I remember the first time I heard about life coaching. This was several years ago, and I was one of the biggest skeptics of the field you might imagine.
My initial thoughts were things like:
- What the heck is a life coach anyway?
- Who would pay for those services?
- Why would anyone think they need life coaching?
- Doesn’t it just make more sense to sort it out on my own?
- Or with a mentor?
- Who can afford a luxury like a “life coach”?
You get the picture. I was dumbfounded because I just didn’t understand it.
Coach for Life: My Journey
Over the past few years, though, the concept started to intrigue me more. You see, I did decide to sort out my own life over time.
My journey began back in 2004. I was working for a F1000 company and had grown tired of the politics, the overbooked schedules, and the ridiculous expectations being thrust upon me.
I had already decided by then that I wanted to work for myself. As a career technology focused marketer, I was determined to figure out the right path for my own business in that field.
So I started making decisions that pushed me in that direction. I quit my job without a concrete plan. The freedom was exhilirating. The lack of income…was not.
As luck would have it, my wife was running a business that I could help her build up over the next several months. During my work hiatus, I found that internet marketing was a growing field and decided that I’d head in that direction.
My Path to Life Coaching
Fast forward to 2012, and what a journey I had taken! I worked for startups and mid sized companies. With the economic downturn, I had jumped jobs several times in sequence. How much transition? How about six different employers in eight years?
Luckily, the fifth employer, whom I had stuck with for over three years, was acquired. With a little bit of money in the bank and a head full of steam, I made the leap out into self-employment and consulting. Freedom at last!
But not so fast. Starting a company is hard. Very hard. Especially when you’re the only one in it. I busted my hump for a full six months, only to take home a grand total of $28,000 for that work. Wow, what lessons I had learned!
Fortunately, I’m good at failing and righting the ship. Heading into 2013, I had figured out a model that would grow into the small agency that my other business, Return On Now, is today.
Over the next year, I spent a great deal of time and energy building up a client base and setting up an execution model that didn’t rely solely upon me to operate. That was a good thing, because 2014 stacked up to be a pretty challenging year for me personally.
Balancing Professional and Personal Development
I will leave the personal challenges of 2014 for another post, but suffice it to say that I had neglected some things personally as I over-focused on the businses. Such is the tale of many entrepreneurs, even though I though I could do better.
Looking back, a life coach would have helped me manage this all better. I learned a lot, much of it through tribulations and missteps.
I had to spend the better part of a year getting my personal, relationships, and spiritual selves centered. After going through that process, I truly believe I am a better person for it.
Why I Am a Coach For Life, or Life Coach
And I know I can help others maneuver their own life’s challenges more efficiently than I handled it. With decades of business experience, including making the leap out to run my own business, I can help nearly anyone from executives to employees to entrepreneurs. And with the personal work I’ve put in over my lifetime, especially the “icing on the cake” work I’ve done the past year, I can help people outside of work.
So I decided to get trained and certified in life coaching to begin this journey. And here I am, on the diving board and making the leap.
A coach for life would have helped me. Now, I am offering to be that lifecoach for you.
Join me and let’s make your life better. Let’s build inspiration, adventure, and success into your future. Tell me your own story in the comments. That’s what I am here for.
Namaste.