In the era of globalization, economic and social crisis, a new «sport» is claiming a position in life and with it what is called Life Coach. There is a saying that “The Players won’t play if Coaches don’t Coach”. This also applies to your personal life as well. A life coach can be your personal coach that can train you how to live your life to the maximum potential. In our daily life we are judged constantly for our performance in our professional and family environment. We are constantly seeking personal success and satisfaction but sometimes things are not so simple as they seem.

People have unlimited powers to do what they wish to do, to do what they want to do and to succeed in what they wish to succeed.

What is a life coach?

Sometimes however it is not enough to do a few hours of yoga per week read a book about self-improvement or visit the psychologist. Sometimes you need all together and more. You need a Life Coach for example, who undertakes to assist you when everything in your life change and you need to be ready to change your life and claim a new way to live.

To seek help when you are confused or when you feel that something is wrong, is not a confession of failure, but a positive attitude towards life, which can lead to substantive change, resulting in better performance.

Nowadays, stress is dominating our life and the conditions in order for someone to be happy, safe and creative are increasing, a Life Coach can help you manage stress, gain self-control, improve self-confidence and acquire life balance and completeness.

A life coach can help you become creative and can assist you maximize your personal development and professional skills. It can help you clarify your goals and be able to succeed at all levels, professionally and personally.

A life coach works with a series of methods and a variety of techniques that can be applied to your current situation and help you practice your feelings, thoughts and behaviour in order to improve your self esteem, self control and skills for a happier and more complete lifestyle. A life coach can teach you how to be successful in life. What is important is that it can help you evolve as you want and how find happiness in your life.

The life coach is becoming quickly one of the most important tools used by successful people who live an exciting life.

Life coaching is useful to people of all professions and social background who are willing and want to go forward with the issues that affect them, to improve their relationships with themselves and others, to manage strong emotions, to handle daily or critical situations, to make use the maximum of their capacity and to adapt to a change in their life.

What can a life coach do for you?

Through weekly sessions, a life coach can help its clients identify what is most important to them and align their thoughts, words and acts accordingly.

A life coach can work with you to determine what you want on a personal and professional level, and to a support you make a life that you want and love.

The commitment to move forward in your life through coaching offers a means for more balance, joy, intimacy, energy, economic prosperity, concentration and action in every area of your life.

A life coach can help you:

Set the life goals that you really want
Do more and achieve more in your life
Focus better in order to have better results quickly
Supply you the tools, support and structure on how to be successful in your life

How is a life coach different from therapy or advice?

Life coaching is not therapy, which goes into depth on various topics that are usually to do with the past, nor is it advice, which usually results in giving the client answers.

Life coaching is more action oriented and focuses primarily on the present and future. A life coach will give you the opportunity to define your own “answers” through the work to be done in the life coaching programs.

Who works with a life coach?

Entrepreneurs, business owners, professionals and people who are in the process of changing their life are some of those who usually work with a life coach. Regardless of the effort of their profession or position in life, all potential customers of a life coach have one common feature: they are all successful, resourceful and intelligent people who want to get even more from their lives. The life coaching is like having a personal trainer for your life!

The advantages of working with a life coach

Life coaching has been shown to function effectively if two factors are present:

1. The customer is willing to learn, to mature and act
2. There is a gap between where the customer is now and what he/she wants to achieve in life

A life coach can help you act better and more effectively

The primary goal of a life coach is to help you find what you want for yourself. Once you have set your goals, which should be clearly aligned with your personal values and professional vision, you would be more likely to act naturally and consistently to achieve them.

A life coach can help you live a balanced life

Professional success is maximized when you enjoy a sense of personal fulfilment and life balance. You can learn how to balance your selfishness in a way to be responsible, and how to find enough time so your life outside of work is exactly that you want to be.

A life coach can help you take better decisions

Sharing your ideas with a life coach will help you focus and concentrate better. The life coach will give you advice and guide you through various techniques on how to make better decisions, which will be for your own benefit. Also by talking to someone who really listens to you, is by itself sufficient to clarify many things.

A life coach can assist you to get more from your life

When you have a partner that you can trust this can help you go much higher because you can endure it. Are you ready to go to the next level and live your life to the maximum? A life coach is a partner that allows you to drive your life where you want to go.

A life coach can also advice you how to make and have more money

Most people deserve much more money than they make. Are you satisfied with your financial situation, if not, you can look with your life coach at your beliefs about money and find out what keeps you away from economic prosperity.

A life coach can help you find more energy

You can recognize with your life coach the things that drain your energy and create a long-term strategy to eliminate them. In addition, you will focus on things that fill you with power and you will explore how to maximize their influence. When you are happy, productive and free from the things that create you problems, life is much more beautiful!

How to get the most from your life coach

Focused on what you really want

Life coaching can help you clear your objectives based on your real skills. First, you need to seriously think about how you want to change your life. Then, acknowledge the gaps between how things are now and how would you like them to be. Many people are struggling with this, so if you are not sure about what you really want, life coaching is an excellent tool that can give you greater clarity.

Be flexible

Working with a sensitive and understanding life coach is a healthy way to grow. Most people hire a life coach to work on specific goals and most of the time the focus is on this mission. In practice however, many people discover new aspects about them, and understand that they can regulate their targets to be more aligned with what they are. This discovery process is natural and need not focus on it, just realize that it is very likely to happen.

What a life coach will demand from you?

A life coach will demand a lot from you. You will be asked to experiment with new approaches and to try new ideas. You will have to say the whole truth, and be ready to set higher goals for your life.

You will have to be prepared before each session and you may have to perform some ‘home work’ exercises that will have to do with your commitments and objectives.

The answer to the question: What is a life coach? Is then simple. Life coach is a trainer for life. It is a person that can help you change your life and explore your potential both in your personal and professional environment. Rapid personal and professional development is the registered trademark of life coaching.

image source: bionicteaching

No related posts.

Do you feel that your professional life is stuck and you feel that you need to change your career and seek a new direction? There are some thoughts that create brave decisions that are able to change your life. The career change may be one of those decisions. But is it realistic to talk about career change in the midst of economic recession? Yet in this very moment is urgent more than ever before to do careful planning of your career. So take your job in your hands and not wait for external factors (such as a dismissal) to ” force you” to make a change in your career.

You want something better or you know that you have more capabilities, but you do not know what. You know that you are ready to deal with what is important to you and what is making you to feel better and give you more rewards. It is time to evaluate and see your true potential.

Create your own action plan for a career change

Maybe you have some ideas for the career you want to follow, but you have not defined it enough in order to take appropriate action.

The desired direction can mean a complete career change, a major upgrade in your career or even the decision to start your own business. These are all relatively large steps that you must consider and determine with yourself. To do this step successfully you need to develop strategies and a comprehensive action plan. Then you will know what to target and easily determine the next steps to take.

The right strategies will give you permanent results and the changes you want. You do not want to discover in a few months or years that you are still in the same place you are now. The strategies will guide your actions and help you clarify your priorities, rather than scattered acts and loose your valuable time, causing confusion and irritation.

To develop an action plan and define the new direction you need to think and refine the following areas. The goal is to find the perfect job that suits you because you are a unique person.

The vision, your mission, and your purpose: How do you imagine your life, yourself, your job, and your relationships in 5 years from now?

Your personal values: What gives you motivation and what is most important to you? E.g. want to help society and others? Want power? Want creativity, diversity, independence, recognition, good pay, and security?

Your strong points, your talents and your skills: What personality you have, e.g. you are honest and enthusiastic and what skills you have that is useful in many areas of work.

What opportunities and sources or resources you have and what do you need? What should you do to get what you are missing? For example get more education, do a market research, network with the appropriate people.

The ideal life, career or business: What level of responsibility you want to take? You Want to Lead? Want to get this job full time or part-time? Do you want to be close to your home or in public transport? Do you want to live in the mountains? Do you prefer large organizations or small businesses?

What do you like and what you are doing well? Passions, interests, what inspires you, what you like and what not. E.g. are you good with computers? You like to repair machinery or furniture? You like taking photos? Are you good at math? Do you like helping others to solve their problems? Do you cook well?

Do you like to make co-operation with people in your work? Do you prefer the creative people? Do you prefer friendly people, or people that keep the relationship professional standard? Want a boss who communicates with you regularly or someone who gives you independence?

Look first what your really want, if it is very likely that you should settle to some extent, to get as close as possible to what career you choose will give you satisfaction and success in the coming years.

20 steps for a successful career change

1. Start with a “career check up”! What have you accomplished so far? What motivates you and makes you passionate in your work? What are the aims and ambitions for your future? Do you use your skills and your talents to the fullest extent? Do you feel satisfaction and commitment? What is important to you? What are your values?

2. Make a «market research» for a new career. From the moment you discover what is your dream job, explore possible job openings. Speak to a career specialist (career consultant, executive coach or head hunter). Send your resume to companies that interest you. Even if there are no vacancies at the time, your resume will be entered into the database and the company is likely to invite you in the future, when there is an available position.

3. Do analysis of your skills and talents. What are your strong points and what areas you need to improve? Which of these abilities and work skills ensure that you have competitive advantage in the labour market? What skills you can easily use at another position, if for example, you are good in communication and interpersonal relationship management, you can effectively use these skills in all positions that require contact with customers.

4. Find a mentor. Surveys show that internationally there is a significant correlation between mentoring practices in the workplace and career development, especially for women.

5. Estimate how much satisfaction you get from your current job. Keep a diary of your daily reactions to the issues arising in your job and search for repetitive items. What aspects of your current job you like and what you cannot stand? Your negative feelings are associated with the content of your work, the culture in your company or the people with whom you work together?

6. Assess your interests, values and skills through various sources of self-esteem, like the exercises in “What Color Is Your Parachute?” by Richard N Bolles, a book for those who want to change careers. Remember the successes you had in your work, what projects have you completed more easily and what business activities you prefer. Your goal is to identify in what you are really interested and what are your most valuable skills.

7. Exchange ideas for alternative careers discussing your core values and skills with your friends, family and colleagues you trust, and create a network that will advise and help you to easily find new jobs that suit your needs.

8. Do research and comparative assessment of the various areas of interest in order to identify targets that would require deeper investigation. Your goal is to find out what areas, which companies and which persons you should go after.

9. Read more about what you are interested in, find research and statistics and make as many personal contacts you can.

10. Be the shadow of one or two people working in the field that you are interested. Spent hours or days to see how they work and learn (7 ways you can learn from other people and change your career and life), so you will not be like fish on land in case you change career and profession.

11. Try to work as a volunteer or as a freelancer at the beginning. So you will see how good you will do and learn the job without substantial and psychological costs.

12. Search for learning opportunities, which would link your past with your new professional area. Many private schools and colleges offer courses for professionals.

13. Search for ways to develop new skills in your current job, which you could open the way for a change. If your company can provide training in some new technology or expertise, express your interest.

14. Think about alternative roles in your current job, which could take advantage of your knowledge. For example, if you are a store manager in a large retail company and tired from the long hours and weekends that you have to work, think of the transcription in a company as a wholesale representative in retail.

15. Get in touch with people who can help you change your career. An important step to change career has to do with finding people who can help you get the job you want. If you think about it then you would certainly find out that there is someone you know, an old friend or associate who has a relationship with your dream job.

16. Get in touch with this person and ask a recommendation letter that will confirm that you are fit for this position. Even better, ask the person to talk about you to the employer and support you in your job application. But beware; this should not reach the limits of exaggeration. This is not about a favour, but for a good-honest-talk about your character and your skills.

17. Get a little background / work experience. Even if you do not have any experience in the job you are searching, it is never too late. You can get some work experience by just finding a relevant job (even unpaid). You can take part in a large project that requires external partners or participate in a government project or volunteer programs for young people. You can find jobs for such programs through dedicated search engines available on the web (depending on the country and region you live).

In any case you need to find a job that will allow you to gain some knowledge, and experience you can talk about in an interview with your prospective employer.

18. Adjust your expectations. The most disappointing when someone is looking for a new job is that you have to adjust your aspirations for success. Even for Michael Jordan, one of the greatest athletes in the world, he had to come to terms with the fact that he was not the «Air Jordan» when he went to play baseball with the White Sox.

It is almost certain that you will move up the scale faster than in your previous work, but not without cost. You must prove that you deserve it to the clients, colleagues and your bosses. A great past does not guarantee a greater future.

19. Utilize your skills and experiences. Although you may switch to an entirely new career, the fact that many jobs require the same skills remains. We do not live in the past where someone could not become a farmer a blacksmith and then a sailor.

Most jobs, regardless of the company, they require some basic skills such as sales, communication and proper time management. If you succeed in these areas then it is almost certain that you can succeed in almost all types of work. And you must constantly prove that you can manage it, utilizing the experience gained in your previous work.

20. Believe in yourself. Put on your best smile, boost your confidence and go after your dream! If you do not do it, nobody is going to do it for you.

In conclusion, it is three steps you must follow for a successful career change. The first is to acquire good recommendations that will open the door. The second is the enhancement of skills and experience from your previous work in your new. And the third is just beyond you. To grab the opportunities that will appear in front of you and give your best self. Do not hesitate. You can really do it.

image source: mikecolvin82

No related posts.

Three things are certain in life: death, taxes and change. Among the three, most people face the first two with more success than the third. However, we have good news. There is a way on how to change your life that will even be for your benefit. The concept of making changes to life is not the same for all, seems easy to some and frightening for others. The familiarity with the familiar and the already known is always safer and it safeguards from the fear of change, the threat of new and the terror against the unknown.

Taking the decision to make a change in your life, to make a fresh start, regardless if it is a small or large change, has the power to diminish you. A change does not always solve the problems you have with your self and others. The decision for change is good to be the result of an internal process and a clear understanding of what is actually you want to achieve with a change in your life. The believe that you can suddenly stop everything and make a fresh start is utopian: regardless how much you want to leave the past behind you. The best way to make a change is to face your past and plan for the future. Two key questions you will first have to set your self and respond with sincerity and responsibility are:

Why you want this change, what you expect to change?
The change is enough to make you feel satisfied?

Why you may need to make a change in your life?

The most common reasons that may make you to take the decision to make changes in your life are:

• You may want to make a change to your life so as to stay committed in an old dream, which you do not want to abandon or replace it with something else.
• Changes in life maybe the only way to escape from the deadlock you live in and correct the situation.
• The need to prove to others and your self that you are able to carry out a change in your life and move forward.
• We may have tried a lot of solutions and various ways to improve your live without success and you see change as the unique opportunity to solve your problems.
• A combination of all the factors, i.e. To pursue an old dream, an old desire that looks like the only way to get you out of the impasse and make you feel and prove that you are able to achieve something beyond the ordinary.

Why you fear a change in your life?

The denial to change stems from the fear of loss. When you have doubts about a change in your life, ask yourself what is that you are afraid to lose? Is it about control? Is it self-respect, freedom, familiarity, income, or comfort? Discover the root of fear and try to get over it.

Accept that the discomfort, doubt and uncertainty are by-products of change. The more familiar you are with these feelings, the more you will be able to distinguish the real effects of change.

Acknowledge the disadvantages of not making any changes to your life. Imagine how boring life would be if you did not had to solve some problems or if you could not appreciate the hidden opportunities. It is like staying in a boring relationship, because you do want to bother into getting to know new people.

Acknowledge the benefits of change. Do not let your stubbornness hide the benefits of moving to a new situation.

If the reason you need to change is not clear you need to be patient. Do not hurry to make conclusions about its value. Give yourself time to prepare emotionally and psychologically.

Write in a piece of paper five advantages of a change in your life before allowing yourself to deal with the disadvantages. Do not hurry to condemn and to see only the negative side of things.

Realise how many advantages those who are willing to make changes in their lives enjoy. For example:

• Their life rewards them.
• The learn new things with the life challenges
• The problems and drawbacks are a natural consequence of progress.
• Change offers them opportunities for further development.

How to correctly approach a change in your life?

Accept your life’s reality

Try for a moment seeing your life in the eyes and accepting your own reality, whatever that might be. The life acceptance process will help you to identify the real difficulties and conflicts so that you will be able to resolve them. Bearing in mind that reality is always fluid and depends on how you approach it. It is not a given, consolidated entity. The acceptance of the liquidity is a painful process of curing.

Create a hierarchy of what is you want to change

Financial difficulties? Professional disappointment? Relationship problems? Communication problems? Unable to enjoy what you have? The belief that the difficulties are so complicated and that you will fail to handle them creates anxiety, stress, anger and frustration. Instead, the proper hierarchy of problems will make them tangible and give you a sense of control over them. Having in mind that this ranking should be based only on your own subjective judgment and not on what others believe. The subjectivity defines hierarchy. You should accept this without being frightened. That is you should trust your arbitrary subjectivity.

Get the opinion of people that you trust

To avoid sharing your thoughts and problems with others, often makes you feel trapped and isolated towards your difficulties, which inevitably are magnified in your thoughts. In contrast, the sharing of thoughts and difficulties with other people close to you, will help to minimize their significance, and will give you another perspective and possibly a real solution. Having in mind again that the others will give their own perspectives and views about your problems. It does not necessarily mean that you have to follow their advice. You have to listen carefully and consider their views when taking your decisions.

Plan for a smooth transition

Finding alternative solutions to the pressing situations around you, the abandonment of the absolute (with blindfolds) thinking and the ability to offer space and time to yourself to adapt to the new realities, are very valuable conditions. Equally necessary is the acceptance of your own pace and the balance between the things that you «must do» and the things that you would like to do.

As a final thought keep in your mind that the Chinese ideogram for the word “change” consists of the ideogram of the word “threat” and “opportunity”.

image source: yukonblizzard

No related posts.