Life Coaching Lessons — ‘Find what works for you’

Have you ever tried to imitate someone only to feel inauthentic and not get similar results with them?

I see this happening all the time in the coaching world. Coaches follow industry leaders, try to do what they do and talk the way they do, and then wonder why they don’t see the needle move in their business.

Authenticity is one of the most important qualities any coach can exhibit. It helps prospects trust you, builds rapport, creates bonds, and gives the client permission to show as they are without worrying that there is something wrong with them.

But because coaches believe that those who ‘made it’ in their respective fields have the key to success and what they’re doing and saying is the holy grail, they become nothing more than an imitation.

Here’s what I’ve observed happens:

- They compare with someone who’s light years ahead; therefore, they approach everything feeling inferior and full of fear

- They dismiss or minimize their own values in order to get results that they ‘think’ they want

- They talk in a way that is completely out of integrity with their personality

- They do things that aren’t in their wheelhouse and come across as phony

- They apply things that aren’t congruent with their lifestyle or stage of life they find themselves in

Have you experienced one or more of the things mentioned above?

I know I have experienced some, and so have the majority of clients. I’m not telling you these to make you wrong or imply that I’m perfect or that my clients are. I’m only telling you this to make you aware of what might be causing you stress and frustration right now.

I’ll give you an example. I was working with a client recently who has been a coach for roughly three years. She’s been following some of the top dogs in her industry and trying to build her business the way they did, based on their blueprints. Even though she applied what she learned, she only found herself frustrated, resenting herself, and feeling a lot of mom guilt inside of her.

When she and I had our first call, we explored who she is, what she does, what her ideal work-life balance looks like, and so much more, and based on the findings, I’ve made some suggestions that made a lot of sense for her. For the first time in her business not only was she seeing the possibilities, but she could take a deep breath and feel relief instead of the insurmountable pressure she was dealing with every day. Within one week, she saw a 300% increase in her income, and she was doing that in a tenth of the time she was putting into her business before.

So my advice is: FIND WHAT WORKS FOR YOU!

If you like to travel, and that is your top value, build your business around that.

If you are a mom and want to have a lot of family time with your kids, create a business that accommodates that.

If you’re a thrill seeker, build a business that reflects it.

If you’re an introvert who loves to read books and bring her wisdom through her teachings, then create a business that incorporates that.

Whatever you like, however, you are, make those the core of your business. This is what a successful business is about.

I hope I’ve given you a lot to think about. If any of this resonates with you and it’s given you some powerful insights, don’t hesitate to let me know. Connect with me on social media or find me at www.catalinapark.com

Can’t wait to hear from you!

Remember something I say to my clients all the time: build your business your way—it’s the best way!