Actions Speak Louder Than Coaching – Thoughts On Success
I do a lot of life and career coaching through this website, as well as speaker coaching through Speak It Forward. In both cases, I share a lot of insights and thoughts on success about life and work. Even more, I teach a success system that, if followed, leads people to discover their Vocational Calling and equips them to make decision based on that Calling.
But therein lies the rub with coaching…all I can do is share thoughts on success; I cannot take action for a client. What that means is if a client doesn't do anything with the thoughts on success we talk about, then thoughts are all they end up holding. Bottom line, actions taken by a client speak much louder than the thoughts on success shared by a coach.
Below is an email I received this past week from a former client. A current prospect asked me for some references, so one of the names I forwarded to him was Christopher Jones. As you'll see below, Christopher has experience success in both his life and career because he took action on the thoughts on success we discussed. Way to go, Christopher!
As a side note, I am obviously sharing this email as a way to positively promote Live It Forward Coaching (just being upfront about my intentions here), but I'm also sharing it to promote Christopher's business and blog as well. He's definitely someone worth following!
Dear (Name Withheld),
I'm glad to answer your questions. You are smart to confirm if Kent's style of coaching is a good fit for you. I did the same thing.
#1 – I was hoping to get a better picture of my future. I was 40 at the time and determined that I didn't want to look back 20 years from now wishing I had done something 20 years earlier. I was sick of letting my career happen to me, and I wanted to take charge of my career direction.
#2 – Most beneficial was Kent's complete commitment to me during our coaching calls. I felt like I was Kent's only client. Most beneficial was Kent's system for stating my vocational calling. I still use it today. I have changed it a little since my coaching with Kent, but still use the same format. It allowed me to be able to clearly state my vocational calling in a single sentence. I say it daily to keep me focused. I commit it to memory once a year after revisiting and polishing it each year. It is an excellent system.
#3 – I wished I could have had face-to-face interaction with Kent. There is nothing better than face-to-face. I understand that now Kent uses Skype or some other video conferencing tool. I think it must really increase the effectiveness of the coaching.
Kent truly did everything he could to set me up for success. I was energized and had a clear plan for moving forward after our coaching sessions. I must tell you that honestly I allowed myself to gradually resort back to my old routines. I somehow subconsciously
About 2 years afterward I saw Kent in Success Magazine (which I highly recommend). I consider Kent a friend and sent an email to him to congratulate him on his mention in the magazine. My worst fears came true when Kent wrote back thanking me for my email and then asked about my progress. I was embarrassed to have to confess to Kent about the little progress I had made. Kent was very supportive and with a little encouragement got me back in the saddle again. A few months later I started a blog and have had good success over the past year. Because of the action I began taking again a little over a year ago, I ultimately quit my J.O.B. at a Fortune 500 company. As I began taking action I was positioned to take a contract consulting position with a small leadership coaching firm. I am making the same money I was at the Fortune 500 company but now I don't feel like I am working because I am doing what I love. I am also able to continue with my blogging, writing a book, and developing my speaking career. Kent was a major factor in getting me where I am today.
I recently met Kent in person at his “Speak It Forward” conference. It was further confirmation that Kent is the real deal. He truly wants you to be successful. If you aren't successful, Kent won't be part of the root cause. In my case, I was the root cause. I keep reminding myself that I get out of anything what I put in to it. No matter what you decide, I hope that you will do the same thing.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any follow-up questions. I would love to hear about your future success whether you work with Kent of someone else.
Christopher Jones