Decide what to be and go be it. ~ Head Full of Doubt, Avett Brothers
What is a coaching?
You should know that coaching is not a magical fix for creating a perfect life. Nothing is. Creating a life that you love, feel connected to and are excited about takes commitment and motivation. Finding the right people to support you in this journey is essential to your success.
A coach is a guide.
Coaches are more than sounding boards. We are teachers of new skills. Motivators. A person who will hold you accountable. A coach will walk with you as you choose who you want to be, how you want to experience life and the way you connect with others.
What is the coaching process?
A coach collaborates with you to navigate your personal journeys by identifying goals, mapping out strategies, and creating opportunities & solutions that enable you to attain what you want to achieve.
You don’t just define what you want but you connect with why you want it and – this is the key to being successful at your reaching goals – specifically how to get it.
In other words, a coach helps you to:
- Identify what you want
- Decide what you are willing to do to get it
- Find ways through challenges
- Recognize opportunities
- Discover resources – internal and external
- Create strategies and workable plans
- Measure success by your standards, not anyone else’s
Coaching shifts your perspective so you can see the possibilities in your life.
The story of your life is only partially written. The most exciting thing that a person can realize is that the next chapters are full of blank pages just waiting to be filled. What you write on those pages is completely up to you.
Change is inevitable. Growth is optional. ~ John Maxwell
One thing is certain, life will change. One thing that is not certain is how you grow from the changes (or not). It’s about choice.
We all experience highs and lows in life, it is the natural flow of life. It is really about your perspective of the highs and lows that creates a more satisfying experience and an overall sense of well-being.
Think about it this way: how do you handle sitting in traffic? Are you the kind of person who believes that the cars were placed in front of you on purpose to block your way to your destination so you get extremely agitated and stressed? Or are you the person who realizes that traffic is traffic and, although it’s frustrating, you take the time to focus on yourself? You listen to some good music or think about all you accomplished during the day or daydream about something wonderful or create a plan to get things done.
Sometimes it’s not easy to see our choices. But once we do, it’s up to us to decide which choice to make. Which person are you when you are stuck in traffic? Who do you want to be? If you are the stressed person but want to be the chill person, how do you get there? That’s where coaching comes in.
How do you choose a coach?
Choosing a coach (or any professional) is a personal decision. The types of coaching available are endless. If you can imagine topic you would like support with, there’s a coach out there for you.
Find out if anyone in your network has worked with a coach they would recommend. Check out potential coaches websites. Do they focus on you or themselves? Schedule a call with them to learn what they’re about and if that aligns with your values and goals.
You should know that anyone can call themselves a coach. Find out what differentiates them, their experience, their philosophy, their approach and, most importantly, their client’s results.
An unfortunate warning.
Be wary of the “coaches” out there who prey on your fears that life will not improve without their help. Asking questions like “are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?” is a marketing ploy designed to hook you in when you are at a low point.
Because, let’s be real, who’s going to say no to a question like that? Of course people don’t like feeling sick and tired of being sick and tired.
But, it’s at these vulnerable moments that a person will grasp onto the latest craze, self-help book or a coach who promises big changes from an often costly investment. Coaches like this, ones who trick you into thinking there is a magical fix for your life, if you’re willing to pay enough for what they’re selling, give the coaching industry a bad name.
Look for coaches who talk more about you – the changes you will make in your life, the transformation you will see, the movement towards your goals – and less about themselves, and how they alone know how you should make those changes. Coaching isn’t about the coach. It’s about you.
Trust yourself. It’s your journey.
My clients are typically happy, successful people who are pushing through challenges or going through a transition and need additional support to get to where they would like to be. They recognize that real, lasting change doesn’t come from a book or a seminar, it comes from within. They know that books are tools and seminars are resources that support their journey. The same can be said of a coach. A coach is a guide. You are the traveler.
Wherever you want your path to lead, investing in yourself is the best way to move forward. I would be thrilled to accompany you as you’re exploring your choices, realizing your strengths, and mapping out strategies to live your best life. Whether you’re forging a new path, advancing your career or building your business, I’m here to help.
I believe that my services are amazing, but don’t take my word for it. Check out my website, sign up for my email updates, read my posts, review the testimonials my clients have taken the time to write, really learn about who I am and how I can support you. Then reach out and schedule a quick (no charge) call to connect.
Let’s get that next chapter started right away.
Sara’s coaching services are first-rate. With her excellent listening skills and sharp attention to details, she zeros in on the key issues. A highly effective coach asks thought-provoking questions and guides the conversation, moving the client forward to consider their own situation in a richer, more meaningful light. Sara does just this. She also holds her clients accountable for their own progress, while at the same time, providing them with the support to make decisions that are in their best interest. I strongly recommend Sara.
