What were the biggest doubts you had in your early months?
Doubt and fear are my physical reactions to change. They don’t depict reality. But I get pulled in hook, line and sinker every time I make a big change. And creating a new career is one big change. My biggest doubt was that I would find a position of visibility. We doubt what we can’t control.
I was aware that preparation plus opportunity equals position. I had preparation mastered, but opportunity was up to the Universe. My worrying about it only got in my way.
I overcame the worry by surrendering to what was. I accepted my situation and recognized…right now I am preparing to give to the Universe my coaching…right now I’m working hard and not making much money…right now I’m playing a smaller game. I didn’t like it. But that was the truth of my situation. And in my heart, I believed, without a doubt and without the need for evidence that… as I was preparing something big for the Universe, the Universe was preparing something big for me.
The following is taken from David’s interview with Ginger Cockerham in 10 Super Coaches.
What was most disheartening for you while building your practice?
Why give up a lucrative business before I am sure I can be a successful coach? Giving up a business that was successful but stressful and transitioning to coaching full time was a HUGE decision for me. If felt like jumping off a cliff and hoping the parachute would open. It was necessary to make that choice to have the time and commitment to coaching – but it was very scary.
One morning I got up and spent the entire day coaching – doing what I loved and being on my life mission and I realized that it was worth stepping through the fear. In addition, I have had fabulous senior mentor coaches in the 8 ½ years I have been coaching. It was with the support and encouragement of a coach who was ahead of me on the journey that gave me that courage – I was not stepping out alone.
The second block was the plateauing. In the first two years, I built my client base to 10 or 12 clients consistently but I could not get past that number. It was then I read the anonymous quote – “If you can do it yourself, it’s not a big enough dream” – so I started building and increasing my network so that referrals come regularly from clients, from networking groups, for alliances, from other coaches, etc.
The following is taken from David’s interview with Anna Dargitz in 10 Super Coaches.
What was the most interesting or exciting thing for you about building your practice?
Most exciting thing for me about practice development was learning this truth:
Self-awareness + interdependence on others + supportive environments = Successful Practice Development.
I am indebted to my own long-term coaches over the years who inspired me to soar with my strengths and reach farther than I believed I could. They are truly gifted coaches and mentors and include Craig Carr (PCC), Steve Davis, Jennifer Anderson (MCC) and Phil Karl.
What was perhaps the biggest mistake you made in practice building?
Not jumping into interdependent mode sooner. I never do anything important by myself anymore.
Excellence in coaching comes down to excellence in the coach.
If you pursue excellence in your own life, you will expect it for your clients.
If you’re willing to pick up the phone and call someone you’re terrified to talk to, you’ll then be a stand for your client to do the same. When you are honest in all your relationships, you’ll expect your client to tell the truth. If you’re looking after yourself, you’ll be firmer with a client who is letting their body go.
When you are out of integrity or living way below your vision of yourself, your self-assurance drops. Conversely, living a life of excellence will give you confidence as a coach, and potential clients will feel it. Every time you make choices that bring you closer to who you want to be, you gain confidence. And confident coaches will ask more of their clients.
Work on yourself as much as you work on your business. Don’t just take business classes or coaching teleseminars, take personal growth seminars, read as much as you can, listen to motivational tapes, grow in your relationships, challenge yourself. Know yourself and know your issues, so you continue to grow. Track down Paul Lowe, David Deida, the Human Awareness Institute, Landmark Education, Byron Katie, Tony Robbins – find your ‘gurus’ and learn from them.
Excellence in coaching comes down to excellence in the coach.
A coach’s life doesn’t have to be perfect. Boy – you should see some of the stuff that happens in my life! But what’s your attitude around it? Is it: ‘What a powerful ride! What’s next?’ Or ‘Why does this always happen to me?’
Do you learn from your experiences? It’s the growing and expanding that leads to understanding for ourselves and for those we coach. I just had a session today where my courage in coming through a difficult time was fuel and inspiration for my client. It wasn’t so much my ‘technique’ in coaching her; it was her being able to see someone who had been there and faced the tough decisions and come through it with a smile (eventually!).It’s wonderful how our clients call us to live greater lives than we might on our own.
Even in our imperfect lives, are you excited about your life? Do you wake up feeling that something wonderful will happen today? This passion brings enthusiasm to your clients as well. You can create light, when you are lit up yourself.
