The Doula Darcy Podcast

Episode: Coaching Isn't Just for Athletes – It's a Business Game-Changer
Host: Darcy Sauers
Date: November 11, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Darcy Sauers explores the powerful role of coaching in business and explains why it’s not just for athletes. Drawing from her personal experiences as a gymnast, diver, and now a business coach for doulas, Darcy discusses the transformative impact a coach can have—both as a source of practical advice and as a confidence booster. The episode uses vivid sports analogies to illustrate how coaching can accelerate growth, prevent common pitfalls, and foster the mindset needed for a flourishing doula business.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Redefining Coaching for Business

• Darcy recounts a family conversation about her own business coach, Amber, highlighting how coaching is often misunderstood outside of sports ([00:43]).
• She emphasizes that hiring a coach is standard in many areas of life (sports, diet, personal development) and asks why it’s any different for business.
  • Quote: “Whenever you want to go do something new, you hire a coach… So why wouldn’t you have a business coach if… you’re trying to design a business to give you the life you want?” — Darcy ([01:58])

2. Coaching in Sports: Lessons for Business

• Darcy shares stories from her youth as a gymnast and later a diver to show how essential coaches are for both skill acquisition and safety ([03:00]–[06:10]).
  • Gymnastics: Coaches provide physical spotting, step-by-step skill progression, and constant feedback.
  • Diving: Coaching shifts to verbal guidance and presence rather than direct physical support, highlighting how proximity, belief, and encouragement drive confidence.
  • Quote: “Having her right there made it better, made it easier. And at the end of the day, what it did gave me the confidence to go for it. And that is the best analogy that I have for my coaching with Amber.” — Darcy ([07:48])

3. The “Spotter” Analogy in Business Coaching

• Even when coaches aren’t physically “doing the work” with you, their presence (real or virtual) is a powerful motivator and safety net ([08:00]).
• Business coaches don’t do the tasks but provide guidance, encouragement, accountability, and belief in your potential.
  • Quote: “I’m not out there spotting you… but I’m right there… It’s like she’s right down there at the bottom of the diving board. I know she’s there. I know she’s got my back.” — Darcy ([08:48])
• The trust between coach and client is crucial—they won’t push you into something you’re not ready for ([09:40]).

4. You Still Need to Do the Work

• Hiring a coach is not a shortcut to perfection. Effort, repetition, and failing (and recovering) are part of the journey for both athletes and business owners ([10:20]).
  • Quote: “Having a coach doesn’t mean you’re always going to be perfect. You’re still going to make mistakes. But you have a coach to… debrief with, talk through what happened, realize what you maybe did wrong, realize what you can work on to get better next time.” — Darcy ([11:05])

5. Building Business “Muscle Memory”

• Like in sports, consistent practice is key. Coaches help ingrain good habits early and prevent “bad form” that could set your business back ([12:40]).
• Darcy’s golf lesson story illustrates how starting with proper technique—and guidance—prevents hard-to-unlearn mistakes later.
  • Quote: “I don’t want to learn bad habits that I have to unlearn. I want to learn the best way to do this from the get go so I build up the proper muscle memory. And that is another huge thing that a coach can do.” — Darcy ([14:50])

6. The Power of Community and Support

• If one-on-one coaching isn’t accessible, peer support is invaluable. Darcy highlights her “Doula Village” and the importance of being surrounded by supportive peers who understand your specific challenges ([11:50]; [13:20]).
• Seek out people in your industry—online or in-person—who can encourage, “debrief,” and celebrate your progress.
  • Quote: “You have to have some people around you that believe in you. That’s what it comes down to.” — Darcy ([13:41])

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Explaining coaching to her parents:
  “If you get diagnosed with type 2 diabetes… you hire a dietitian who's like a dieting nutrition coach. If you want to learn how to play soccer, you join a team. And that team has a coach… they teach you how to do this without getting hurt and to get there faster, better, easier.” ([01:18])

• On visible vs. invisible support:
  “There was nothing [my diving coach] could do. I was on my own. But having her right there made it better, made it easier… gave me the confidence to go for it.” ([07:48])

• On “smacking” in diving and making mistakes in business:
  “You’re still gonna go fall. Yes, you’re still gonna go smack… Having a coach doesn’t mean you’re always going to be perfect.” ([10:21])

• On muscle memory in business:
  “Once you learned a new skill, you had to go do it a hundred times and then do it a hundred times tomorrow to get that muscle memory ingrained into your body, into your brain…” ([12:26])

• On peer support and community:
  “Put yourself in the rooms… where these people are hanging out that are doing what you want to do, that are going to be that support… cheer you on, debrief with you when you smack and fail and fall.” ([13:21])

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:43 – Introducing the main premise: Why have a business coach?
• 03:00–06:10 – Sports coaching analogies: Gymnastics and diving stories.
• 07:48 – The impact of a coach’s presence on confidence.
• 08:48 – Darcy’s metaphor for business coaching support.
• 10:21 – You have to put in the work; making mistakes is part of the process.
• 11:50 – Community and peer support as alternative forms of coaching.
• 12:26–14:50 – Muscle memory, golf coaching, and forming good habits in business.
• 13:21 – Seeking out supportive communities (“put yourself in the rooms”).

Episode Takeaways

• Coaching isn’t just for sports; it’s a vital tool for building a resilient, successful business.
• A coach accelerates your learning, prevents common mistakes, and gives you the confidence to try new things—much like a spotter or supportive presence in athletics.
• Growth requires practice and resilience even when working with a coach.
• Surround yourself with people who believe in you, whether it’s a coach, a peer, or a community.
• Investing in guidance early on builds the right “muscle memory” for lasting success.

Darcy’s closing wish: “I hope you enjoyed this episode… Go out and have a great day—and make sure you know there are people in your corner, cheering you on.” ([15:54])