“[Coaching] works and is worth
effort,” said Al Hunt, Benicia, CA. She’s good,” he said about his coach, Linda Lovejoy, http://www.the-dating-clinic.com/Linda-Lovejoy.html , a Relationship Coach. Another of Linda’s clients simply wrote her a poem:
My Teacher
A small frame A caring voice A light in her eyes A heart of gold She is my teacher And I was her pupil She opened her book The knowledge poured out I opened my mind and took it in Her light became my light And then I became teacher I await my pupil
Shanetta Minter, Saint Petersburg, FL
Coaching still eludes defining, but clients know what they get – results. They learn to solve problems better, transition to retirement, find jobs, learn to cook, build self-esteem, parent better, and get promotions and learn life skills.
Lulwa Al Marzooki, who lives in Abu Dhabi, said she benefited from coaching in following ways: “Since I start learning emotional intelligence with Susan Dunn, I have noticed following positive changes: I am more patient in dealing with angry people. The ability to empathize with others helps in being able to receive love from others. I get in less fights in conversations. It is easier for me to solve problems.”
What am I doing with a client from Abu Dhabi? My practice is Internet based, and I have clients globally.
Who are clients who come for coaching?
“Once reserved for executives facing tough decisions in elite corners of corporate American,” says Cecilia Capuzzi Simon, in an article in The Washington Post (June 2003), “coaching is trickling down to masses.”
“Think of coaching,” Simon writes, “as having your own Dr. Phil on call – someone there not to diagnose emotional problems or feel your pain, but to tell you to buck up and help you make a plan.”
Mary Elizabeth Becker, who switched from psychotherapy, told Simon, “When I tell people I’m using a life coach, they roll their eyes and pass it off as new Age baloney. But coaching is filling a need for people like myself who are really ready to transform their lives.”
Coaching certainly makes a difference. A client wrote Kathleen Spike, MCC, ( http://www.coachingworksinc.com ), following letter which is published on her website:
“Whew! . . . it's been a year! You have been a major part of it being present for me each week, "holding my intention(s)" in front of me and cheering :-) when I needed to grow and did so. Thank you for helping me reach deeper down in me to go up higher and higher. You have been most instrumental influencing me into Very Best Year I've had income-wise. Your support and encouragement and "open books" for helping me start and grow my own coaching practice has been such a relief and incredible gift!”
Gratefully, Chip Arthur "Chip" Phelps President Connected Leadership Institute
Mark Brandenburg’s (http://www.markbrandenburg.com ) client, P.J., a father and business consultant, said, “Mark helped me to finally find some balance in my life and to improve my relationships with my wife and kids.” Mark works in business arena and also on fathering with Emotional Intelligence.
Another of his clients wrote: “Mark’s work has had a profound impact on way we run our business.” Dr. Rebecca Hetzler, owner and CEO, MN Injury Center.
Is there a difference between a personal life coach and a business coach? Like a number of coaches, Dave Lindbeck of InStep Coaching ( http://www.instepcoaching.com ), is both.
He tells of working with a client who’d been a real estate broker and wanted to start a corporate career that would be less demanding, to keep real estate operation on side, to be able to spend quality time with his daughter and wife, and keep a solid personal foundation. Where would you draw line between two?
