Middle-aged and I’m posting my first blog. Not a place I ever saw myself but I can honestly say I’m happy to be here.
How long have I been a Certified Professional Life Coach? Just over a month. How long have I been Life Coaching? Totally different question.
All Ears
In college I wasn’t the party girl. When something exciting happened in the dorms I was often the last to hear. But if there was a problem, they were at my doorstep. I’ve always been a magnet for people who need a sounding board. And I don’t mind one bit. I love that I am a safe space and my advice is trusted. Parties weren’t my scene anyway.
Certification
Since life coaching isn’t very regulated in the US, I took my time sifting through the countless programs for an entity I felt was reputable. I wanted it to be accredited by ICF (the International Coaching Federation) and ultimately chose the Certified Life Coach Institute.
Takeaways
First, the realization that life coaching is a lot less about telling people what to do and a lot more about listening. That was a hard pill to swallow at first. I like telling people what to do. I have solid advice and ideas. Like my kids, they’d all be better off if they just listened to me!! Right?
Wrong. The more I leaned into this idea of helping people come to their own conclusions by actively listening and asking guided questions, the more I realized this is a much more effective way of coaching. People want to be in control. Most will follow through with their own ideas better than yours.
Niched
The second idea I had initial push-back on was the idea of niching down. Why would I want to narrow my audience like that? If I can help people, why not try to help them all, rather than limiting myself to a specific group? Again, as I leaned in, trusting the research, I eventually came to embrace my natural niche.
In class, we were asked to think about what we could teach someone without really even thinking about it. I have varied experiences in the arts, leadership and business so I struggled to narrow my message. What was so natural I wouldn’t have to even think?
Creating. Moving. Seeing prospects. Forward. I love to start! Spring is my favorite season, Easter my favorite holiday. Freshness, newness, potential that’s bidding but unreached. I realized this is what so many people have been coming to me for already - for help with moving forward on something.
I share this story on my site, but as a kid my dad would challenge me to light a fire with one match. I learned how to carefully prepare, weigh the risks and opportunities and finally strike the match. Been building fires ever since.
Time to Start
So often we get stuck in a rut and it can feel overwhelming to get ourselves out of it. I hate ruts. I don't do stagnancy. So here I am, a starter coach. Anxious to help people get going on something new. What's on your horizon? Let's reign it in.
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