I still have a closetful of suits and a gigantic collection of ties. I used to love collecting ties. I spent 14 years working on Wall Street. The hours were long, and my career had plateaued. I’d been cycling competitively since I was 14 and would think about coaching friends or my triathlon club during the day. In 2004, I talked with my wife, also a banker, about taking a sabbatical from work so that I could coach. She thought it was going to be a one-year gig, and then—oops!—several years later I was still doing it. Now I’ve got my own business, EnhanceSports, and there’s no going back. Half of my clients are in the finance world, and I can relate to how they juggle their jobs with training and family. My wife wants to do her first 5K in the fall. She always asks me to run with her. I tell her, “You have to make an appointment.”
HOW YOU CAN DO IT: To qualify for coaching jobs at established training centers—often the best way to start out—you’ll need certifications from organizations like USA Cycling () and USA Triathlon (). Private coaches earn from $50 to $300 per hour.