And with so many types of professional coaches out there, do you even need one?
In its modern format, Coaching has been around since the late 1990s. People still think of it as something new, but in reality, Coaching has been around for millennia. There has never been a period in humanity's history where Coaches did not exist.
Sure, it might have looked slightly different, but Coaching is as old as the hills. Modern-day Coaching may be more refined and more commercially viable, but the principles remain the same.
What Does a Professional Coach Do?
Coaches have the skills and knowledge to advise, support, and encourage their clients.
They help them to:
Make sound decisions
Take effective actions
Resolve their challenges in the most efficient way possible
Learn from the process, so they can repeat it whenever they want
A coach also can remain detached from the issues at hand.
Consider the wise words of Albert Einstein:
"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them."
Time Is Money
In the modern era, in life and business, time is money. There's ever-increasing cooperation and collaboration in companies and peoples' private lives. We need to figure things out almost on the fly these days while dealing with different time zones and cultures.
Everyone has their unique issues to handle alongside everything else that needs to be accommodated, and then there's the technology we all use to connect with everybody and everything. Life is more complex today, and it certainly seems to be speeding up every time you turn around. It doesn't take long before we begin to have thoughts of overwhelm and burnout on our minds.
We need to ask ourselves: "How long can I justify spending time and money on this issue trying to figure it out for myself, knowing what Albert Einstein said about problem-solving?"
If having a Coach could save you time and money, it would be ridiculous NOT to hire one, wouldn't it?
Every King has had an Advisor (Coach) throughout history in every culture. Every military leader has had a Strategist (Coach), every World Class Athlete has had a trainer (Coach), and every Entertainer has had a Manager (Coach).
Who Hires a Coach?
The only conclusion we can draw from the history of Coaching is that the people who hire a Coach fall into two camps:
People who are at the top of their game and want to stay there, or
People who aspire to be at the top of their game
Many people will say that they want to change themselves, their life, their job, or their circumstances, but they are fearful of change in real terms. They delay, procrastinate and make excuses. They lack self-confidence and the drive to follow through. It's human nature. It's what ordinary people always do.
People who hire a Coach are not ordinary people.
They are inspired and have a vision. They embrace change and are prepared to engage in making positive changes in their lives entirely. Plus, they don't want it to take forever!
They have a sense of urgency, and they want someone they can lean on, confide in, use as a sounding board, and rely on to help them make the inevitable tough decisions that they can see on the horizon.
People hiring their first Coach are often overwhelmed with pessimism. They think, "What if I waste my money?"
Before you hire a coach, consider that you're already wasting time, which is the same as money, and you lack the resources to resolve the issues at hand. It would cost you less to hire a Coach and find out first-hand NOW how unbelievably valuable a Coach can be.
People who are hiring their second or subsequent Coach have no pessimism. What they are looking for is the perfect fit for them and the circumstances they find themselves in.
For a reason, money is not the issue, and they never think about the possibility of wasting it. Their main concern is finding the RIGHT Coach and then hoping that the Coach they choose has a spot left open where they can be accommodated, and can they start today?
Is Hiring a Coach Right For You?
Maybe. Maybe not.
Are you at a point where NOT taking action costs you time and money?
Do you feel stuck in your struggles?
Could you use encouragement and sage advice in moving forward?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, perhaps a coach can get you moving in the right direction to help you create the life you desire sooner rather than later.