How to Build Confidence with Confidence Coach Amy Christman

Emily Merrell and Lexie Smith chat with Confidence Coach and Ready Set Coach Grad Amy Christman about how to build confidence and become your own personal hype person. They break down the importance of understanding the transformation you are delivering as a coach, the common hang-up on titles, and how to stay accountable to your business goals. 

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Who is Amy Christman - learn Amy’s journey into coaching 
• Her “A-ha” I want to be a coach moment
• Amy’s best tips on how to build confidence
• Where confidence really comes from - and where it can’t be found
• The importance of not getting hung up on titles in coaching
• What’s more important than a coaching title
• Amy’s best tips on how to stay accountable to your business goals
• Takeaway homework on how to go about building confidence and staying motivated to follow through on your goals in life and business

Follow Amy on Instagram at @thefiercecollective

Learn more about working with Amy at https://the-fierce-collective.com/

Connect with Amy on LinkedIn here.

Follow Em & Lex on Instagram at @readysetcoachprogram

Learn more about the Ready Set Coach Program at Readysetcoachprogram.com

Snag 5 Numbers to Know to Launch a Coaching Business here.

Learn more about Six Degrees Society and THEPRBAR inc.

Transcript

 How to Build Confidence with Confidence Coach Amy Christman - Podcast Transcript

Emily Merrell 

Hi, Lex. Hi, Amy. Hello. i I feel very honored. I like this is I feel like we're on a three way call or something like that, like middle school days. Seriously, if you guys didn't notice there's a new voice joining us today. So first for the podcast. We have our good friend Amy Chrisman with us. And before we get into today's topic first Amy, where in the world are you? I am in Colorado Springs, Colorado and like an hour south of Emily right now. So they named it they loved Colorado so much. They named it twice. Yeah.

Lexie Smith 

You're that far for some reason.

Amy Christman 

Yeah. It's like every now like 45 minutes to an hour to get to Denver. Okay.

Emily Merrell 

And it's funny. I've never been to Colorado Springs. So we definitely are overdue for actually visiting Colorado Springs, but I've driven by Colorado Springs, and it feels so different geography, geography geographically.

Emily Merrell 

can I blame everything on Mom Brain sometimes? Geographically, like, I felt like it just felt more what I envisioned Colorado to be like driving in Colorado Springs.

Lexie Smith 

So for the northern Colorado in I don't know, but we're doing really great today. Amy told me what is Colorado Springs? Like, like, what do you do?

Amy Christman 

Um, well, the reason I love Colorado Springs is because everything in terms of like any outdoor activity you could ever imagine from rock climbing, mountain biking, to hiking, which are all things we love to do, and not really rock climbing as much, but they're all like 10 to 15 minutes away and like outs, I mean, I love to be outside and coming from Tucson. We could be outside in the winter, but not in the summer because it was just miserably high. But anytime we wanted to go on a mountain bike ride, it's like a 45 minute drive to an hour and like just having everything so close by is like, incredible. I love it. You're such a wildly inspirational athletic person that I aspire to be one day like, I feel like you could be on the poster for Colorado like live the outdoor lifestyle.

Emily Merrell 

And there's Amy with a backpack on walking sticks.

Lexie Smith 

Ambassador, I love it. So tell us a little bit. Okay, so you're very outdoorsy. Tell us tell everyone listening since we know. What's your life situation. Are you do you have children? Like what do you do for fun? Tell us about you.

Amy Christman 

Yeah, so I am married to my husband Thomas. We actually met on a fitness website. Fun fact. I did not know that. Yeah. Perfection fitness singles is what it's called. And I have met one other person actually through six degrees society who also met their husband on fitness singles, Tiffany sage swan. In their make sense. That's very fitting for her. Yeah. So but she's like the only other person I know in the world who's ever met their husband, their or partner. And we have a four year old son named Ellen and he is the best. The best kid ever. He's so funny and adventurous and silly. And like, I just love them so much. He's a lot like me, so we annoy each other. But

Amy Christman 

that's common with having kids. So yeah, and we are very outdoorsy, we love to hike. I have not yet mountain bikes since I've moved here because Owen is still learning how to ride a bike. So that's been a little bit of a challenge to get him out on a bike and like keep up because he winds a lot. That's difficult before he's time.

Amy Christman 

Yeah, I've got my four year old. Get it together. Owen, and ride that bike faster. I know. I always joke that I'm like gonna ruin physical activity for him because I'm always just whining, just keep up with me. But I love to run. So after this podcast, I'm actually going to head out for a jog and I can just run like right next to a river and see Pikes Peak in the background and it's just beauty

Emily Merrell 

that sounds fantastic. And Amy, your tell us who you are coaching wise, I know you are Coach, what kind of coach Are you?

Amy Christman 

Um, well, I am a confidence coach. And I work with people who are in transitions. Maybe they're transitioning out of a career, or they're transitioning something in their life. But essentially, I like working with people who are in that transition mode, or they want to start to transition into being an entrepreneur. And I specifically like to work with people who have a wellness focus, or a fitness focus, because that's where all of my background is in. And my body just got so burned out on physically coaching people, I decided I wanted to help people, mentally, emotionally and also physically because that physicality is still a part of what I do.

Lexie Smith 

So what's your Okay, tell us how you got to this point, right, back us up a little bit. Tell us about your backstory.

Amy Christman 

So I have spent over a year in the fitness industry for over a year over a decade, just one year when you have like a year, a decade in the fitness and wellness industry, I was I did corporate wellness for a while. And that was just like the most fun. It was such a fun job, personal training, health coaching, teaching Group X classes. And then I went on into the nutrition industry where I worked with kids teaching them how to eat better. And that was really fun as well. But it just like any industry, there's a lot of toxicity. And especially in the fitness and wellness industry, there's a lot of toxicity around diet culture, I definitely developed a lot of poor eating habits and not poor eating habits, just weird eating habits that have been really hard to sort of untangle. But I have always loved fitness. And I needed to take a break, because I just got so burned out. I was working in management at the time at a gym, like a nonprofit facility. And I just, I couldn't do it anymore. Like I was southern classes, I was also pregnant. And I my body was just like no more. And I was just really stressed out and burned out. And so I pivoted and 2019 I just kind of got out of the industry altogether. And it was like, I don't know what's next. But I'm going to take this job at another nonprofit that's entry level, and I'm just gonna figure out my life. And then boom, 2020 There comes the pandemic. And I was kind of like I need to, I want to have more purpose in my career and in my life. And I knew that I wanted to bring people together centered around some kind of movement. But I also have a lot of friends who happen to be like, really strong female business owners, and I kind of pitched this idea of doing like a virtual Hangout. And they were like, Yeah, let's do it. Let's do it. And it ended up being like a workout. And so in 2021 is when I started the fierce collective and I started hosting monthly, I call them sweat working events. And then I just started inviting people from all corners of my life to come and join these events. And it's evolved into a membership platform. So now I have about I would say like eight solid members who come and we host once a month sessions where we just get together and we do a 45 minute yoga session with some journaling and reflection on the month networking. And then we have some educational programming and we have one tonight and our host is the one and only Emily Merrill. Oh, is it okay? Is it okay if I wear this because I was like well do I even have to shower today if we're doing good. You don't have to shower this is a judgment free zone and showering is optional.

Emily Merrell 

And just for those that can't see me I'm wearing an oversized sweatshirt and my hair is wildly greasy and I haven't showered yet today and have already done my workout in walk so she still looks beautiful. Well thank you this the Zoom filters are phenomenal really well.

Emily Merrell 

But Amy seriously, I think it's I think it is phenomenal what you have created both with your coaching practice and with the fierce collective. It is wild to think that you started a community like at the cusp of the pandemic and and were able to grow up grow it in a way that you probably didn't even expect it to grow. Now in everything that's happened in my business is not what I imagined at all, but I know I never thought I would be a coach like I was I never thought I would be a coach and here I am. But I wouldn't change any of it because I've just learned so much in the last I don't know year and a half ish the here I am.

Lexie Smith 

Okay, so you have the fierce collective dot, dot dot then just like one day you wake up you want to be a coach, talk us talk to us about that little transition.

Amy Christman 

Um, I think I was kind I'm finally getting into a groove with like hosting events and feeling like I sort of knew where I wanted to take the fierce collective. And then through literally a six degrees of separation, I met Emily Merrill and started doing her six degrees events. And I talked to her a couple of times about doing some one on one coaching with her. And then ReadySet coach came along, and I attended one of your course that, like one of your very first courses or master classes, and I was like, I don't know, maybe I should be a coach. Maybe I should like, I want to like, wait, that was the moment I don't think I realized that I thought you always wanted to be a coach. Not really, I kind of think that it's sort of, I just knew that I wanted to work for myself. I knew I wanted freedom and flexibility. And I wanted, I knew I wanted to help people. But I didn't want to be a trainer anymore. I think my training days were over, it was kind of like physically and mentally exhausting. And I knew that I wanted to have an impact. And like, I get so fired up when I hear about one of my friends who's like, I want to start a, b and c and I'm like, Oh my God, you were to be perfect for that. And like you're, I'm your hype girl. I'm your cheerleader. I'm the person in your corner that's like you are you are in the ring, and you want to get out and I'm like, get back in there because I know that they're capable of it. And I just felt like I had so many friends who were like that, and I just felt like I wanted to push people to be the best that they could be. And that's how I decided to become a coach. I guess. I don't know if that was kind of like a very like roundabout answer. But when I attended your masterclass, I was like, I think I can do this. Like I think I could be a good coach. And I really initially wanted my focus to be specifically on Fit pros, because that was sort of my, my home was fitness. And like, Yes, I absolutely, if you are a fit Pro, or you want to be a fit Pro, I will 100% work with you. But I also like working with people who are in that transition of like, I'm in this crappy job. And I know that I'm meant for something more and the thought of doing it scares you. But you know, you want to do it like I'm the person who will push you out of your comfort zone. So that's kind of how I became a coach. I think it's I love I love that story.

Emily Merrell 

Because I think we all I mean, Lex says I think there's only exception to the rule where we all have our own like coming to coaching story and you came to coaching in your own unique way Lex which we share in one of our podcast episodes. But I think there's something about someone giving you permission, just do the damn thing. It's like maybe you didn't know coaching was an industry or you didn't know you were capable of it. But seeing that reframe for you in a way that would work for your lifestyle. And you're like, oh, yeah, I can do this. And so I love I love that arm. I mean, I feel very privileged Lex, I think we're very privileged that Amy literally came to one of our events and was able to have that download for herself that this was a viable career path for her like day made. I

Amy Christman 

attended the podcast now.

Lexie Smith 

I know. I know. So you bring up a point. So we've talked a lot about the evolution right of how you've come to today. And when you initially went through ReadySet. Coach to your point, you were wanting to specifically from a title standpoint, right? You wrote it on paper, be a business coach for fit pros, that it's evolved, and m&a we're talking before this and Emily, really you should you should lead us into this conversation here. But let's talk a little bit about not getting hung up on titles.

Lexie Smith 

I think the hang up on tight titles is something we see very often. You know, we've met people who struggle to get past the eye help statement, or the title and Amy, I know you you've had those hangups as well, I've had those hiccups. But if anything, it's doing the damn thing and then backing your way into titles. From a personal perspective, I think I changed my title. Oh, God, I don't even know how many times too many times to count, like, once a month. Like I'm a clarity coach. No, I'm at this coach, knowing that it's all the same bullshit, you know, like I do the same thing. It's just, it's positioned differently, or it's, it's something that a customer says our client says to me, and I'm like, oh, that that really resonated with me today. But then next week, as well. So I think there's something about for those that are listening, that are thinking about being coaches, and are overthinking what their title is or overthinking what their I help statement is just start and you will it will unfold. So, Amy as a confidence coach, and as someone who made that pivot from a, from a fitness, business coach pros, how does it feel to you about changing titles? And any advice to individuals out there who are hung up? Yeah, I mean, I think we've definitely had this conversations a lot in our coaching sessions. But

Amy Christman 

I think you do want to have that clarity for people on what it is exactly that you're offering so that your people can find you. And I think a lot of people do get stuck on that, because they just sort of get that analysis paralysis. And I know that I've been there, we've all been there.

Amy Christman 

But I think just like I think the moment for me, I think yesterday M even was like you are on get shit done person, what do you feel about like, just you're just to get shit done coach and like that lands for me. But like, maybe in a week it won't. And I find that I've been hung up on my title. But I also am just like, I want to help people be their own biggest cheerleader. And like, confidence is an inside job. It comes from within, I can't pull it out of you. And you can't pull it out as someone likes, you can't pull it has to come from within. And I think for anybody who is like thinking or straddling those two worlds of like, I want to be an entrepreneur or I want to like, I want to like take scuba diving lessons, and I just don't have the confidence. Like, just take that first step. Like no matter what it is, just take that first step, like maybe it's just finding a school in your area, like a dive school in your area who can help you learn or it's like looking up a coach and like what a coach does, or, like, just doing market research and finding out what it is that you want to sell. You know, I just was had a call with someone before who is just like, I just don't know what it is that I want to do. And I'm like, that's fine, you know, but it's like, you just need to have the confidence to take that first step to figure it out. And overwhelm is a big part of the game as well. I'm sure we were all just talking about laundry before we started recording.

Amy Christman 

I know and like laundry for it. That is the bane of my existence. But I for me personally, when I feel overwhelmed, it's usually because my house or like something in my like physical space is bothering me. And so if you are having that overwhelmed, like my number one tip for people is to accomplish one thing, whether it's putting the laundry away, whether it's just making a to do list, and like giving yourself enough grace to be like, I'm doing the best that I can. That is I think as as women as moms as people carry a lot of weight right now. It's we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to be all the things and

Amy Christman 

it's okay to not be all the things to be all the things

Lexie Smith 

I think that's such wonderful advice, and I want to pull something out of this and see if you agree. It sounds like more important than the title is really the clarity of your transformation and what you're helping your or client do? Would you say that's a fair assessment?

Lexie Smith 

I would say that's a very fair assessment is like just uncovering that clarity is huge for people when they just don't know what to do next. I think it's just taking those big pictures and pulling them down until like digestible, bite sized pieces, so that people can see and like just accomplishing that one thing. Taking that first initial step, that is like the hardest part sometimes. And so I think getting people to take that first step is it's terrifying the like, as a coach, I'm there to like, hold their hand through it. I mean, you all know, you've, you held my hand, like your times through swaying back and forth with you like, like parents.

Lexie Smith 

Or I need to out myself real quick, because this is really pertinent to what you're saying. But last night, I was watching Bachelorette, sorry, judge or don't, I'm with my friends. And there's a guy on this this season, who is a life coach, and my, none of my friends actually, unlike Amy and Emily are entrepreneurs. So like, What the hell is a life coach?

Lexie Smith 

And they're like, that is so loaded. And then I was like, actually, I'm a coach. I like I don't even they know I own businesses, but I don't think they know what I do. And I was describing to them what a life coach does and the types of transformation and they're like, Oh, my God, that's so cool. That makes so much more sense to the point of don't get stuck up on the title, people are going to feel certain ways about the title. But once you get into the transformation, that's where the AHA, anyways, I digress. I'm gonna squirrel a little bit more. But have you ever heard the saying, be as confident as a 24 year old life coach?

Emily Merrell  

Like I've seen a meme or something? Yeah, it wasn't mean but. But it's true. I have all this is digressing a little bit more. But I think about the 24 year old life coach, for example. And that 24 year old life coach probably didn't ever work corporate. And I know all of us here worked corporate at some point. And I think there's this aspect of working corporate where we were told to wait our turn, or we're told that like, Be a good girl and the promotion will come or whatnot. And bless the 24 year old life coach, they probably went straight from college into life coaching, and never were told that they couldn't do something or couldn't be something, and probably do have more confidence than all of us. But I love the meme that whenever I'm struggling, I'm like, I'm gonna channel my the confidence of a 24 year old life coach, coach. So confidence, you just gave us a really great first tip. Amy Right. taking one step is a great way to move forward to have confidence to avoid overwhelm. Do you have any more tips in terms of how to build confidence as a coach? I think my number one tip for confidence. And the I think this is because I am such a physical person is to get outside and accomplish a physical thing. Whether it's taking a walk around the block, maybe you're starting a running routine, and you're like, I'm going to jog, one block, walk one block.

Amy Christman 

Or I'm going to try this new workout. I think for me, it's just like, that physical accomplishment of getting outside. Like for me, for me, I confidence boosting is a run for me all the time. Like if I can just get outside and run for 20 minutes. I'm like, I got today Today, I'm gonna kick today's ass. But I know go ahead. Um, no, no, I was gonna say I think those little things too. It's like what you said it's just accomplishing one thing in your day is like enough to get started. And it reminds me of a motto I like to say but it's like when in motion stay in motion, where it's easier once you rip the band aid off of whatever that thing that's in your way. The consistency of it is easier once it started. But starting is usually the hardest obstacle to overcome.

Amy Christman 

Yeah, absolutely. And I think people get really intimidated, who maybe aren't physical, and they get really intimidated by like just stepping foot into a gym or worried about like, what are people going to think if they see me jogging, and then I stop. And I know that like when I was a runner in my 20s I would go on a busy road because I was like I'm less likely to stop on a busy road and less likely to stop running. If people see me stop like what are they going to think and like that's a terrible, terrible way to to think about that. But it was also like a motivational, like a weird motivational piece for me when I first started running, but like

Amy Christman 

I think my own coach Emily told me that like when you are Tate when there's a picture of you and your best friend like whose face are you going to zoom in on? Are you going to zoom in on your best Friends face, so you're going to zoom in on your face. And that's to say, most people could give two shits about if you stop on your run, nobody's judging you, you're the one who's judging yourself. And I think, as people, and as humans we are, we tend to be hard on ourselves, right. And we are the ones who are standing in our own way. So yeah, just like any, that's like, my first tip always is like, accomplish something physical, maybe it's trying a yoga class, ora bar class, like, whatever speaks to you, and then find something you like, and then stick with it. Because that will continue to build your confidence and that consistency, evidence. So good, we're gonna ask you and put you on the spot to give everyone homework in a minute here. But before that, I want you to tell everyone listening. You know, if they're resonating with what you're saying, if they're vibin? How can they work with you? What would be that next step to explore your services? Yeah, so they can check out my website, that dash fears dash collective.com. And from there, they can book a connection call with me. And we can just take 30 to 45 minutes to talk about that transition that they're looking for. Or maybe they don't know. And they just want to like some help uncovering that. That's how they can get in touch with me. I'm also on Instagram at the fierce collective. And I'm on LinkedIn as well, you can find me under Amy Chrisman.

Emily Merrell 

 Yeah, I think I also just want to I want to applaud Amy, she is one of the most super connected humans I know and also very generous with connections. She is definitely if you decide to work with her one of those people that is in your corner and is thinking about your problem and the solution to your problem, even when you aren't. So that means connecting you with the right people and making sure you're supported by the right people or organizations. And I think it's a gift that you have Amias that you really, really really you go above and beyond marbling, for your clients, for your friends, you really are one of the most generous humans I've ever met. truly fun got

Lexie Smith 

done while having fun. It doesn't always have to be so serious for to have serious moments within. But I think that's important too. If you listen to this podcast, you're too turned off by fun.

Amy Christman 

Never never turned off by fun sessions or while you're running.

Emily Merrell 

Do you think there is something to be said about? I just want to point out one thing that you said that was so spot on that that accountability of some sort. So like you mentioned, you're running and running on the road and not being as likely to stop because of what the perceived perception of people. And I think it's very similar to starting a business for those that are starting a business. I've seen it happen two ways where people like hoard it, and they they feel like they are keeping a secret and they tell someone they're gonna steal the idea. And then there's the other side of of starting the business where you shout it from the rooftop and tell the world about it. And in a way that holds you more accountable because people are going to ask you like, what's the deal with your business versus you keeping it secret? So if you want to start a business rather than hoarding it and keeping it to yourself and journaling about it incessantly find a place to put it out there. It could be LinkedIn, it could be a friend that you know is that naggy friend who's gonna keep asking you like how's the business going? What's going on with the business and gives you that accountability? And if you're really serious, hire a coach, because they will kick you in the took us in the way that you need to be like, yes, let's add that to Urban Dictionary. No, it's a nice Yiddish word.

Lexie Smith 

I like it. Okay, so Amy every at the end of every episode, Emily and I like to give homework kind of relevant to all the museums that we chatted on about what is one homework that you would like to offer our listeners today. And it can be themed around obviously just getting shit done and building confidence.

Amy Christman 

Hmm my homework for anybody who's listening is that idea that you have or that thing you want to do? Tell somebody and they will keep you accountable. Tell your best friend telling your I don't know my mom's not very good at keeping me accountable. Sorry, Mom, if you're listening I love my mom to death. But tell tell somebody like a good friend who you know is gonna give you like that candid advice that you're looking for. And have them help you stay accountable for whatever it is

Amy Christman 

I think that's a, that's a huge thing I didn't, I talked about it with people, but I never told people like what exactly I had in mind. I was always like, I just want to work for myself. And it wasn't until I finally like started fleshing out ideas and telling people is when I finally was like, Okay, I think I can do this. So and they would hold me accountable to.

Emily Merrell 

Yeah, I think the more people you tell it, the easier it is to refine your idea and practice articulating what it is that is in your brain, what is it that you want to help people with? And what the last thing that I'll add to is, the more you tell people, those people are your super connectors, those are your ambassador that ambassadors, they're individuals that can work on your behalf until their networks, or I've had so many, I'm sure you've had this, Amy. And I'm sure you've had this Lexie where like me tell one person and before you know it, you're getting like an influx of intros to people that they think would be a good connection for you because they too are entrepreneurs. Are they too? Yeah, fill in the blank problem. Super, super powerful word of mouth. I think that's fantastic. Homework,

Lexie Smith 

Amy, Emily, and I want to thank you so much for being our first first tripod guest on the show you guys, everyone listening. I have bonus homework for you. Please, please, please reach out to Amy. Tell her that you listen to the show that you what you learned. Send her a note connect with her. We're going to include all her links in the show notes. If you want to quick tap that. But reach out to her.

Lexie Smith 

Tell her how your homework is going. Tell us to slide into our DMS.

Emily Merrell 

But yeah, anything else ladies before we wrap this up? No, I think this is start running. Start a busy road on a busy road. Not across the road. But we see please easily read on the sidewalk on the sidewalk. I just want to say thank you. I feel so honored to be on this podcast. And always it's an honor to know both of you. And I think our very first connection call with both of you. I just remember saying I felt like there was an angel and a devil on my shoulder. One person like saying the positives and one person or one person's like do this one person's like do that. And I think you both just make like a really magical combination. So if you're thinking about joining Ready, set, coach, tell a friend and then slide into their DMS and sign up.

Amy Christman 

It's worth it. I learned so much.

Emily Merrell 

I'm sorry, who's the angel and who's literally what I was gonna just ask him for a friend curious

Amy Christman 

I tihnk Lexie's the angel. Emily's the devil. 

Amy Christman 

Emily's the dreamer, the one that's like

Amy Christman 

oh like big picture stuff. And then Lexi's like the logistical like doer. Yeah, the AB the execution. And I think it's a really really great combination for Ready Set coach because you get the best of both worlds. Oh, thank you. And I think that's going to be our Halloween costume. Lex is we're going to do angels and devils. Perfect timing. Well, Amy, we're so excited to see you shortly in person in Colorado. And thank you again so much for being on our podcast and sharing your wisdom with us. As always, you were just like a constant rock. You were just such a solid human being. And we're so grateful to have you in our court. Thank you so much. Yeah, I'm ready. Set coach hype girl,

Lexie Smith 

the hype girl for life. So guys, thank you so much for listening again. Don't forget your homework. And until next time, we'll see you on Ready Set coach the podcast.