Coaches and Mentors

[whartyorarp]

I have been considering hiring a business/life coach and was curious as to what experiences others have had...good, bad or otherwise.

Although I haven't found one in particular that "calls" to me yet, there are a couple that are in my "maybe" pile.
I am the typical massage therapist (I think) and prefer to work with someone who is skilled at shifting energy and removing blocks.
How did you find YOUR coach?

I have seen a spiritual counselor off and on for about 3 yrs. But she really hasn't been able to help me move forward in the physical and professional sense.
She is struggling financially also.

 

[Eternity]

Coaches and Mentors

Mine is someone who is part of my referral group but she's also a Reiki Master. I originally met her through the group and we clicked right away. What she does best is to help me define what I already know but don't realize.

That being said, my husband is a life/business coach working on becoming a health coach as well. I do bounce a lot of ideas/problems off of him but he's really too close to be unbiased. He usually provides a few suggestions/comments that really start me thinking before I take action. He has a "whole life" approach to coaching, which I think is essential.

If you'd like contact info for either of them, pm me. I know they both do most of the coaching by phone/email.

 

[LucyBabes]

Coaches and Mentors

Try Sadie Nardini. She's a yoga instructor and she has free videos on youtube and posts free advice on her facebook page. Her philosophy is all about living from center, I bought her self help book 'Road trip guide to the soul' and it was a pretty good read! She's always very nice whenever I email her with a 'yoga' questions, and I think she works with 'non yoga' people on spiritual/self help type stuff. I love her to death. I think she's about to get really popular too, though since I found her she's published 2 videos, 2 books, and a teachers certification; so she's already more popular than she was when I found her sequence for the splits on youtube, lol!
http://www.facebook.com/SadieYoga?v=wall&story_fbid=124092954275964

 

[BitterBlue]

Coaches and Mentors

I have had coaches and mentors for specific areas of development, but never for life in general. The whole notion of a "life coach" seems ridiculous to me, and I have yet to meet a "health coach" that has more than the most utterly basic knowledge of nutrition or exercise science. Specific subject matter expertise is fabulously helpful, but you will rarely find all the expertise you need embodied in a single person.

The "life coaches" in my area usually seem to be struggling financially. I am not sure if it's because they just entered the profession hoping to make a quick buck, or if something else is going on. Either way, it doesn't inspire confidence. :

 

[regina]

Coaches and Mentors

Jason - yes, it is my overall impression that a lot of "coaches" just get into this as a way to earn another income stream.
That's why I am curious as to hear about other's experiences and how they go about finding and selecting the best match for themselves.

I would like to move closer to opening my own business and wouldn't mind having someone in my corner who could give business advice and encouragement - as well as work with the emotional stuff.
I am struggling not just with the all of the logistics and planning but also to overcome my fears about striking out on my own.
Although I have saved my money diligently to be able to do this, I am a single person with two kids and I worry so much! :undecided:

 

[Master of Eternity]

Coaches and Mentors

Jason - yes, it is my overall impression that a lot of "coaches" just get into this as a way to earn another income stream.
That's why I am curious as to hear about other's experiences and how they go about finding and selecting the best match for themselves.

I would like to move closer to opening my own business and wouldn't mind having someone in my corner who could give business advice and encouragement - as well as work with the emotional stuff.
I am struggling not just with the all of the logistics and planning but also to overcome my fears about striking out on my own.
Although I have saved my money diligently to be able to do this, I am a single person with two kids and I worry so much! :undecided:

My sister was and is the one who helps me so much in this area. I could never repay her for the wisdom and support she freely gives, but reading this has shown me I haven't been as grateful to her as I should have been.

I hope your search leads you to someone who is right for you. Just keep seeking until your instincts tell you, you've found the right one.

 

[Sinner]

Coaches and Mentors

I have had coaches and mentors for specific areas of development, but never for life in general. The whole notion of a "life coach" seems ridiculous to me, and I have yet to meet a "health coach" that has more than the most utterly basic knowledge of nutrition or exercise science. Specific subject matter expertise is fabulously helpful, but you will rarely find all the expertise you need embodied in a single person.

The "life coaches" in my area usually seem to be struggling financially. I am not sure if it's because they just entered the profession hoping to make a quick buck, or if something else is going on. Either way, it doesn't inspire confidence. :

A life coach may seem ridiculous to you but there are many people out there who struggle with balance, direction, confidence, or any number of other issues who find real help with a life coach. A coach is not a therapist or a counselor, they are not working on past issues. They are also not a consultant, they are not going to tell you what you need to do. A coach will help you discover the balance, direction, confidence, etc... on your own. Often, the experience of finding the answers on your own will help everything else fall into place.

This applies to a health coach as well. A (good) health coach will not be the only tool a person uses when working on his/her health. Again, there are many people out there who have no idea where or how to begin. A health coach can help them to define what changes they would like to make and what people they might need to see to make these changes. And provide the accountability someone might need.

In my husband's case, he's doing as much as he wants to right now with his coaching. Yes, it's bringing in some extra money. But work/life balance is something he is passionate about and he thoroughly enjoys what he does. He did not get into coaching to make a "quick buck" but because he truly believes that coaching is valuable.

I don't post much but I've been a member for a long time and have truly learned from many of your posts. But I have to say I'm a little annoyed by the dismissive tone of your post. Obviously, you don't need a coach in your life right now, you do seem to have it together. But there are tons of people in this world who don't have it together and may just benefit from some help.

 

[Aland]

Coaches and Mentors

I don't know if this is exactly what you're looking for squash_blsm , but I know someone who offers mentoring. Her name is Kathy Ginn. And I think I've raved about her elsewhere on the board... :

http://www.ethicaldimensions.com/index.html

Kathy is great and offers several different CE classes for ethics & business practices... and she also does mentoring/peer supervision. Why not give her a call and see if you "click?"
"

 

[simplekiller123]

Coaches and Mentors

I would like to move closer to opening my own business and wouldn't mind having someone in my corner who could give business advice and encouragement

Although a coach may be able to help you with your fear and worry, perhaps for this part you could contact a SCORE counselor for small business advice.

 

[due Sept. 13th! :)]

Coaches and Mentors

I used to think Life Coaches were a silly thing - then I found one, a good one - and it was life changing. She is now my business coach.

You have to be very careful in selection. It is hit and miss. And be prepared to pay what at first may seem to be an astronomical fees. I couldn't believe the amount I spent the first year. But then I realized that I had made that money back and more! I love having someone to brainstorm with and to be accountable to. She pushes me way out of my comfort zone and it has forced me to grow personally and business-wise by leaps and bounds.

That's just my experience. Best of luck in your selection!

 

[whittneylacrosse]

Coaches and Mentors

How did you find YOUR coach?

I did see a life/business coach many moons ago, maybe in 2000. I was highly referred his way via small business group. I liked him enough, but I don't remember getting what I was hoping for out of the sessions. Looking back, I think we were looking at life too differently to begin with. It didn't really work for me because we weren't a match, not because of his lack of skills.

I have seen a spiritual counselor off and on for about 3 yrs. But she really hasn't been able to help me move forward in the physical and professional sense.
She is struggling financially also.

This speaks volumes to me. My perspective is that you need to find a new spiritual counselor...one who is where you want to be. If I were looking, this is exactly who I would look for. A spirit-ful person who is where I want to be in life personally and financially.

 

[Texasgal]

Coaches and Mentors

I've never used a Coach, but I was a "gunia pig" for Kneadfulthings when she got certified some years ago. I would suggest her as an option any day out of the year.

Nice; compassionate; helpful. And, it wasn't a problem that we were in different states.