Why use a life coach, I have Aunt Matha

There is a reason that life coaches and family members are different in the way that they handle a situation.  A life coach is not connected to you in any way.

Life coaches are impartial.  They are not connected to you in an emotional way.  Life coaches are professionals to come in and do a job, coach you to the goals that you have set forth and to help you achieve a balanced life.  That is their main objective.  Coaches are there to listen to you, no matter what and not let their own emotions or life get in the way of you, the client, achieving your goals.

Aunt Martha on the other hand is most likely emotionally involved in your cause or situation.  She may try her best to help, but may let her own life get in the way, or own emotions get in the way of helping.  Depending on how close you are, she may even not want you to succeed.  There is no professional barrier there with Aunt Martha, whereas with a life coach, there is.

There are reasons that a person should not seek professional help from people they are related to or that they are close friends with.  Doctors tend to keep this rule, along with lawyers, therapists, and other professionals.  This professional distance is what allows the professional to maintain decorum and unbiased conclusions about what needs to be done in order to help the client.

Remember that your life coach is not there to be a friend.  They are there to provide professional help in achieving your goals and to help you develop a balanced life.  It is a professional working relationship and should be treated as such.

Russell R. Fletcher

National Life Coaching

NationalLifeCoaching.com

(310) 746-3324

NationalLifeCoaching@gmail.com

facebook.com/NationalLifeCoaching

Twitter @NLCforYOU

Are all coaches the same?

Are all coaches the same?

That is a really good question.  When searching for a coach, it is best to find a coach that is in your budget, but also does what you need.  In very simple terms, no, not all coaches are the same.  There is a wide variety of coaches.  There are specialty coaches and general coaches.  There are coaches who are expensive and ones that are not.  There are coaches who are certified and have an education, and some who do not.  How to pick a good coach.

The first thing to find in a good coach is certification.  Anyone can call themselves a coach, but certification mean that the person when through a training program. It is better if the certification is combined with degrees from accredited colleges or universities.  When looking at certificates and degrees, ask to see a copy of the real thing so that it can be verified.  A good coach will be open and honest about educational background.  Another item that separates good coaches from not so good coaches is openness on prices, level of service, and policy.  Good coaches will point out all this at the beginning and will be open about all of it.  Bad coaches will hide information like this or try to divert your attention away from it.

All good coaches, like a good professionals will be up front with you on policies, costs, what is and is not included in the price.  Good rule of thumb is that a client really gets what they pay for.  It is not worth going for the lowest cost professional when you are looking to advance your life and your goals.

Remember, life coaches and business coaches are professionals just like doctors, lawyers, and other professions.  Low cost usually means low quality.  Your life, your future is worth more than trying to cheap out on the cheapest person you can find.

National Life Coaching is focused on client satisfaction and client success.  Let us help you succeed in your life today!

Russell R. Fletcher C.P.C.
National Life Coaching
NationalLifeCoaching.com
facebook.com/NationalLifeCoaching
NationalLifeCoaching@gmail.com
(310) 746-3324

How do you feel today?

When you get up in the morning, do you take stock of how you feel?  Maybe you should.

In order to succeed, you have to feel good.  You have to feel like you can do anything in the world.  When you get up in the morning, how do you feel?  How does your body feel?  When you feel like you can take over the world, then most likely you can.  It is a simple question that only needs a simple answer.

It is not selfish to acknowledge how you feel.  You just must be able to recognize it, and then be able to work around it.  The thing to remember most is to not to use your feelings as an excuse to not do the things you need to do, but to be able to work around your feelings to maximize each day to your advantage.

Russell R. Fletcher C.P.C.
National Life Coaching
NationalLifeCoaching.com
facebook.com/NationalLifeCoaching
Twitter @NLCforYOU
NationalLifeCoaching@gmail.com
(310) 746-3324

Where are you today?

Where are you today?  It is a rather simple question.  Where are you today?  What does this question even mean to most people.  This is the issue that a lot of people have themselves on a regular basis.

Where are you in life?  Are you where you want to be in life?  If not, why?  Is there something physically holding you back?  Is it mental?  It could be a combination of both.  If something is holding you back, can you do anything about it?

These are all questions that a person should ask themselves about their goals in life.  On thing that people do not seem to do is make long term goals.  The current trend is to make short term goals and hop from one goal set to another.  This can be very destructive, considering that one is only looking at the short term and not the long term.  In order to get the most out of life, it is best to look at what one wants to accomplish in the long term, then break that down into short term goals.  It is best to make some medium term goals as well.

If you have set goals, have to obtained any of them?  If not, why?  What is the cause of not wanting to obtain your goals in life.  Is it because there is no one to hold you accountable or to cheer you on?  This is where a life coach comes in.  Life coaches are there for cheering you on, for keeping you going, to pick you up when you fall, and to be there to celebrate when you succeed.

Remember, not everyone can succeed on their own and not everyone who has succeeded on their own has reached their full potential.  All good athletes and business people have a coach by their side.  Pushing, asking, prodding, encouraging, and most of all, supporting their clients.

Russell R. Fletcher C.P.C.
National Life Coaching
NationalLifeCoaching.com
facebook.com/NationalLifeCoaching
Twitter @NLCforYOU
NationalLifeCoaching@gmail.com
(310) 746-3324

You and your weekend

     Yes, we made it through another week and now it's Saturday.  What do people do on Saturday?  That depends on who you ask.
     This Saturday, I am working on this blog.  Does that mean I am working?  Yes, but working at a slower pace.  If a person has a dream that they want to achieve, what do they do with their Saturdays?  Most would say that they work on that day, along with every other day.  I would say that is a pretty good answer.
     One must remember though that too much work and not enough play make for a very boring and unbalanced life.  If you want to be at your top performance level, then life balance has to be one of the things that you work on.  Everyone who has succeeded in their dreams did not do so by working all the time, they took time off to recharge and to contemplate.   Yes, work is important, but so is down time.  You, as an individual have to find where that balance is.  Life coaches work with clients to help reach this balance along with achieving goals in the clients life.
     So, on this day of semi-rest, what are you or are not going to do today?

National Life Coaching
www.NationalLifeCoaching.com
facebook.com/NationalLifeCoaching
@NLCforYOU
(310) 746-3324

Cost of Life Coaching and Sliding Scale

     Why does coaching cost so much and why do some coaches not offer a sliding scale?
     There can be several reasons for the price of coaching being high and not offering a sliding scale.  Let's take these items alone and then together.
     Cost of coaching is biased on several factors.  Those factors include, but are not limited to, certification, education, age, experience, and not to mention the motivation of being a coach.  A person who is seeking out a coach must realize that when they hire a coach, they are most likely looking for a professional.  In this reason, there are issues to deal with.  Since coaching is a new and unregulated field, it really is buyer beware. If a person is dealing with a coach who has no education and no certification, then it can only be assumed that they mostly are looking to make a quick dollar and move on.  This is the area that people will find a 'bargain basement' coach.  A person who may be able to help you, but most likely will not.  It may be cheap, but you get what you pay for.
     As with any other profession, as the professional obtains more education and certification, then people seeking out the services of the professional will see the good in education and certification.  As the professionalism goes up, so does the cost.  There is a difference between a trained doctor and a doctor who may only have taken one high school science course.  Yes, one is cheaper than the other, but the quality of service will be far less than one would mostly like to have.
     A simple guideline to follow would be that a good life coach will have at least one advanced degree and a certification.  The degree should be in the social science or psychology field of study.  This alone does not mean that the person is going to be a good life coach.  This is where recognized certification comes into play.
     To make sure that you, the client, are receiving the best service possible, it is best to make sure that your life coach is certified by a recognized body of accreditation.  There are several bodies that do this and most of them hold the same standards.  Check them out and do some searching.
     So why no sliding scale?  This can be a tricky question with a very large answer full of problems.  One of the issues of sliding scale is that unless a coach is willing to ask for tax forms, it's a mostly an on your honor system that is sometimes taken advantage of by those with no honor.  After spending hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars gaining an education and certification in life coaching and other fields, it is only right to ask for fair compensation when receiving a service from a professional.  Sometimes people take unfair advantage of sliding scales and therefor coaches do not offer them.  Some coaches split the difference and have different levels of service.  Coaches do want to help people, but after the investment in obtaining the training to help people, it would be nice to be able to put food on the table and roof over the head.
     Compared to other professions, life coaches do have reasonable rates for the most part.  Doctors charge anywhere from $70-100 for a 15 minute visit.  Plumbers and electrical workers charge anywhere from $70-100 an hour.  Lawyers can be really costly, charging anywhere from $150 - $300/hour.  It's all about professionalism and what level of service you want.  If you want a professional life coach that is really going to help you get from point A to point B, then the client must be willing to accept that the cost is going to be at that level.
     What it comes down to is really simple.  You get what you pay for.  If you want a well educated, certified coach who is going to get the job done, you are going to pay professional rates.  If you are working with an amateur with no education or certification, then the client will pay those rates.  Bottom dollar does not mean best quality and a cheap price.  Sliding scale is hard because once it has been abused in an industry, it's hard to get it back.

Life Coaching and Other Coaching

     Does life coaching cover other types of coaching?  Yes it does.  In fact, there are a lot of coaches that specialize in certain sub fields of life coaching.  There are some coaches who only do academic coaching, some who do addiction coaching, and some who do business coaching.
     Not all coaches are specialists though.  I, myself am a general practitioner coach.  I deal with all sorts of life issues, but that is due to having education and training in many different fields of academia and trade schooling.
     How to choose a coach that is right for you?  One thing that must be remembered is that coaching is a personal service and a person must choose a coach that they are comfortable with.  Just because a coach specialize in the issue that you want to overcome does not mean that a particular coach is the best fit for you.
     Coaching is a personalized service that must feel comfortable with in order to continue and make progress.  Do not compromise with your coach and your personal comfort level.  It can take some time to find the right coach.  Once you find the right coach, you will be on your way to balance and success.

National Life Coaching
www.NationalLifeCoaching.com
facebook.com/NationalLifeCoaching
@NLCforYOU
(310) 746-3324

Why by Telephone

     Why is most life coaching done by telephone or Skype?  Why not in person?  There are some simple and not so simple answers to these questions.
     Life coaching has been shown to be more effective over the telephone and over the Internet than in person.  This could be for several reasons that are not fully understood at this point in time.  I view the fact that coaching is done by telephone that a client is not picking up on visual cues from the coach.  This allows for more open communication lines.
     For those who need the visual effect, there is Skype.  Video conferencing for coaching is almost as good as by telephone.  Because the coach usually only keep their face in the camera frame, the client is not likely to pick up on visual cues that may hinder open lines of communication.
    Practical reasons for communication by telephone and e-mail is that life coaches are not limited to their direct area.  This allows coaches to be accessible to all people who need their services and inhibits the "professional desert" that causes issues in a lot of rural and underprivileged areas of the country that  are also lacking proper medical, school, and government offices and services.
     There is also the fact that coaches tend to be more involved in their clients lives in order to promote success.  This is where e-mail comes into play.  Whereas most other professions have set hours of operation and do not respond to e-mail, coaches know that sometimes clients need then in the day or night.  E-mail provides this vital link "after hours".
     To sum it up, with years of research on the subject, when it comes to life coaching, the telephone and e-mail are your best ways of communication.  This does not by any means mean that it's the only way.  There are life coaches that do meet clients in person.  Go with what makes YOU, the client comfortable.

Life coaches, remember that we are here to help the client achieve success and a balanced life!

www.NationalLifeCoaching.com
facebook.com/NationalLifeCoaching
twitter  @NLCforYOU
(310) 746-3324
NationalLifeCoaching@gmail.com

Appreciation of a Professional Life Coach vs. a Friend

     Appreciation of the professionalism of professional life coaches can sometimes be short coming.  With life coaches, it can be hard for people to tell the difference between a coach and a good friend.  Just like any other profession, there are issues that have to be dealt with when it comes to clients and potential clients.
     Life coaches (professional one's at least) are not friends, but are professionals that provide a valuable service to their clients.  It is their duty to coach you on your goals and help the client lead a balanced life.  Sometimes, the line between a coach and a friend can become blurred.  This leads to several issues that can make a coach less effective or not effective at all.
     Life coaches have a fiduciary duty to not harm clients and look out for a clients best interests.  They are suppose to be removed from the situation (an outsider looking in).  A friend does not have an official, clearly defined fiduciary duty to a fellow friend.  Also friends tend to be emotionally involved with situations concerning their friends.  This can lead to other issues that can complicate friendship relationships.
     Friends a great to have and great to confide in, but when it comes to coaching and life coaching, it is better to hire a professional.  A simple way to tell a professional from a non professional is not the simplest thing, but here are some guidelines; have a certification in Life Coaching along with a degree in some type of personal science such as Social Science, Psychology, Administration of Justice, or Communications.  Also remember that you get what you pay for.  Professionals charge professional prices.
     Thanks for reading and remember, life coaches are looking to make sure their clients succeed in their goals!

www.NationalLifeCoaching.com
(310) 746-3324
facebook.com/NationalLifeCoaching

Life Coaching in General

So, what is life coaching and why do I care?  

Well, that is a really good question.  Life coaching is looking at the present and future and seeing where the client wants to go.  By using a life wheel, action steps, weekly conferencing, and e-mailing between conference sessions, the coach tries to get the client to where they want to go in their goals.  The client lays out where they want to go in the future with goals.  The coach is there to offer support, encouragement, celebrate successes, and help overcome failures.  Life coaches are just like any other coaches, they are there to help the client succeed.  

A good coach will help a client overcome pitfalls in life, and do the best for the client and what the client wants to accomplish.  It's all about looking towards the future.

If you want more information or want to discuss setting up a coaching session(s), please feel free to e-mail me at NationalLifeCoaching@gmail.com, check out my website www.NationalLifeCoacing.com, Facebook.com/NationalLifeCoaching, or give me a call at (310) 746-3324.

Let's get you on the right path to success!