Welcome to February 2005:
Being a Fully Engaged Coach
Greetings Everyone,
A few weeks ago I met a man at one of my Thursday morning networking meetings. As I always do, I introduced myself, and filled this business owner in on who I was and what I do as a coach. He smiled and with a smirk said "Oh yeah...I've worked with a coach." The way he laughed and looked at me told me it was not the best experience, so of course, I wanted to know more. He then looked at me square in the eye and said "It was like going to a doctor that smokes." I immediately knew what he meant.
I did a little more digging, and learned that this man's coach was a woman who was overweight, in debt, and who he said "needed a coach more than I did." It was clear from talking to him that he had assumed that all coaches must be the same...fat, broke, and stuck. He then looked at me and told me that he was glad to know that there were coaches out there who were healthy and seemed pulled together. Argh...I decided that this was not the time or the place to try to needle this man into seeing my way of thinking about coaching or do anything to convince him that there are several coaches out there who don't fit the profile of his former coach. I simply shook his hand, gave him one of my business cards, and wished him well in his new business venture.
The thing that bothered me about this conversation is that I have felt this very same way on more than one occasion. The first time I attended the ICF conference 3 years ago was quite a surprise...many of the coaches I met were very overweight, were complaining about not having enough money to hire their own coach, and seemed to be well...just plain stuck. Since that time, I have (on many, many occasions) talked to coaches who are trying to move into the profession directly following a major job loss, ending a marriage, who are struggling with their weight and finances, or who are in need of the support of a therapist. In my mind, this just does not make any sense. Please hear me on this...I am not judging anyone based on their physical appearance, finances, emotional health or relationships. What I am saying is that I do not believe that coaches should be coaching other people on how to live successful lives if they are not models of success. I think that this is why our profession is struggling. You cannot coach people to improve their income or become debt free if you are in debt. You cannot coach people around good health and weight if you are unhealthy and overweight. You cannot coach other people to move through their blocks if you spend 75% of your day stuck, blocked, overwhelmed, and filled with fear. And you cannot coach people on improving their emotional health if you are emotionally unstable.
I agree with Dave Buck's approach on how coaching is more than just asking questions...that it is a combination of teaching, coaching, and collaborating with clients to accelerate our clients' success. I also agree that one of the reason many coaches cannot make it in this profession is that they are taught to ask questions only...don't give advice...oooohhh...you may get in trouble! That just does not cut it for me! My clients don't pay me large sums of money to sit on the phone and ask them a bunch of lame questions. THEY WANT ANSWERS! I also am convinced that one of the reasons many coaches are not making it is because they are not in integrity...they are coaching their clients on issues that they have not yet resolved in their own lives, and to me...this is a BIG problem!
I am going to get off this rant in just a minute, and I am going to give you some guidelines as to what I think it will take and who to call for help. But before I do...Let me say this: Please...if you are reading this and you are a coach who is struggling, and if any of this blog entry sounds like you...the first thing I want you to do is hire a coach! Don't just hire any coach...HIRE A GREAT COACH WHO IS SUCCESSFUL AND DO WHAT THEY TELL YOU TO DO!!!
So...here are my suggestions and who to call. The bottom line to these suggestions is this: In order to coach effectively and be successful as a coach, it is extremely important for you to become what I call a Fully Engaged Coach. This means that as a coach you are fully committed to achieving success in each of the 9 environments of you and that the mind, body, spirit, relationships, network, and physical space are all interlocked in a way that brings out the best of you and pulls you in the direction of being one of the most attractive and successful coaches in our industry.
What do you do, and who do you call?
1) Physical Environment- Completely declutter your home and office, and do what you can to update any and all equipment so that it is working properly and with speed.
Who to Call:
Jana Rogers for Simplicity Work at New Roads with Jana.
Carol Dickson Carr for Time Mastery at Managing Personal Resources.
2) Self Environment- Begin working with a Registered Dietitian and/or Personal Trainer to get your body in shape and healthy. Also...begin working with your strengths, and stop struggling with your weaknesses.
Who to Call:
Margie Geiser, RD and Personal Trainer- www.megfit.com
John Allen Mollenhaur- Get Better Results with My Trainer: www.MyTrainer.com
Jane Johnson- Strengths Coach- www.DoingCoolStuff.com
3) Network- Get a fully functioning website with shopping cart, fill your pipeline with clients, and create a thriving network of at least 100 people. And don't forget... HIRE A COACH!!! (How can you coach others if you are not working with your own coach? How can you really determine how you need to advance as a coach without guidance from someone who can give you honest, loving, and direct feedback about how you are showing up???)
Who to Call:
Mitch Meyerson- www.gmarketingcoach.com
Michael Port- www.bookyourselfsolid.com
Kimberly George- http://rebelbusiness.com
Dave Buck- www.davebuck.com
4) Relationships- Get your relationships cleaned up once and for all.
Who to Call:
Rinatta Paries: www.whatittakes.com
5) Intangibles- Remove the blocks and work on the internal shifts you need to make in order to move in the direction of your life purpose.
Who to Call:
Tom Shields- Internal Fitness- www.internalfitness.com
Kerul Kassel- Core Dynamics Coaching- www.newleafsystems.com
6) Spiritual Environment- Spend time each day getting in the gap and creating a connection to what is truly important in life.
Who to Call:
Marta Reily- Spiritual Coach- www.martareily.com
Gail Stone- Get a Grip and Go- Mastery with productivity through spiritual practices: www.getagripandgo.com
Jenifer Shapiro- Holistic Practitioner and Trainer: www.HolisticHometown.com or www.theempowermentcentre.com
7) Financial Environment- Redesign your life and your finances for becoming debt-free
Who to Call:
20 20 Advisors (financial coaching) www.2020advisors.com
8) Memetic Environment- Give up your worn out beliefs, the old "fraud factor" mentality, the fear of being rejected, and replace it with a new paradigm that embraces all of who you are and supports you in moving forward in the direction of your life purpose.
Who to Call:
Tom Shields- Internal Fitness- www.internalfitness.com
9) Nature- spend time in nature every day. For this approach, you can hire any of the above coaches, because they all spend time in nature and love every minute of it!
For a holistic, all encompassing approach to designing environments for success, contact Bea Fields, Jane Johnson, or Dave Buck through the Personal Environments Community with CoachVille.
Wishing you abundance and success!
Bea
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Gift for February
As a way to thank you for your continued support of Five Star Leader Coaching and Training, the free gift for the month of February is a copy of an interview with Sounds of Success Productions, during which I discuss my 10 Principles of Leadership. These 10 Principles are a culmination of the work I have created in the area of leadership development since the mid-80's. I hope you find the information of benefit to you, your families, companies, and communities. Enjoy:
Interview: Sounds of Success with Bea Fields...MP3
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Feature Article for February 2005
Create A Home Spa Experience Without Spending A Dime
by: Julie Hunt
More Details at: www.SHEsite.com (simple happy essentials)
Here are 10 personal little home spa tips that will make you look and feel like a million bucks!
Squeeze in a few extra minutes to your every day self care time and you’ll see how easily these step by step pampering recommendations will turn even the toughest days around. Or if you can negotiate a few minutes here and there from your day to get even more time…by all means… do it! Your family, friends and co-workers will meet a much happier, more chipper, fantastically refreshed you!
In Preparation:
First things, first. No shopping, buying or leaving the house. Scour the house for a few fun spa essentials and make a decadent ‘Home Spa Day’ just with what you have tucked away!
Why put off what you could be doing right now?! I suppose if you are out and about and feel so inclined to pick up special bath salts, moisturizers or essential oils… so be it. I admire your level of commitment!
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Grab your robe and slippers
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Find a soothing CD that you absolutely love
- Scented candle
- A washcloth, loofah, bath brush or a new scrubbie back there in the drawers you forgot about
- Fluffy cotton towel
- Bath salts or essential aromatic oils (if you have them)
- Your cleansers, toners and moisturizers
- Coarse sea salt
- Plenty of chilled spring water (with a splash of lime or lemon) in the fanciest glass you can find
- Steep a cup of green tea
Let go of your day… your obligations… responsibilities… stress… and strain. Toss out the barrage of thoughts streaming through your mind (even if it’s just for a moment). Trust me... they’ll still be around later for you to poke at, ponder or peruse.
Try to relax. Take yourself on a far away vacation in your head, tell yourself a “Once Upon A Time” story, remind yourself what a princess you are and remember how essential these precious moments are to your happiness and sanity!
Welcome To Your At Home Spa Vacation!
1. Take it easy and slow down your breath, your thoughts and your movements. Put on your favorite CD and start prepping a very simple shower or bath in a wonderfully slow, deliberate and unhurried way. Take time to watch the candle burn, smell the fragrance, feel the soft robe or towels, look at the sparkling drops of water and run your hands through it… take in the joyful process of an every day activity that we just fly through without a second thought!
2. Use essential oils. Not only do they smell great, but they are extremely good for your skin. The rule to applying essential oils is to never apply them directly on your face or skin. Just add about five drops to a bowl of warm water. Soak a washcloth in the water and then apply to your face and neck as a compress for five minutes. Repeat three times. Gently towel dry and finish yourself off with an anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory facial splash.
If you have a choice of essential oils to choose from, select one that suits your mood and purpose. If you are desparking the stress level this holiday, choose soothing oils (like lavender, chamomile, jasmine, sandalwood and ylang-ylang). Good revitalizing and energizing oils when you need them are peppermint, eucalyptus, rosemary, basil and juniper. The aroma can also provide psychological and physical benefits too!
Essential oils can help with physical conditions, rejuvenate the skin, eliminate waste, alleviate stress, enhance your mood, restore vitality and facilitate the regeneration of new, healthy cells.
To read the full article, enter here.
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Upcoming Teleclasses
Register Here
Teleclass Lab:
Dates & Time: Get It Done Event->Mar 28, Apr 4, 11, 18, 25, May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 & June 6, 13 @ 8:00 PM ET
Bonus Strengths Calls->Mar 30, Apr 6, 20, May 11, 25 & June 8 @ 8:00 PM ET
The Electrifying, Client Generating Teleclass System that Will Power Your Business to Profits in 90 Days Max!
Are you ready to step outside of your comfort zone and be guaranteed to list, lead, and leverage a dynamic teleclass by the time the flowers bloom in spring? If so, Teleclass Lab is designed specifically with you in mind. If you have a website, know the teleclass fundamentals and are willing to work hard to get your teleclasses up and running and leverage them for your future success... if you want to have fun, be inspired and reach your full potential as a teleclass leader... then the Teleclass Lab is a must for you! For 90 days, you'll be directly connected to every tool, every secret strategy, and every piece of practical advice, encouragement and insight to attract new clients and create on-going streams of income by leading teleclasses. For more information, visit www.teleclasslab.com or contact Bea Fields at bea@beafields.com.
Meet the Expert: Jenifer Shapiro: Creating the Shift through Holistic Coaching
Section: 1
One Thursday, February 17, 2005 from 1-2pm Eastern/NY. Tuition: Free
Led by Bea Fields
Holistic Coaching is a unique form of personal coaching integrating proven holistic methods to assist people in becoming who they truly are and want to be. One aspect of Holistic Coaching is the dance that occurs when an individual shifts into a new level of consciousness, therefore, seeing life differently and recognizing the new resources that they have available when they do. Join Bea Fields with Guest Expert, Jenifer Shapiro as she discusses how this shift occurs and the holistic coaching methods she uses to assist her clients in creating the shift.
Current Status: Available.
More Info
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Business Article for February 2005
The Thriver's Guide™ to Success
It Starts With Your Attitude - Get a Grip and Go®!
by Gail H. Stone
More Details at: www.getagripandgo.com
What impact would it have on your professional and personal life if you could learn the secret of successful living known by about 25% of the people? Think about that for a minute and even pause right now and write some thoughts down. How would your life be different if you operated like a “thriver” – a person who thrives and flourishes no matter what life throws at him or her?
In Webster’s II New Riverside Dictionary, the definition of thrive is: “(v) (1) to be healthy or do well: flourish. (2) to be successful: prosper.” In the field of positive psychology, thriving is defined as “reconstructing life’s meaning in response to life’s most destructive occurrences.” So, it’s not that the people who thrive go around unrealistically whistling a happy tune all day long. But they are conscious creators of their lives, not mindless acceptors. They know their power lies within.
I thought I had coined the word thriver when I first set out on my speaking and coaching career in 2001. But, as I did research and reading on the topic of thriving, I found that thriver was a little known word used primarily in the medical profession to denote a group of people who, when faced with major life challenges, choose to get a grip and get on with making it through the tough times in fine fashion rather than caving in. Dr. Paul Pearsall, who wrote a great book about thrivers called the The Beethoven Factor quoted one thriver he interviewed as saying, “think of thriving as the 5 C’s. Think of it as the ability to transform a life Catastrophe into a Catalyst for a Creative Change of Consciousness.” I like to call thrivers “creative solutions experts”.
The word survivor has had much play in the past few years through popular TV shows and books. But, here’s Webster’s definition of survive: “(v) to continue to live or exist. (2) to live longer than: outlive. – survival (n) – survivor (n)”.
Why would you care to just “exist”, when you could “flourish” in your personal and professional life?
To read the full article, enter here.
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