As a productivity coach for entrepreneurs, I know how powerful having one in your corner can be.
But you’ve come to the right place if you’re still on the fence about working with one.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- Who should hire a productivity coach?
- Do YOU need a productivity coach?
- How does productivity coaching work?
- The best productivity coaches for entrepreneurs
Ready to get started? Let’s go!
Quick overview:
- Productivity coaches help entrepreneurs reclaim their time, increase their productivity, and reach their goals.
- If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck in a constant loop of procrastinating, or need some accountability, it might be time to hire a productivity coach.
- When you work with a coach, you can expect to set new goals, learn new frameworks, and have regular check-ins.
Who should hire a productivity coach?
A productivity coach helps entrepreneurs get more done in less time, work smarter, and have more time for important things in life like family and taking care of yourself.
Take Dietmar, a self-employed freelancer and owner of a software company.
He felt “stuck” in his business without any systems or a plan to follow. His everyday life was incredibly busy, while he tried to focus on long-term goals.
What he wanted was more passive income and a way to become a digital nomad, so that he could travel more with his daughters. Ultimately, he wanted a more passive role in his business so that he could maximize his freedom.
That’s when I stepped in as his coach. And the results?
Dietmar now works six hours a week with most of his income coming in passively. His investment in productivity coaching helped him get a 600% return in one year alone.
Dietmar is a great example of how productivity coaches can help their clients achieve more, while helping them do more of what they value most in life.
But how do you know if you should hire a productivity coach? Keep reading to find out!
Do YOU need a productivity coach?
There’s no right or wrong time to hire a productivity coach.
But if you’re:
- Overwhelmed by your to-do list
- Procrastinating
- Multitasking and struggling to prioritize tasks
- Unable to reach your goal
- Looking for accountability
- Wanting to learn to make the most of your time
Then you could benefit from productivity coaching.
A productivity coach for entrepreneurs will help you boost your productivity by learning to:
- Focus on the right things
- Delegate and outsource your to-do list, both at work and at home
- Set achievable short- and long-term goals
- Prioritize your tasks and reduce overwhelm, stress, and anxiety
- Save more time, money, and energy
…All while striking a better work-life balance, avoiding burnout, and spending time doing things you actually care about and enjoy!
In fact, a structured coaching program boosts productivity by 88% and has been found to reduce procrastination and increase your chances of reaching a goal.
Moreover, 72% of coaching clients see increased productivity, and 70% improve their work performance, communication skills, and relationships.
You might be wondering how productivity coaches help clients make these changes. I’ll tell you how the process works next.
How does productivity coaching work?
When looking for a productivity coach for entrepreneurs, remember that no two programs are the same.
But typically, most coaching programs include the following:
- Assessment
- Goal setting
- Systems
- Frameworks
- Regular check-ins
Here’s how it works.
Initial assessment
This is when your productivity coach gets to know you.
They’ll ask about everything, including your daily routines, habits, tasks, challenges, and goals.
They might even ask you to do a time audit to get a clearer picture of how you’re spending your time.
This will also help you gain greater clarity about what you’re actually looking to achieve in the long run.
Goal setting
Once your coach understands who you are, the challenges you’re facing, and how you want to change your life, they’ll work with you to set short- and long-term goals.
These goals will be clear, actionable, and SMART – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
A good coach will also include milestones to help you keep track of your progress, stay accountable, and remain motivated.
Put tools and systems in place
Once your goals are set, you can start the hard work!
And I want to make it clear that you will be working – a productivity coach doesn’t do it for you!
They just give you the systems and tools that make reaching your goals possible.
Again, this part of the process depends on you and what you need.
They might have you write more effective to-do lists, introduce you to task managers, show you how to delegate, or teach you to work in focused blocks (with something like the Sticky Focus Game).
Regardless, they will give you the structure you need to streamline your time, stop procrastinating, and get more done.
Check-ins
Even if they’ve armed you with the best processes in the world, productivity coaches for entrepreneurs won’t just send you on your way.
Instead, you’ll regularly check in with them to gauge your progress, find ways to overcome challenges, and adjust the approach as needed.
But there’s a lot of good in these check-ins – they will keep you motivated and on track.
In fact, checking in with someone who holds you accountable gives you a 95% chance of achieving your goals.
Most coaches will have you complete homework activities between check-ins. They should also be available to provide any support you might need.
But again, productivity coaches for entrepreneurs are all different, and most have created their own frameworks and methods.
For example, I teach our clients frameworks like F.A.S.T. and Winning the Week.
I also work directly with clients in the Lifehack Tribe, our membership community.
I walk them through our Winning the Week Formula and show them ways to integrate it into their life one step at a time.
You can learn more about the Lifehack Tribe in this video:
Keep reading for a list of the best productivity coaches for entrepreneurs.
The best productivity coaches for entrepreneurs
If you’re looking to work with a productivity coach for entrepreneurs, you’re in the right place.
Here are some of my favorites.
Note: Some of the individuals listed here don’t act as a productivity coach for entrepreneurs but are productivity experts with other resources.
1. Demir Bentley
After I literally worked myself sick on Wall Street, I had to figure out how to be productive without burning out.
So, I became a productivity expert and found ways to work smarter, get more done, and make more money in just a few hours every week.
And I knew I had to share it.
In addition to being a productivity coach for entrepreneurs from Facebook, Google, and Uber, I co-founded Lifehack Method and Lifehack Tribe with my wife, Carey.
Today, I arm my clients with strategies to boost their productivity, accountability, and sustainability using my unique frameworks like F.A.S.T.
For example, by using my program, Kathryn was able to start her own business, Alexis scaled her hair salon franchise from 5 to 108 hair salons, and Tim was able to create systems and franchise his own legal practice.
Learn from me:
- Winning the Week Masterclass
- Winning The Week: How To Plan A Successful Week, Every Week (WSJ and USA Today bestseller!)
- Lifehack Tribe
- Lifehack Bootcamp
2. Dan Martell
Dan Martell is a bestselling author, speaker, and productivity coach for entrepreneurs and leaders. He specializes in helping them scale their business, systemize success, and shift their mindsets.
Dan also offers free advice based on his personal experience growing a multi-million dollar business on YouTube and in his newsletter.
Learn from Dan:
- Buy Back Your Time
- One-on-one coaching (application only)
- Martell Method Newsletter
- YouTube
3. James Clear
James is best known as the author of Atomic Habits, which teaches readers how even the smallest change can make all the difference in their habits and success.
He isn’t a productivity coach for entrepreneurs, but he does have a productivity app, newsletter, and masterclass.
Learn from James:
- Atomic Habits
- MasterClass: Small Habits that Make a Big Impact on Your Life
- 3-2-1 Newsletter
- Atoms (Atomic Habits app)
4. David Allen
David Allen spent 35 years researching productivity and time management to create his Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology.
GTD is used by millions of people worldwide and is broken down into five elements:
- Capture
- Clarify
- Organize
- Reflect
- Engage
David doesn’t offer one-on-one coaching, but you can learn the GTD method from his worldwide network of certified partners and GTD coaches.
Learn from David:
5. Tim Ferriss
Tim is the author of several best-selling productivity books, including The 4-Hour Work Week, which is based on his D.E.A.L. Framework:
- Define
- Eliminate
- Automate
- Liberate
He’s also the author of The 4-Hour Body, The 4-Hour Chef, Tribe of Mentors, and Tools of Titans.
While Tim doesn’t work as a productivity coach for entrepreneurs, he shares his knowledge on his podcast (which has over 1 billion downloads), YouTube channel, newsletter, and social media.
Learn from Tim:
- Books
- 5-Bullet Friday newsletter
- The Tim Ferriss Show (available on Apple and Spotify)
- YouTube
6. Cal Newport
I love learning from Cal, a computer scientist, MIT-trained professor, focus expert, and best-selling author.
In fact, I recommend his book Deep Work to almost everyone! It’s one of our favorites because it teaches you easy ways to stay focused in a world that’s full of distractions.
And his Deep Life Community resonates so deeply with me – it’s all about finding ways to be more connected to what really matters.
I was lucky enough to have him stop by the Lifehack Summit to discuss shallow and deep work, procrastination, and multitasking.
You can hear our conversation here:
While he doesn’t offer services as a productivity coach for entrepreneurs, he does have plenty of materials and masterclasses readily available.
Learn from Cal:
- Books
- Deep Questions with Cal Newport podcast
- YouTube
- The Deep Life Movement
- Life of Focus masterclass
- Top Performer masterclass
7. Marie Forleo
Marie is an entrepreneur, speaker, and writer who helps clients launch their own businesses.
She talks a lot about motivation and productivity on The Marie Forleo Podcast, but I really want to touch on her Time Genius course.
Time Genius is an immersive, five-module training course that will teach you to reclaim your time, avoid distractions, and stop procrastinating for good.
Plus, you get live group coaching with Marie herself and tools like a simplified time audit.
Learn from Marie:
8. Sam Carpenter
I know I’ve mentioned the importance of working during your peak productivity hours…
But Sam’s the one who really put the idea into words.
His book Work the System teaches readers to figure out their peak productivity hours, stop wasting time, end their perfectionism, and, most importantly, do more while working less!
It’s worth noting that Work the System is geared toward business owners.
If you don’t need a productivity coach for entrepreneurs but still want to boost your productivity, check out his book The Systems Mindset.
Learn from Sam:
9. Lifehack Tribe
I can’t leave Lifehack’s amazing coaches off of the list, who our Lifehack Tribe members love working with.
Amy Kuchan is a Transformation Life Coach who focuses on Zen productivity.
Sarah Skedd works full-time as a Senior Business Analyst for a bank but has been practicing – and now teaching – the Lifehack methodology for years.
Like Sarah, Jennifer Singh is also a longtime Lifehacker.
As a doctor and productivity coach for entrepreneurs, she has a unique way of helping professionals reclaim their physical and mental health and reach their goals.
Tanya Rose, a marketing professional and life coach, signed up for the Lifehack Method with the goal of moving to Greece – and that’s where she is now!
Elle Simone used the Lifehack Method to become a happiness coach, writer, and volunteer.
Brandi Sherrill has experience as a senior leader in the healthcare and IT sectors.
Tova Lin Sandy is a community activist, event planner, and innovator.
What is the best productivity coaching program?
At the end of the day, the best productivity coaching program is the one that fits your needs.
But I can tell you this.
Joining the Lifehack Tribe will change your life for the better… forever.
But that change doesn’t just stem from the supportive community that will hold you accountable as you integrate the five-step process into your life.
Or the way you’ll do more than ever in less time than you thought was possible.
Or even the way you’ll be able to spend more time doing things that matter without the guilt or anxiety!
It comes from benefits like:
- Access to a members-only community and podcast
- 12+ live group calls each month
- A roadmap tailored to you and your goals
- Hundreds of resources
- Access to me and the other Lifehack coaches
So, what are you waiting for?
You can see everything Lifehack Tribe has to offer RIGHT NOW for just $7 for a week – that’s less than your morning cup of coffee!
Read more:
How to work smarter, not harder as a small business owner
Best Productivity Courses & Certifications
