Early one morning as a man walked along the beach, he saw an unusual scene. Thousands of starfish that had washed up on shore were dying in the sun. In the distance he noticed a young woman picking up starfish and throwing them back into the ocean, one at a time. When he came close enough to her to be heard above the waves he said, “You’re wasting your time. There are thousands of starfish along this beach front. You can’t possibly make a difference.”
She reached down, picked up a starfish, and gently threw it as far as she could, back into the sea. “I made a significant difference to that one, didn’t I?” as she reached down to pick up another.
That’s how I feel about being a Life Coach. Coaching works. One person at a time. One changed life at a time. In 1998, I traveled from St. Paul, Minnesota to visit my married daughter in Chicago, Illinois. One evening, so she didn’t have to alter her plans, I agreed to go with her to a meeting of small business owners.
That night the speaker was a Personal and Professional Life coach. She talked about how life coaching helps people to live more effective and joyful lives. She discussed how people sabotage themselves and stay stuck.
Then she asked us all several questions:
- What is the benefit in not knowing about your sabotaging methods?
- How do your “but, but, but” responses protect you–and from what?
- What is the next most important step you need to take?
- Are the excuses you tell yourself (and others) true?
- And when one of the people in the group responded to a question with “I don’t know” she said, “What would your answer be if you did know.
I was fascinated. It’s like a voice inside me whispered, “This fits you, Joan.” While sitting there that day, I remembered the on-purpose statement God and I had been working on: I, Joan C. Webb, empowered by my growing friendship with the Triune God, help set people free.”
Soon after that serendipity meeting, I took coaches training and started with one client (I call each client a “coaching partner.”) Twelve years and hundreds of coaching hours later, I remain amazed about how the coaching process works. Life Coaching is a professional relationship that enhances the coachee’s ability to effectively focus on learning, making changes, achieving results and experiencing fulfillment–as the person God created him/her to be.
Have any of you experienced working with a Life Coach? What was it like for you?
Perhaps I’ll write more about the rewards of life coaching later.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
When I re-read this blog title after I posted it, I thought it sounded like I started the industry of Life Coaching. Ha! (Reminded me of Gore and the internet, if you know what I mean.)
What I meant to imply is: Here’s how I first got interested in becoming a Life Coach.
People often ask “How did you start coaching?” or “What led you to coaching?” so I thought I’d just write a little of the story. 12 years later, I’m still amazed by the process of coaching.
It is fascinating how one decision and one meeting can change a life (yours!). God had you on the path and nudged you in the right direction until you met your destiny.
PS: I didn’t think you started the entire industry of Life Coaching.
Hi Denise,
Thanks for your encouraging comments. Yes, I think you’re right. God nudged. I do appreciate that.
And you’re the prolific writer–and you didn’t think my title sounded strange. So that’s good!
Your story of how you started Life Coaching reminds me of how and why I started writing (I am a young writer). In your story above, I notice that you were not fascinated by the “questions” asked in the meeting but by the “spirit behind the questions”. I believe this is a key sign for anyone trying to find what their calling/passion in life is. Thank you for this Joan.
PS: I don’t have experience as a life coach, but I believe I am a mental-life coach. I help people to look and see Christ with their minds; reminding them each day that as Christians, we don’t have to leave our brains at the door when we enter church.
(it was nice chatting with you today)
Thank you for your message, Cornell. Glad you stopped by the site. I love your comment “As Christians, we don’t have to leave our brains at the door when we enter church.” Yes, it was good to IM with you on FB.