I have a coach. No, not a therapist or a shrink. A coach. Think Phil Jackson to Michael Jordan without the fade away jump shot.
Let me introduce you to Jackie Trepanier. She’s brilliant. And better than being brilliant, she’s a fantastic coach. Jackie has all the right education – she is an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credentialed through the International Coach Federation (ICF). But what really makes her wonderful is the creative way she works to solve my problems.
She listens, questions and makes me find my way to the answer – the right answer for me. Then we work together until the situation is resolved. Its like having a world-class advisor in my back pocket. Priceless.
Last year I conquered several stressful events (pregnancy/having a baby, selling a house, leaving a job and moving across the country) at once. I wouldn’t recommend it. Here’s what I know for sure though – if it weren’t for Jackie I wouldn’t have made it through the ordeal. No way, no how.
Why you need a coach:
1. You have goals at work – make $455,000 in the 2nd quarter, improve efficiency by 12.7%, etc. A coach can help you obtain YOUR (read: fun) goals. Want a promotion? A bigger salary? A way to get out the door by 6 PM? A coach will help you do all those things.
2. Maybe you don’t know what your goals are. A coach can help you discover what you really want. And I think you’ll find out just showing up isn’t good enough anymore.
3. You will experience change in your life. Its inevitable. A coach will help you navigate when times get tough. You’ll have the tools to face career, relationship and personal changes with grace.
4. Self-help books and articles are made for the masses. (Sorry Dr. Phil.) Only a coach can give you personalized guidance keeping your strengths in mind.
5. Having a coach isn’t all talk. Your coach will encourage you to take action. When you “forget” to make that one call that could change your life, your coach will be asking you why. Having someone holding you accountable to will change the way your act on your goals.
The life of a new entrepreneur is often a lonely one. Having Jackie as my coach has given me a team atmosphere from the beginning. Who is on your personal board of advisors? Now you know the president of mine.
Very well said Alesya! Jackie is the best mentor, coach and friend.
Agreed Ana! She’s helped so many.
This is a great topic. Jackie is awesome at coaching and has been helping me find my direction for years. Seriously. Jackie is going to do very well in this area going forward!
Thanks Jenn! I think it’s a great topic too. Many folks could benefit greatly from a good coach.
Alesya – I’ve had a coach on again off again for a long time, but got particularly aggressive in the recent two years. It’s amazing the realizations and guidance that helps you uncover habits that may be holding you back from moving ahead. I also greatly gain from applying more of a science to decisions instead of “having a feeling”…not that anything is wrong with going with your gut, but I’m an ‘odds’ kind of guy. The benefits are countless; at worst, your coach is a great soundboard. At best, you have epiphanies that provide confidence and direction. In short, “Matt Heather likes this”
Matt – Its wonderful to hear how much you’ve enjoyed having a coach. Also, very interesting how he/she has encouraged you to explore the science of making decisions. It certainly seems like the process is working. Congrats to you! Jackie has opened my mind to new ways of thinking – sounds like you are getting an great education too.
[…] 31, 2010 by Alesya It’s time for a review of my goals and I asked my coach, Jackie, to send over a list of the subjects we covered during our very first coaching session. Of […]
[…] Had a big meeting with my coach last week and decided on my top five goals for the rest of the year. My homework for tomorrow was […]
[…] make them happy) and get my first sample from China a complete big goal (which will make my coach […]
[…] coach suggested I come up with a list – and a subsequent timeline – of what needs to be done […]
[…] this week, I was mad I wasn’t taking enough risk. Before our weekly meeting I sent my coach, Jackie, a list of things I wanted to discuss and that risk issue had stars and lighting bolts […]
[…] coaching calls definitely take on one of two forms,” Jackie said to me after we finished our meeting tonight. ”The first kind,” she continued, […]
[…] coach, Jackie, does a great exercise to help me get un-stuck. We’ve used it so many times recently to […]
[…] Goal #1: By the end of the year, I want to be able to present job offers to Jackie Trepanier and Elin […]