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Hey ladies! Today, we’re diving into a topic that doesn’t get enough airtime in our Christian coaching circles—what happens when a client or an industry peer does you wrong. As Christian online business owners, our character is constantly being tested, and these moments often come with emotional, spiritual, and professional challenges.
I’ve faced this firsthand, and I’m here to share how I’ve navigated these trials so you can feel equipped when the inevitable happens. Let’s dig into some real talk about boundaries, justice, and grace in business.
The Hard Truth About Christian Coaching and Character Tests
Many of us enter the Christian coaching industry with the hope that our community will reflect our shared values—integrity, respect, and grace. But as your business grows, you’ll encounter people who test those values, whether they’re clients, peers, or even team members. And let me tell you, being a peacemaker in these moments can hurt.
We all love the idea of being the ideal Christian woman—gentle, conflict-free, and always forgiving. But what happens when someone crosses the line? As I’ve learned, peacemaking often involves taking hard, necessary steps that don’t always feel peaceful in the moment.
When a Client Does You Wrong
Let’s start with clients. You’ve heard the saying, “The customer is always right.” Well, let me challenge that. I grew up in a family business and saw firsthand how customers could be. Later, I experienced similar situations in my local business. Some clients will cross boundaries, take advantage of your kindness, and leave you blindsided.
It stings—especially when you’ve poured your heart into serving them well. One of the toughest lessons I’ve learned is that as much as I want to extend grace, I cannot allow myself to be bullied into compromising my boundaries.
Here’s how I handle these situations:
Clarity in Policies: My team and I are crystal clear on our terms and conditions. This removes any ambiguity if a client tries to dispute something.
Firm Boundaries: We give clients ample opportunities to make things right. But if they act unethically—like disappearing without paying or submitting false disputes—we follow through with protocols, such as sending their accounts to collections.
Prayer and Discernment: Every tough situation gets bathed in prayer. Sometimes, the Holy Spirit will convict me to handle a case differently, but I don’t let emotional manipulation dictate my decisions.
Ladies, remember: justice and grace can coexist. You can hold clients accountable while still operating in love.
When a Peer in the Industry Does You Wrong
It’s one thing to deal with difficult clients, but it’s another to face betrayal from someone in your own industry—especially when they’re also a Christian business coach.
Last year, I dealt with a peer who copied my emails, sales pages, and even parts of my event backend. After two cease-and-desist letters went ignored, she did it a third time. At that point, I decided to address it publicly on my Instagram stories. I didn’t name her, but I shared enough proof to make it clear what was happening.
Why did I take this step?
I had already approached her privately multiple times.
Ignoring the situation risked people thinking I was the one copying her.
While I didn’t enjoy exposing this situation, it was necessary to protect my reputation and show others the importance of integrity in business. Sometimes, as the Bible teaches, we must escalate conflict resolution—from one-on-one confrontation to bringing witnesses and if needed, addressing it publicly.
Developing Protocols to Handle Wrongdoing
Here’s the good news–you don’t have to navigate these situations blindly. Having a solid protocol in place gives you the confidence to handle conflict with fairness and grace.
At my company, our process looks like this:
Document Everything: From client agreements to correspondence, we ensure there’s a clear record of our interactions.
Consistent Application: Every client or peer is held to the same standards. This eliminates any emotional bias in our decisions.
Release Through Justice: For clients who refuse to honor their commitments, we use collection services to handle disputes. It allows us to release the situation, knowing we’ve done all we can.
These steps free my mind and heart, allowing me to move forward without resentment.
Forgiveness, Compassion, and Moving On
At the end of the day, people will wrong you. That’s just the reality of working with humanity. As believers, our response must reflect both truth and love.
Forgiveness doesn’t mean tolerating abuse or letting people walk all over you. It means releasing the burden of anger and bitterness while trusting God to handle the ultimate justice. Remember, God is a just God, and the cracks in someone’s character will always show over time.
Key Takeaways for Christian Business Coaches
Establish Clear Boundaries: Be proactive about setting policies and protocols to protect yourself and your online business.
Stand Firm in Justice and Grace: Holding people accountable isn’t un-Christian—it’s a reflection of God’s justice.
Let Go and Forgive: Once you’ve done your part, release the situation and trust God to handle the rest.
Ladies, as you grow your online coaching business, you’ll face challenges that test your character. But remember, every trial is an opportunity to refine your heart and strengthen your faith. Stay bold, stay faithful, and never stop striving to honor God in your online business.
Until next time, don’t forget to download my free 100K Guide—it’s packed with tools and tips to help you build a thriving online Christian coaching business. Let’s keep shining His light in the business world!
EPISODE LINKS
Kingdom Seasons Coaching Quiz: Be sure to check out my Kingdom Seasons Coaching Quiz! Get your custom plan & the action steps you need to take in your business right now, for a thriving online coaching business.
The Selah Collective: It’s an amazing time to join The Selah Collective! This 12-month group coaching program is for you if you are a faith-filled coach or course creator and are ready to step radiantly into God’s calling for your life by creating, launching, and scaling your high-ticket signature coaching program from $0-100k.
Eden: The Mastermind: Join our exclusive group of holy-spirit led women inside of Eden: The Mastermind if you have made at least $20k-100k+ in online business and want to scale to your first $500k-$1M.
Women of Valor 3-Part Free Mini-Course: Learn how identity and healing create rich soil for an online business, how to create 6 + 7 figure offers and how you can implement the Esther Upleveled Sales System in your online business. Register for a free 3-part mini-course here.
The 40-Page FREE $100K Guide: If you want to hit your first $100K in your coaching business in the next 12 months, grab my guide: 12 Months to $100K! This is for you if you are struggling in your online business, you haven’t launched yet, you aren’t sure where to start, or you’re just stuck on the hamster wheel of posting on social media with no results. With this guide as your roadmap, learn how you can hit $100K in the next 12 months. I’m spilling all my secrets, from how I built my own businesses to providing you with behind-the-scenes info about revenue, ad spend, and profit, plus my proven 5-phase plan to help you get started!
Kartra: Want to get started with Kartra, the all-in-one funnel builder? Use this link for a 14-day trial!
Join the Set-Apart Women Coaches Facebook group: As a Christian business coach, I have created an amazing community of faith-based entrepreneurs. Check out my free community, and connect with other online business owners who are Wild + Radiant just like you!
Free Instagram DM Automation Template: If you’re tired of spending hours DMing your audience, check this out! Designed specifically to help coaches and course creators just like you, get FREE, ORGANIC email leads on Instagram using this DM template. Now, instead of spending hours on DM outreach, you can let this simple tool do it for you while you sit back and reap the rewards.
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OTHER EPISODES YOU MIGHT ENJOY
Episode 159: The Biggest Secret to Coaching Success
Episode 206: One Common, Yet Painful Part of Running an Online Coaching Business
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