Don’t look back
“I had a coaching session with Martin Howden in 2015. I left the session with two thoughts. “I know how to cope now”. And “I want to be able to do that for other people”. To see coaching in action was the trigger for me to research and start formal training”
Becoming a coach (or maybe a consultant, an adviser or a trainer) seems an attractive path to many as a second career or a means to live a more balanced life. But what does it actually feel like to make this transition? And over time, to truly become a coach?
“Don’t Look Back” explores this through a series of snapshots from one journey, and a bunch of interviews from others. This is not a “how to be a coach” book. This is a book about the fears, the challenges and ultimately the new sense of purpose and meaning that can come through choosing this path.
“This is gold. I so wish I’d had this when I was getting started”
“A compelling read. These honest accounts and reflections are deeply touching and food for the “living a better story” soul. The practical distillations are a really useful tool with much broader application than just coaching”
“Beautifully written. Funny, heartfelt, wise, practical. Looks great too!”
Nine coaches tell their stories in “Don’t Look Back”.
Here’s the sort of thing they have to say.
On making the switch:
“I can pinpoint the exact moment when I made the decision to give this a go…….I realised that, as my then company prepared for our fourth reengineering in 12 years, I did not have the appetite for it…..and most importantly there was a (probably once only) opportunity to try my hand at creating my own business doing something I loved”
“I had left (my company) five years previously because I knew I would hate myself if I retired not having challenged myself in other environments”
On finding their feet:
“In the first three years there was a lot of investment and faith that effort would eventually bring clients and sustainable financial reward. It took three years but perseverance wins the day!”
“The single biggest bump in the road for me was the empty diary. I had all manner of tricks for getting to a place of feeling more financially secure”
On how they made it work:
“You have to create, invest in and constantly update a critical mass of good connections. You have to do good work with them and see what comes”
“It seems to me that being able to choose and focus (where we work) is a privilege that increases with experience, but to have any sort of sustained business it is a privilege that is really a necessity”
Some distilled wisdom:
“Coaching is about trying to gain clarity, insight and action. The hardest thing is to get the clarity”
“Stories sell coaching, not models”
On why it was all worth it:
“I’ve found something in this work that became more important for me than acting. I suddenly felt of value and was able to proactively get better at my craft”
“I still never tire of seeing people light up when they get unstuck or have those “aha” moments of breakthrough”
“At it’s best there’s a deep bond created through the coaching process which allows tough challenge and reflection and helps the person succeed on their own terms”