This is an article that I found from CNN.com. The direct link is http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/worklife/08/01/wlb.life.coaches/
Enjoy,
Spencer Combs
www.spencercombs.com
By A. Pawlowski CNN
(CNN) -- "Where do you see yourself in five or 10 years?"
Seeking serenity or direction in your life? The growing number of life coaches want to help.
It's one of those questions many job-seekers dread during an interview, but it can be daunting to answer on a personal level as well. Amid all your responsibilities, activities and projects, it's sometimes hard to see the big picture and easy to become overwhelmed or feel like you're lacking direction.
That's where a life coach can come in.
"If you are frustrated with an aspect of your life, not sure how to stop making the same choices you keep making or just want to have more happiness, peace of mind and passion -- life coaching can do that for you," says Rhonda Britten, founder of the Fearless Living Institute.
Life coaches can specialize in areas like relationships, careers or personal growth. They promise to motivate, offer support when clients need a boost in confidence and help them decide which direction to take. Quiz: Are you off balance? »
"In a perfect world, everyone could figure this out for him or herself, but we live in such a complicated time ... that most of us need all the help we can get," says life coach Libby Gill.
A big part of the process is figuring out where you are in life and where you want to be, but for many people, being asked to set personal goals is akin to being told to eat your broccoli.
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Elizabeth Scott, life coach and a stress management expert for About.com, says she can help them get unstuck.
"Often, people need someone to help them take the dreams they have in their heads -- the visions of what they want to do next with their lives -- and do the work to make them a reality," she explains.
Growing ranks
Life coaches are part of a growing profession. The International Coach Federation (ICF) says it has more than 12,000 members worldwide, or double the amount just five years ago. In a survey commissioned by the ICF last year, 16 percent said their coaching specialty is "life vision and enhancement," the third most popular area behind executive and leadership coaching.
The survey also found that women make up more than half the clientele of professional coaches.
Britten, who's been a life coach for 12 years and was featured on the reality TV series "Starting Over," says a typical client is age 35 to 55, is "at a crossroads, must make a decision and is sick of choosing out of safety and fear."
Don't expect a therapy session when you meet with a life coach. While some have a background in counseling, the process is different.
"In simplistic terms, a therapist is [there] to heal the wounds of the past, and a life coach supports you in moving your life forward," Britten says. "My rule of thumb: If a client tries to convince me of someone else's wrongdoing more than three times, I know they are not ready to move forward, and I suggest therapy might be a more appropriate option."
Scott says another big difference is that therapists try to help people with problems, while coaches help already healthy people improve their lives.
It's also important to remember that life coaches are not regulated. There are numerous coach training programs across the country, but no one national standard for certification. Associations like the International Coach Federation have their own credentialing programs, but there is no requirement for anyone who wants to practice life coaching to take part.
Mental health experts say life coaches can help improve someone's life, provided they're qualified.
"Learning skills to handle stress, adversities and other life challenges -- regardless of the source -- is a positive step for any person," says psychologist Dr. David Shern, president and CEO of the nonprofit group Mental Health America.
He urges anyone interested in going to a life coach to research the profession thoroughly, and he says that life coaches are probably not the best solution for people with serious mental health problems like depression.
"In addition, only a fraction of people can afford this type of personalized care," Shern says.
Finding a coach
Just like hiring any professional, you should do some homework and shop around before choosing a life coach. Since it's someone you'll be working with closely, and probably revealing a lot of personal information to, it's key to look for someone with whom you feel at ease.
"As with any relationship, it's important for coach and client to 'click' interpersonally. You need to be comfortable with your coach's personality and communication style," Scott says.
The International Coach Federation recommends talking to three prospective candidates and requesting two or more references from each. It advises asking the coaches lots of questions, including how much experience they have, how many people they've worked with and what specific successes they've had in helping their clients.
"The best way to find out which coach is best for you is to ask for a sample session and then use that time to get coached on a real problem, not to ask questions about coaching," Britten says. "Trust yourself. If the coach isn't supporting you right off the bat, say 'thank you' and move on," she adds.
Working with a coach
Once you've found a life coach, be prepared to open your mind and your wallet. Britten says an hour-long session with one can cost from $40 to more than $500. (She charges $400 for a 50-minute session.)
Many coaches require a three-month commitment to start, and you're likely to talk with them once a week, in person or by phone.
"Remember that you get out of the coaching experience what you put into it, so hire a coach when you're ready to make changes, and devote your attention to doing the work," Scott advises.
"A coach can be a powerful asset, but they will work in a partnership with you, and you determine where you want that partnership to go."
Monday, October 27, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Creating a Compelling Future
Creating a compelling future
by Spencer Combs
The purpose of doing so is profound. Allow me first to propose a question. How much of your time do you spend looking into the past? How much time is focused on your future? With that ratio in mind, are you emotionally connecting yourself to where you are going, or where have been? If you spend more time looking back, do you know where you are going? Conversely, if you look forward all the time, have you learned from your past? There must be a good balance to have a life by design. That's what a compelling future is all about.
Have you ever paid attention to the amount of incessant conditioning going on around you? People and companies are constantly bombarding you with their painted desire for your life. Through this marketing, you now "feel" that to be a successful person you must be driving a certain car, have certain memberships, drink a certain drink, live a specific way, etc... The amazing thing is how much of that do you actually believe? Most of us would immediately retort with, "not ME!" Ok, maybe not you. You won't fool anyone though that if you watch several hours of love stories on TV that you would not feel much more warm and fuzzy. Or if you watched a few action movies that most of you would not have a much more aggressive or adventurous tendency. Are you "feeling" me yet? To be balanced, there is a fair amount of conditioning that takes place benefiting you out there too; reading spiritual books, going to worship services, listening and watching material that is in tune with your values, and much more. The question is however, are you consciously living YOUR compelling future, or merely living out someone else's for you?
A compelling future can be defined as "a representation of a future state or experience which is so well realized and powerful that it has a compelling effect on you in the present". It is what creates inspiration in your life. Motivation moves someone from the rear, inspiration pulls you to it. Motivation can be temporary, inspiration can be life-long. Many high achievers in sports and business have a strong grasp on using this tool. They have already seen themselves making that winning goal, or receiving that reward, or finalizing that certain deal. Having already experienced it in their mind, they have created a compelling feeling that exists now. This is what shapes their behavior and makes them attached to the outcome. The more clear and vivid the picture, the more irresistible that future is. I believe now you have a good understanding of what a compelling future is. But how do we create it?
Many of my coaching clients have been over the 10 minute conditioning exercise I will now go over with all of you. If you know about this, then you can attest to the power of it. If not, this is the single most powerful thing you can do to create focus for yourself or your organization. Because we are dealing with the "future" part of the exercise, then we are only talking about the last 5 minutes of it. The first 5 minutes involves anchoring yourself into a state of gratitude based on your end values. For the second 5 minutes we move into a visualization process. Here lies the core of our compelling future. Where do you see yourself years down the road? That may be difficult for some of you to imagine because you don't generally do that. Maybe you think of past failures or everything that must happen between now and then. There will be time for that later. You MUST first decide where you choose to be. Be the little boy or girl in Santa's lap. Have fun with it. If you are skeptical, the bottom line is you are scared. Past failures, past let downs, previous circumstances have stunted your ability to have full faith in your abilities. May I remind you that Jesus said that with the faith of a mustard seed we can move a mountain. Not to take it out of context, because I am aware that faith in Him can do that, but never underestimate the talents, abilities, and resources that He gave to YOU to make that happen. Back to the process, get very clear on what you want and desire. Napoleon Hill referred to it as the ability to use "auto-suggestion". Whatever you call it, do it. Draw the picture out for yourself way down the road. Then move it in closer and closer all the way down to today. What do you see? Who is there with you? What do you hear around you? How does it make you feel? The more you feel it, the more irresistible it will be to you.
You see, goals are not about what you get at the end. It's about who you become along the way. If your future compels you enough, you will adjust your behavior. What you value will align itself with that future. This conditioning will do two major things for you.
Creates the Why so that you can implement the How.
Talking about it, visioning it, and wanting it will not do anything for us without DOING something toward it. We will go more into detail about this next week when we discuss chunking.
Creates Focus for our reticular activation system
Ok, Ok, enough of the big terms I know. Our minds are constantly filtering out stuff. When you create a compelling future, your brain now has something to hone in on and knows what to filter out. Ever notice how things "just happen" when you started to think about it? That's no mistake, that's the RAS at work.
One of the most beautiful things about life is that you can allow today to effect every tomorrow thereafter. The question is, how will you decide to let it effect your tomorrow? "Your past does not have to equal your future" as Anthony Robbins so often states. Maybe you are tired of living other people's compelling future. If that is so, take back your future and make it your own. Don't just make it your own though, make it compelling.
That's all for this week. I would love to hear your comments down below. Until next time, Keep Moving Forward!
Your Coach,
Spencer Combs
by Spencer Combs
The purpose of doing so is profound. Allow me first to propose a question. How much of your time do you spend looking into the past? How much time is focused on your future? With that ratio in mind, are you emotionally connecting yourself to where you are going, or where have been? If you spend more time looking back, do you know where you are going? Conversely, if you look forward all the time, have you learned from your past? There must be a good balance to have a life by design. That's what a compelling future is all about.
Have you ever paid attention to the amount of incessant conditioning going on around you? People and companies are constantly bombarding you with their painted desire for your life. Through this marketing, you now "feel" that to be a successful person you must be driving a certain car, have certain memberships, drink a certain drink, live a specific way, etc... The amazing thing is how much of that do you actually believe? Most of us would immediately retort with, "not ME!" Ok, maybe not you. You won't fool anyone though that if you watch several hours of love stories on TV that you would not feel much more warm and fuzzy. Or if you watched a few action movies that most of you would not have a much more aggressive or adventurous tendency. Are you "feeling" me yet? To be balanced, there is a fair amount of conditioning that takes place benefiting you out there too; reading spiritual books, going to worship services, listening and watching material that is in tune with your values, and much more. The question is however, are you consciously living YOUR compelling future, or merely living out someone else's for you?
A compelling future can be defined as "a representation of a future state or experience which is so well realized and powerful that it has a compelling effect on you in the present". It is what creates inspiration in your life. Motivation moves someone from the rear, inspiration pulls you to it. Motivation can be temporary, inspiration can be life-long. Many high achievers in sports and business have a strong grasp on using this tool. They have already seen themselves making that winning goal, or receiving that reward, or finalizing that certain deal. Having already experienced it in their mind, they have created a compelling feeling that exists now. This is what shapes their behavior and makes them attached to the outcome. The more clear and vivid the picture, the more irresistible that future is. I believe now you have a good understanding of what a compelling future is. But how do we create it?
Many of my coaching clients have been over the 10 minute conditioning exercise I will now go over with all of you. If you know about this, then you can attest to the power of it. If not, this is the single most powerful thing you can do to create focus for yourself or your organization. Because we are dealing with the "future" part of the exercise, then we are only talking about the last 5 minutes of it. The first 5 minutes involves anchoring yourself into a state of gratitude based on your end values. For the second 5 minutes we move into a visualization process. Here lies the core of our compelling future. Where do you see yourself years down the road? That may be difficult for some of you to imagine because you don't generally do that. Maybe you think of past failures or everything that must happen between now and then. There will be time for that later. You MUST first decide where you choose to be. Be the little boy or girl in Santa's lap. Have fun with it. If you are skeptical, the bottom line is you are scared. Past failures, past let downs, previous circumstances have stunted your ability to have full faith in your abilities. May I remind you that Jesus said that with the faith of a mustard seed we can move a mountain. Not to take it out of context, because I am aware that faith in Him can do that, but never underestimate the talents, abilities, and resources that He gave to YOU to make that happen. Back to the process, get very clear on what you want and desire. Napoleon Hill referred to it as the ability to use "auto-suggestion". Whatever you call it, do it. Draw the picture out for yourself way down the road. Then move it in closer and closer all the way down to today. What do you see? Who is there with you? What do you hear around you? How does it make you feel? The more you feel it, the more irresistible it will be to you.
You see, goals are not about what you get at the end. It's about who you become along the way. If your future compels you enough, you will adjust your behavior. What you value will align itself with that future. This conditioning will do two major things for you.
Creates the Why so that you can implement the How.
Talking about it, visioning it, and wanting it will not do anything for us without DOING something toward it. We will go more into detail about this next week when we discuss chunking.
Creates Focus for our reticular activation system
Ok, Ok, enough of the big terms I know. Our minds are constantly filtering out stuff. When you create a compelling future, your brain now has something to hone in on and knows what to filter out. Ever notice how things "just happen" when you started to think about it? That's no mistake, that's the RAS at work.
One of the most beautiful things about life is that you can allow today to effect every tomorrow thereafter. The question is, how will you decide to let it effect your tomorrow? "Your past does not have to equal your future" as Anthony Robbins so often states. Maybe you are tired of living other people's compelling future. If that is so, take back your future and make it your own. Don't just make it your own though, make it compelling.
That's all for this week. I would love to hear your comments down below. Until next time, Keep Moving Forward!
Your Coach,
Spencer Combs
Friday, October 17, 2008
I made it to San Diego!
by Spencer Combs
This morning started early for me at 4am in Charlotte, NC. After catching the flight from there to Houston, I eventually ended up in San Diego, CA. No hassles, no complaints. I am now settled in to my hotel in the beautiful area of Salano Beach. The views coming over here were awesome. I am truly blessed to have the upcoming classes here in this setting.
I plan to come and write a short update on what we are doing and the progress along the way. Right now, I'm getting some long needed rest and I will be at my class in the morning. By the end of this 16 day training, I will have earned my NLP Master Practitioner's license along with my Business Coach and Life Coach designations. This is very exciting for me and I am looking forward to bringing it back to all my current clients and so many more to come.
Until tomorrow... Keep Moving Forward!
Your Coach,
Spencer
www.spencercombs.com
This morning started early for me at 4am in Charlotte, NC. After catching the flight from there to Houston, I eventually ended up in San Diego, CA. No hassles, no complaints. I am now settled in to my hotel in the beautiful area of Salano Beach. The views coming over here were awesome. I am truly blessed to have the upcoming classes here in this setting.
I plan to come and write a short update on what we are doing and the progress along the way. Right now, I'm getting some long needed rest and I will be at my class in the morning. By the end of this 16 day training, I will have earned my NLP Master Practitioner's license along with my Business Coach and Life Coach designations. This is very exciting for me and I am looking forward to bringing it back to all my current clients and so many more to come.
Until tomorrow... Keep Moving Forward!
Your Coach,
Spencer
www.spencercombs.com
Friday, October 10, 2008
What can an 11 year old girl teach us all?
What can an 11 year old girl teach us all?
By Spencer D. Combs Jr.
Just this past week we held our M-Powering Event in Columbia, SC. During the course of the event we teach a great deal of strategies in creating powerful changes in our mindset, develop personal patterns to success, and study the science of making a breakthrough. We use a board breaking exercise as awesome metaphor for what we have learned. We then create a plan of action before leaving so that lives are changed forever.
As usual, I brought along 2 of our daughters to the event to participate as staff with the rest of the crew. Our oldest (11 years) has been a part of this program before. With that said, she has done the board breaking with flying colors. In that event, she was actually a strong focal point because she was the first to do it. Her poise, her focus, her energy was obvious. This time around however turned out to be a totally different experience for her.
After a total of 6 or 7 attempts, she did in fact make her breakthrough. The lessons that were taken away this time were even more profound for her this time and for everyone involved too. You see, she was physically shaken by her inability to make it happen. She went through the cycles of getting frustrated, upset, disappointed, and almost giving up. As the crowd recognized her internal struggle, support started flowing in her direction with a great deal of intensity. I then stepped in and coached her through the mechanics and put her back into the necessary state. I let her go and WHAM! She made her breakthrough! The room was in awe once again and she stole the show just as before.
I then had the conversation later that evening to help clarify for her what actually took place. I asked her what was different this time for her and what was the pivotal difference for her. Her response was rather candid (as it usually is)..."I thought it would be easy". As you can imagine, having done this before with no challenge before, her expectation was high and did not go through the basics of the strategy. It was only upon getting back to the basics that she made her breakthrough. I commended her on her tenacity and willingness not to give up. She simply followed the feedback model we teach and made it happen. Through the tears, the nervousness, the frustration...she made it happen! For that, I respect her and am proud.
What can we learn?
Well, we all too often approach areas of our life as a routine. "I've done this before", "It's not that hard". We get caught up with this kind of thinking. We must remember the basics. We forget the basics when we approach our business. We dismiss the basics when it comes to our relationships. We bypass the basics with our finances. If you are having difficulty with making the changes in an area, get back to the basics. Are you making the calls that got you started in the business? Are you saying I Love you and mean it? Are you playing the money game with a plan? These are just some of the things that an 11 year old girl taught me. What ahas have you had? Just let us know here on the blog. Until then...Keep Moving Forward!
Your Coach,
Spencer Combs
www.mpoweringevent.com
By Spencer D. Combs Jr.
Just this past week we held our M-Powering Event in Columbia, SC. During the course of the event we teach a great deal of strategies in creating powerful changes in our mindset, develop personal patterns to success, and study the science of making a breakthrough. We use a board breaking exercise as awesome metaphor for what we have learned. We then create a plan of action before leaving so that lives are changed forever.
As usual, I brought along 2 of our daughters to the event to participate as staff with the rest of the crew. Our oldest (11 years) has been a part of this program before. With that said, she has done the board breaking with flying colors. In that event, she was actually a strong focal point because she was the first to do it. Her poise, her focus, her energy was obvious. This time around however turned out to be a totally different experience for her.
After a total of 6 or 7 attempts, she did in fact make her breakthrough. The lessons that were taken away this time were even more profound for her this time and for everyone involved too. You see, she was physically shaken by her inability to make it happen. She went through the cycles of getting frustrated, upset, disappointed, and almost giving up. As the crowd recognized her internal struggle, support started flowing in her direction with a great deal of intensity. I then stepped in and coached her through the mechanics and put her back into the necessary state. I let her go and WHAM! She made her breakthrough! The room was in awe once again and she stole the show just as before.
I then had the conversation later that evening to help clarify for her what actually took place. I asked her what was different this time for her and what was the pivotal difference for her. Her response was rather candid (as it usually is)..."I thought it would be easy". As you can imagine, having done this before with no challenge before, her expectation was high and did not go through the basics of the strategy. It was only upon getting back to the basics that she made her breakthrough. I commended her on her tenacity and willingness not to give up. She simply followed the feedback model we teach and made it happen. Through the tears, the nervousness, the frustration...she made it happen! For that, I respect her and am proud.
What can we learn?
Well, we all too often approach areas of our life as a routine. "I've done this before", "It's not that hard". We get caught up with this kind of thinking. We must remember the basics. We forget the basics when we approach our business. We dismiss the basics when it comes to our relationships. We bypass the basics with our finances. If you are having difficulty with making the changes in an area, get back to the basics. Are you making the calls that got you started in the business? Are you saying I Love you and mean it? Are you playing the money game with a plan? These are just some of the things that an 11 year old girl taught me. What ahas have you had? Just let us know here on the blog. Until then...Keep Moving Forward!
Your Coach,
Spencer Combs
www.mpoweringevent.com
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