Asking Santa (or anyone else) for career guidance
Author: Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D.

Lynn Grabhorn's book, Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting, encourages readers to imagine themselves making outrageous requests of their own personal version of Santa Claus. But we've all heard the warning: "Be careful what you wish for…" Once I hired a "mentor" coach to help me generate business. I spent hours working on my website. I played with orange, green, and blue and black text in helvetica, geneva and garamond type faces. I added pictures. I took away pictures. My coach kept saying, "You're doing great!" On a slow week, she advised me to "clear clutter" and "move your body a new way."

After a few months, I had a big coaching bill, a multicolored website, and a sad little business. I got my money back, but I lost a lot of time and energy.

Still, this coach did have many happy clients. What was going on?

Answer: I did not know how to decode the coach's explanation of her services. Each coach works with a model of human nature that explains what, why and how they coach. Clients need to understand how coach's model fits their current needs.

What is a model of human nature? I just read a book that compares Western and Chinese medicine. Western medicine treats the body as a machine to be repaired; Chinese medicine believes sickness is caused by imbalance that can be corrected by herbs and diet.

Both models have applications and limitations. If you break your leg, the Western model makes most sense; if you're having trouble sleeping, many would say the Chinese model would be more applicable.

Now let's looking at models of humans in transition. John is a business owner whose are down. Coach X says, "You need to clear your life of clutter, tolerations and energy-draining relationships." Coach Y says, "I will teach you techniques to attract new business." Coach Z says, "Maybe your business does not reflect your life purpose." Coach Q offers, "I will teach you some networking and sales techniques."

Each coach works from a model. Only John can tell if this model applies to him at this time in his life. If your website needs an overhaul, you can clear clutter till your house is bare and nothing will happen. On the other hand, if your energies are drained by everyday hassles, you may lack motivation and strength to apply the knowledge you have. The best way to understand a coach's model of human nature is to read his or her articles and ebooks with an analytical eye. In fact, I have come to believe that reading what a coach has written is a better indicator of "fit" than a free introductory session.

To make this point, let's compare four best-selling books. Cheryl Richardson's Take Time for Your Life is a terrific example of what I call the "life space" model. She assumes that people know what they want and how to get there, but move to the next level by self-care and personal empowerment. If you're already successful, or if you know what you must do to be successful, this model describes you and Coach X's proposal would fit.

Lynn Grabhorn's book, Excuse Me Your Life is waiting, suggests that people fail to achieve goals because they focus on what they don't want, not what they do want. She offers techniques to help people change their styles of thinking and feeling, like Coach Y.

Martha Beck's book, Finding your own true north, sets forth a clear model: everyone has a real self and an essential self, and denial of the essential self creates blocks to happiness and achievement. Coach Z, who accepts this model, will give you information about the process and help you uncover your essential self.

Finally, a business book like Michael Gerber's E-Myth series or Jay Levinson's Guerilla Marketing will assume you are perfectly capable of applying sound sales techniques once you learn what they are. Coach Q accepts this model.

The key is to be very clear on what you want and to decode what the coach offers before you pay money. If you have no idea what you want, I suggest asking for exploratory meetings with a few coaches or counselors who allow you to buy time by the hour. A short free session probably will not be adequate.

Spend the entire time talking about your situation. You can tell if you're getting good guidance because the coach will say, "If you want help with X, I can't help you but I will recommend some places to start. If you want help with Y, here's what I can do..."

If you'd like some tips on choosing a coach, send me an email and I will pass them on. I can’t resist adding that my ebook, Nine Power Moves to Career Freedom, has a comprehensive section on choosing advisors. My ebook, Cathy's irreverent guide to life as a coach, is targeted to people who want to become coaches -- or learn more about the folks they choose to hire.








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Cathy Goodwin, MBA, PhD
"9 magic keys to carer freedom"
http://www.movinglady.com/freedombook.html free ezine: subscribe@movinglady.com email cathy@movinglady.com 505-534-4294

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