To be a life coach is not that easy. Some people think that since giving advice is easy; many of us are into life coaching. How unfair!!! Of course they do not even bother to understand that many of us have undergone life coach training. And unfortunately for many of us, these very people come to us as clients. They are the nightmare clients; clients who think they know it all. A life coach is given life coach training to deal with clients. Life coaching is all about people. The training is really tested when you meet a nightmare client. These people are often arrogant, bossy and downright rude. So, how to coach a client that thinks they know it all? It is not easy. But, there are ways to deal with them too.Firstly, if at the initial meeting itself you can feel that the client is going to create problems; do not agree to life coach him/her. Again, unfortunately it is not an option for all of us. The competition in life coaching is becoming fiercer day by day. Also, if you are just starting out it may be difficult to get clients, so not agreeing to take a client is a luxury that you cannot afford. So, the question remains how do you coach such people?Make it clear to the client that you are the life coach. If, the client was already aware of everything then he/she wouldn’t have come to you. They have come to you because there is something that you have, from which they can learn. Now, when you are explaining this to them make sure that you be very polite. Don’t be rude at all. But, be firm. If you don’t do this at the initial stage itself the problem will only magnify later and the repercussions may not be something that you look forward to. The client may become angry and even start shouting. If this happens keep quiet and let them vent their anger. Sometimes, when a person has let off steam they cool down. They might be angry at something else but might show the anger at you. Talk to them once they have cooled down. Explain it to the client that if this sort of behavior continues it is going to be very difficult to work with them. Make it clear that you are no doormat. He/She needs life coach training and that is why they are there. So, if they want it then it has to be on your terms. When a client sees that you are firm about your stance and that you are not going to be bullied by them then he/she will start respecting you. They will feel validated that they have chosen you as their life coach. Of course, even with all the life coach training resources at your command there might be times when a conflict can take place. In such situations the best way to deal with the situation would be to not lose your control. Make a small concession to restore faith. Then restate the views of the client without becoming angry or shouting. Then explain each point from his point of view. This will make the client believe that you are getting his point. Once you have made his/her view clear you can go about presenting your views. And explain why you are giving that view. Establish common grounds wherever and whenever you can. Use humor to diffuse potentially threatening situations. With larger issues split them into smaller ones. And then you can deal with each small issue one at a time. Never ever make the mistake of making it personal. Always make it a point to remember that the client wouldn’t have come to you if they didn’t feel you had something. So, don’t let the client intimidate you. When you are making an agreement make sure that you have a clause in that which lets you get out of the whole deal. This will ensure that in case of any problem you can get out of the agreement without any legal wrangles. A good life coach can go about the business of life coaching successfully without having know-it-alls as clients.
About the Author: Sean McPheat provides life coaching and training for people all around the globe. He is the owner of the Life Coaching Studio and he designs and delivers life coach, programmes and mentoring across the UK, Europe, US and the Middle East.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
A Life Coach for Britney
Unless you have been under a rock you probably have read or heard about the post-divorce filing antics of pop princess Britney Spears. There have been reports of panty-less trips to clubs and passing out drunk. This morning there was a report indicating that even the stylist was throwing up her hands as Mr. Blackwell placed Britney in a tie for first on his annual “Worst Dressed List.” It would seem that things are not looking good for the girl from Louisiana.For her part Britney does not seem to be ignorant to the turn her life has taken. Shortly after the New Year, Britney posted a “letter” on her official website, www.britneyspears.com, stating among other things:The last couple of years have been very enlightening for me and now that I've had the time to be "me," I've been able to sit down and think about where I want to go with myself as an entertainer with absolutely no strings attached. I am now more mature and feel like I am finally "free”…. I look forward to coming back this year bigger and better than ever.I confess that I am not overly a fan of Britney’s music, with a few exceptions. As a Personal Life Coach, however, I became extremely interested in the context of Britney’s posting. In interviewing potential clients I look for three key indicators of someone being a candidate for coaching:1. The person realizes a need for change.2. The person is willing to make the change.3. The person is able to commit to the hard work required of the coaching process.Although I have never met or consulted with Britney personally, a review of her web posting finds that she indeed meets all three criterions for a positive coaching experience. Her words directly reflect the first two elements and her historical approach to working hard to achieve success is an indicator of the third element.What then could life coaching offer to Britney? Coaching would offer Britney a picture. In a recent interview I was asked why people find themselves spinning their wheels instead of achieving their goals. I stated, "Imagine trying to assemble a jigsaw puzzle without having the picture on the front of the box. You know the pieces are there, but without the picture you suffer endless frustration. I help my clients assemble their talents, skills and experiences into the picture of their life." With Britney you have some great "puzzle pieces" to work with. The challenge, as I see it, is that people are looking to recreate the picture as it was before she went on sabbatical. The undisputable fact is that Britney has changed a lot. She has been married, is a new mother and she has grown as a businesswoman. It would be a mistake to simply try to recreate the “picture” of what Britney was at 20 or 21. At this point Britney needs a new picture of what her life can be. Through coaching Britney’s new picture would equate to more success and happiness than she has ever experienced.Even if you are not a transitioning pop star, coaching is a value-filled resource. An effective strategy for creating a new picture of your life is as follows:1. Prepare a detailed description of what your ideal life would be. Don’t let yourself off the hook by putting in a lot of questions or options. Make specific statements on what your life will be. Write the description as though you are living the life five years from now.2. Break the description down into the natural elements. Some examples of elements may be career, relationship, finances, etc. If you have statements in the description that relate to what your career will be, list those under career. Continue until you have broken the entire description down into the elements.3. Tackle each element individually. Set short and long-term goals to achieve each statement. For example, if part of your ideal life description includes your working as a CPA, but you currently do not have the education to be a CPA, goals would include achieving the appropriate education to be a CPA. Continue this process for each statement.4. When setting goals be sure to create timeframes to complete each goal.5. Find someone to hold you accountable and motivate you for the goals. This person may be a professional, such as a coach, or it may be a trusted friend or family member.6. Continue working the goals until you have created your ideal life.In all likelihood you will find that the detailed description evolves as you work through the elements, statements and goals. This is completely acceptable providing that the description is evolving in tune with your heart’s desire and not with settling for second best. I remain firmly convinced that 2007 is destined to be a successful year for all us; you, me and Britney Spears!
About the Author: Mysty Cain is an Ultra-Success and Personal Life Coach motivating national clients to create amazing lives characterized by power, passion, brilliance and authenticity. Her coaching style is direct and she enables clients to build on important lessons that they encounter in ordinary life. She has been described by clients as the "common sense" coach. Mysty's practice encompasses live, telephone and web-based coaching sessions. She makes her home in Las Vegas, Nevada, with husband Joe, two children and a one-eared cocker spaniel named Van Gogh. She can be contacted at www.livetocapacity.com
About the Author: Mysty Cain is an Ultra-Success and Personal Life Coach motivating national clients to create amazing lives characterized by power, passion, brilliance and authenticity. Her coaching style is direct and she enables clients to build on important lessons that they encounter in ordinary life. She has been described by clients as the "common sense" coach. Mysty's practice encompasses live, telephone and web-based coaching sessions. She makes her home in Las Vegas, Nevada, with husband Joe, two children and a one-eared cocker spaniel named Van Gogh. She can be contacted at www.livetocapacity.com
Executive Coaching Increasingly Important to Organization Success
Over the past five years, a new industry in the area of performance improvement has grown at an exponential rate. That industry is Executive Coaching. Major companies have made coaching a core part of executive development. The idea to engage a coach can originate from either HR or from executives themselves. More and more executives are choosing coaching as a proactive component of their professional life.Presidents, senior vice-presidents, regional managers and senior directors from major privately owned corporations are the main clients of the Executive Coaching Firms. Executive coaching sessions is for top performers who want something more in their life: better balance, a bigger title, larger salary, more responsibility, higher level of effectiveness as a leader and want to work with a person outside of the organization to assist them in getting there.The role of the Executive Coach is to influence clients to think, communicate and act in ways that lead to better results in their highest priorities. Executive coaching firms discovered that executives who use life coaching to achieve balance in their private lives release energy that could be consumed by worry and anxiety. On the same time, recent studies have showed that salespeople who are coached show increases in productivity.Executive Coaching is searching the most important outcomes that the executives wants to achieve, the issues that keep them from achieving those results, and the perspectives they need to reconsider in order to improve results.Executives need someone they can talk to who is outside of the organization and who can provide tailored suggestions for improving results.The Executive Coaching usually offers individual coaching to their clients over the phone, a common format for life coaching, as they serve executives around the globe. Over time, some Executive Coaching Companies learned that the phone was a very limited approach. Telephone conversations only provide input from the client's perspective. It is important for the Executive Coach to spend time with the client in actual business situations. The greater the variety of these situations, the better the overall understanding the coach develops.Executive Coaching is an effective method to improve the performing of a top executive. The objective is to maintain focus on influencing behavior and improving results.
About the Author: Executive Coaching
About the Author: Executive Coaching
Life Coaches – Helping you to help yourself.
In a world of high class entrepreneurs, fast paced urban life and a growing awareness of health and personal potential, the fairly new profession of the life coach seems to have grown into place perfectly.The job of a life coach is to help an individual meet his potential and help them with their problems. Coaching is meant to help a person ‘re-discover’ themselves, draw on their inner strength, and basically wake them up to their potential and help them to make the most of their talents.A coach will become part of your life, your council, your advice, your encouragement and your tutor. Their task is to learn all that they can about you, and then help you learn about yourself. We all have talents, skills and creativity that we are not fully aware of and a life coach will help you identify those and make them work for you. Their job is not like a therapist but more like a best friend or a personal trainer, helping you to develop skills and confidence. The coaching usually requires very candid self-examination and may involve large personal upheaval.Life coaches are trained professionals. If you seek one you should look for credentials from a therapy, counselling, or mentoring background. Most coaches will have some kind of background in people skills and accreditation from an official life coaching institution. While many of these credentials are not recognised formally, there are a wide variety of groups that teach the skills necessary to be a life coach and their tutelage will provide the coach with a wide skill set. Most coaches already have a natural flair for identifying strengths and weaknesses, social work, counselling and a genuine desire to help people.Some groups argue that life coaching is fraudulent. Due to the fact that it is not a government regulated institution, any person can claim to be a life coach and with a degree of acting and psychology can make you believe that their help is changing your life. However a wide majority believe that life coaching is a wonderful way of turning your life around or giving you a positive new outlook on the world. People often come away from sessions feeling wiser, stronger, more in touch with themselves, and more capable of reaching their goals.
About the Author: John Gibb is the owner of life coach guidanceFor more information on life coaching check out http://www.life-coach-did-u-know.info
About the Author: John Gibb is the owner of life coach guidanceFor more information on life coaching check out http://www.life-coach-did-u-know.info
Monday, February 25, 2008
How Thoughts Create Matter
Did you ever have the feeling right before something good happened, that you knew it was going to happen?
Most people don't understand it, and think it's ESP or something like of that nature.
In the book Think And Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill, he says "...thought, backed by strong DESIRE, has the tendency to transmute itself into its physical equivalent."
Very Powerful stuff!
As I like to say, "Matter is Merely Materialized Thought...So What Are You Thinking?"
Many people have asked me what that means, so here's an explanation...
Back in 1937 when Napoleon Hill published his book Think And Grow Rich, he knew something very powerful but, I'm not certain the science behind it was so well understood. Of course, the principle was very well understood and probably by Mr. Hill more than anyone!
Here's the short not too scientific explanation:
Everything we see on any given day is made up of not just cells or atoms but, of PURE ENERGY.
This energy is called Quanta (plural for Quantum). Keep in mind Quanta is the unit measure of pure energy. These Quanta are part of what Quantum Physics is based on.
This energy exists only when observed. (There are a lot of arguments about observation and they all have their validity but lets keep it simple.)
Scientists say that Quanta are not a reality but instead they are a probability that exist in any given point in time. So when a person focuses on (observes) a thing, it exists!
This is because this Quanta, is now formed into the thing whatever it may be.
Many scientist, Einstein included have proved that Quanta are not bound to space and time and can exist anywhere.
These scientists also understand that your mind, body and soul are also made up of these Quanta and Quanta are influenced by other Quanta.
In other words your mind and the minds of others, create and co-create everything through influencing Quanta!
Now here's the practical explanation:
Knowing now what your mind is capable of, if you were to focus your own energy into creating what you desire in your mind with crystal clarity, it will come to you at amazing speed!
Now, this creation process is not just thought. It is both thought and work! These two together seal the deal.
This is why many of the experts out there tell you that you just can't be scattered. You have to focus on your ultimate goal.
Guess what? They are all right! All of these things together solidify what you're thinking.
THIS my friend is the "Secret" behind all of the Goal setting, the Meditation, the Master-Minding, Learning, Persistence, Action, Desire and Faith that we all are told that we must have or do.
Without these, our thoughts are controlled by outside influence and we lose our clarity and focus.
Have you ever heard, a successful person talk about how fast success seemed to come to them and how well they did in no time flat? I've heard many of these. The reason is that they knew exactly what they wanted and worked toward it. Simple as that.
One such example is a man by the name of Matt Bacak - PowerfulPromoter.com who is actually one of the inspirations for this article. I was on a tele-seminar with Matt once and he talked about how everything came to him so fast, once he knew what he wanted and started working toward it. Matt didn't know it but, his thoughts triggered my thoughts and the creation of this article!
Make no mistake, that although there are scientific explanations for the creation of matter through observation; WHO do you think created the matter in the mirror?
After all do you think that science didn't have a master observer?
Finally with that said...
Be cautious of your thoughts, they have the power to create!
Author BioRasheed Ali was once homeless and penniless on the streets of New York and is now helping to change the lives of THOUSANDS of people around the world with his innovative coaching, mentoring and newsletters. He is the worlds first Solution Coach and 80/20 Mentor. You can learn more about him and his newsletters at www.SleepYourWayToRiches.com
Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com - Free Website Content
Most people don't understand it, and think it's ESP or something like of that nature.
In the book Think And Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill, he says "...thought, backed by strong DESIRE, has the tendency to transmute itself into its physical equivalent."
Very Powerful stuff!
As I like to say, "Matter is Merely Materialized Thought...So What Are You Thinking?"
Many people have asked me what that means, so here's an explanation...
Back in 1937 when Napoleon Hill published his book Think And Grow Rich, he knew something very powerful but, I'm not certain the science behind it was so well understood. Of course, the principle was very well understood and probably by Mr. Hill more than anyone!
Here's the short not too scientific explanation:
Everything we see on any given day is made up of not just cells or atoms but, of PURE ENERGY.
This energy is called Quanta (plural for Quantum). Keep in mind Quanta is the unit measure of pure energy. These Quanta are part of what Quantum Physics is based on.
This energy exists only when observed. (There are a lot of arguments about observation and they all have their validity but lets keep it simple.)
Scientists say that Quanta are not a reality but instead they are a probability that exist in any given point in time. So when a person focuses on (observes) a thing, it exists!
This is because this Quanta, is now formed into the thing whatever it may be.
Many scientist, Einstein included have proved that Quanta are not bound to space and time and can exist anywhere.
These scientists also understand that your mind, body and soul are also made up of these Quanta and Quanta are influenced by other Quanta.
In other words your mind and the minds of others, create and co-create everything through influencing Quanta!
Now here's the practical explanation:
Knowing now what your mind is capable of, if you were to focus your own energy into creating what you desire in your mind with crystal clarity, it will come to you at amazing speed!
Now, this creation process is not just thought. It is both thought and work! These two together seal the deal.
This is why many of the experts out there tell you that you just can't be scattered. You have to focus on your ultimate goal.
Guess what? They are all right! All of these things together solidify what you're thinking.
THIS my friend is the "Secret" behind all of the Goal setting, the Meditation, the Master-Minding, Learning, Persistence, Action, Desire and Faith that we all are told that we must have or do.
Without these, our thoughts are controlled by outside influence and we lose our clarity and focus.
Have you ever heard, a successful person talk about how fast success seemed to come to them and how well they did in no time flat? I've heard many of these. The reason is that they knew exactly what they wanted and worked toward it. Simple as that.
One such example is a man by the name of Matt Bacak - PowerfulPromoter.com who is actually one of the inspirations for this article. I was on a tele-seminar with Matt once and he talked about how everything came to him so fast, once he knew what he wanted and started working toward it. Matt didn't know it but, his thoughts triggered my thoughts and the creation of this article!
Make no mistake, that although there are scientific explanations for the creation of matter through observation; WHO do you think created the matter in the mirror?
After all do you think that science didn't have a master observer?
Finally with that said...
Be cautious of your thoughts, they have the power to create!
Author BioRasheed Ali was once homeless and penniless on the streets of New York and is now helping to change the lives of THOUSANDS of people around the world with his innovative coaching, mentoring and newsletters. He is the worlds first Solution Coach and 80/20 Mentor. You can learn more about him and his newsletters at www.SleepYourWayToRiches.com
Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com - Free Website Content
Could you use a 'Stop Doing' list?
One of the tried and true organization and time-management tools is the trusty old "to do" list. I was trained to diligently put one together at the end of the day for the following day, and whatever tasks I failed to complete, to carry it forward. This system has worked well in helping me prioritize and focus. But I have also heard many of my colleagues complain about having too much on their list, and feeling very discouraged and overwhelmed by the sheer number of items on their "To Do" list. To help ease the overwhelm, I want to introduce the concept of the "Stop Doing" list.
I first read about the "Stop Doing" list in "Good to Great" by Jim Collins. He stated that one of the commonalities of the companies who were able to propel themselves from being just good to being great is that they all looked at what they were currently doing that they needed to Stop Doing. I am implementing this idea in a slightly different way, but I think a "Stop Doing" list can actually help your productivity and effectiveness.
So how do you decide what goes on your "Stop Doing" list? Here's what I suggest you do.
For the next week or two, each time you work on your "to do" list (and if you are not using one currently, I strongly recommend you start), or blocking off time for specific tasks in you planner, ask yourself this question: "does this task add value or generate positive results for me and my organization?" If the answer is no, it should go right on top of your "Stop Doing" list.
If the answer is "yes", ask yourself a second question: "am I the best person to do this task?" The first question tells you whether you can eliminate a task. This question tells you whether you can delegate a task. I know for solo-business people, you automatically think that you have no one to delegate any tasks to. But actually, that might not necessarily be true. Today, there is a whole network of virtual assistants who can handle a myriad of administrative work for you. Some accept work by the hour, and some accept work by the project. If you are interested in this resource, check out www.assistu.com
For some people, you may have to then overcome your resistance to delegating. I've heard many of the reasons. Do these sound familiar?
"By the time I explain it to someone else, I could have done it myself."
"I can't trust somebody else to do it right."
"It costs too much money." Some of these are completely legitimate concerns. However, before you dismiss the idea, consider the following:
Is the task repetitive so that the up-front time investment to train someone is actually worth it 3 months down the road?
Are you the most qualified person to complete the task, or could someone else do it in less time with less effort for better results?
If you didn't have to do the task, what would you choose to spend that time on, and what impact will that have on your business, or your life? So, after considering these tough questions, add your delegated task to your "Stop Doing" list as well and send them elsewhere, and I guarantee you will feel better.
Even though I wrote this article for people struggling with overload at work, the same approach can be applied to create a "Stop Doing" list for home. Think of the possibilities - you can delegate laundry, and cooking, and yard work, and cleaning, and what else?
Seriously, the current state of our lives is that there is generally too much to do and not enough time. So, go through this exercise at least once and see what you can shed from your "to do" list. If you like the results, then establish a routine and do this every 6 months or a year. The point is that you want to spend your time on high impact tasks, and work that you enjoy.
Author BioAre your business results suffering due to an ineffective leadership team? Find out what coaching with Inez Ng can do for your leadership team at www.Realizationsunltd.com Want to know about saving time handling emails? Check out her ebook at http://easyemailstrategies.com.
Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com
I first read about the "Stop Doing" list in "Good to Great" by Jim Collins. He stated that one of the commonalities of the companies who were able to propel themselves from being just good to being great is that they all looked at what they were currently doing that they needed to Stop Doing. I am implementing this idea in a slightly different way, but I think a "Stop Doing" list can actually help your productivity and effectiveness.
So how do you decide what goes on your "Stop Doing" list? Here's what I suggest you do.
For the next week or two, each time you work on your "to do" list (and if you are not using one currently, I strongly recommend you start), or blocking off time for specific tasks in you planner, ask yourself this question: "does this task add value or generate positive results for me and my organization?" If the answer is no, it should go right on top of your "Stop Doing" list.
If the answer is "yes", ask yourself a second question: "am I the best person to do this task?" The first question tells you whether you can eliminate a task. This question tells you whether you can delegate a task. I know for solo-business people, you automatically think that you have no one to delegate any tasks to. But actually, that might not necessarily be true. Today, there is a whole network of virtual assistants who can handle a myriad of administrative work for you. Some accept work by the hour, and some accept work by the project. If you are interested in this resource, check out www.assistu.com
For some people, you may have to then overcome your resistance to delegating. I've heard many of the reasons. Do these sound familiar?
"By the time I explain it to someone else, I could have done it myself."
"I can't trust somebody else to do it right."
"It costs too much money." Some of these are completely legitimate concerns. However, before you dismiss the idea, consider the following:
Is the task repetitive so that the up-front time investment to train someone is actually worth it 3 months down the road?
Are you the most qualified person to complete the task, or could someone else do it in less time with less effort for better results?
If you didn't have to do the task, what would you choose to spend that time on, and what impact will that have on your business, or your life? So, after considering these tough questions, add your delegated task to your "Stop Doing" list as well and send them elsewhere, and I guarantee you will feel better.
Even though I wrote this article for people struggling with overload at work, the same approach can be applied to create a "Stop Doing" list for home. Think of the possibilities - you can delegate laundry, and cooking, and yard work, and cleaning, and what else?
Seriously, the current state of our lives is that there is generally too much to do and not enough time. So, go through this exercise at least once and see what you can shed from your "to do" list. If you like the results, then establish a routine and do this every 6 months or a year. The point is that you want to spend your time on high impact tasks, and work that you enjoy.
Author BioAre your business results suffering due to an ineffective leadership team? Find out what coaching with Inez Ng can do for your leadership team at www.Realizationsunltd.com Want to know about saving time handling emails? Check out her ebook at http://easyemailstrategies.com.
Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com
Connecting With Bliss
Every day, I witness people leading chaotic lifestyles, responding like robots to the negative circumstances of their lives, creating more dissonance and conflict. They seek solace in the next best thing, person or position they can find, but always end up frustrated and wondering why they are not truly happy. It is a conundrum of sorts. Sadly, it is self-perpetuating. Stress, negativity and unpleasant reactions to everyday situations only beget more of the same experiences on a deeper level. This, of course, creates undue stress on your body, mind and spirit.
Letting the stress of unplanned or unwanted events influence the way you react to and view the world will always lead to turmoil. Living with a mind-set of negativity and fear will blind you to the miraculous flow of bliss, which is within and around you always.
I spent the better part of twenty years frustrated and unhappy with my life. Although I accomplished much more than I could ever have imagined possible, I still lived in a state of dissatisfaction. One would think being a Navy SEAL (the elite special warfare unit) would have been the pinnacle of my life, but I looked upon my military profession with disdain. Then I was living my childhood dream, playing guitar in a rock band, but irritability and aggravation permeated the mood of that environment. Years later, while running my scuba diving company, a day job that many people envied, I felt only petulance and exasperation. I dated many great women from all walks of life, but all my relationships ended in disaster. I moved from state to state, career to career and woman to woman, with no psychological or emotional liberation. I felt lost and I was suffering. I was wasting this precious life and something had to change. And one day, it did.
I often hiked to help temporarily alleviate the stress in my life. Being in the mountains took me to another place where I could, if only for a short time, escape the turmoil of my life. Waking up one morning angrier and more stressed than usual, I decided to forego work and hike a mountain near my home. As I stomped my way to the top, each footstep reverberated with anger. Hiking always helped relieve my anxiety, but I was finding little release this day. I knew I could not go on living like this. I had to figure something out, and fast. For almost a decade, I was unhappy and frustrated with wherever I was and with whatever I was doing. I knew my own choices had brought me to where I was, but that only made me feel worse. I had made the choices, so I must have deserved to feel that way. Despite my best efforts, I was not where I thought I would be. My business was extremely time-consuming and stressful, money always seemed short, my relationships were disastrous and I felt utterly alone in the world.
When I reached the summit, I found a quiet place to sit and think. I looked out and took in the beauty of the mountains and lakes. The warm summer breeze felt good on my face, and the many sounds of nature slightly quieted my mind and eased my tension. Exhausted, I laid back on a huge boulder to relax. I felt helpless and I prayed for an answer to come my way. My head was pounding so I closed my eyes and quickly fell asleep. I woke about forty minutes later, feeling kind of strange.
As I refocused my vision out over the breathtaking landscape, everything seemed surreal. It was so quiet, peaceful and unaffected by the chaotic state of the world. It was as if my worries and frustration were still sleeping. For a moment I thought perhaps I was just dreaming, but I was not. I wondered why life could not be this peaceful all the time. I took a deep breath and felt myself expanding into the vastness of the mountains. For the moment, I was on top of the world. Anything seemed feasible, and my mind was open to all the amazing possibilities of what I could do and be. I was elated-in a pure state of momentary ecstasy. If only it could last.
Quietly relishing the moment, I had what some might call an epiphany. I realized that all my problems were still waiting for me at the bottom of this mountain. Nothing had changed, yet something seemed very different. Why was I so happy here and now on the top of this mountain, but not happy at the bottom?
I sat thinking about this for a while, and then something occurred to me. I had heard it many times before, but never really grasped the concept. Bliss is a state of mind-a choice, a simple choice. While sleeping on the mountain, I had unconsciously connected with the flowing bliss of life. What if I actively chose to stay in this state as I hiked down the trail? Would it work, could it work? I decided to try. I figured if I could mentally bring myself back to this spot whenever I began to feel stressed or overwhelmed, I could reconnect with that feeling of bliss.
Before I left the serene summit for the turbid waters of normal life, I captured the essence of the moment in my head. I took a mental snapshot of the scenery, the smells, the sounds, and how I felt at that moment in time-empty of stress, full of peace. What I did next was the key to my success; in my mind, I created a Bliss Box-a special gold box for that moment to exist. In it, I put the embodiment of everything that helped to create the perfect peace I felt. I tied up the box with a gold ribbon and placed it on a storage shelf in my mind. I knew I could count on opening it later, and in the days that followed I was thoroughly amazed to find how well my Bliss Box worked.
Sometimes you can't control the situations you find yourself in, but you can control your emotions and your actions. By creating your own Bliss Box, you can find peace and harmony any time you choose.
It is said that to be human is to suffer, and yes this world can be a painful, harsh place. But it is the way you look at things that dictates the circumstances surrounding your life and the way you perceive the world. Contentment comes from within, and no amount of searching or material gain will lead you to blissful living. You and only you hold the key to happiness-use it often.
Author BioDavid Ferruolo is the author of 'Connecting with the Bliss of Life; Powerful Lessons for Living a Peaceful and Happy Life.' He is a former Navy SEAL, who has chosen a spiritual path. A lifetime of interest in philosophies and metaphysics gives David a vast knowledge bank of information for his writing and life coaching practice. David's life has been nothing less than inspirational. Visit his website at www.daveferruolo.com
Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com
Letting the stress of unplanned or unwanted events influence the way you react to and view the world will always lead to turmoil. Living with a mind-set of negativity and fear will blind you to the miraculous flow of bliss, which is within and around you always.
I spent the better part of twenty years frustrated and unhappy with my life. Although I accomplished much more than I could ever have imagined possible, I still lived in a state of dissatisfaction. One would think being a Navy SEAL (the elite special warfare unit) would have been the pinnacle of my life, but I looked upon my military profession with disdain. Then I was living my childhood dream, playing guitar in a rock band, but irritability and aggravation permeated the mood of that environment. Years later, while running my scuba diving company, a day job that many people envied, I felt only petulance and exasperation. I dated many great women from all walks of life, but all my relationships ended in disaster. I moved from state to state, career to career and woman to woman, with no psychological or emotional liberation. I felt lost and I was suffering. I was wasting this precious life and something had to change. And one day, it did.
I often hiked to help temporarily alleviate the stress in my life. Being in the mountains took me to another place where I could, if only for a short time, escape the turmoil of my life. Waking up one morning angrier and more stressed than usual, I decided to forego work and hike a mountain near my home. As I stomped my way to the top, each footstep reverberated with anger. Hiking always helped relieve my anxiety, but I was finding little release this day. I knew I could not go on living like this. I had to figure something out, and fast. For almost a decade, I was unhappy and frustrated with wherever I was and with whatever I was doing. I knew my own choices had brought me to where I was, but that only made me feel worse. I had made the choices, so I must have deserved to feel that way. Despite my best efforts, I was not where I thought I would be. My business was extremely time-consuming and stressful, money always seemed short, my relationships were disastrous and I felt utterly alone in the world.
When I reached the summit, I found a quiet place to sit and think. I looked out and took in the beauty of the mountains and lakes. The warm summer breeze felt good on my face, and the many sounds of nature slightly quieted my mind and eased my tension. Exhausted, I laid back on a huge boulder to relax. I felt helpless and I prayed for an answer to come my way. My head was pounding so I closed my eyes and quickly fell asleep. I woke about forty minutes later, feeling kind of strange.
As I refocused my vision out over the breathtaking landscape, everything seemed surreal. It was so quiet, peaceful and unaffected by the chaotic state of the world. It was as if my worries and frustration were still sleeping. For a moment I thought perhaps I was just dreaming, but I was not. I wondered why life could not be this peaceful all the time. I took a deep breath and felt myself expanding into the vastness of the mountains. For the moment, I was on top of the world. Anything seemed feasible, and my mind was open to all the amazing possibilities of what I could do and be. I was elated-in a pure state of momentary ecstasy. If only it could last.
Quietly relishing the moment, I had what some might call an epiphany. I realized that all my problems were still waiting for me at the bottom of this mountain. Nothing had changed, yet something seemed very different. Why was I so happy here and now on the top of this mountain, but not happy at the bottom?
I sat thinking about this for a while, and then something occurred to me. I had heard it many times before, but never really grasped the concept. Bliss is a state of mind-a choice, a simple choice. While sleeping on the mountain, I had unconsciously connected with the flowing bliss of life. What if I actively chose to stay in this state as I hiked down the trail? Would it work, could it work? I decided to try. I figured if I could mentally bring myself back to this spot whenever I began to feel stressed or overwhelmed, I could reconnect with that feeling of bliss.
Before I left the serene summit for the turbid waters of normal life, I captured the essence of the moment in my head. I took a mental snapshot of the scenery, the smells, the sounds, and how I felt at that moment in time-empty of stress, full of peace. What I did next was the key to my success; in my mind, I created a Bliss Box-a special gold box for that moment to exist. In it, I put the embodiment of everything that helped to create the perfect peace I felt. I tied up the box with a gold ribbon and placed it on a storage shelf in my mind. I knew I could count on opening it later, and in the days that followed I was thoroughly amazed to find how well my Bliss Box worked.
Sometimes you can't control the situations you find yourself in, but you can control your emotions and your actions. By creating your own Bliss Box, you can find peace and harmony any time you choose.
It is said that to be human is to suffer, and yes this world can be a painful, harsh place. But it is the way you look at things that dictates the circumstances surrounding your life and the way you perceive the world. Contentment comes from within, and no amount of searching or material gain will lead you to blissful living. You and only you hold the key to happiness-use it often.
Author BioDavid Ferruolo is the author of 'Connecting with the Bliss of Life; Powerful Lessons for Living a Peaceful and Happy Life.' He is a former Navy SEAL, who has chosen a spiritual path. A lifetime of interest in philosophies and metaphysics gives David a vast knowledge bank of information for his writing and life coaching practice. David's life has been nothing less than inspirational. Visit his website at www.daveferruolo.com
Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com
Sunday, February 24, 2008
The Hidden Effects of Childhood Maltreatment and How Life Coaching Can Help
Violence against women is one of the primary health problems facing adults today. Many people are not aware that childhood maltreatment is a powerful risk factor for health problems in adulthood. Its victims can suffer lifelong health effects.
Maltreatment is best viewed as a risk factor for a wide range of subsequent health problems. Were you neglected, sexually abused or physically abused as a child? An important step is to face the truth about how you suffered as a child. Health effects have to be assessed within a developmental perspective. There are several avenues by which abuse can affect health.
The first avenue is physiological. Traumatic events can alter the brain and body. The human system of self defense becomes disorganized and overwhelmed. Traumatic events produce profound changes in physiological arousal. The nervous system becomes sensitized and comes to anticipate trauma. There can be dental, vision or hearing problems. An adult can suffer from headaches, backaches, chest pain, pelvic pain, chronic pain and fatigue.
A second way that abuse that affect health is behavioral. Adult survivors may engage in harmful actions or behaviors and become very self destructive. Some behavioral examples are self-injury, shame, suicide attempts, eating disorders, high risk sexual activity, compulsive spending and gambling and substance misuse. These behaviors may be used to numb feelings so the pain can be coped with. These high risk behaviors can impact health.
A third avenue is cognitive - child abuse is associated with distorted beliefs and perceptions about one’s self and one’s behaviors. These negative beliefs can undermine health and lead to low self-esteem, self blame and feelings of worthlessness and inadequacy. It may be common for adults to have perceptions of helplessness, chronic danger and consequent hyper-vigilance. An adult may become shamed-based and feel they are worthless, unacceptable and bad. This vicious cycle can drive a victim inside a private world of suffering, loss of power, re-victimization and deep self doubt. Beliefs can certainly impact health.
Interpersonal difficulties is another avenue. Adults survivors can have difficulties in their adult relationships. Examples include difficulties in trusting others, inability to set boundaries, avoidance of intimacy and close relationships and sexual difficulties. These difficulties can result in social isolation, marital disruptions and divorce. Past maltreatment or victimization can set up an adult victim for relationship failures. This can lead to poor health outcomes.
Finally, the fifth avenue can be in the area of emotional difficulties. An adult victim can have anxiety, fear, terror, and sadness. They may adopt a position of surrendering to life and feel they are abandoned to their fate. They may develop antisocial behaviors that isolate them in relating to others. An adult may suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder which can significantly impact daily life. Another result could be depression and that disorder can have a devastating affect on health.
A history of childhood victimization and maltreatment can have a significant impact on adult health. It can be associated with a range of difficulties in adulthood.
Developing healthier coping skills is a major focus of personal coaching with an adult who has this history. Coaching can assist an adult in managing stress more effectively. Personal coaching can help an adult to learn to nurture and care for themselves. There is alot of power in self care. You deserve to live a most joyful and healthy life and personal coaching can assist you on your path to extreme self care and wellness.
About The Author
Debra Tullis, MSW, LCSW, BCD is a life coach and a clinical therapist. She has a Master’s Degree in Social Work and worked in the social service field for the last 24 years. She is Board Certified in Clinical Social Work and is working toward a certification in life coaching. She is the owner of Coaching for the Good Life and is a member of the International Coach Federation, Coachville, and the International Association of Coaches. To learn more about Debra’s services email her at lifeisgood2@sbcglobal.net or visit her website at www.coachingforthegoodlife.com.
Maltreatment is best viewed as a risk factor for a wide range of subsequent health problems. Were you neglected, sexually abused or physically abused as a child? An important step is to face the truth about how you suffered as a child. Health effects have to be assessed within a developmental perspective. There are several avenues by which abuse can affect health.
The first avenue is physiological. Traumatic events can alter the brain and body. The human system of self defense becomes disorganized and overwhelmed. Traumatic events produce profound changes in physiological arousal. The nervous system becomes sensitized and comes to anticipate trauma. There can be dental, vision or hearing problems. An adult can suffer from headaches, backaches, chest pain, pelvic pain, chronic pain and fatigue.
A second way that abuse that affect health is behavioral. Adult survivors may engage in harmful actions or behaviors and become very self destructive. Some behavioral examples are self-injury, shame, suicide attempts, eating disorders, high risk sexual activity, compulsive spending and gambling and substance misuse. These behaviors may be used to numb feelings so the pain can be coped with. These high risk behaviors can impact health.
A third avenue is cognitive - child abuse is associated with distorted beliefs and perceptions about one’s self and one’s behaviors. These negative beliefs can undermine health and lead to low self-esteem, self blame and feelings of worthlessness and inadequacy. It may be common for adults to have perceptions of helplessness, chronic danger and consequent hyper-vigilance. An adult may become shamed-based and feel they are worthless, unacceptable and bad. This vicious cycle can drive a victim inside a private world of suffering, loss of power, re-victimization and deep self doubt. Beliefs can certainly impact health.
Interpersonal difficulties is another avenue. Adults survivors can have difficulties in their adult relationships. Examples include difficulties in trusting others, inability to set boundaries, avoidance of intimacy and close relationships and sexual difficulties. These difficulties can result in social isolation, marital disruptions and divorce. Past maltreatment or victimization can set up an adult victim for relationship failures. This can lead to poor health outcomes.
Finally, the fifth avenue can be in the area of emotional difficulties. An adult victim can have anxiety, fear, terror, and sadness. They may adopt a position of surrendering to life and feel they are abandoned to their fate. They may develop antisocial behaviors that isolate them in relating to others. An adult may suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder which can significantly impact daily life. Another result could be depression and that disorder can have a devastating affect on health.
A history of childhood victimization and maltreatment can have a significant impact on adult health. It can be associated with a range of difficulties in adulthood.
Developing healthier coping skills is a major focus of personal coaching with an adult who has this history. Coaching can assist an adult in managing stress more effectively. Personal coaching can help an adult to learn to nurture and care for themselves. There is alot of power in self care. You deserve to live a most joyful and healthy life and personal coaching can assist you on your path to extreme self care and wellness.
About The Author
Debra Tullis, MSW, LCSW, BCD is a life coach and a clinical therapist. She has a Master’s Degree in Social Work and worked in the social service field for the last 24 years. She is Board Certified in Clinical Social Work and is working toward a certification in life coaching. She is the owner of Coaching for the Good Life and is a member of the International Coach Federation, Coachville, and the International Association of Coaches. To learn more about Debra’s services email her at lifeisgood2@sbcglobal.net or visit her website at www.coachingforthegoodlife.com.
Developing a Marketing Mindset in Life Coaching: Part Two
In a previous ezine we discussed the distinction between an Influencing Paradigm, and a Service Paradigm, to marketing your coaching business. We discussed how marketing your business is both ethically valid and commercially crucial, and how marketing is a critical process in achieving your coaching objective of having a positive impact on the lives of others.
To quickly surmise, we explained that people with an Influencing Paradigm mindset perceive marketing to be ‘leading’ and ‘salesy.’ They come from the paradigm that by marketing you are proactively influencing someone in their decisions. Or specifically that you may make someone do something they would not otherwise do.
People from the Service Paradigm school of thought accept that prospects are people that have identified for themselves their need to invoke change. And they’ve identified that a coach will assist them make that change. They recognise that the prospect has made the intellectual link between their needs and how they want those needs to be fulfilled.
To be a successful coach, or in fact successful in any business, it’s critical that you embrace a Service Paradigm mindset toward your marketing.
In this article we’re going to further explore exactly how you can develop a Service Paradigm marketing mindset.
Before we can begin to discuss how you can develop your Service Paradigm mindset, let’s look at some of the characteristics. Coaches with a Service Paradigm recognise that to assist clients meet their objectives, they need to:
- Recognise that everyone in business is in the business of marketing. Without clients they’ll have no one to deliver their services too and hence no one to assist.
- Actively promote their services through compelling advertising that clearly describes what they can offer clients.
- Ethically promote their services with vigilance.
- Recognise the cycle of life of their prospects and regularly promote their services for as long as prospects allow.
- Understand that hey are often in a superior position of knowledge to ascertain what their client needs to assist them attain their goals.
- Be empathic to the needs of clients and actively offer solutions to them through various products and services.
- Value their client’s intellect and decision making ability.
- Not pre-empt their client’s wants and hence limit the range and scope of products and services they offer them.
- Always acts as an ethical adviser.
As a coach, to outwit your competitors you must create a niche; and to build a successful business you must attain a Service Paradigm marketing mindset.
To develop your Service Paradigm marketing mindset:
1. Be determined to succeed. You need to be absolutely determined that you’re going to succeed. If you just want to succeed, but you’re not willing to go the extra mile, you’ll get swept aside by those that are more determined. If you are truly determined, you’ll be confident and this confidence will automatically show in your business and be transparent to prospective clients, peers and the general public. Prospective clients will want to be associated with you, and clients will want to continue their involvement.
2. Persevere. Coaches with a marketing mindset embrace challenges as part of life and part of business. If you perceive challenges as impassable barriers you’ll never develop a marketing mindset. It’s crucial you accept you’re going to confront hurdles as part of business. How you perceive these hurdles, as opportunities or barriers, will drastically influence your level of success. Perseverance is a key ingredient in developing a marketing mindset.
3. Remain positive. Literally nothing destroys a marketing mindset more than a negative attitude. A marketing mindset is a ‘can do’ attitude. Faced with the same challenge, the coach with a positive ‘can do’ marketing mindset will find a way; the coach with a defeatist attitude will submit and fail.
4. Set Goals. As a coach this is something you should know a lot about. Set yourself specific, achievable, stretch goals.
5. Plan a strategy. Establish a specific plan of action to attain your goals. Identify what resources you’ll need and the possible challenges you may confront.
6. Implement your plan. This is the most difficult part. Implementation of your plan. Modify it where required, change your goals as others are attained, modify your plan if flaws are perceived, but always continue implementing. Non-action is the precursor of business failure. If you continue to implement, your business will always sustain forward momentum. If you have momentum, your direction (goals and plans) can always be adjusted.
7. Keep marketing. Your success or failure hinges on your marketing. Always maintain your marketing mindset. Always be focussed on marketing. It’s a common trap to get caught up in the day to day ‘operation’ of your business and put marketing aside. This is a recipe for disaster. How effectively you market will be the most influential determinant on the success (or otherwise) of your business. Marketing is not difficult or confusing, but it does require significant ongoing diligence and attention. The moment you lose focus on marketing your business is the moment your business performance will suffer.
About The Author
This article was produced by the Life Coaching Institute, Australia’s leading coach training organisation. If you enjoyed this article and would like a FREE EDUCATIONAL GIFT, visit us at www.lcia.com.au/lz.
You may reproduce this content if you: a) Use it in it’s original form with NO changes; b) Notify LCI of such use at lci@lcia.com.au including your name, email address, the destination where the content has been published; and c) Include the byline “ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Life Coaching Institute is Australia’s leading coach training organisation. Learn more about LCI coach training programs and receive a FREE GIFT at www.lcia.com.au/lz.”
pedro@lcia.com.au
To quickly surmise, we explained that people with an Influencing Paradigm mindset perceive marketing to be ‘leading’ and ‘salesy.’ They come from the paradigm that by marketing you are proactively influencing someone in their decisions. Or specifically that you may make someone do something they would not otherwise do.
People from the Service Paradigm school of thought accept that prospects are people that have identified for themselves their need to invoke change. And they’ve identified that a coach will assist them make that change. They recognise that the prospect has made the intellectual link between their needs and how they want those needs to be fulfilled.
To be a successful coach, or in fact successful in any business, it’s critical that you embrace a Service Paradigm mindset toward your marketing.
In this article we’re going to further explore exactly how you can develop a Service Paradigm marketing mindset.
Before we can begin to discuss how you can develop your Service Paradigm mindset, let’s look at some of the characteristics. Coaches with a Service Paradigm recognise that to assist clients meet their objectives, they need to:
- Recognise that everyone in business is in the business of marketing. Without clients they’ll have no one to deliver their services too and hence no one to assist.
- Actively promote their services through compelling advertising that clearly describes what they can offer clients.
- Ethically promote their services with vigilance.
- Recognise the cycle of life of their prospects and regularly promote their services for as long as prospects allow.
- Understand that hey are often in a superior position of knowledge to ascertain what their client needs to assist them attain their goals.
- Be empathic to the needs of clients and actively offer solutions to them through various products and services.
- Value their client’s intellect and decision making ability.
- Not pre-empt their client’s wants and hence limit the range and scope of products and services they offer them.
- Always acts as an ethical adviser.
As a coach, to outwit your competitors you must create a niche; and to build a successful business you must attain a Service Paradigm marketing mindset.
To develop your Service Paradigm marketing mindset:
1. Be determined to succeed. You need to be absolutely determined that you’re going to succeed. If you just want to succeed, but you’re not willing to go the extra mile, you’ll get swept aside by those that are more determined. If you are truly determined, you’ll be confident and this confidence will automatically show in your business and be transparent to prospective clients, peers and the general public. Prospective clients will want to be associated with you, and clients will want to continue their involvement.
2. Persevere. Coaches with a marketing mindset embrace challenges as part of life and part of business. If you perceive challenges as impassable barriers you’ll never develop a marketing mindset. It’s crucial you accept you’re going to confront hurdles as part of business. How you perceive these hurdles, as opportunities or barriers, will drastically influence your level of success. Perseverance is a key ingredient in developing a marketing mindset.
3. Remain positive. Literally nothing destroys a marketing mindset more than a negative attitude. A marketing mindset is a ‘can do’ attitude. Faced with the same challenge, the coach with a positive ‘can do’ marketing mindset will find a way; the coach with a defeatist attitude will submit and fail.
4. Set Goals. As a coach this is something you should know a lot about. Set yourself specific, achievable, stretch goals.
5. Plan a strategy. Establish a specific plan of action to attain your goals. Identify what resources you’ll need and the possible challenges you may confront.
6. Implement your plan. This is the most difficult part. Implementation of your plan. Modify it where required, change your goals as others are attained, modify your plan if flaws are perceived, but always continue implementing. Non-action is the precursor of business failure. If you continue to implement, your business will always sustain forward momentum. If you have momentum, your direction (goals and plans) can always be adjusted.
7. Keep marketing. Your success or failure hinges on your marketing. Always maintain your marketing mindset. Always be focussed on marketing. It’s a common trap to get caught up in the day to day ‘operation’ of your business and put marketing aside. This is a recipe for disaster. How effectively you market will be the most influential determinant on the success (or otherwise) of your business. Marketing is not difficult or confusing, but it does require significant ongoing diligence and attention. The moment you lose focus on marketing your business is the moment your business performance will suffer.
About The Author
This article was produced by the Life Coaching Institute, Australia’s leading coach training organisation. If you enjoyed this article and would like a FREE EDUCATIONAL GIFT, visit us at www.lcia.com.au/lz.
You may reproduce this content if you: a) Use it in it’s original form with NO changes; b) Notify LCI of such use at lci@lcia.com.au including your name, email address, the destination where the content has been published; and c) Include the byline “ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Life Coaching Institute is Australia’s leading coach training organisation. Learn more about LCI coach training programs and receive a FREE GIFT at www.lcia.com.au/lz.”
pedro@lcia.com.au
Developing a Marketing Mindset in Life Coaching: Part One
Most coaches get involved in coaching for one extremely compelling and valuable purpose – because they want to make a positive impact to the lives of others.
As a coach, the extent to which you are able to fulfil that objective is contingent upon two factors. Firstly, your skill and effectiveness as a coach; and secondly, on the number of clients you are able to affect through the application of your services. The purpose of this article is to focus on the second factor.
In the process of assisting people, it’s also possible for coaches to develop a fruitful lifestyle for themselves along the way. In fact, these objectives are entirely complimentary.
Many business people, including coaches, fail to recognise the important ethical role that marketing plays in their business. In doing so they develop a mindset that is self defeating to themselves, their business, and their clients.
As a coach, you are in business. How effectively you operate your business is entirely contingent on you. There are enormously successful coaches (in terms of client numbers, income and coaching outcomes), and coaches that are barely able to etch out a living. The difference between these extremes is not their coaching competency, but rather their mindset. You may be an incredibly skilful coach, but unless you have people willing to use your services, your skills are of little to no value.
So what mindset does it take to be a successful coach?
A successful coaching mindset:
- Puts the needs of prospects and clients first;
- Actively seeks to assist clients attain their objectives;
- Is empathetic to the needs of clients and prospects;
- Doesn’t limit the service offered to clients, and
- Acts as an ethical adviser.
It takes a Marketing Mindset to be a successful coach.
We regularly hear of coaches that feel as though marketing is ‘leading’ and ‘unethical.’ They feel as though it’s too ‘salesy’ and don’t feel comfortable with it. For those coaches, we’re going to explain why marketing is both ethically valid and commercially crucial.
Ethical Validity
There is an enormous (and growing) volume of people in society that would benefit from coaching services. Let’s call these people prospective coaching clients, or prospects. These prospects have specific goals they’d like to achieve, or challenges they’d like to overcome, with a view to leading a better and more fulfilling life.
As a coach you have a certain duty of care to assist these people. You can only begin to assist them once they’re utilising your services. Marketing is the link between the prospects desire and your ability to assist them fulfil their desire.
Marketing only becomes unethical in the circumstance that you are not able to fulfil your marketing promise to your client. In this instance you’ve misled your client, either knowingly or unknowingly, and have acted unethically.
On the premise that prospects will seek a coach to assist them attain their specific goals, it’s the ethical obligation of coaches to help prospects select a coach that will best be able to assist them. To do this coaches should fully, comprehensively and transparently disclose to prospects what services they offer; where their specialties lie; what experience they have; how they’ve assisted people with similar desires in the past; and how using their services will benefit them. Or to state it more simply, to undertake marketing.
Commercially Crucial
Marketing is commercially crucial because it links prospects that desire a certain outcome with skilled professionals trained to assist them achieve that outcome. It identifies you as someone that may be able to assist prospects with their pre-qualified needs. By seeking out information on coaching services, prospects have already identified for themselves:
1. That there are certain things in their life they’d like to attain or challenges they’d like to overcome.
2. That a coach is a person with the requisite skills and experience to assist them.
3. That they are willing to invest financially in the process.
The above is an extremely important point, and one that coaches need to accept.
As we explained earlier, coaches generally come from one of two schools of thought with respect to marketing.
The first school of thought perceives marketing to be ‘leading’ and ‘salesy.’ They come from the paradigm that by marketing you are proactively influencing someone in their decisions. Or specifically that you may make someone do something they would not otherwise do. We call this train of thought the Influencing Paradigm.
The second school of thought accepts that prospects are people that have identified for themselves their need to invoke change. And they’ve identified that a coach will assist them make that change. They recognise that the prospect has made the intellectual link between their needs and how they want those needs to be fulfilled. We call this train of thought the Service Paradigm.
The thought processes of these two perspectives are entirely dipolar. One positions the prospect as someone reluctantly influenced into utilising a service, and the other positions the prospect as a proactive individual capable of determining their needs that has actively sought out coaching services.
As a coach, it’s critical that you put yourself in the second paradigm of thinking. Only then will you be able to ethically fulfil your objective of assisting your clients. And only then will you be able to fulfil your symbiotic goal of building a successful coaching business.
By putting yourself in the Service Paradigm of thought you will recognise that to assist clients meet their objectives, you should:
- Actively promote your services through compelling advertising that clearly describes what you can offer clients.
- Understand that as a coach and a trusted advisor you are often in a better position of knowledge to ascertain your client needs to assist them attain their goals.
- Be empathetic to the needs of your clients and actively offer solutions to them through various products and services.
- Value your client’s intellect and decision making ability.
- Do not pre-empt your client’s wants and hence limit the range and scope of products and services you offer them.
- Always acts as an ethical adviser.
Once you embrace the Service Paradigm to marketing, you’ll realise that marketing provides you with a much greater opportunity to fulfil your primary objectives – to assist your clients, and to build a successful coaching business. These objectives become complimentary and you create a truly win-win situation between the desires of your clients and your own desires.
In a future edition we’ll provide you with further information on how to develop your Marketing Mindset and a Service Paradigm.
While an individual would like to improve an aspect or certain aspects of their life so they can achieve a specific goal, or set of goals.
About The Author
This article was produced by the Life Coaching Institute, Australia’s leading coach training organisation. If you enjoyed this article and would like a FREE EDUCATIONAL GIFT, visit us at www.lcia.com.au/lz.
You may reproduce this content if you: a) Use it in it’s original form with NO changes; b) Notify LCI of such use at lci@lcia.com.au including your name, email address, the destination where the content has been published; and c) Include the byline "ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Life Coaching Institute is Australia’s leading coach training organisation. Learn more about LCI coach training programs and receive a FREE GIFT at www.lcia.com.au/lz"
pedro@lcia.com.au
As a coach, the extent to which you are able to fulfil that objective is contingent upon two factors. Firstly, your skill and effectiveness as a coach; and secondly, on the number of clients you are able to affect through the application of your services. The purpose of this article is to focus on the second factor.
In the process of assisting people, it’s also possible for coaches to develop a fruitful lifestyle for themselves along the way. In fact, these objectives are entirely complimentary.
Many business people, including coaches, fail to recognise the important ethical role that marketing plays in their business. In doing so they develop a mindset that is self defeating to themselves, their business, and their clients.
As a coach, you are in business. How effectively you operate your business is entirely contingent on you. There are enormously successful coaches (in terms of client numbers, income and coaching outcomes), and coaches that are barely able to etch out a living. The difference between these extremes is not their coaching competency, but rather their mindset. You may be an incredibly skilful coach, but unless you have people willing to use your services, your skills are of little to no value.
So what mindset does it take to be a successful coach?
A successful coaching mindset:
- Puts the needs of prospects and clients first;
- Actively seeks to assist clients attain their objectives;
- Is empathetic to the needs of clients and prospects;
- Doesn’t limit the service offered to clients, and
- Acts as an ethical adviser.
It takes a Marketing Mindset to be a successful coach.
We regularly hear of coaches that feel as though marketing is ‘leading’ and ‘unethical.’ They feel as though it’s too ‘salesy’ and don’t feel comfortable with it. For those coaches, we’re going to explain why marketing is both ethically valid and commercially crucial.
Ethical Validity
There is an enormous (and growing) volume of people in society that would benefit from coaching services. Let’s call these people prospective coaching clients, or prospects. These prospects have specific goals they’d like to achieve, or challenges they’d like to overcome, with a view to leading a better and more fulfilling life.
As a coach you have a certain duty of care to assist these people. You can only begin to assist them once they’re utilising your services. Marketing is the link between the prospects desire and your ability to assist them fulfil their desire.
Marketing only becomes unethical in the circumstance that you are not able to fulfil your marketing promise to your client. In this instance you’ve misled your client, either knowingly or unknowingly, and have acted unethically.
On the premise that prospects will seek a coach to assist them attain their specific goals, it’s the ethical obligation of coaches to help prospects select a coach that will best be able to assist them. To do this coaches should fully, comprehensively and transparently disclose to prospects what services they offer; where their specialties lie; what experience they have; how they’ve assisted people with similar desires in the past; and how using their services will benefit them. Or to state it more simply, to undertake marketing.
Commercially Crucial
Marketing is commercially crucial because it links prospects that desire a certain outcome with skilled professionals trained to assist them achieve that outcome. It identifies you as someone that may be able to assist prospects with their pre-qualified needs. By seeking out information on coaching services, prospects have already identified for themselves:
1. That there are certain things in their life they’d like to attain or challenges they’d like to overcome.
2. That a coach is a person with the requisite skills and experience to assist them.
3. That they are willing to invest financially in the process.
The above is an extremely important point, and one that coaches need to accept.
As we explained earlier, coaches generally come from one of two schools of thought with respect to marketing.
The first school of thought perceives marketing to be ‘leading’ and ‘salesy.’ They come from the paradigm that by marketing you are proactively influencing someone in their decisions. Or specifically that you may make someone do something they would not otherwise do. We call this train of thought the Influencing Paradigm.
The second school of thought accepts that prospects are people that have identified for themselves their need to invoke change. And they’ve identified that a coach will assist them make that change. They recognise that the prospect has made the intellectual link between their needs and how they want those needs to be fulfilled. We call this train of thought the Service Paradigm.
The thought processes of these two perspectives are entirely dipolar. One positions the prospect as someone reluctantly influenced into utilising a service, and the other positions the prospect as a proactive individual capable of determining their needs that has actively sought out coaching services.
As a coach, it’s critical that you put yourself in the second paradigm of thinking. Only then will you be able to ethically fulfil your objective of assisting your clients. And only then will you be able to fulfil your symbiotic goal of building a successful coaching business.
By putting yourself in the Service Paradigm of thought you will recognise that to assist clients meet their objectives, you should:
- Actively promote your services through compelling advertising that clearly describes what you can offer clients.
- Understand that as a coach and a trusted advisor you are often in a better position of knowledge to ascertain your client needs to assist them attain their goals.
- Be empathetic to the needs of your clients and actively offer solutions to them through various products and services.
- Value your client’s intellect and decision making ability.
- Do not pre-empt your client’s wants and hence limit the range and scope of products and services you offer them.
- Always acts as an ethical adviser.
Once you embrace the Service Paradigm to marketing, you’ll realise that marketing provides you with a much greater opportunity to fulfil your primary objectives – to assist your clients, and to build a successful coaching business. These objectives become complimentary and you create a truly win-win situation between the desires of your clients and your own desires.
In a future edition we’ll provide you with further information on how to develop your Marketing Mindset and a Service Paradigm.
While an individual would like to improve an aspect or certain aspects of their life so they can achieve a specific goal, or set of goals.
About The Author
This article was produced by the Life Coaching Institute, Australia’s leading coach training organisation. If you enjoyed this article and would like a FREE EDUCATIONAL GIFT, visit us at www.lcia.com.au/lz.
You may reproduce this content if you: a) Use it in it’s original form with NO changes; b) Notify LCI of such use at lci@lcia.com.au including your name, email address, the destination where the content has been published; and c) Include the byline "ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Life Coaching Institute is Australia’s leading coach training organisation. Learn more about LCI coach training programs and receive a FREE GIFT at www.lcia.com.au/lz"
pedro@lcia.com.au
Life Balance Coaching: Balance Work and Life Like a Pro
“Circumstances are the rulers of the weak; they are but the instruments of the wise.” --Samuel Lover
One of the most common complaints of clients who want life balance coaching is that their plate is fuller than full. From professional to business owner to home maker, having a quality life has become increasingly challenging. The demands of modern life often leave some people feeling dragged out and inadequate instead of personally empowered. Many people know intellectually that they can’t give 100% to everything, yet still they have unreasonable expectations for themselves. As a result something’s gotta give, and usually, it is their self-care & personal fulfillment.
Is your development in career, relationships, or other life categories suffering because you take on too much? See if this sounds like something you might be saying to yourself. “Life just seems to be whizzing by me, and I don’t really feel as though I’m spending enough quality time on the things that matter most to me. I worry a lot that I’m going to somehow miss my life and then it will be over.”
Life’s demands may not slow up any time soon, and learning life balance is an ongoing art. If you think one day you will get it all done, and then you can relax, you are bound to be disappointed.
So then how can we create an alternative to the demands of this fast-paced, over-busy society? Women and men alike want to insure that those things of greatest importance to them get the amount of attention they deserve.
While there aren’t always simple answers to a quality lifestyle in which balance reigns, here are some basic life management skills that our life balane coaching clients have found extremely helpful:
Number one: Identify the top four priority categories in your life that you want to balance (i.e., spirituality/personal development, family/relationship, career, personal care/health) and honestly assess how much time you give to each category.
Often, people have expectations of themselves that are unreasonable given the amount of time they actually have to devote to something. If, for example, you are giving only 50% of your time to a career, it is truly unreasonable to expect yourself to be a superstar in that category. But if kids and family are a top priority to you, giving only 50% to career is probably the most you could give and still have enough time and energy left over.
Number two: Write things down! Don’t use your brain as your day planner. Doing so increases stress. Consider making five separate life balance “to do” lists. The first four lists correlate with your four top priority life categories (from our example above, one for spirituality/personal development, one for family/relationships, one for career/work and one for personal care/health). Then the fifth list would be for general “to do’s” that don’t fit into those top four categories.
From these lists make sure you schedule the important items in your priority categories first, before anything else makes it onto your calendar. As a result you won’t have to worry whether you’re making time for priorities. Then you can pick and choose from your general to do list which additional activities you may need to, have to or (actually want to), fit in. By the way, don’t be afraid to use that good word “no” to any time-robbers you identify!
Number three: Practice being in the present moment only. Let’s say you’re always thinking about your endless pile of work at the office when you’re home with the family. Fact is there is absolutely nothing you can do about those things on your desk. Worrying about it takes precious time and attention away from your priorities and increases your feelings of dissatisfaction about life.
It takes practice and some mental self-control to keep your attention on what’s happening in the present moment, but this tip alone will bring huge rewards. When you savor the series of life moments one by one, you will find you don’t feel as though you’re missing out.
Be patient and loving with yourself, whether you apply the above tips yourself or integrate them into your life through Life Balance Coaching. Always remember, life balance is an ongoing process and it will throw you curve balls from time to time. The key to growth and personal fulfillment is to remember it is a process rather than an event. But with practice, you will find coming back to equilibrium gets quicker & easier. As a result, you will enjoy life more and have a more consistent experience of happiness.
About The Author
Through testing and intuition, Dr. Christina Winsey-Rudd (The "I Can" Doctor) helps clients make leaps in achievement, health, satisfaction and productivity when they make positive shifts in three life areas. Learn more at www.FeroceCoaching.com.
One of the most common complaints of clients who want life balance coaching is that their plate is fuller than full. From professional to business owner to home maker, having a quality life has become increasingly challenging. The demands of modern life often leave some people feeling dragged out and inadequate instead of personally empowered. Many people know intellectually that they can’t give 100% to everything, yet still they have unreasonable expectations for themselves. As a result something’s gotta give, and usually, it is their self-care & personal fulfillment.
Is your development in career, relationships, or other life categories suffering because you take on too much? See if this sounds like something you might be saying to yourself. “Life just seems to be whizzing by me, and I don’t really feel as though I’m spending enough quality time on the things that matter most to me. I worry a lot that I’m going to somehow miss my life and then it will be over.”
Life’s demands may not slow up any time soon, and learning life balance is an ongoing art. If you think one day you will get it all done, and then you can relax, you are bound to be disappointed.
So then how can we create an alternative to the demands of this fast-paced, over-busy society? Women and men alike want to insure that those things of greatest importance to them get the amount of attention they deserve.
While there aren’t always simple answers to a quality lifestyle in which balance reigns, here are some basic life management skills that our life balane coaching clients have found extremely helpful:
Number one: Identify the top four priority categories in your life that you want to balance (i.e., spirituality/personal development, family/relationship, career, personal care/health) and honestly assess how much time you give to each category.
Often, people have expectations of themselves that are unreasonable given the amount of time they actually have to devote to something. If, for example, you are giving only 50% of your time to a career, it is truly unreasonable to expect yourself to be a superstar in that category. But if kids and family are a top priority to you, giving only 50% to career is probably the most you could give and still have enough time and energy left over.
Number two: Write things down! Don’t use your brain as your day planner. Doing so increases stress. Consider making five separate life balance “to do” lists. The first four lists correlate with your four top priority life categories (from our example above, one for spirituality/personal development, one for family/relationships, one for career/work and one for personal care/health). Then the fifth list would be for general “to do’s” that don’t fit into those top four categories.
From these lists make sure you schedule the important items in your priority categories first, before anything else makes it onto your calendar. As a result you won’t have to worry whether you’re making time for priorities. Then you can pick and choose from your general to do list which additional activities you may need to, have to or (actually want to), fit in. By the way, don’t be afraid to use that good word “no” to any time-robbers you identify!
Number three: Practice being in the present moment only. Let’s say you’re always thinking about your endless pile of work at the office when you’re home with the family. Fact is there is absolutely nothing you can do about those things on your desk. Worrying about it takes precious time and attention away from your priorities and increases your feelings of dissatisfaction about life.
It takes practice and some mental self-control to keep your attention on what’s happening in the present moment, but this tip alone will bring huge rewards. When you savor the series of life moments one by one, you will find you don’t feel as though you’re missing out.
Be patient and loving with yourself, whether you apply the above tips yourself or integrate them into your life through Life Balance Coaching. Always remember, life balance is an ongoing process and it will throw you curve balls from time to time. The key to growth and personal fulfillment is to remember it is a process rather than an event. But with practice, you will find coming back to equilibrium gets quicker & easier. As a result, you will enjoy life more and have a more consistent experience of happiness.
About The Author
Through testing and intuition, Dr. Christina Winsey-Rudd (The "I Can" Doctor) helps clients make leaps in achievement, health, satisfaction and productivity when they make positive shifts in three life areas. Learn more at www.FeroceCoaching.com.
Challenges that Face Life Coaching as a Profession
With the Labor Movement growth in the 1800’s, the eight hour work day was created. These union strikes, such as the Haymarket and Pullman , ended in much bloodshed as workers united against business and the government. Some might ask what need do we have for Life Coaches? Starting in 1996, many corporations discovered the high threshold for workers to double their productivity at the cost of hiring fewer employees. With the initial cost savings in Medicare, social security, and Unemployment insurance; employers seen the benefits of reversing the popular stopgap on overtime. Unlimited overtime and unemployment was on the rise. For those still employed love the conditions when others found new trades. Along with this fact and withdrawal of society into work since 911, Life Coaches are needed more than ever.
But if Life Coaching is to grow and sustain as a bonafied profession, some standards need to be created. Albeit, not governmental, but along some manner of guild system. Granted we have some schools that accredit coaches, but the real problem lay in the fact that no real state or federal body accredits these organizations. The other fact that remains with these schools is that no one knows if they stick or follow to any form of standards in pricing, codes, or activities. Some my say that there is more Life Coaching schools than Life Coaches.
But for Life Coaching to remain viable in the left brained financial word, we as coaches must form some standard ourselves along with education materials and group marketing of what our profession is. For when most people hear of Life Coaching, they shrug their shoulders. Or for the others they get the impression of Tony Robbins or the Nip and Tuck Character, Ava. Some may say that any press is good press, but is it really? So in coordination, either privately or group orientated, we must push forward the marketing and education of the public to this field. But we need some standards first.
Take pricing. I tried initiating a sliding scale based on income level checked against pay stubs or W-2’s. But I felt like I lost clients due to presumed value. If everyone else in the field was charging a higher premium than I, without garnering trust, my services was held as unscrupulous . For the average of pricing per month, not hour which I was going by, was between $250 to $500 a month for 4 45 minute calls. The price per hour was between $25 and $500 dollars at the most. Now I was coaching clients up to 3 times a week at hourly rates, but I find out this was not the norm. A guild would set up guidelines for such issues.
Then what is the standard, Phone, email, or in person. What do we as coaches do we want the public to think about first thing. For many when you think of auction, they think online. When others think education they think brick and mortar ivy league. What do we want our customers to think of us first. In person gives us the luxury to meat, joke, and share with a real living person. But online gives us far more potential to reach people around the world through email or on phone. Especially with the advent of broadband VOIP services giving worldwide coverage for minimum costs, we can bring our occupation to most barren location of Alaska and still be viable entity on a fiscal map. But we need to market and inform the public on validity of what ever we choose.
Frequency, I did touch on this a little above, but let me give this topic its full measure. How many times a month and for what duration should be suggested? Should impromptu home calls throughout the week be allowed, or just strict scheduling? How far in advance should schedules be kept or fulfilled? With a new field emerging and an uninformed public, we need to answer questions like this collectively.
Marketing practices! Well so far we are all SEO experts fighting a war with each other. With over 36,000,000 listings showing up in SERPs for the keyword Life Coach, we are strangling each other for a word few even ever heard of. My friends laughed at me when I started, even though I had been advising them for twelve years before I went professional. With only 1,000 searches on average a month, we are failing here! We need real live marketing strategies with real people. But who? Trader Joes and other whole food stores, tends to have mini seminars promoting alternative health professions. Panera Bread cafes have back rooms that have been used for Buddhist meetings and other new age events for free or limited cost. Organized health fairs. Possible meetings with the DA’s office and the probation department along with prevention centers. How about human resources of major local companies. On the Brain Brew there was one coach who specialized in getting the lawyer who does not play well with others to straighten up instead of firing him. But How do we keep our internet presence strong and grow real living connections at the same time?
One last note on the internet. Maybe we need a guild directory that lists our profession by location and specialiality. A natural linking directory for Goggle points, but also something entertaining aesthetically and functional for the public. Niches are always stronger than obtuse markets. This directory must be promoted as the standard, for now we have too many that no one can get through more than five listing before they give up. Very few click throughs ever show up in my site reports.
Education, education, education, and education. For us is more important than location. I suggest writing free content for syndication through sites like Go-Article, Ezine, Article Hut, Article Marketers, Article City, and Self growth. Also writing free content to your local news papers and creating flyers to be hung at food stores and town bulletin boards. Even Local or State government offices. They are always trying to get brownie points for informing the public on services. Get a State or county Rep to back you in a community project, or at least inform them of your existence. Maybe befriend your local high school guidance counselors. For clients or career options for the youth. But education, education, education, education is a must at this time!
So I presented many challenges to our growing profession that need to be looked at and addressed collectively in some fashion. I hope we do so. For Colonel Sanders had a more daunting task traveling with a pressure cooker in his truck around the nation, or Edison powering a Manhattan neighborhood with the first light bulbs, or the Wright brothers receiving any money to build flying machines when they only built bicycles for children. We can get through these birthing pangs, but we need some collective effort to do so.
If Any be of interest, I can be reached at docspond@yahoo.com if anyone would be of like mind.
Cheers,
Chris
About The Author
Christopher Jon Luke Dowgin is propietor of Docspond Life Coach Services providing Individual Counseling, Group facilitation, and key note addresses that speak to the heart of the mission while delivering the bottom line finacial growth. Helping millions find their bliss and return meaning to success! Guaranteed 20% improvement in your quality of life after the first meeting!
Also is the propietor and designer at Norgeforge Illumination Studios that will SEO illuminated design giving Aesthetics to traffic driven sales.So get out of the cold and get Norgeforged!
But if Life Coaching is to grow and sustain as a bonafied profession, some standards need to be created. Albeit, not governmental, but along some manner of guild system. Granted we have some schools that accredit coaches, but the real problem lay in the fact that no real state or federal body accredits these organizations. The other fact that remains with these schools is that no one knows if they stick or follow to any form of standards in pricing, codes, or activities. Some my say that there is more Life Coaching schools than Life Coaches.
But for Life Coaching to remain viable in the left brained financial word, we as coaches must form some standard ourselves along with education materials and group marketing of what our profession is. For when most people hear of Life Coaching, they shrug their shoulders. Or for the others they get the impression of Tony Robbins or the Nip and Tuck Character, Ava. Some may say that any press is good press, but is it really? So in coordination, either privately or group orientated, we must push forward the marketing and education of the public to this field. But we need some standards first.
Take pricing. I tried initiating a sliding scale based on income level checked against pay stubs or W-2’s. But I felt like I lost clients due to presumed value. If everyone else in the field was charging a higher premium than I, without garnering trust, my services was held as unscrupulous . For the average of pricing per month, not hour which I was going by, was between $250 to $500 a month for 4 45 minute calls. The price per hour was between $25 and $500 dollars at the most. Now I was coaching clients up to 3 times a week at hourly rates, but I find out this was not the norm. A guild would set up guidelines for such issues.
Then what is the standard, Phone, email, or in person. What do we as coaches do we want the public to think about first thing. For many when you think of auction, they think online. When others think education they think brick and mortar ivy league. What do we want our customers to think of us first. In person gives us the luxury to meat, joke, and share with a real living person. But online gives us far more potential to reach people around the world through email or on phone. Especially with the advent of broadband VOIP services giving worldwide coverage for minimum costs, we can bring our occupation to most barren location of Alaska and still be viable entity on a fiscal map. But we need to market and inform the public on validity of what ever we choose.
Frequency, I did touch on this a little above, but let me give this topic its full measure. How many times a month and for what duration should be suggested? Should impromptu home calls throughout the week be allowed, or just strict scheduling? How far in advance should schedules be kept or fulfilled? With a new field emerging and an uninformed public, we need to answer questions like this collectively.
Marketing practices! Well so far we are all SEO experts fighting a war with each other. With over 36,000,000 listings showing up in SERPs for the keyword Life Coach, we are strangling each other for a word few even ever heard of. My friends laughed at me when I started, even though I had been advising them for twelve years before I went professional. With only 1,000 searches on average a month, we are failing here! We need real live marketing strategies with real people. But who? Trader Joes and other whole food stores, tends to have mini seminars promoting alternative health professions. Panera Bread cafes have back rooms that have been used for Buddhist meetings and other new age events for free or limited cost. Organized health fairs. Possible meetings with the DA’s office and the probation department along with prevention centers. How about human resources of major local companies. On the Brain Brew there was one coach who specialized in getting the lawyer who does not play well with others to straighten up instead of firing him. But How do we keep our internet presence strong and grow real living connections at the same time?
One last note on the internet. Maybe we need a guild directory that lists our profession by location and specialiality. A natural linking directory for Goggle points, but also something entertaining aesthetically and functional for the public. Niches are always stronger than obtuse markets. This directory must be promoted as the standard, for now we have too many that no one can get through more than five listing before they give up. Very few click throughs ever show up in my site reports.
Education, education, education, and education. For us is more important than location. I suggest writing free content for syndication through sites like Go-Article, Ezine, Article Hut, Article Marketers, Article City, and Self growth. Also writing free content to your local news papers and creating flyers to be hung at food stores and town bulletin boards. Even Local or State government offices. They are always trying to get brownie points for informing the public on services. Get a State or county Rep to back you in a community project, or at least inform them of your existence. Maybe befriend your local high school guidance counselors. For clients or career options for the youth. But education, education, education, education is a must at this time!
So I presented many challenges to our growing profession that need to be looked at and addressed collectively in some fashion. I hope we do so. For Colonel Sanders had a more daunting task traveling with a pressure cooker in his truck around the nation, or Edison powering a Manhattan neighborhood with the first light bulbs, or the Wright brothers receiving any money to build flying machines when they only built bicycles for children. We can get through these birthing pangs, but we need some collective effort to do so.
If Any be of interest, I can be reached at docspond@yahoo.com if anyone would be of like mind.
Cheers,
Chris
About The Author
Christopher Jon Luke Dowgin is propietor of Docspond Life Coach Services providing Individual Counseling, Group facilitation, and key note addresses that speak to the heart of the mission while delivering the bottom line finacial growth. Helping millions find their bliss and return meaning to success! Guaranteed 20% improvement in your quality of life after the first meeting!
Also is the propietor and designer at Norgeforge Illumination Studios that will SEO illuminated design giving Aesthetics to traffic driven sales.So get out of the cold and get Norgeforged!
Life Coaching Advice For Free
Are you looking to arrange an appointment with a life coach. There are many people who feel they need a boost of self-confidence or self-esteem. In this article I write about some of the advice you may receive at these sessions.
I am one of these people who at many times in my life have felt down and depressed about various issues that I have had in my life. I have worked hard and had a lot of advice about how to deal with these problems and am now far more confident and content with life.
I always wanted to be liked by everyone and found it difficult to say no when invited to say a party, even though in truth I did not want to go. If I did decline an offer, I would feel guilty and if for example a friend asked me why I did not want to go and perhaps even called me boring for not going, I would often end up changing my mind. This would be because I did not want to be known as boring by anybody and also because I was quite a weak and fragile person.
From reading life coaching and positive thinking books, I realised I had to become a far stronger person, more care-free and to have more respect for myself. I decided that if I did not want to go somewhere I wouldn't, whatever anyone said. This new found attitude would not be easy to carry off but I was determined to give it a go.
I was soon to be tested, it was at one of my friends(Ian)houses. He was trying to organise a night out for the following Saturday. I was not at all interested in going out on that particular night for various reasons. Eventually Ian asked if I wanted to go and I said that I didn't. That answer was not enough for him and he proceeded to question my reasons for not wanting to go. I felt all of the eyes of the people present descend on me and I felt quite awkward. Normally in this situation I would give some excuse but instead I asked him why I needed to give a reason and why my answer of no was not enough for him. He seemed quite shocked at my strong response and moved on to question and nag someone else.
I felt proud of my success and have continued to adopt a similar attitude since.
About The Author
Steve Hill has a number of websites including:
http://blog.stammering-stuttering.co.uk/blog
http://www.coach-life-london.co.uk
http://www.natural-treatment.co.uk
info@stammering-stuttering.co.uk
I am one of these people who at many times in my life have felt down and depressed about various issues that I have had in my life. I have worked hard and had a lot of advice about how to deal with these problems and am now far more confident and content with life.
I always wanted to be liked by everyone and found it difficult to say no when invited to say a party, even though in truth I did not want to go. If I did decline an offer, I would feel guilty and if for example a friend asked me why I did not want to go and perhaps even called me boring for not going, I would often end up changing my mind. This would be because I did not want to be known as boring by anybody and also because I was quite a weak and fragile person.
From reading life coaching and positive thinking books, I realised I had to become a far stronger person, more care-free and to have more respect for myself. I decided that if I did not want to go somewhere I wouldn't, whatever anyone said. This new found attitude would not be easy to carry off but I was determined to give it a go.
I was soon to be tested, it was at one of my friends(Ian)houses. He was trying to organise a night out for the following Saturday. I was not at all interested in going out on that particular night for various reasons. Eventually Ian asked if I wanted to go and I said that I didn't. That answer was not enough for him and he proceeded to question my reasons for not wanting to go. I felt all of the eyes of the people present descend on me and I felt quite awkward. Normally in this situation I would give some excuse but instead I asked him why I needed to give a reason and why my answer of no was not enough for him. He seemed quite shocked at my strong response and moved on to question and nag someone else.
I felt proud of my success and have continued to adopt a similar attitude since.
About The Author
Steve Hill has a number of websites including:
http://blog.stammering-stuttering.co.uk/blog
http://www.coach-life-london.co.uk
http://www.natural-treatment.co.uk
info@stammering-stuttering.co.uk
Life Coaching Advice- Be Happy With Who You Are And What You Have
In this article I write about how we can become content with life by learning to like ourselves and by appreciating what we have in life. There are far too many people who are comparing their lives to that of their friends and neighbours, and who then think that they are not good enough. This can make them become jealous and even depressed.
I have to admit that I was like the people I am describing above. I was not happy with the car I drove, or at the company where I worked, or at how much money I earned per year and even with the girlfriend I had. My friends seemed to drive much better cars, worked for much better employers, earned far more per year than I did and had much better looking girlfriends, sorry Claire!
I have since managed to change my attitude to life and am now very happy with what I have in life. I now look at the bigger picture and instead of concentrating my thoughts at people who I feel are better off than me, I watch the news from around the world and hear about people who are far less fortunate than I am. I certainly now feel that I am actually very lucky compared to most people who live on this planet.
I also did not really like myself, I wanted to be taller, stronger, a better communicator (I had a stutter), and a lot fitter than I was (I was quite fat). I have since accepted that there are various things that I can not change, such as my height and have therefore accepted that I am shorter than the average male. I have also thought about the positive aspects of being short, more leg room on a plane etc. Other aspects of my life at which I was not happy with, but felt I could change or improve, I have worked very hard on, and am now at a weight I am happy with and have overcome the stuttering speech impediment.
I now like myself and if other people choose not to, that is fine by me, I have enough people who do. In any case it is what I think that counts, therefore if they think I am an idiot, thats fine, because I believe I am not.
I now have an opinion that what car I drive or how much money I earn is not important. For me, health and happiness are the two most important things in life and these are things which money can not buy.
I have decided that stressing or worrying about a situation does not help me to succeed, it just makes things a whole lot worse and more difficult. I now think to myself, that all I can do in life is to try my best and if I do that I can be proud of myself.
I used to be very hard on myself, my own worst critic. I am now a lot easier on myself, I have realised that I will make mistakes and always try to learn from the experiences. My body and brain are temples and I need to be nice to them. Hopefully if I am they will reward me with my continued health.
I am now far happier than I have ever been and am determined not to slip back into my old ways of depression and negative thinking.
I hope this article helps you in your quest for a better life.
About The Author
Steve Hill promotes a number of websites including:
http://www.stammering-stuttering.co.uk
http://blog.phobias-help.com/blog
http://blog.hgh-supplements.co.uk/blog
info@stammering-stuttering.co.uk
I have to admit that I was like the people I am describing above. I was not happy with the car I drove, or at the company where I worked, or at how much money I earned per year and even with the girlfriend I had. My friends seemed to drive much better cars, worked for much better employers, earned far more per year than I did and had much better looking girlfriends, sorry Claire!
I have since managed to change my attitude to life and am now very happy with what I have in life. I now look at the bigger picture and instead of concentrating my thoughts at people who I feel are better off than me, I watch the news from around the world and hear about people who are far less fortunate than I am. I certainly now feel that I am actually very lucky compared to most people who live on this planet.
I also did not really like myself, I wanted to be taller, stronger, a better communicator (I had a stutter), and a lot fitter than I was (I was quite fat). I have since accepted that there are various things that I can not change, such as my height and have therefore accepted that I am shorter than the average male. I have also thought about the positive aspects of being short, more leg room on a plane etc. Other aspects of my life at which I was not happy with, but felt I could change or improve, I have worked very hard on, and am now at a weight I am happy with and have overcome the stuttering speech impediment.
I now like myself and if other people choose not to, that is fine by me, I have enough people who do. In any case it is what I think that counts, therefore if they think I am an idiot, thats fine, because I believe I am not.
I now have an opinion that what car I drive or how much money I earn is not important. For me, health and happiness are the two most important things in life and these are things which money can not buy.
I have decided that stressing or worrying about a situation does not help me to succeed, it just makes things a whole lot worse and more difficult. I now think to myself, that all I can do in life is to try my best and if I do that I can be proud of myself.
I used to be very hard on myself, my own worst critic. I am now a lot easier on myself, I have realised that I will make mistakes and always try to learn from the experiences. My body and brain are temples and I need to be nice to them. Hopefully if I am they will reward me with my continued health.
I am now far happier than I have ever been and am determined not to slip back into my old ways of depression and negative thinking.
I hope this article helps you in your quest for a better life.
About The Author
Steve Hill promotes a number of websites including:
http://www.stammering-stuttering.co.uk
http://blog.phobias-help.com/blog
http://blog.hgh-supplements.co.uk/blog
info@stammering-stuttering.co.uk
The Benefits of Free Life Coaching
Life Coaching is an effective means of establishing where you are in your life, where you going, and how you will get there by focusing on specific areas- from self confidence, to enjoying your work, creating time for yourself or living your dreams. Some people find it difficult to comprehend what life coaching is about or why you would need to pay someone to guide you in this way. What you need to ask yourself is, if you were to carry on doing things as you have been doing them, are you going to achieve your goals and will your life be fulfilled? “If what you're doing isn't working, do something different.” Life coaching is not about changing yourself but becoming yourself. Being successful can take much more than accepting the life that you have, it can mean that you adapt your model of the world to suit you, to make life work for you. The more you know about who you are, the easier it will be to achieve what you want and to find what fulfils you. Would you like one free taster life-coaching session with one of our qualified NLP practitioners? Perhaps, you have completed the life questionnaire in the 'Try it you might like it section” or our website and have realized it may be time to set some goals in various areas of your life? If this is the case, make your first step to a more satisfying life and contact us now for your free life-coaching session. And whilst we're on the subject of freebies, did you know that it's also completely free to sign up for our fortnightly newsletter, which contains articles on NLP and Hypnotherapy as well as hints, tips and motivational quotes. We also publish the date of our free NLP and Hypnotherapy events on our newsletter. Plus if you visit our website, you'll also find on the “freebies” page, an offer of a free CD, if you refer a friend to our website.
About The Author
Welcome to People Building, a self development company dedicated to inspiring growth, progression and better results in your life. We have been fascinated by the mind, body and human behaviour for many years now. It is our privilege to present to you authentic NLP and Hypnosis training for the betterment of your skills in Business, Education, Therapy and many other areas. Our unique trainings have been designed as one of the most innovative trainings available in the NLP field of learning. We will never cease to evolve, and it gives me great pleasure, to invite you with us on this epic adventure. http://www.peoplebuilding.co.uk
About The Author
Welcome to People Building, a self development company dedicated to inspiring growth, progression and better results in your life. We have been fascinated by the mind, body and human behaviour for many years now. It is our privilege to present to you authentic NLP and Hypnosis training for the betterment of your skills in Business, Education, Therapy and many other areas. Our unique trainings have been designed as one of the most innovative trainings available in the NLP field of learning. We will never cease to evolve, and it gives me great pleasure, to invite you with us on this epic adventure. http://www.peoplebuilding.co.uk
Friday, February 22, 2008
Developing a Marketing Mindset in Life Coaching - Part One
Most coaches get involved in coaching for one extremely compelling and valuable purpose – because they want to make a positive impact to the lives of others.
As a coach, the extent to which you are able to fulfill that objective is contingent upon two factors. Firstly, your skill and effectiveness as a coach; and secondly, on the number of clients you are able to affect through the application of your services. The purpose of this article is to focus on the second factor.
In the process of assisting people, it’s also possible for coaches to develop a fruitful lifestyle for themselves along the way. In fact, these objectives are entirely complimentary.
Many business people, including coaches, fail to recognise the important ethical role that marketing plays in their business. In doing so they develop a mindset that is self defeating to themselves, their business, and their clients.
As a coach, you are in business. How effectively you operate your business is entirely contingent on you. There are enormously successful coaches (in terms of client numbers, income and coaching outcomes), and coaches that are barely able to etch out a living. The difference between these extremes is not their coaching competency, but rather their mindset. You may be an incredibly skillful coach, but unless you have people willing to use your services, your skills are of little to no value.
So what mindset does it take to be a successful coach?
A successful coaching mindset:
- Puts the needs of prospects and clients first;
- Actively seeks to assist clients attain their objectives;
- Is empathetic to the needs of clients and prospects;
- Doesn’t limit the service offered to clients, and
- Acts as an ethical adviser.
It takes a Marketing Mindset to be a successful coach.
We regularly hear of coaches that feel as though marketing is ‘leading’ and ‘unethical.’ They feel as though it’s too ‘salesy’ and don’t feel comfortable with it. For those coaches, we’re going to explain why marketing is both ethically valid and commercially crucial.
Ethical Validity
There is an enormous (and growing) volume of people in society that would benefit from coaching services. Let’s call these people prospective coaching clients, or prospects. These prospects have specific goals they’d like to achieve, or challenges they’d like to overcome, with a view to leading a better and more fulfilling life.
As a coach you have a certain duty of care to assist these people. You can only begin to assist them once they’re utilising your services. Marketing is the link between the prospects desire and your ability to assist them fulfill their desire.
Marketing only becomes unethical in the circumstance that you are not able to fulfill your marketing promise to your client. In this instance you’ve misled your client, either knowingly or unknowingly, and have acted unethically.
On the premise that prospects will seek a coach to assist them attain their specific goals, it’s the ethical obligation of coaches to help prospects select a coach that will best be able to assist them. To do this coaches should fully, comprehensively and transparently disclose to prospects what services they offer; where their specialties lie; what experience they have; how they’ve assisted people with similar desires in the past; and how using their services will benefit them. Or to state it more simply, to undertake marketing.
Commercially Crucial
Marketing is commercially crucial because it links prospects that desire a certain outcome with skilled professionals trained to assist them achieve that outcome. It identifies you as someone that may be able to assist prospects with their pre-qualified needs. By seeking out information on coaching services, prospects have already identified for themselves:
1. That there are certain things in their life they’d like to attain or challenges they’d like to overcome.
2. That a coach is a person with the requisite skills and experience to assist them.
3. That they are willing to invest financially in the process.
The above is an extremely important point, and one that coaches need to accept.
As we explained earlier, coaches generally come from one of two schools of thought with respect to marketing.
The first school of thought perceives marketing to be ‘leading’ and ‘salesy.’ They come from the paradigm that by marketing you are proactively influencing someone in their decisions. Or specifically that you may make someone do something they would not otherwise do. We call this train of thought the Influencing Paradigm.
The second school of thought accepts that prospects are people that have identified for themselves their need to invoke change. And they’ve identified that a coach will assist them make that change. They recognise that the prospect has made the intellectual link between their needs and how they want those needs to be fulfilled. We call this train of thought the Service Paradigm.
The thought processes of these two perspectives are entirely dipolar. One positions the prospect as someone reluctantly influenced into utilising a service, and the other positions the prospect as a proactive individual capable of determining their needs that has actively sought out coaching services.
As a coach, it’s critical that you put yourself in the second paradigm of thinking. Only then will you be able to ethically fulfill your objective of assisting your clients. And only then will you be able to fulfill your symbiotic goal of building a successful coaching business.
By putting yourself in the Service Paradigm of thought you will recognise that to assist clients meet their objectives, you should:
- Actively promote your services through compelling advertising that clearly describes what you can offer clients.
- Understand that as a coach and a trusted advisor you are often in a better position of knowledge to ascertain your client needs to assist them attain their goals.
- Be empathetic to the needs of your clients and actively offer solutions to them through various products and services.
- Value your client’s intellect and decision making ability.
- Do not pre-empt your client’s wants and hence limit the range and scope of products and services you offer them.
- Always acts as an ethical adviser.
Once you embrace the Service Paradigm to marketing, you’ll realise that marketing provides you with a much greater opportunity to fulfill your primary objectives – to assist your clients, and to build a successful coaching business. These objectives become complimentary and you create a truly win-win situation between the desires of your clients and your own desires.
In the second part of this article we’ll provide you with further information on how to develop your Marketing Mindset and a Service Paradigm.
While an individual would like to improve an aspect or certain aspects of their life so they can achieve a specific goal, or set of goals.
Simon Clarke has over 15 years of experience as a writer, entrepreneur and business specialist. He is also the founder and Director of the Life Coaching Institute, Australia's leading coach training organization.
Become a Life Coach.Coach IQ: for Intelligent coaches.Broadcast Your Brand with Coach Radio.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Simon_Clarke
As a coach, the extent to which you are able to fulfill that objective is contingent upon two factors. Firstly, your skill and effectiveness as a coach; and secondly, on the number of clients you are able to affect through the application of your services. The purpose of this article is to focus on the second factor.
In the process of assisting people, it’s also possible for coaches to develop a fruitful lifestyle for themselves along the way. In fact, these objectives are entirely complimentary.
Many business people, including coaches, fail to recognise the important ethical role that marketing plays in their business. In doing so they develop a mindset that is self defeating to themselves, their business, and their clients.
As a coach, you are in business. How effectively you operate your business is entirely contingent on you. There are enormously successful coaches (in terms of client numbers, income and coaching outcomes), and coaches that are barely able to etch out a living. The difference between these extremes is not their coaching competency, but rather their mindset. You may be an incredibly skillful coach, but unless you have people willing to use your services, your skills are of little to no value.
So what mindset does it take to be a successful coach?
A successful coaching mindset:
- Puts the needs of prospects and clients first;
- Actively seeks to assist clients attain their objectives;
- Is empathetic to the needs of clients and prospects;
- Doesn’t limit the service offered to clients, and
- Acts as an ethical adviser.
It takes a Marketing Mindset to be a successful coach.
We regularly hear of coaches that feel as though marketing is ‘leading’ and ‘unethical.’ They feel as though it’s too ‘salesy’ and don’t feel comfortable with it. For those coaches, we’re going to explain why marketing is both ethically valid and commercially crucial.
Ethical Validity
There is an enormous (and growing) volume of people in society that would benefit from coaching services. Let’s call these people prospective coaching clients, or prospects. These prospects have specific goals they’d like to achieve, or challenges they’d like to overcome, with a view to leading a better and more fulfilling life.
As a coach you have a certain duty of care to assist these people. You can only begin to assist them once they’re utilising your services. Marketing is the link between the prospects desire and your ability to assist them fulfill their desire.
Marketing only becomes unethical in the circumstance that you are not able to fulfill your marketing promise to your client. In this instance you’ve misled your client, either knowingly or unknowingly, and have acted unethically.
On the premise that prospects will seek a coach to assist them attain their specific goals, it’s the ethical obligation of coaches to help prospects select a coach that will best be able to assist them. To do this coaches should fully, comprehensively and transparently disclose to prospects what services they offer; where their specialties lie; what experience they have; how they’ve assisted people with similar desires in the past; and how using their services will benefit them. Or to state it more simply, to undertake marketing.
Commercially Crucial
Marketing is commercially crucial because it links prospects that desire a certain outcome with skilled professionals trained to assist them achieve that outcome. It identifies you as someone that may be able to assist prospects with their pre-qualified needs. By seeking out information on coaching services, prospects have already identified for themselves:
1. That there are certain things in their life they’d like to attain or challenges they’d like to overcome.
2. That a coach is a person with the requisite skills and experience to assist them.
3. That they are willing to invest financially in the process.
The above is an extremely important point, and one that coaches need to accept.
As we explained earlier, coaches generally come from one of two schools of thought with respect to marketing.
The first school of thought perceives marketing to be ‘leading’ and ‘salesy.’ They come from the paradigm that by marketing you are proactively influencing someone in their decisions. Or specifically that you may make someone do something they would not otherwise do. We call this train of thought the Influencing Paradigm.
The second school of thought accepts that prospects are people that have identified for themselves their need to invoke change. And they’ve identified that a coach will assist them make that change. They recognise that the prospect has made the intellectual link between their needs and how they want those needs to be fulfilled. We call this train of thought the Service Paradigm.
The thought processes of these two perspectives are entirely dipolar. One positions the prospect as someone reluctantly influenced into utilising a service, and the other positions the prospect as a proactive individual capable of determining their needs that has actively sought out coaching services.
As a coach, it’s critical that you put yourself in the second paradigm of thinking. Only then will you be able to ethically fulfill your objective of assisting your clients. And only then will you be able to fulfill your symbiotic goal of building a successful coaching business.
By putting yourself in the Service Paradigm of thought you will recognise that to assist clients meet their objectives, you should:
- Actively promote your services through compelling advertising that clearly describes what you can offer clients.
- Understand that as a coach and a trusted advisor you are often in a better position of knowledge to ascertain your client needs to assist them attain their goals.
- Be empathetic to the needs of your clients and actively offer solutions to them through various products and services.
- Value your client’s intellect and decision making ability.
- Do not pre-empt your client’s wants and hence limit the range and scope of products and services you offer them.
- Always acts as an ethical adviser.
Once you embrace the Service Paradigm to marketing, you’ll realise that marketing provides you with a much greater opportunity to fulfill your primary objectives – to assist your clients, and to build a successful coaching business. These objectives become complimentary and you create a truly win-win situation between the desires of your clients and your own desires.
In the second part of this article we’ll provide you with further information on how to develop your Marketing Mindset and a Service Paradigm.
While an individual would like to improve an aspect or certain aspects of their life so they can achieve a specific goal, or set of goals.
Simon Clarke has over 15 years of experience as a writer, entrepreneur and business specialist. He is also the founder and Director of the Life Coaching Institute, Australia's leading coach training organization.
Become a Life Coach.Coach IQ: for Intelligent coaches.Broadcast Your Brand with Coach Radio.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Simon_Clarke
Life Coaching in Winter Park - The Ideal Place for Engineering Your Next Breakthrough
The real estate industry has a saying that applies here. It is "Location! Location! Location!" As a life purpose coach I feel the same way. The days of coaching clients in a cold and boring office are over. Atmosphere and tranquility are of necessity and surely not to be discounted.
Like me my clients enjoy the full sensory experience. When I was trained in NLP and life coaching, my mentors in California always made sure to maximize the moment and accommodate us in every way. This eliminated potential distractions and provided a controlled environment assuring the greatest possible focus.
As I have always said, "Where focus goes energy flows." Holding a client's concentration to prevent a wondering mind is often why some life coaches prefer a stark office instead of outdoor surroundings. Certainly more control is afforded a coach indoors. Yet for me I want to open people up and let them blossom like a flower. A mild distraction such as a lovely bird whistling a delightful tune won't ruin my coaching session. On the contrary it further allows us to connect with our Creator and the beauty of nature.
There is sweet serenity and a peaceful calm that sweeps over the soul when outdoors and in touch with nature. I also enjoy meeting alongside lakes and oceans, where bodies of water can remove the feeling of being overwhelmed and rushed that city life can easily bring upon us.
Since many of my clients are from the Winter Park area, Park Avenue is a particular favorite. It certainly can be a lovely place to relax, have a soul searching conversation, take a tranquil walks in the park, and enjoy some superb cuisine.
Mountains and heights also provide spectacular views. I went to high school in Clermont, FL which is known as the gem of the hills - one of the few places in flat Florida with such rolling hills.
Whatever my client's preference is I try to afford some flexibility as to where we meet for our sessions, while at the same time keeping in mind that which I want to accomplish and where appropriate ensuring the ideal surroundings to work with my goals for each unique meeting with the client.
The results and level of joyful response from clients who have met with me outdoors or in unique places have been outstanding. I encourage everybody to find their favorite spots to meet and have defining moments.
Paul Davis is a highly sought after professional speaker, life purpose coach, worldwide minister, and change master.
Paul is the author of several books including United States of Arrogance, Breakthrough for a Broken Heart; Adultery: 101 Reasons Not to Cheat; Are You Ready for True Love; Stop Lusting & Start Living; Waves of God; Supernatural Fire; Poems that Propel the Planet; and God vs. Religion.
Paul's compassion for people & passion to travel has taken him to over 50 countries of the world where he has had a tremendous impact. Paul's organization Dream-Maker Ministries is building dreams, breaking limitations & reviving nations.
Paul inspires, revives, awakens, impregnates with purpose, imparts the fire of desire, catapults people into a new level of self-awareness, facilitates destiny discovery and dream fulfillment.
Contact Paul to minister, speak at your event or for life coaching:
RevivingNations@yahoo.com 407-284-1705
http://www.PaulFDavis.com http://www.DreamMakerMinistries.com http://www.CreativeCommunications.TV
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Davis
Like me my clients enjoy the full sensory experience. When I was trained in NLP and life coaching, my mentors in California always made sure to maximize the moment and accommodate us in every way. This eliminated potential distractions and provided a controlled environment assuring the greatest possible focus.
As I have always said, "Where focus goes energy flows." Holding a client's concentration to prevent a wondering mind is often why some life coaches prefer a stark office instead of outdoor surroundings. Certainly more control is afforded a coach indoors. Yet for me I want to open people up and let them blossom like a flower. A mild distraction such as a lovely bird whistling a delightful tune won't ruin my coaching session. On the contrary it further allows us to connect with our Creator and the beauty of nature.
There is sweet serenity and a peaceful calm that sweeps over the soul when outdoors and in touch with nature. I also enjoy meeting alongside lakes and oceans, where bodies of water can remove the feeling of being overwhelmed and rushed that city life can easily bring upon us.
Since many of my clients are from the Winter Park area, Park Avenue is a particular favorite. It certainly can be a lovely place to relax, have a soul searching conversation, take a tranquil walks in the park, and enjoy some superb cuisine.
Mountains and heights also provide spectacular views. I went to high school in Clermont, FL which is known as the gem of the hills - one of the few places in flat Florida with such rolling hills.
Whatever my client's preference is I try to afford some flexibility as to where we meet for our sessions, while at the same time keeping in mind that which I want to accomplish and where appropriate ensuring the ideal surroundings to work with my goals for each unique meeting with the client.
The results and level of joyful response from clients who have met with me outdoors or in unique places have been outstanding. I encourage everybody to find their favorite spots to meet and have defining moments.
Paul Davis is a highly sought after professional speaker, life purpose coach, worldwide minister, and change master.
Paul is the author of several books including United States of Arrogance, Breakthrough for a Broken Heart; Adultery: 101 Reasons Not to Cheat; Are You Ready for True Love; Stop Lusting & Start Living; Waves of God; Supernatural Fire; Poems that Propel the Planet; and God vs. Religion.
Paul's compassion for people & passion to travel has taken him to over 50 countries of the world where he has had a tremendous impact. Paul's organization Dream-Maker Ministries is building dreams, breaking limitations & reviving nations.
Paul inspires, revives, awakens, impregnates with purpose, imparts the fire of desire, catapults people into a new level of self-awareness, facilitates destiny discovery and dream fulfillment.
Contact Paul to minister, speak at your event or for life coaching:
RevivingNations@yahoo.com 407-284-1705
http://www.PaulFDavis.com http://www.DreamMakerMinistries.com http://www.CreativeCommunications.TV
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Davis
Life Coaching vs Therapy
As Life Coaching becomes a more popular method of navigating life’s complex paths, there are a lot of questions about whether or not it is traditional therapy, how it may relate to therapy, or if they are interchangeable.
In therapy, the focus is on dealing with the past. Therapists lead their clients through the healing process, helping them develop coping skills that they can eventually use on their own, once they have achieved wholeness. A skilled therapist can help clients reach the source of their fears – the obstacles that typically prevent us from achieving our highest potential.
In Life Coaching, the focus is on the present and the future. Coaching clients may have already experienced therapy and will therefore expect the same type of experience. However, as a Co-Active Coach®, I work hand-in-hand with my clients as they lead the way. A skilled Life Coach helps clients manage their fears, minimizing them so that they can live a healthy life and achieve even higher goals. The Life Coach also helps clients uncover hidden passions, resulting in a more fulfilled life that is focused on values-based decisions. She holds her clients as creative, resourceful, and whole from the very beginning of the relationship.
Traditional therapy and Life Coaching can complement each other. However, if a therapist is using coaching techniques, it is best if the client knows that a coaching technique is being applied. The client is empowered in a much more holistic way whenever coaching techniques are used to enhance the client’s therapy experience.
As a Life Coach, I am trained to listen for cues and to use my training, intuition, curiosity, experience, and resources. With all these “tools,” I guide my clients down the paths that they themselves choose. In most cases, my clients are not even aware of the paths that they have already unconsciously chosen. That’s where my expertise as a Life Coach comes into play. We walk these paths together, discovering new dreams, goals, and opportunities. The result is a more fulfilled, balanced life for each of my clients, and, in many cases, a new direction toward a dream previously unrealized.
Carol Janssen has been a Life Coach since 2000. She is also an accomplished public speaker. Her workshops and retreats are focused on foundational life work, including spiritual growth, reconnecting with core values, living in the public eye, creating a fulfilled life, and many other topics. Carol’s training with the Coaches Training Institute has provided her with a solid basis for working co-actively with her clients and with groups. As a leader, Carol believes that many people have untapped potential, which can be liberated by working with her through obstacles that can be overcome through compassion, listening, and accountability. For more information about Carol and her coaching business, Metamorphosis Coaching, go to http://www.caroljanssen.com now.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carol_Janssen
In therapy, the focus is on dealing with the past. Therapists lead their clients through the healing process, helping them develop coping skills that they can eventually use on their own, once they have achieved wholeness. A skilled therapist can help clients reach the source of their fears – the obstacles that typically prevent us from achieving our highest potential.
In Life Coaching, the focus is on the present and the future. Coaching clients may have already experienced therapy and will therefore expect the same type of experience. However, as a Co-Active Coach®, I work hand-in-hand with my clients as they lead the way. A skilled Life Coach helps clients manage their fears, minimizing them so that they can live a healthy life and achieve even higher goals. The Life Coach also helps clients uncover hidden passions, resulting in a more fulfilled life that is focused on values-based decisions. She holds her clients as creative, resourceful, and whole from the very beginning of the relationship.
Traditional therapy and Life Coaching can complement each other. However, if a therapist is using coaching techniques, it is best if the client knows that a coaching technique is being applied. The client is empowered in a much more holistic way whenever coaching techniques are used to enhance the client’s therapy experience.
As a Life Coach, I am trained to listen for cues and to use my training, intuition, curiosity, experience, and resources. With all these “tools,” I guide my clients down the paths that they themselves choose. In most cases, my clients are not even aware of the paths that they have already unconsciously chosen. That’s where my expertise as a Life Coach comes into play. We walk these paths together, discovering new dreams, goals, and opportunities. The result is a more fulfilled, balanced life for each of my clients, and, in many cases, a new direction toward a dream previously unrealized.
Carol Janssen has been a Life Coach since 2000. She is also an accomplished public speaker. Her workshops and retreats are focused on foundational life work, including spiritual growth, reconnecting with core values, living in the public eye, creating a fulfilled life, and many other topics. Carol’s training with the Coaches Training Institute has provided her with a solid basis for working co-actively with her clients and with groups. As a leader, Carol believes that many people have untapped potential, which can be liberated by working with her through obstacles that can be overcome through compassion, listening, and accountability. For more information about Carol and her coaching business, Metamorphosis Coaching, go to http://www.caroljanssen.com now.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carol_Janssen
Do You Need A Life Coach? What is a Life Coach?
Do you need a Life Coach? What exactly is a Life Coach?
Would you like to enhance your performance and business opportunities, or simply achieve more in your life?
Are you unsure how to develop and utilize your skills, need help to solve a financial dilemma, resolve a problematic personal or work relationship, or achieve better work/life balance?
Maybe you are confused about the next step in your business direction, and want support from someone who can help you to identify opportunities and next steps.
Do you want to lose weight, stop smoking, improve motivation and self-confidence?
Do you want to achieve higher personal or professional goals?
There is much more you could achieve in your life with a Life Coach. A Life Coach is part personal consultant, part sounding board, part manager. Yes, manager. Someone to help you maintain direction, develop strategy, motivation, and goal setting. A coach is often the person, who encourages a professional to succeed, to hire, to fire, to fine-tune a sales pitch, to stretch, set higher goals, boost profits and make better decisions about everything from personnel to strategy. You might dream of expanding your business, but need help developing a business plan and strategies to put your plans into action. Business owners sometimes become disillusioned about being a business owner—yet they have all the requisite skills and ability to be highly successful. A Life Coach can release your potential commercially, personally and emotionally.
Life Coaching is not another 'how to' course. It is a powerful and empowering relationship between two people that produces exceptional results.
"Why would I need a coach"? You might ask. You reason, “I am successful. I am happy and my business is good or as good as I think it could be.” That is precisely the reason that Tiger Woods or Pete Sampras needs a coach. Tiger Woods could say, "My golf game is good. I won the last tournament." However, his coach is one of the most important people in his life.
A coaching session is typically thirty minutes and rarely longer than an hour. Sessions are conducted face-to-face or via phone. Some coaches include brief email exchanges between formal sessions or follow-up. Many Life Coaches offer fee packages, which allow a discount for prepaid sessions.
Finding a qualified coach is a dilemma as the profession is relatively new and unlicensed. The following criteria are good guidelines.
• Master's or Doctorate Degree - Many Life Coaches are trained in interpersonal skills, yet possess a unique blend of practical experience, financial skills and empathy. They will understand your personal and business challenges and help you to deal with them effectively.
• Proven experience as a professional
• Openness and flexibility to their approach at being 'your' coach.
• Ability to be patient and push you to succeed simultaneously.
Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, Entrepreneur, personal and professional Life Coach has 25 years experience. http://www.drdorothy.net
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dorothy_M._Neddermeyer,_PhD
Would you like to enhance your performance and business opportunities, or simply achieve more in your life?
Are you unsure how to develop and utilize your skills, need help to solve a financial dilemma, resolve a problematic personal or work relationship, or achieve better work/life balance?
Maybe you are confused about the next step in your business direction, and want support from someone who can help you to identify opportunities and next steps.
Do you want to lose weight, stop smoking, improve motivation and self-confidence?
Do you want to achieve higher personal or professional goals?
There is much more you could achieve in your life with a Life Coach. A Life Coach is part personal consultant, part sounding board, part manager. Yes, manager. Someone to help you maintain direction, develop strategy, motivation, and goal setting. A coach is often the person, who encourages a professional to succeed, to hire, to fire, to fine-tune a sales pitch, to stretch, set higher goals, boost profits and make better decisions about everything from personnel to strategy. You might dream of expanding your business, but need help developing a business plan and strategies to put your plans into action. Business owners sometimes become disillusioned about being a business owner—yet they have all the requisite skills and ability to be highly successful. A Life Coach can release your potential commercially, personally and emotionally.
Life Coaching is not another 'how to' course. It is a powerful and empowering relationship between two people that produces exceptional results.
"Why would I need a coach"? You might ask. You reason, “I am successful. I am happy and my business is good or as good as I think it could be.” That is precisely the reason that Tiger Woods or Pete Sampras needs a coach. Tiger Woods could say, "My golf game is good. I won the last tournament." However, his coach is one of the most important people in his life.
A coaching session is typically thirty minutes and rarely longer than an hour. Sessions are conducted face-to-face or via phone. Some coaches include brief email exchanges between formal sessions or follow-up. Many Life Coaches offer fee packages, which allow a discount for prepaid sessions.
Finding a qualified coach is a dilemma as the profession is relatively new and unlicensed. The following criteria are good guidelines.
• Master's or Doctorate Degree - Many Life Coaches are trained in interpersonal skills, yet possess a unique blend of practical experience, financial skills and empathy. They will understand your personal and business challenges and help you to deal with them effectively.
• Proven experience as a professional
• Openness and flexibility to their approach at being 'your' coach.
• Ability to be patient and push you to succeed simultaneously.
Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, Entrepreneur, personal and professional Life Coach has 25 years experience. http://www.drdorothy.net
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dorothy_M._Neddermeyer,_PhD
Personal Life Coach
Most of us have found ourselves stuck in some domain in our lives—in a career, in a relationship, or in a negative cycle or pattern of behavior that keeps us from achieving, from growing, and from going after what would really make us happy! In order to overcome these obstacles, we need someone to personally guide us and review our problems with a clear and objective mind. This is why today we have so many certified personal life coaches.
The traditional model of personal life coaching acts as a partnership between you and the coach. The partnership is all about the personal life style of the coach and how you connect with them. It is therefore essential to choose the right personal coach. Obviously, one would look for the most experienced and qualified personal life coach. However, this does not indicate success; hence it is best to call up potential personal coaches, and see who you like.
Your coach should essentially begin by exploring your goals, values, and beliefs. This is an important session, as it helps determine where you are now and where you would like to be. The assessment sets the stage for subsequent sessions which are more action-oriented.
Usually, coaching is conducted over the phone, with a session lasting up to 45 minutes. Conversely, for others who prefer a more personal touch, sessions can be conducted face to face, and in groups.
So don’t leave your destiny to luck, and don’t let your fear hold you back any more. Let a personal coach guide you, ask you some tough questions, and work with you to strategize, plan, focus, and get things done. Let go of your pessimism, excuses, and anger, and move forward with a happier and content life today, by enlisting for the help you know you need!
Life Coach provides detailed information on Life Coach, Life Coach Training, Personal Life Coach, Life Coach Certification and more. Life Coach is affiliated with Weight Loss Hypnosis.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Max_Bellamy
The traditional model of personal life coaching acts as a partnership between you and the coach. The partnership is all about the personal life style of the coach and how you connect with them. It is therefore essential to choose the right personal coach. Obviously, one would look for the most experienced and qualified personal life coach. However, this does not indicate success; hence it is best to call up potential personal coaches, and see who you like.
Your coach should essentially begin by exploring your goals, values, and beliefs. This is an important session, as it helps determine where you are now and where you would like to be. The assessment sets the stage for subsequent sessions which are more action-oriented.
Usually, coaching is conducted over the phone, with a session lasting up to 45 minutes. Conversely, for others who prefer a more personal touch, sessions can be conducted face to face, and in groups.
So don’t leave your destiny to luck, and don’t let your fear hold you back any more. Let a personal coach guide you, ask you some tough questions, and work with you to strategize, plan, focus, and get things done. Let go of your pessimism, excuses, and anger, and move forward with a happier and content life today, by enlisting for the help you know you need!
Life Coach provides detailed information on Life Coach, Life Coach Training, Personal Life Coach, Life Coach Certification and more. Life Coach is affiliated with Weight Loss Hypnosis.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Max_Bellamy
Life Coaching Studies
Life coaching studies can provide aspiring professionals with the knowledge they need to help other people to improve work performance, enhance career opportunities, and develop rewarding and lasting relationships.
Life coaching is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States, and training is available in numerous schools. If you think you might like to explore the field, a good life coaching school can help you reach your career goals so you can help others to do the same!
Life coaching studies will teach students how to motivate and inspire people. You will learn how to form solid relationships built on client trust and to counsel those who are having coping issues. Training also includes instruction on how to design and deliver coaching sessions, and how to develop a successful life coaching practice of your own. Many graduates will continue their education to investigate the areas of psychology or counseling.
There are many varieties of Life Coaching Schools available, from vocational schools to natural healing schools, and even online schools! It is important that you find the right life coaching school that will offer focused training to meet your educational needs. Before enrolling in any school, check with the advisors or course provider regarding specific programs that will address your future practice. For example, a certification program is a good first step for the aspiring life coach.
Students will learn the basics of how to develop their own goals, how to formulate a successful business strategy and how to build a professional reputation. Life Coaching Education can lead to a fulfilling career, a respectable income, job security, and overall satisfaction and success.
If you would like to learn more about Life Coaching Studies, or even Online Life Coaching Schools, you can find more in-depth information and resources on our website.
DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.
Copyright 2007 - All rights reserved by SchoolsGalore.com, in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc.
Notice: Publishers are free to use this article on an ezine or website, provided the article is reprinted in its entirety, including copyright and disclaimer, and ALL links remain intact and active.
Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. in association with SchoolsGalore.com. Find Life Coaching Schools, Colleges, Universities, Healing Arts Schools, and Online Schools at SchoolsGalore.com, your educational resource to locate schools.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Bustamante
Life coaching is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States, and training is available in numerous schools. If you think you might like to explore the field, a good life coaching school can help you reach your career goals so you can help others to do the same!
Life coaching studies will teach students how to motivate and inspire people. You will learn how to form solid relationships built on client trust and to counsel those who are having coping issues. Training also includes instruction on how to design and deliver coaching sessions, and how to develop a successful life coaching practice of your own. Many graduates will continue their education to investigate the areas of psychology or counseling.
There are many varieties of Life Coaching Schools available, from vocational schools to natural healing schools, and even online schools! It is important that you find the right life coaching school that will offer focused training to meet your educational needs. Before enrolling in any school, check with the advisors or course provider regarding specific programs that will address your future practice. For example, a certification program is a good first step for the aspiring life coach.
Students will learn the basics of how to develop their own goals, how to formulate a successful business strategy and how to build a professional reputation. Life Coaching Education can lead to a fulfilling career, a respectable income, job security, and overall satisfaction and success.
If you would like to learn more about Life Coaching Studies, or even Online Life Coaching Schools, you can find more in-depth information and resources on our website.
DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.
Copyright 2007 - All rights reserved by SchoolsGalore.com, in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc.
Notice: Publishers are free to use this article on an ezine or website, provided the article is reprinted in its entirety, including copyright and disclaimer, and ALL links remain intact and active.
Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. in association with SchoolsGalore.com. Find Life Coaching Schools, Colleges, Universities, Healing Arts Schools, and Online Schools at SchoolsGalore.com, your educational resource to locate schools.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Bustamante
Life Coach Counseling - Many Personal Benefits
One of the quickly growing fields is life coach counseling. Skills needed include motivating others and helping clients with goal setting. Trained coaches are in high demand by both individuals and industries. Thus, a large selection of training programs has been established to try and fill the demand for trained and effective coaches.
Beginning in the 1960's, people began to focus on organized methods for motivational support and life direction. These drew from various psychological theories and methods as well as from methods long used in education and business management. Life coach counseling was a natural outgrowth of the quest for self improvement because it focuses on individual efforts to improve.
By learning how to apply new skills, both personally and in your business life, life coach counseling helps you bring out the "you" that may have been held back for so long. You will learn how to take advantage of life's great opportunities, without crossing the boundaries of what is realistic for you.
An excellent life coach will be a professional with a degree or experience that helps them to interact with their clients. They will know how to evaluate strengths and weaknesses. They help clients to make and reach their life goals. A coach can work either from a clinic or business setting. Some coaches work free lance. Other coaches do life coach counseling face to face, over the Internet, or over the phone.
While life coaching is generally considered an activity performed by a coach with a single client, there are situations where workshops are more desirable because they are much less inexpensive. Clearly, more people can afford to take group seminars than can indulge in the more costly individual sessions. Giant corporations and small firms may want to provide workers with a degree of life coaching as an employee benefit as long as it doesn't cost them too much. This benefits the workers personally, but it also provides advantages to the company when the outcome includes greater efficiency and productivity and an improved atmosphere in the workplace.
While clearly an individual or company benefits from the clarity and efficiency of life coaching, for a coach this is both a lucrative and satisfying career. Some older executives and professionals may make a second career of sharing the life lessons of their own experiences, but many now train for this field in college and begin careers as coaches.
Finding a coach with excellent references can benefit your entire lifestyle more than you would ever imagine. The right coach can help you succeed in business, attune your family life and relationships, and even guide you to spiritual harmony. Choosing the coach who can do all this for you is a decision which shouldn't be taken lightly.
Alvin Harrigan runs a Self Development ezine, www.chisutra.com that focuses on Energy Healing, Internal martial Arts, Mind Training and Nutrition. If you enjoyed this article, Please sign up for our free newsletter by clicking: => HERE :)
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alvin_Harrigan
Beginning in the 1960's, people began to focus on organized methods for motivational support and life direction. These drew from various psychological theories and methods as well as from methods long used in education and business management. Life coach counseling was a natural outgrowth of the quest for self improvement because it focuses on individual efforts to improve.
By learning how to apply new skills, both personally and in your business life, life coach counseling helps you bring out the "you" that may have been held back for so long. You will learn how to take advantage of life's great opportunities, without crossing the boundaries of what is realistic for you.
An excellent life coach will be a professional with a degree or experience that helps them to interact with their clients. They will know how to evaluate strengths and weaknesses. They help clients to make and reach their life goals. A coach can work either from a clinic or business setting. Some coaches work free lance. Other coaches do life coach counseling face to face, over the Internet, or over the phone.
While life coaching is generally considered an activity performed by a coach with a single client, there are situations where workshops are more desirable because they are much less inexpensive. Clearly, more people can afford to take group seminars than can indulge in the more costly individual sessions. Giant corporations and small firms may want to provide workers with a degree of life coaching as an employee benefit as long as it doesn't cost them too much. This benefits the workers personally, but it also provides advantages to the company when the outcome includes greater efficiency and productivity and an improved atmosphere in the workplace.
While clearly an individual or company benefits from the clarity and efficiency of life coaching, for a coach this is both a lucrative and satisfying career. Some older executives and professionals may make a second career of sharing the life lessons of their own experiences, but many now train for this field in college and begin careers as coaches.
Finding a coach with excellent references can benefit your entire lifestyle more than you would ever imagine. The right coach can help you succeed in business, attune your family life and relationships, and even guide you to spiritual harmony. Choosing the coach who can do all this for you is a decision which shouldn't be taken lightly.
Alvin Harrigan runs a Self Development ezine, www.chisutra.com that focuses on Energy Healing, Internal martial Arts, Mind Training and Nutrition. If you enjoyed this article, Please sign up for our free newsletter by clicking: => HERE :)
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alvin_Harrigan
Free Life Coaching
No Cost Life and Career Planning
Planning a career is much like planning your life, in fact, is a major part of your life. Groundwork needs to be laid, foundations built, balance and flexibility to be layered in. You can start at any time, as a school-leaver or mid-career, there are no set rules or restrictions, and planning doesn't have to cost you anything. This is, after all, your life. Why pay someone else to set you on a better path?
Here is a simple set of guidelines to start you thinking on your future and the paths you need to walk along to get you there.
1. What do you want to do with your life? What do you want to be doing?
Not what you should be or what you feel obligated to do, but what do YOU want. Perhaps you have a pipedream that's been lurking in the back of your mind for years. It's rarely too late to at least get a taste of that dream. But before you go off half-cocked. Make a list of ALL the things you'd like to achieve. Some will be easier to reach than others, some will be connected. Choose those most important to you and think about them. Will doing one lead to another? Are there any similarities you can factor in to the process?
2. How can you go about getting it?
This is where you work out if you need further education of some kind. Colleges abound for adults wanting to learn. Education doesn't always require a classroom, also look into local clubs and interest groups [including online facilities]. If it's a career move you're making, look for start-up jobs, volunteer work and networking possibilities. This is the old "foot in the door" routine, as viable today as ever.
3. What can you do to support your goals?
Broaden your knowledge on a subject or field, learn how to speak in public, present yourself, increase your networking...
4. What can you do right now to get started on your chosen path?What will take you a little longer?
Goals can be divided into short-term and long-term. Slot your pipe-dream into the long-term section and concentrate on short-term for awhile. To get started right away you may need to fill in a few applications, make a few telephone calls, open yourself to new opportunities. Keep your eyes and ears open, and be prepared to jump at unexpected chances.
5. In what ways can you fit your plans into your current life? In what ways can you change your current life to fit with your plans?
If you have a family to support and look after, then it is virtually impossible to drop everything and start afresh. Look for ways to incorporate your new plan into your life. This may mean changing the way you do things, dedicating previous "spare" time into "new goal" time or turning a blind eye to house and yard work for awhile [though it would be better if you could offload some duties to be shared by the rest of the family]. Changing the way you spend your time isn't easy. Old habits can be hard to break, excuses all too easy to create. Be firm with yourself!
Even if your goal seems far off there are many little ways you can get yourself closer. Flexible planning is the start. Actually taking that first step is next. You'll need determination and strength to see it through, but you can do it. Balance and flexibility are key, just as confidence and a good streak of stubbornness the grease, that unlocks the door to the life you really want.
Trish is a freelance writer with desktop publishing, promotional material, content sourcing, location and information research, fiction critique and web group management skills tucked firmly into her workbelt. To find out about rates and other services, or to read more of her articles, visit Trish at http://beginningsmiddlesends.blogspot.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trish_Anderson
Planning a career is much like planning your life, in fact, is a major part of your life. Groundwork needs to be laid, foundations built, balance and flexibility to be layered in. You can start at any time, as a school-leaver or mid-career, there are no set rules or restrictions, and planning doesn't have to cost you anything. This is, after all, your life. Why pay someone else to set you on a better path?
Here is a simple set of guidelines to start you thinking on your future and the paths you need to walk along to get you there.
1. What do you want to do with your life? What do you want to be doing?
Not what you should be or what you feel obligated to do, but what do YOU want. Perhaps you have a pipedream that's been lurking in the back of your mind for years. It's rarely too late to at least get a taste of that dream. But before you go off half-cocked. Make a list of ALL the things you'd like to achieve. Some will be easier to reach than others, some will be connected. Choose those most important to you and think about them. Will doing one lead to another? Are there any similarities you can factor in to the process?
2. How can you go about getting it?
This is where you work out if you need further education of some kind. Colleges abound for adults wanting to learn. Education doesn't always require a classroom, also look into local clubs and interest groups [including online facilities]. If it's a career move you're making, look for start-up jobs, volunteer work and networking possibilities. This is the old "foot in the door" routine, as viable today as ever.
3. What can you do to support your goals?
Broaden your knowledge on a subject or field, learn how to speak in public, present yourself, increase your networking...
4. What can you do right now to get started on your chosen path?What will take you a little longer?
Goals can be divided into short-term and long-term. Slot your pipe-dream into the long-term section and concentrate on short-term for awhile. To get started right away you may need to fill in a few applications, make a few telephone calls, open yourself to new opportunities. Keep your eyes and ears open, and be prepared to jump at unexpected chances.
5. In what ways can you fit your plans into your current life? In what ways can you change your current life to fit with your plans?
If you have a family to support and look after, then it is virtually impossible to drop everything and start afresh. Look for ways to incorporate your new plan into your life. This may mean changing the way you do things, dedicating previous "spare" time into "new goal" time or turning a blind eye to house and yard work for awhile [though it would be better if you could offload some duties to be shared by the rest of the family]. Changing the way you spend your time isn't easy. Old habits can be hard to break, excuses all too easy to create. Be firm with yourself!
Even if your goal seems far off there are many little ways you can get yourself closer. Flexible planning is the start. Actually taking that first step is next. You'll need determination and strength to see it through, but you can do it. Balance and flexibility are key, just as confidence and a good streak of stubbornness the grease, that unlocks the door to the life you really want.
Trish is a freelance writer with desktop publishing, promotional material, content sourcing, location and information research, fiction critique and web group management skills tucked firmly into her workbelt. To find out about rates and other services, or to read more of her articles, visit Trish at http://beginningsmiddlesends.blogspot.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trish_Anderson
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