I recently came across this short article I wrote about five years ago and thought this might be a good time to share it again. I have made some edits and updates. I hope you enjoy it.When Charles Dickens introduced Ebenezer Scrooge to the ghost of Christmas future, he created what may have been the first literary description of a life coaching experience, When Ebenezer’s poltergeist showed the old fellow a view of the future, he was employing a powerful coaching tool used by professional life coaches to help their clients live a happier and more fulfilled life.
The biggest difference between Scrooge’s ghost and today’s life coach is we make the process painless. We help our clients to create the future they want. We guide clients in developing a crystal clear vision of exactly what their future will look, feel and be like when they have achieved their goals and objectives. We help them to create plans, prioritize and take actions, and remain accountable to achieving success and living their dreams.
If Scrooge’s apparitions would have taken a modern day Life Coach Training Course, they would have served their client much better. As it was the three visitors just scared the heck out of poor Ebenezer and left him on his own to figure things out. It worked well in the story, but it doesn’t always work well in real life.
A well prepared life coach, using proven professional coaching techniques and tools can make a huge difference in a client’s life, even when times are tough like those in Scrooge’s day. Having a Certified Professional Coach in one’s corner can be the difference between living a life filled with happiness and participation or moving through life wishing and hoping it could be better.
In 2012, there were an estimated 15,800 certified coaches in North America. Compare that number with the 600,000 plus people in other helping professions like psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists and counselors and you can see coaching is still in its infancy. It is an excellent time to become a coach. This is why we find more and more talented people enrolling in coach training programs like ours and earning their Certified Professional Coach credential. These folks want to help. They feel a genuine calling to leave this world a better place by coaching one client at a time.
Back in 1843, Ebenezer Scrooge may not have had the benefit of a professionally trained life coach, never the less, his experience was life changing. Unfortunately, most of us won’t have the experience of Scrooge’s midnight visitors. And, who wants to be awakened in the middle of the night for a life coaching session anyway?
If you notice yourself feeling a bit too much “Bah, Humbug” this holiday season, I recommend you find a Certified Professional Life Coach to help. Just imagine, 2015 can be the very best year you’ve ever had. Or, why not take it a step further? Become a certified life coach and help others realize their dreams.
And so, “as Tiny Tim observed, God bless us, Every One!” and Happy New Year.
Berry Fowler is a teacher, coach, author and entrepreneur. He is the founder and former chairman of Sylvan Learning Centers and the founder and chairman of Fowler International Academy of Professional Coaching. Berry has over thirty years of experience in developing and implementing educational systems, curriculum and training programs that have helped millions of individuals to achieve a higher level of success. During the past six years alone, Berry and his team have trained and certified over 5,500 professional coaches worldwide. Berry is also a founding member of iCOACHInternational.org a global organization dedicated to connecting prospective clients with the world’s finest coaches while promoting excellence in professional coaching.
No comments:
Post a Comment