The Truth About Online Coaches, Gurus, and Why Most of Them Are Full of Shit
NEW SUNDAY RANT - I GET SOME SHIT OFF MY CHEST...
Disclaimer:
Before we dive in, let me make one thing clear—this isn’t about getting your business or convincing you to work with me. This is more of a public service announcement. I’ve spent over 20 years coaching in specialized areas, and I’ve seen the damage caused by fake coaches, gurus, and overhyped online personalities firsthand. I see it every time my damn algorithm kicks in on social media. This post isn’t about promoting myself; it’s about helping you avoid getting scammed, burned, or worse—completely misled by people who have no business calling themselves coaches. Take it for what it’s worth—a reality check from someone who’s been in the trenches, seen the good, the bad, and the truly ridiculous.
Let’s talk about the online coaching world: a cesspool of self-proclaimed experts yelling at you on Instagram, shirtless, screaming about “leveling up,” crushing your goals, and “proving your haters wrong.” You know the type. They sell you a course for $4999 (a limited-time offer, of course!) that promises to change your life. They don't let you off a call without asking for your cc details 15 times... EWE... And let’s not forget the Amazon sales “coaches” and guys who coach other coaches on how to coach coaches. It’s like a pyramid scheme had a baby with a self-help audiobook—and that baby is just as insufferable as it sounds.
Let me be clear: most of these so-called "coaches" are full of shit.
They Have No Experience
Here’s the reality: calling yourself a coach doesn’t make you a coach. It's like me calling myself a gymnast lol... You can slap "coach" in your Instagram bio, but if you don’t have the experience to back it up, you’re just a snake-oil salesman with a Wi-Fi connection. Most of these people haven’t worked a day in the trenches. They haven’t coached a team, built an actual successful business, or helped anyone but themselves.
I’ve been in this game for over 20 years. I've made every mistake you can make and have learned so much the right and wrong way. I’m a Certified Mental Performance Consultant, Certified Recovery Coach, and Certified Professional Coach. I’ve played at the highest levels of baseball. I’ve been a Professional All-Star, a College World Series Champion, and a member of the Canadian National Team. I’ve managed, coached, scouted, worked under some of the greatest coaches around (and some of the worst) and have built programs and teams from scratch. I don’t say this to flex—I say it to highlight the difference between experience and someone who spent 10 minutes on ChatGPT whipping up a course.
Stay In Your Lane
Most of these so-called experts have no idea how to stay in their lane. Just because you’ve stopped drinking doesn’t make you a recovery coach. Sobriety is commendable, but recovery coaching is about so much more than just being sober—it’s about guiding someone through their struggles, helping them rebuild their life, and providing a framework for long-term success.
Similarly, just because you’ve sold a lot of real estate doesn’t make you a real estate coach. Selling houses and coaching others to do it are two completely different skill sets. Coaching is about teaching, mentoring, and understanding the psychology behind performance. It’s not about slapping together a course full of recycled advice.
Specialization matters. If you’re going to coach, do it in an area where you have real expertise. The best coaches don’t dabble in different industries or jump on the latest trend. They focus on what they know, what they’ve lived, and what they’ve mastered.
The Best Coaches Never Stop Learning
Here’s a key difference between the fakes and the real ones: the best coaches are learning as much as they’re coaching. They invest in their own education. They take pride in it.
Real coaches have their own coaches and mentors. They’re constantly refining their craft, reading, studying, and pushing themselves to grow. They don’t pretend to know it all because they understand that the moment you stop learning, you stop being effective.
This is where the pretenders fall short. The fake gurus spend more time selling their image than improving their knowledge. They’re too busy filming Instagram videos in rented Lamborghinis or someone else's house or office to take a course, attend a workshop, or get feedback on their methods. Meanwhile, the best coaches are in the gym, on the field, or in the office, working to become better at what they do.
Being a great coach isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about having the humility to know you don’t—and the hunger to find them.
They Rip You Off
A good coach doesn’t need to oversell. The best ones are too busy coaching to spend their time hyping themselves up online. They’re not out there yelling at you or selling you the dream. They’re doing the work. They’re in the trenches, helping people one-on-one, delivering results—not promises.
Most online gurus? They take your money, disappear, and leave you with a generic PDF full of advice they didn't create that you could’ve Googled for free. If you’re lucky, they’ll host a Zoom call to upsell you on their next overpriced program.
The Ponzi Scheme of Coaching Coaches
Let’s talk about the ridiculous trend of coaches coaching coaches to coach coaches. It’s a literal Ponzi scheme. It’s not about helping people; it’s about creating a never-ending loop of gullible people buying into the illusion of success. It’s like they all sat down and said, “You know what would be fun? Charging desperate people thousands of dollars for recycled content and a pep talk.”
If you think I’m exaggerating, ask yourself this: how many of these “coaches” are actually doing what they preach? How many Amazon sales gurus are still selling on Amazon? How many life coaches are living the balanced, fulfilling life they preach about?
Selling a Dream That Doesn’t Exist: Victoria, BC’s Baseball World
Let me shift gears for a second and talk about something that’s happening right under our noses. The high-performance youth coaching scene—especially in Victoria, BC—is an absolute disaster. In a world where we should be nurturing young athletes, we’ve got a situation that’s barely functional, and for many, it’s actually doing more harm than good.
Most of the so-called “coaches” in this town aren’t here to develop players—they’re here to stroke their own egos. They’re not interested in the long-term growth of the kids; instead, they’re coaching because it gives them a sense of power and importance. These are the coaches who will talk a big game about discipline and accountability but can’t seem to hold themselves to any of those standards. They’ll preach about dedication but will turn a blind eye to the gaps in their own preparation and behavior. They love the spotlight but shy away from the responsibility.
It gets worse when they make promises they can’t keep. They’ll sell parents and kids on visions of big-time success, promising scholarships, pro careers, and endless opportunities—yet they don’t have the resources or the skills to deliver. The result? Kids get their hopes up, their confidence boosted in all the wrong ways, and they end up nowhere. These “coaches” throw empty promises around like confetti, and when things don’t pan out, they’re nowhere to be found. The athletes? They’re left holding the bag with crushed expectations and bad habits they’ve learned from the people who should have been helping them grow.
And then there are the parents—well-meaning, hopeful, and desperate to see their kids succeed. Scared and uneducated about what real development looks like, they buy into the charade. They see the shiny words, the fancy talks, and the glowing social media posts, and they think, this is it. But all they’re buying is a dream that doesn’t exist. The cycle continues because they don’t know what they don’t know.
At the end of the day, these bad coaches are leaving kids with nothing but bad habits and a skewed perception of what it takes to succeed. Accountability? They have none. Skill development? Almost non-existent. Real coaching? Rarely seen. So, what do we end up with? A bunch of athletes who haven’t been taught to own their mistakes, accept feedback, or understand what true commitment looks like. Instead of improving, they’re spinning their wheels—frustrated and uninspired.
If you want your kids to thrive, it’s time to stop buying into the easy promises and start demanding real results from the people you trust to teach your children. It’s not about the trophies or the flashy promises; it’s about honest development, teaching them to hold themselves accountable, and building the foundation that will help them become the best version of themselves—on and off the field.
How to Spot the Real Coaches
So, how do you avoid getting scammed? Simple:
Do Your Homework – Look for accreditation, experience, and proof of results. If a coach can’t show you their work or give you references, run.
Don’t Overpay – Good coaches aren’t about the quick money. They’re about the work. If someone’s charging you thousands for a cookie-cutter course, they’re not worth it.
Avoid the Hype – If a coach is yelling at you, talking about haters, or flexing their lifestyle more than their expertise, unfollow them.
Check Their Credentials – Certifications don’t mean everything, but they do mean something. Look for coaches with legitimate qualifications and a track record of success.
Final Thoughts
Let's be crystal clear.... I’m not bitter. I’m just tired of seeing good people get ripped off by fake gurus and coaches. I’ve worked with too many athletes and clients who’ve been burned by these clowns, and it pisses me off. Coaching is about helping people—not building your brand or making a quick buck. I'm also NOT worried about these types of coaches reading this and getting mad because I can assure they don't read.
So, if you’re looking for a coach, be smart. Find someone who’s walked the walk, not just talked the talk. And if you’re following a shirtless dude screaming at his iPhone about leveling up, do yourself a favor and hit that unfollow button.
You deserve better.
