Sandy Forster is an international bestselling author, money mindset coach, and founder of the Inspired Spirit Coaching Academy. Website
Sandy knew she wanted to coach, but she had no idea where to start. Struggling with debt, a failed business, and a major life upheaval, certification became her way to find structure, support, and a path forward. What started as a personal attempt to turn her life around quickly transformed into a professional breakthrough.
In this interview, Sandy shares her honest experience with certifying, including what worked, what she learned, and how it shaped the life and business she has today.
Did you complete a coach certification program? Give us a brief summary of your experience.
Yes, I completed a coach certification program, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
At the time, my life felt like it was falling apart. I was over $100,000 in debt after a failed business, divorced, raising two kids on my own, and living on welfare. I was angry, embarrassed, and scared about my situation and what the future might hold. To be honest, I didn’t sign up because I wanted to help others; I signed up because I desperately needed to turn my own life around.
I was terrified during my training, and even when I finished, I wondered how on earth I would ever be able to coach others and create a successful coaching business. I felt like a fraud, but once I became certified and had that certificate in my hot little hands, everything seemed to change.
Why did you get certified? And was your “why” met?
What drew me to coaching was the idea of working in the personal development space, having the flexibility to work from home, choose my own hours, and make good money doing something that felt meaningful. I got certified because I wanted to feel credible. I knew I wanted to coach, but I had no idea how to actually do it. I didn’t just want to call myself a coach; I wanted the confidence that comes from being a coach. I also wanted to feel part of something bigger, something beyond just me trying to figure it all out on my own. Becoming certified gave me that and much more.
It gave me a structure, and being part of a coaching community made me feel supported. And something shifted in me once I was certified. The more I focused on empowering others and helping them set and achieve their goals, the more I started to believe in myself too. It expanded me in ways I didn’t expect. I went from someone trying to get out of survival mode to someone creating a life filled with freedom, purpose, and abundance.
So yes, my “why” was absolutely met (because to be honest, I didn’t know what I didn’t know, so I didn’t realize how much more I needed or what was even possible). However, it opened the door to a future I never thought possible; it was the catalyst that completely transformed my life.
What did you get from your certification? And was it worth what you invested?
Once I became certified, something inside me shifted. I felt empowered and credible, and wanted to really bring into my sessions everything that I personally loved. The training itself was solid. It taught me the fundamentals like how to build rapport, actively listen, and ask powerful questions.
But what I found missing was the mindset side of coaching (for myself and my clients), and it had absolutely nothing about how to actually grow a coaching business. That gap was a blessing in disguise because I learnt so much myself and then brought it into my coaching sessions and business. And it ultimately inspired me to found the Inspired Spirit Coaching Academy, the kind of program I wished I had when I was first starting out. One that teaches not just how to coach, but how to shift your mindset, attract abundance, become a master at manifesting, and build a thriving coaching business from the inside out.
So incorporating everything else I was passionate about, not only did I build a successful coaching business, but as I said, I went on to found my own international coach training academy, and I now train women around the world to become Internationally Certified Coaches, with a focus on mindset, manifesting, neuroscience and helping their clients create the life of their dreams. The ripple effect has been incredible, and it all started with that one decision to become a coach.
What do you wish you’d known or asked yourself before you picked a certification?
At the time I got certified, there weren’t many options, only a couple of coach training companies in the world. But if I were starting again today, I’d be asking a whole different set of questions!
I’d make sure the certification I chose included everything I needed, not just how to coach, but how to build a business, how to rewire my mind, how to attract clients (and abundance), and how to feel confident and empowered in what I was offering. I feel these are the things that make the biggest difference for your coaching business and for your clients’ ability to easily achieve their goals. Coaching is powerful, but mindset and marketing are what make a coaching business sustainable.
That’s exactly why I created the Inspired Spirit Coaching Academy to offer the kind of all-in-one, heart-centered, spiritually grounded program I wish I’d had when I was starting out. One that helps you become a coach and a successful entrepreneur, from the inside out.
Do you have any regrets about certifying? Any negative experiences or advice on how to avoid them?
Not at all. I think from a mindset perspective, it really can shift everything for you with certification behind you. Having said that, you want to ensure you choose the right Coach Training that will give you everything you need, not just how to be a coach, but the mindset, the business skills, and if you’re into Law of Attraction and manifesting, then make sure it includes those elements too.
What surprised you? Were there any benefits from certifying that you weren’t expecting?
I think the level of empowerment it gave me and the increased credibility it offered.
Are there any certification programs you’d recommend?
The one I founded 🙂 The Inspired Spirit Coaching Academy – we cover all the practical skills you need to be a coach, as well as mindset, manifesting, Law of Attraction, neuro-science, and business strategies. It’s everything I would have loved to have experienced when I first became a coach.
Do you have any other tips or insights for someone considering certifying?
These days, there are so many women calling themselves coaches, and while their hearts are in the right place, without formal training or a proven structure, what they offer can sometimes feel more like a supportive chat than a truly transformational experience.
The truth is, without knowing how to properly structure a session, how to set it up for success, guide it with intention, and close it with clarity, even the most well-meaning coach can struggle to help their clients create real breakthroughs.
When you receive the right training, when you’re given tools, templates, scripts, exercises, and real-world strategies to help clients set powerful goals and actually achieve them, that’s when your confidence grows, your clients thrive, and your impact becomes real. That’s when you’re not just helping people, you’re changing lives. And that’s ultimately what being a great coach is all about.
Conclusion
Sandy’s journey shows how certification can be more than a credential; it can be a turning point for your confidence, skills, and your coaching business. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to grow your practice, there’s a certification path that can help you reach your goals.
If Sandy’s story inspires you, learn more about the Inspired Spirit Coaching Academy she founded, or explore our certification database for a comprehensive list of coaching certification programs.
Or, take our coaching certification quiz for personalized program recommendations.
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