Favorite Parts of Working in the Coaching Industry as an Executive Coach

Being in the coaching industry offers a significant opportunity to change lives. I was at a John C. Maxwell conference one year where a gentleman named Christian Simpson spoke.

He is considered one of the premier, gold standard coaches on the planet, by far one of the best. His level of performance excellence, caring, and skill in delivery was just phenomenal. He truly has the Midas touch in the coaching industry.

I decided to become a coach after hearing him speak. While others on stage were motivational and upbeat, Christian was very interactive and delivered his message soberly. He cautioned us, saying, "Be careful if you coach, if you don't want to be a coach, if you don't like coaching, if you want to dabble in this, don't do it."

He explained that coaching is an area where you can affect someone's life adversely or positively in a significant way. When he said that, and the way he said it, I realized he was serious. It made me think, "Oh wow, that's how I want to change lives. I want to change lives in a significant, real way." Perhaps I should do it through coaching instead of speaking. This impacted me profoundly.

After working with Christian Simpson, who lived in the United Kingdom, I realized he was not a charlatan or a faker. He is dedicated to his craft. Coaching is so significant, and many people call themselves coaches but just throw the word around.

I wish there was a different name for what we do, because what people call coaching is often not coaching. I am not a mentor. I'm not giving you a specific method to follow for success. That's not what coaching is.

Coaching uses the word "eduko," which means to draw out. It's about pulling what's within you out so you can show up, because you already have the answers. My job is to help you find those answers by asking the right questions.

These questions help you dig deep, get beyond barriers, and extract what you already know. Your authentic self is your best self, and it's within you. It's not about me or what I think.

I'm here to help you become who you want to become, and we'll celebrate the results. It's beautiful because to have that effect, I must be the "dumbest person in the room." I just ask questions, the right questions at the right time.

Then, you think, the lightbulb comes on, and you have that moment, that spark. I love that about the coaching industry because it changes people. Mentorship is great, and I have mentors, but coaching is totally different.

Coaching is about the person being coached, not about the mentor and mentee. It's not about me telling someone what to do and them following step-by-step. It's about them learning their way in this world.

Honestly, if I had a million people following my way, it would be pretty boring. If everyone did the same thing, the same way, that would be painfully boring. I'm glad we are different and attract the people we do.

We impact the people we're meant to impact because we do it differently, and people respond to different information. We need to be ourselves. I believe someone is out there waiting for you to show up as your authentic self, with your authentic story.

The part of you that you're hiding, somebody desperately needs to see that part of themselves or yourself so they can show up in their authentic way. That's my two cents on coaching. I hope I can do this until I stop breathing because it truly changes the world. This is my purpose, to leave this up and I found it. I do that through speaking and coaching.