How to Find the Right Performance Coach in Los Angeles (Without Wasting Your Time or Money)

There are a lot of coaches in Los Angeles. A LOT.

Life coaches, business coaches, mindset coaches, abundance coaches, chakra alignment coaches...hell, there are even coaches coaching coaches on how to coach coaches.

So how to do you know if someone is legit or not? Let's get into it.

First, Let's Talk About What Coaching Is NOT

Coaching is not therapy.

I have the utmost respect for therapists, because therapy is incredible and if you need it, go get it. Therapists have degrees. They are trained, licensed, and qualified to go deep into your history and help you heal.

If you find someone who wants to dive deep into your past, unpack your childhood wounds, and rewire your trauma, and they do not have a clinical license, get the hell away from them. Trust me, there will be a Netflix documentary about them in about eight years.

A good performance coach doesn't let you sit in your story. We love your story, but we're not going to let you use it as an excuse.

Some people actually do want a coach who is going to light a scented candle, hit the gong, and spray some lavender in the air. If that works for you, genuinely, awesome. Different things work for different people.

But I'm talking to the people who feel a real stir inside them to achieve something bigger. People who are tired of spinning their wheels. People who want to be pushed, want to get the absolute most out of themselves, but also need to know that the person in their corner has actually walked the walk ... not just completed a certification over a weekend retreat.

Which leads me to a quick point ... this photo means nothing. I worked on Tony Robbins's TV show for about five minutes, only met him long enough to shake his hand and realize how enormous the man actually is. Then I got free tickets to one of his events in Los Angeles, went, stood in a line for ten minutes, took this photo in about seven seconds, and we went our separate ways.

These "photo opportunity" moments do not legitimize anyone as a coach. If someone is trying to sell you on their credibility by standing next to famous people, be suspicious. Don't fall for the old "proximity is power" trick... but coaches and gurus love it!

What You SHOULD Look For in a Performance Coach

1. Someone who will tell you the hard and honest truth.

A lot of coaches are in the business of making you feel good. They nod, they validate, they send you off with an affirmation and a high five.

That's not what you need.

You need someone who will look you dead in the eye and say, "Here's where you're getting in your own way." Someone who is going to push you, encourage you, and not let you keep settling for what you've been settling for.

If this were fitness, it would be the coach who pushes you at 27 push-ups and make sure you get to 30...not let you finish at 25.

Find a coach who isn't afraid to make you uncomfortable.

2. Someone with a real process and strategy | not just vibes.

Ask any coach you're considering: "What does your coaching process actually look like?" If they can't answer that clearly and specifically, keep moving.

A strong coaching process is built on concrete pillars: strategy, accountability, results. Every client should go through a real assessment of where they are, where they want to be, and what has been stopping them. Then you build a plan. Then you execute it. Then you measure it.

3. Someone who sees YOU and YOUR unique situation, not just follows a blind template.

The worst coaching programs treat every client the same. You get the same workbook, the same homework, the same generic advice handed to the real estate agent, the doctor, and the musician all in the same week.

A great coach is genuinely curious about what makes you tick — your specific strengths, your blind spots, your particular way of being motivated. One tool I highly recommend for anyone doing this kind of self-discovery work is StrengthsFinder (now called CliftonStrengths through Gallup). It's one of the most practical, well-researched tools available for understanding how you naturally think, execute, and relate to the world. Before you hire a coach — or even as a first conversation starter with one — take the assessment. Know what you're working with.

A coach worth their rate will be fluent in this kind of individualized approach and will build your work around who you actually are.

4. Someone who has walked the walk.

Now this might surprise you: your coach doesn't need to come from your industry. In fact, you may know your industry far better than they do, and that's completely fine. A great coach isn't there to out-expert you in real estate, medicine, entertainment, or whatever world you operate in.

What they need to understand is people. Pressure. How to get the best out of someone who is already good at what they do. They should have been through real challenges — built something, lost something, navigated failure, and come out the other side with genuine perspective. Not someone who read about high performance in a book and decided to start charging for advice.

The best coaches don't tell you what to do. They provoke the insight that's already inside you. The answers are usually there, buried under fear, habit, ego, or just the noise of everyday life. A great coach's job is to help you find them.

Provoke insight. Not provide it.

Ask any coach you're considering: "What has been the hardest season of your life, and what did you do about it?" The answer will tell you a lot.

I'll share one of mine. I've been sober for over 18 years. That kind of commitment — showing up every single day, no matter what — is the same consistency I bring to every client relationship.

Coaching isn't something I do when I feel inspired. It's something I show up for because I made a commitment to the people I work with. That consistency and dedication to being of service to others matters.

The Question You Should Ask Before You Hire Anyone

Here it is: "What happens if I don't follow through?"

A coach's answer to that question tells you everything. If they say something soft like, "Well, we just revisit your goals and recalibrate..." Nah bro, that ain't it.

The right answer involves real accountability. Not the kind where your coach sends you a sweet check-in email on Thursdays. The kind where someone is going to call you out, directly and respectfully, when you're not doing what you said you were going to do.

That's what separates performance coaching from a motivational podcast you listen to on your commute and forget about by the time you park.

Ready to Have a Real Conversation?

I work with driven people who give a damn! They care about their work, about the people they serve, and about leaving something behind that actually matters. Doctors, entrepreneurs, creatives, executives, teachers ... from here in Los Angeles to all over the country. If you're ready to stop postponing your goals and start executing, let's talk.

No obligation. No pitch. Just a real conversation to find out if we're a good fit.

[Schedule your free consultation here.]

Phillip Barbb

Executive Performance Coach