Who Is Your Life Coach?

Day 23 of 365 Tiny Changes

Every once in a while I go out on Linked-In and Facebook, and look for people to add to  my contact list.  I usually use the pop-up titled something like, Other People You May Know.  These are my current contacts other contacts.  I peruse them looking for interesting people to connect to.

Yesterday, I received a message from someone that I had invited into my network.  “Why do you want to connect with me?” 

Interesting question.  No one had ever asked that of me before.  Usually, I send the invitation, it’s accepted, and wha la I have a new contact.

So, I had to explain myself.  She happened to be a consultant to businesses who want to increase their client base.  She also offers marketing and non-fiction book writing consultation. 

In order to answer her question, I had to let the cat out of the bag, so to speak.  I had to let her know that I intended to start a new business in 2012, well, actually 2 businesses, and that I might find her services beneficial to me, when the time comes.  Most people know this, so no big deal there.  She seemed happy with that answer, and accepted my invitation.

What I didn’t tell her was the real reason I chose her, over all the other business consultants.  The real reason is that I have always wanted to write a book.  I’m not sure what I would write about, nor that anyone else would be interested in what ever I have to say, but the idea has been there for years.  In the back of my mind, waiting.

I’m not one that believes in coincidence.  I believe we are presented with opportunities to map out our future, every day.  I also believe we don’t even notice most of those opportunities, even when they walk right up to us, look us in the eye, shake our hand, and introduce themselves to us.  We just let them walk right on by.  Perhaps, my new contact is also my new opportunity.  I’ll have to wait and see.

I have decided to hire another type of consultant, though.  A life efficiency coach.  This coach, will observe me, and tear apart my activity every day.  She will then examine it for ways to streamline it and make my activities more time efficient, thereby creating more time in my day for doing the things I want to do, such as starting the new businesses or writing a book.

I know this coach intimately.  This coach is me.

When I got to thinking about what consultants do, I realized it’s exactly what I've been doing for myself for the past 3 weeks.  I started the job by stepping back and doing an overview of what my life looked like.  I discovered chaos.  I made a commitment to help myself create order and efficiency, just like signing a contract.  I make tiny commitments toward improvement every day, when I write this blog; since it’s in writing, I can’t deny it.  I review my progress, daily, and weekly, and make minor adjustments along the way, to create a better flow in the day.

One might ask, isn’t being your own consultant kind of like being your own lawyer?  Don’t you both have a fool for a client?  I don’t think that’s the case.  It may be a little unorthodox, but I believe that by keeping my mind open and looking for the opportunities for improvement throughout the day, I actually have a better chance of meeting my commitment, versus having someone else take an outside look and dictate what I “should” and “shouldn’t” do, regardless of how I’m feeling or what I’m ready to change.

I’ve hired fitness coaches in the past.  They all have seemed to have a “no pain no gain”  attitude.  They have all worked me exceedingly hard the very first day.  While this might have worked for me when I was in my 20’s, it sure didn’t work for me when I was in my 40’s. 

I want my work outs to push me, but not to the point that I’m hurting.  I feel guilty when I have to steal the walker from the nearest little old lady, just so that I can get around for the next 2 days.  I want to feel good, even exhilarated, from working out.  Not like a wrung out wet dish rag.  The result was I didn’t stick with it for very long.

As my coach, I plan is to make small, sustainable, changes in my life that improve the way that I think, feel, and execute my daily responsibilities.  It will be uncomfortable at first, but it won't hurt, and in time, these changes will be second nature.

Tiny Change 23:  Create a time line for the day, developing a sustainable routine that incorporates all aspects of my life plan, relationships, work, health, mental/creative, financial.  Adjust as needed.

Keeping an open mind is key to developing a successful day.  Please share any successes you have had in this area. 

Best Regards,


Linda



Tiny Blessing of the Day:  I am blessed to live in a neighborhood where I feel safe taking my daily walk.