The Cleaning Lady Paradox: Why You Need to Stop "Getting Fit" Before You Get a Coach

Do you have a cleaning lady come and help out at the house? Maybe she comes twice a week, or perhaps just once a month for a deep clean?

I don’t personally use a service, but I know plenty of people who do. Recently, my family pitched in to hire a house cleaner for my in-laws while they were recovering from a surgery. It was a gift meant to alleviate stress and allow them to rest. Yet, something fascinating happened.

Both my friend (who has a regular cleaner) and my mother-in-law (who was recovering from surgery!) were caught cleaning up the house before the cleaning lady arrived.

We laugh about this all the time. It feels illogical. Why are we scrubbing counters and organizing clutter just so the person we are paying to clean finds a clean house? Usually, it stems from a sense of pride or a fear of judgment. We don't want the professional to see our mess.

But here is the catch: I see athletes apply this exact same illogical concept to their training every single day.

The "I’m Not Ready Yet" Trap

I talk to countless aspiring runners and triathletes who have big goals. They know they need guidance. They know they need structure. But when the topic of hiring a coach comes up, they put on the brakes.

"I will hire a coach, but first I must be able to run [X] distance at [Y] pace before I reach out."

This is the Cleaning Lady Paradox in action.

Athletes convince themselves that they need to present a "finished product" or a certain baseline of fitness before they are worthy of professional help. They try to "clean up" their fitness alone, often struggling through guesswork, erratic schedules, and conflicting internet advice, just so they can present a "fit" version of themselves to a coach.

Why You Should Let the Coach Lead

If you are waiting to get fit before you hire a coach, you are doing it backward. A coach isn't a reward you give yourself once you reach the finish line; a coach is the vehicle that gets you to the starting line safely.

Here is why you should apply the "proactive" approach and hire the coach from day one:

• Building the Foundation: A coach knows how to lay the groundwork. If you try to build your own base, you risk building it on unstable ground. Let the professional pour the concrete so the house doesn't crumble later.

• Injury Prevention: Most self-coached athletes go too hard, too soon. They try to "get in shape" to impress a future coach and end up injured before they even make the phone call. A coach modulates your load to keep you healthy.

• Removing the Mental Load: Just as a cleaning lady removes the burden of scrubbing floors, a coach removes the burden of planning. You don't have to worry about what to do today; you just have to execute.

Let the Professional Do the Job

It is time to abandon the Cleaning Lady Paradox.

There is no shame in starting from zero. In fact, most coaches prefer it. It allows them to mold your habits correctly without having to undo months of bad form or overtraining.

Don't wait until you are fast. Don't wait until you can run a marathon. Don't wait until the house is spotless.

Let the cleaning lady clean the mess. And let the coach lead the structure.