I started back on the bike this year after twenty years off. I looked all over the internet for the best training methods, tips and tricks, I bought books, checked out forums, yadayadayada.
The one big thing that I could not do was assemble the facts (many of them conflicting) into a clear direction that would bring results. A good coach will do that for you.
I tried racing a couple of times and it was pretty clear that the training methods I had worked out by myself just weren't cutting it. So I needed a coach, and I found one pretty quickly. Knowlegable, no BS, straight-up.
Now I know where I'm going, and when I can reasonably expect to be there. Big picture has gone into the background, focus is on the next 4 four weeks only. Perfect.
Word of advice though, pay the price or you might end up paying the price! I had one guy offer to help gratis. He did for a while, but then he just disappeared. I had no idea what to do with the program he had left me with.