When you’re in business, you go through all sorts of “firsts.” Your first client. Your first sale. Your first scary moment. And sometimes, you get a “first” that leaves a mark—not just on your business journey but on your whole perspective.
This story is one of those.
You may remember me sharing that my first-ever NLP client was a heroin addict. It was a huge learning curve and, quite frankly, a baptism of fire. But that wasn’t the only wild beginning.
Early on in my career, I’d transitioned from working at home to a more polished, professional setup in a serviced office. This was partly due to a collaboration with a therapy organisation that wanted to refer clients to me. The catch? I had to match their pricing structure and give my setup a bit of an upgrade—which meant no more clients at the kitchen table.
So, I got myself a Regus office (which I’m not recommending—they’re notorious for slapping on extra costs for things like parking, phone lines, and internet 🙄). Still, I was proud. It felt like a real step forward in professionalism.
Then came one of my first clients from this referral pathway: a university student who was struggling to sleep. That’s what the email said, anyway.
He arrived at my office with his mum and grandmother in tow, which was slightly unexpected. I found out he had exams looming and had been pulling all-nighters—fueled by Red Bull, coffee, and zero sleep for three days. He’d now reached the point where he desperately wanted to sleep… but couldn’t.
As we began our consultation, I noticed he seemed anxious. Actually, scratch that—he was paranoid. He scanned the room constantly and gave vague, evasive answers. When he asked if the sprinkler in the ceiling was a camera, alarm bells started ringing.
Then came the real moment of clarity. He pointed at a blank space on the wall and said, “Can you see it too?” Apparently, he could see a spinning hat with a twisting spine.
That’s when I knew we were dealing with something far beyond sleep issues.
I gently explained that lack of sleep can really affect brain chemistry and that it was important he see a doctor who could help him get back on track—both with his sleep and the hallucinations. He was understandably frightened and worried about being hospitalised.
Still, we got to a place of agreement, and I felt relieved. Until I went to speak with his mum and gran, who told me they wouldn’t take him to the GP because they didn’t want this on his medical record. It might “affect his future career.” 😳
Now, I had to switch to serious mode. I spoke to him again privately and explained, in no uncertain terms, that the real risk to his future wasn’t a GP visit—it was not getting the right treatment. I said I wouldn’t let him leave until I had confirmation that the appointment was booked.
Eventually, they agreed. A few days later, I followed up and spoke to his dad, who told me that the GP had hospitalised his son immediately under the Mental Health Act. After a short stay, he was released with community psychiatric support and started sleeping again.
Now, before you panic—these situations are very rare. Most of the clients our franchisees work with have moderate challenges: anxiety, confidence, and stress. But every now and then, something extraordinary walks through the door. And when it does, you’ll be so glad you’re part of a coaching franchise like People Building.
Because here, you’re not on your own. You’ve got ongoing support, supervision, and someone (me!) you can talk to when those “once-in-a-decade” cases show up.
Many other training providers leave practitioners to fend for themselves once the course is over. That’s just not good enough—especially for a coaching franchise that’s meant to prepare you for real-world work.
At People Building, we believe in full-spectrum support. From the straightforward to the seriously unexpected, you’ll have the guidance and backup you need to stay grounded and capable. That’s what makes us more than just a coaching franchise—we’re a community of confident, prepared, and well-supported practitioners. 💪
Until next time…
By Gemma Bailey (with the help of Ai)
