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Through years of formal and informal training, and experience both in life and in working with clients, I have developed philosophies that have served as the foundation of my approach to coaching. Many of these ideas come from a variety of sources, ranging from psychology, sociology, philosophy, coaching theories, and spiritual concepts, to wisdom gained through my personal and professional experiences. I have included a few of these ideas to provide some insight into my viewpoint and outlook. Whole Person I approach coaching from the perspective that every sector of life affects every other. It is not possible to focus solely on one area, like career, as if it existed in a vacuum. Every area of life influences and is influenced by all of its other aspects – money, health, relationships, self-image, and the list goes on. It is because of this that I look to coach the whole person. While we will have "primary focus" areas, we will continually examine all sectors of what I call the Wheel of Life. Many people operate from the assumption that if you “do” (work harder, do more), you will “have” more, and then “be” something. This doing-having-being model traps people in the belief that they must keep working and striving to secure those objects and achieve the prestige they have craved for to finally be someone, be something. We have the power to design our lives. I believe that who we are in the world emanates from how we define ourselves – based on our wants, needs, values, and goals. By becoming clear about who we are and what we want (the "being"), we are better able to make choices and "do" what fits us best. This conscious thinking and action lead to “having” that which we clearly set our sights on. This is the being-doing-having model. Ultimately, living in this model is easier, has greater results, and is far more satisfying. I have developed and instituted a practice of "clutter-free living" in my daily life and encourage it with my clients. I see this concept as spanning all levels of existence – from the physical clutter to the mental clutter that can distract and disempower. If our homes are cluttered or our relationships are messy, our time and energy can often be wasted on dealing with maintaining the status quo, attempting to make "it" better, or avoid responsibilities. By taking time and focused action to reduce and eliminate these distractions and time/energy drains, it is possible to start focusing on what is important to you. Often when someone wants to make changes in life or tackle a big project, it can feel very daunting – especially when juggling a busy schedule, various relationships and other priorities. If approached systematically, however, it does not have to feel like an all-or-nothing situation. As the first step, it is important to identify the purpose and desired outcome of the goal. This helps to put the goal into a context that will motivate and inspire, pulling the individual toward the target rather than it feeling like it's a constant push to the finish line. By then breaking the project down into smaller, more manageable bite-size chunks, action can then be taken gradually. Taking these "baby steps" on a daily or weekly basis, and setting up short- and longer-term milestones, helps you more easily move toward what you want with a sense of accomplishment and pride. Coaching is not about dependency; it is about creating a collaborative partnership that fosters self-sufficiency. It is important to the success of any coaching relationship for clients to feel that they are growing, learning and succeeding. While the coach guides and supports clients to get where they want to be, ultimately it is the client who invests the actual time and energy into every endeavor to make it a successful one. My goal is to partner with the client in order to identify and master a set of tools for life’s toolbox so that challenges are surmountable, and any goal can be attained through conscious, self-generated action.
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