Dare to Live You Coaching:

Is it right for you? Are you right for it?

	Without fail, whenever I meet a new person, let’s call her Girl X – be it at a cocktail party, a networking event or in line at the grocery store – the following scenario is likely to happen. Girl X: “What do you do?” Christine: “I am an inspirational catalyst.” Girl X: “What’s that?” Christine: “I help people create the lives they really want. I’m a life coach.” Girl X: Nodding head, looking confused “Oh, yes a life coach.” Girl X needs some more details on what the heck a life coach really does and how that could help her. So I continue… Christine: “Coaching is a pretty new thing. How do you know about life coaching?” Girl X: Looking blankly… “I heard about it on Oprah.” Well, maybe that’s not quite her answer, but you get the drift. People hiring coaches to help them with their lives is a new thing for most. While athletes, musicians, actors and executives have been doing it for years, until recently, everyday people thought they had to figure out their lives all on their own. Thank goodness times are a changin’!

Is Coaching Right for You?

1. Has procrastination been showing it’s ugly, defeating head more than you would like? Are you ready to find your personal superhero and smash it to smithereens?
2. Are you tolerating bull*#!@, medicrocity, comfortable choices, fear of risk, or pretty much anything that keeps you milling about on the path to slow death? Are you ready for full, no holding back living?
3. Is there something pulling at you that says, “There is MORE than this.” And you have no flippin clue what that “more” is… or maybe you have a clue, but it freaks you out or you don't know where to start? Are you ready for the "more"?
4. Do you dream of what life – your career, relationship, lifestyle, etc. – “could be” like if X or Y was true? Are you ready to stop waiting around like a wallflower and start creating the reality you want?
5. Are you ready to discover your REAL ME? And will you unleash yourself to live without reserve, without apology?

If any of these ring true for you, chances are you ready for coaching.

The Skinny On Coaching

Answers to some of the most common questions people ask me
(a.k.a. frequently asked questions about life coaching)

1. What is life coaching?
   The simplest way to define life coaching is by the results it generates… life coaching helps people get from where they are to where they want to go in any part of their life. Contrary to the belief of our puritan ancestors, there is no glory in doing it all on your own. Smart, successful and happy people ask for help. Life coaches help people create great lives.
2. Is coaching like therapy?
   They are more like close cousins, and both are important at different times. Therapy is about healing. Coaching is about growing. Therapy is the place where a person can tell their story, release their pain, and get over their past. Coaching takes place in the here and now. No story, just what’s real today, while keeping an eagle eye on the future. Coaching creates momentum, it takes a person deeper into knowing themselves and the world in which they operate, and it propels them forward. It is goal focused… and often to get to those goals, one has to delve into their emotions and beliefs, and always has to be willing to ask the hard questions, and give truthful answers.
3. Is coaching like consulting?
   Yes and no. How’s that for answer? It depends a lot on the coach. What I can tell you is, no coach has all of the answers, and consultants are paid to have the answers. Great coaches help you find the answers inside of yourself.
4. How long do people work with a coach?
   Depends on what you want… could be four months could be a few years. If you are revamping your entire life, it’s going to take more than a few months. If you are focusing on a specific project, it’s still going to take time. There are no short cuts and a lot depends on you. It’s my opinion that a coach's job is to help people learn new tools, build strong “muscles” and find their own source of inner guidance. It’s the client’s job to know when it’s time to fly on their own.
5. How important is it to have a coach with a similar background or expertise?
   Most of the time it doesn't really matter. Generally speaking your not hiring a coach like you would a consultant. You are the one doing the work, not the coach. What you want from a coach is someone who gives you access to what you don’t have. I think a coach can only take someone as far as they themselves have gone, and as far as you are willing to go. I recommend that people ask potential coaches, “What have you and are you doing for your own personal growth?” You want a coach who pushes their own edges and has the experience and wisdom to help you push yours.
6. What do I need to do?
   Coaching isn’t something you do once a week when you talk with your coach. Or that you pull together the night before so you can “check off” your assignment. The real coaching happens between our calls, in your life, when you are living and breathing what we’ve sprung open in our conversations. When my clients have treated coaching like homework or a to do, they don’t get as much out of it. My successful clients take full responsibility for their lives and are honest and vulnerable (with me and with themselves)… they use me to create momentum, stay focused and open new doors… they stay open to my whacky, and sometimes really challenging, points of view and suggestions… they are willing to be uncomfortable and take risks… they take action and go after what they want, and when they don’t we talk about it… and after all is said and done, they remember to laugh and smile and keep a sense of humor, after all it’s no fun to take ourselves too seriously.

 

Am I the Right Coach for You?

Questions you can ask me, or any coach you are considering.

Finding the right coach is a kind of like picking a business partner, because that’s what we are, partners in the business of creating your best life. So think about what you would want in a business partner. You can probably condense it to three things – 1. Skills and smarts 2. Trust & integrity 3. Do I like this person? Do we jive? (after all we will be spending a lot of time together).

The skills and smarts are the easy part. Background, credentials, experience… and in a few minutes you can tell if you are talking to a smart cookie or a dull donut. Someone you can relate to and trust enough to do what it takes to create a powerful partnership that can catalyze your life – well, that takes a conversation, and trusting your gut about the connection that exists, or doesn't.

I suggest to anyone thinking of working with me to schedule a one hour phone conversation in which we can talk about you, talk about me and get a feel for if we are a great match. Complimentary. No strings. And if doesn't work out, I’ll be happy to give you a few other coaches to talk with. Talk to a few of us – two or three – and then make your decision. It will make you feel better about your choice, and it will make your coaching a lot more successful.

Here are some questions you can ask potential coaches, including me:

1. What is your coaching experience and training?
2. Who are your clients? Who are you most successful at working with?
3. What is your philosophy about coaching?
4. What is your specific process for coaching?
5. What are some of your coaching success stories?
6. Why do you coach? What else do you do besides coaching?
7. What have you and do you do for your own personal growth?

 

Let’s chat.
christine.arylo@DareToLiveYou.com or 510.482.5858