Archive for January, 2012
It’s MARVELOUS to be a beginner!
Ok guys, it’s confession time.
Lately, my perfectionist tendencies have gotten in the way of, well, quite a bit. (Including posting on ye ole blog! I apologize.)
Here are the stories I’ve been telling myself:
- I couldn’t POSSIBLY put another blog post up until I had the new format done.
- Let me research what successful coaches are doing for their email list and make mine all pretty and insanely insightful like theirs (you know, the ones who have been in the field for 20 years and AREN’T beginners).
- Let me spend hours upon hours connecting with successful coaches, introducing myself and seeing what they do well, so I can do the same thing and be as great as they are – right now, today. (Never mind the time and effort and work they’ve put in to achieve their success. I should be just as successful right now, as a beginner, if I just look at what they’re currently doing and, at the snap of my fingers, make that magic happen for myself. Right?)
- I couldn’t POSSIBLY start talking with people about my health coaching services until every last detail is ironed-out.
- Let me design a new brand and website dedicated to my coaching services and research which templates and content I want to use for my health coaching site.
- Let me see how successful health coaches are marketing themselves to potential clients. And let me research business coaching options and see if there’s a program out there that can walk me through the details.
- I couldn’t POSSIBLY know everything I need to know to start taking on clients.
- Let me launch into a program of study and become an expert in Ayurveda. Or a naturopath. Or maybe I can start in on my PhD. Hmmm…
- Let me learn how to teach others how to cook cancer-fighting/preventing meals. There’s this great program in Washington, D.C.
Paralysis by analysis much? Absolutely!
My husband listened to my ramblings for about ten minutes before he took a deep breathe and said, with tons of love, “JUST STICK TO YOUR ORIGINAL PLAN. You’re doing such a great job! Then, once your health coaching business is going, add in everything else.”
Wise words.
Without realizing it, I had let my fear of not being THEE PERFECT COACH – you know, the coach with every possible certification, with every answer to every possible situation – paralyze my progress. I was spending A LOT of time researching and learning, but hardly ANY time on doing the work that would lead to a successful career change and becoming location-independent.
And then, all of the sudden, it dawned on me that it is OK to be a beginner.
It is totally OK to be a beginner.
It is completely acceptable to be a beginner.
Being a beginner is part of the journey.
That said, I’m not expected to be a master coach right out the gate. (Really, it took me awhile – an incredibly LONG while – to accept this idea.) And, as soon as I released myself of must-be-a-master-coach-now responsibilities, I felt HUGE burden lifted off my shoulders and experienced a FLOOD OF CONFIDENCE in my abilities.
Of course, I am expected to be a quality coach. A coach that can motivate and help clients reach goals. And I can do that. Hell, I’ve DONE that. And I’ve done that really, really well. I’ve already helped people lose hundreds of pounds. (Career-wise, I feel that that’s been one of my greatest achievements.) I’ve also been told multiple times by personal trainers that their clients loved working with me. So, I know I’m a good coach. And I know I love being a coach.
On the flip side, I know that I LOVE being an expert, a leader, a role model. I thrive on it. I know I also love being at the top of my game and striving for perfection being the best. I like purple and blue ribbons. I like trophies. I like awards and certificates and recognition. I like my name in print.
But what I’ve discovered is to embrace the marvel of being a beginner, of being in a space where everything is new-to-me, where the possibilities are endless, and where I will grow into a master.
So, here’s to appreciating the marvelous wonders of being a beginner and owning the experience!
The only story keeping you from having what you want is the story you tell yourself of why you can’t have it.
– Tony Robbins
It’s such a pleasure to help those closest to us become happier and healthier. Please forward this blog post to friends, family members or colleagues who might be interested and inspired by it. – SH
