From Winging It to Winning It: How Coaches Grow Faster with Models, Systems, and Flywheels

Most struggling coaches have one thing in common: they’re winging it.

They hop on coaching calls with no structure, pitch services without a clear process, and rely on referrals or luck to find their next client.

Sound familiar?

In Episode 295 of Business Coaching Secrets, Karl Bryan breaks down how to stop winging it—and start installing proven systems that scale your business, deliver better results, and build serious momentum.

Let’s unpack three powerful insights from the episode—and how you can start applying them today.

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1. Stop Winging It: Use Proven Models Instead of Trial & Error

Trial and error sounds noble. But it’s usually code for wasting time and money.

Karl’s advice? Don’t reinvent the wheel. Model what works.

“Modeling saves you a decade. Trial and error costs you one.” — Karl Bryan

Action Step:

Pick a specific part of your business—lead generation, client onboarding, discovery calls—and ask:

• Who is already doing this well?

• What’s their model?

• How can I adapt it to my business?

Whether it’s McDonald’s systemizing service or a top-tier coach’s sales funnel—reverse engineering excellence is faster than fumbling in the dark.

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2. Become an Installer, Not a Winger

Karl outlines three types of coaches:

• Hiders: Avoid visibility and don’t promote

• Wingers: Improvisers with no clear systems

• Installers: Use proven systems that deliver consistent, measurable results

Want to be the coach clients stick with long term? Be an Installer.

Installers don’t just give advice—they install results. They show up with tools, roadmaps, and structure that make clients feel like they’re on a clear path, not just “getting coached.”

Example:

Instead of telling a client to “raise your prices,” an Installer runs the math with them using something like the Profit Acceleration Software™. Now the client sees the impact and says yes with confidence.

Action Step:

Audit your coaching process:

• Do you have a consistent onboarding experience?

• Do you use a repeatable framework during coaching calls?

• Can clients measure their ROI?

If not, it’s time to install a better system.

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3. Think in Flywheels, Not Funnels

Funnels are fine—but flywheels are what build momentum.

A flywheel is a business model where each success feeds the next. It’s not just about getting a lead, closing a sale, and starting over. It’s about building systems where:

• One win attracts another client

• A successful case study becomes a referral machine

• A group program fuels upsells and re-engagements

Example:

When you run a group coaching program with weekly sessions, it creates results that become testimonials, that become social proof, that draw in new clients—without more ad spend.

Action Step:

Map your business flywheel:

• What actions generate momentum?

• Where are the friction points?

• How can you make your coaching business “self-feeding” over time?

If your coaching isn’t compounding, it’s stalling.

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Final Thoughts: Build a Coaching Business That Runs on Models and Momentum

You don’t need to be the smartest coach in the room—you just need the best systems.

When you:

• Model what works

• Install repeatable frameworks

• Build momentum with a flywheel strategy

You stop guessing and start growing.

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Let’s ditch the guesswork. Let’s install what works.