometimes lonely.
Growth is blinding.
And nobody sees the full picture when they are in the middle of it.
That’s why I coach.
That’s why this work matters.
When you find someone who can hold space, bring clarity, and challenge your assumptions—you grow faster. And more importantly, you grow stronger.
You Belong in the Room
If you’re a coach, consultant, or leader who sometimes feels the weight of comparison, I’ll tell you this:
You do not need to know more than everyone.
You just need to be excellent at what you do.
You belong in the room when:
- You ask better questions
- You bring a steady presence
- You lead with intention
- You put the focus on their growth, not your ego
Comparison kills momentum.
Confidence creates results.
So, stay in your lane.
Build your craft.
And serve well.
Final Thoughts
I love what I do.
I love helping people grow.
And I love knowing that my value is not tied to their title.
The measure of a coach is not in the spotlight.
It is in the breakthroughs.
If you are chasing your 10,000 hours—keep going.
If you are wrestling with self-doubt—do not back down.
If you feel outmatched sometimes—good. That means you are growing.
Stay in your lane.
Master your lane.
And keep showing up with confidence.
I’m finally now very comfortable in my own skin.
I know now that some of my clients I’m working with are smarter, more successful, more educated, and are wealthier than I am or ever will be.
However, that’s okay.
Because, I’m there to coach, and I am really good at it.
Because when you coach from the heart, you never need to compare.
COACH MICHAEL DILL is an Award-Winning Certified Business Coach, global speaker, and published author. He is a proud ActionCOACH Franchise Partner as well as the President of Power & Ice Wealth Creation, a strategic leadership company that works with business owners, leaders, teams, and entrepreneurs to build systematized, structured organizations while accelerating mindset, efficiency, and effectiveness to achieve extraordinary results.
BusinessCoachMichaelDill.com