The Dragon Slayer's Guide to Life

Coaching A Key Element for Successful Change

By Clemens Rettich

You know what you want. You know what to do. So why is nothing happening?

There are thousands of texts and approaches in the productivity & success universe. Many of them are good, some are great. Some, like the writings of Marcus Buckingham approach genius in their rich simplicity.

So why, if there are so many great ways to become more productive and more successful, are so many of us still struggling to make real change happen in our businesses and lives?

I believe we consistently miss one key element is undertaking a change process: the coaching relationship.

Change is an abstract idea until it is made real in three ways: what you are committing to must appear on your schedule, have a line in your budget, and be supported by a coaching relationship. I have seen no evidence that it is possible to successfully conclude a change process without commitment through these three constants.

Read the full article at LifeHack

What is Life Coaching? Who Seeks It and How Does It Help?

In this 6 min video I give you a simple explanation of the philosophy of life coaching, describe what kind of situations lead people to hire coaches and how one can benefit from this type of relationship. And you get a mini-tour of my funky laundry room, to boot.

I've gotten big thumbs up on my new rate structure which allows you to get coaching YOUR way. For additional info and a step-by-step outline of what you can do next to figure out if working with me is right for you, head to this page. And of course, you can call me, Laura Young, at 630-562-1877 or e-mail if you would like to set up an complimentary introductory session to see if coaching with me makes sense for you.

The Difference Between Coaching and Therapy

Great quote today in the Chicago Tribune by Atlanta life coach, Nancy Gerber:

If life is a ball of yarn, therapy helps you unravel the tangles.  Coaching helps you knit a sweater.

Will Working With a Life Coach Make Life Easier and Give You a Sense of Purpose?

Here's a dirty little secret for you. The answer is: not always. 

At least not at first. In fact, coaching can be downright painful and disruptive! You may find yourself doing everything possible to keep from working on what you hired your coach to help you achieve.  You may spend a lot of time dipping your toe in the water. 

But if you are going really deep, you should know it can get ugly. Sometimes that's exactly how you know it's working.

What Are Common Reasons To Work with a Life Coach for your Personal Development

1. You may be great at competing but are not so good at playing.

2. You care way too much about what others think.

3. You keep spending money on things you don't need and it hasn't brought you any closer to happiness.

4. The life you are living in your head looks nothing like the life the rest of us are watching you live.

Why Do People Hire Life and/or Business Coaches

In case you are curious about who seeks (and benefits) from coaching, here are a number of actual scenarios from my own practice:

• First I love my job, then I hate it. The politics really get to me. No one seems to have integrity. I fantasize about leaving but I'm the primary bread winner and at a high 6-figure income a lateral move will be very difficult. And I wonder if I'm kidding myself thinking it will be better anywhere else. I wish I knew what to do.

Are Life Coaches Really Just Friends for Hire?

It is a common question: How is a coaching relationship different from a friendship?

In this post I'll address the qualitative aspects of the relationship: how a coaching relationship feels and how it's used by clients.  One word on coaches: Just as there are "natural therapists", there are certainly "natural coaches" but let's assume we are talking about people who have officially taken on a professional role as coach and have taken steps to hone their craft.

In the coaching relationship, all the focus is on the a client. 

Coaches are essentially partners who provide clients with a confidential opportunity to wrestle around with questions of life, career, relationships, and so forth.  People hire coaches for many different