How is your year going so far?
Are you celebrating milestones of any size or shape?
For me, this is a significant year as it marks 10 years as a life coach. I am chuffed about this, to say the least. I am not sure that 10 years ago I had any idea of how these years would pan out, that I would be able to make a success of this new career (notwithstanding a global pandemic in the middle), and that I would be where I am today.
As I consider these past years, and look to the year ahead, there are three main themes that stand out as being worthy of some reflection.
Celebrating milestones – gratitude.
I have SO much to be thankful for over these past years.
Many people have helped, encouraged, advised and cheered me on along the way. Coaching communities continue to bring peer support, learning and connection. There have been set-up courses via Business Gateway, technology support and input, others who have generously shared their learnings. During my coach training, my trainer Lynne Lee advised us to have ‘raving fans‘ along the route. People who consistently believe in us, encourage us, cheer us on and promote us. I have a number of people who take this role in my life and work, and they bring so much joy.
My family continue to be a huge support. We made some fairly major financial changes to allow me to leave a secure job (with a secure pension) to work for myself. I am continuing to learn a lot about values based decision making. My earnings are less than when I worked as a physio. And (I like the use of the word AND here rather than BUT…) I have more time, much more flexibility, and have been able to be available and present to my Nearest-and-Dearest in ways that would not have been possible otherwise. I see this as a huge gift, now that they have flown the nest and as I see them growing into the wonderful young women that they are.
Many opportunities have come my way, and I am grateful for how these develop and grow me as a coach. Speaking engagements, writing commisions, evening and day retreats, workshops, team sessions. And of course, the many fabulous clients who work with me.
Celebrating milestones – legacy.
This gives me goosebumps. That my contribution as a coach has – in ways large and small – impacted the lives of others. Perhaps through direct one to one coaching with me, or attending a workshop I run, or maybe reading something I write. But I GET TO be involved in the lives of others that empowers them to see and embrace the fabulous and unique people they are and live with greater confidence and proactivity as those people.
Doesn’t get much better than that for me.
Celebrating milestones – lessons learned.
Always and of course there are lessons to be learned. If I was to go back and have a wee blether with my younger self at the end of 2013, what would I say?
Everything takes (a lot) longer than you think. I have never run a business before, or built a website or social media business pages, or blogged. All these things have taken enormous investment of time, energy and not a small amount of frustration. I am learning to give myself grace and use the word YET: I don’t know how to do this YET.
There is no magic wand or silver bullet. Despite what scores of websites, LinkedIn opportunities, “free” webinars promise, there are no magic 3-steps-to-a-thriving-business. Hard work, learning and implementing learning and reflecting on what is and is not working, time, asking for help, falling and getting back up again, reversing out of seemingly magic rabbit holes that turn out to be distractions….these lessons litter the last 10 years.
Accepting myself and who I AM rather than trying to be someone else.
When I left my NHS role of 22 years as a physiotherapist, my thoughts at the time were that I am closing this door, with gratitude, but this season of my life is now over.
I see now that this view is naive. So much of who I am as a coach is because I worked as a physiotherapist for many years. I am incredibly grateful for that experience, and for the wonderful colleagues and patients I worked with during that time. My coaching is informed by who I am, and who I am is a physiotherapist at heart (subnote – ask my family, you are not likely to get any sympathy from me about anything much). You can read more about what I gained as a physiotherapist here.
This is a truth I connect very much with now:
One of the most important milestones we’ll all hit along the way is the moment when we finally own our unique point of view and realise how priceless it is.”
Sarah Ban Breathnach (author, philanthropist and gratitude guru.
My view of the world, the experience and skills I have, my personality and approach are just that – mine. Unique to me. Character growth and development are always important to knock off the less palatable parts of us. But accepting who I AM brings confidence to believe in myself and what I uniquely have to offer as a coach.
When you look back at your own life, where do you see lessons learned? What are you grateful for? And to whom can you be a raving fan? Celebrating milestones, no matter the size, encourages us to take the next steps with gratitude.