Why You Need Coaching

Nothing will change unless I do. Anything can change if I do. ~Trisha Bailey

As you navigate the challenges of life as a social entrepreneur, it’s really, really important to seek out or at least be open to receiving help when it comes in your path.

It’s not easy….asking for help…or receiving help.

You live a rare and unique life that few can identify with.

But, the truth is, people exist who are uniquely qualified to help you. 

I’ve had countless coaches and mentors in various forms over the years. I would not be here living out my purpose without them!  My life is truly a culmination of God-given desires and guides to show me the path to my destiny.

Clearly! You have the God-given desires and are already on your path of destiny to change the world. 

Sometimes, oftentimes actually, it doesn’t feel like that.  It feels quite the opposite. Like we’re stuck by or in our circumstances. Like nothing is happening.

We feel frustration, isolation  (because leadership can feel very lonely even being surrounded by people), and  conflict in our minds about the “shoulds.” 

Should I do this? Should I do that? I should do this. I should do that.

In my experience, when you feel stuck between your desire and your destiny, very often, the missing element… is… a guide… along that part of your journey.

You will likely have many different guides throughout your life, depending on where you are and what’s happening in your life.

So, for you to be open to seeking help from a guide or being open to receiving help when it comes your way, it’s wise to understand it so that you’ll recognize it when you see it. 

A guide can take on many forms, from formal arrangements to random encounters with strangers. I will make a distinction between the two and talk about more formal arrangements. I’ll refer to formal guidance as “coaching.”

In this 3-part blog series, I’m sharing the W’s of coaching. The What, Why, and Where.

• What coaching  is
• Why do you need it
• Where to find it

Post 1 of 3  was about the “What.” What is coaching? If you’ve not read it, I encourage you to go back to that one for a full explanation.

The focus of this post is on the Why.  Why you need coaching.

For simplicity and the sake of your reading time,  I’m going to use “coaching” as a very broad term to describe any outside help from an unbiased professional. 

As a refresher, there are several different levels and functions. I’ll break them down into 5:

• Coaches, mentors, and counselors focus on you, the person.
• Advisors and consultants focus on your problem.

Now, let’s get to the focus of this post, the why. Why do you need coaching? Why do you need the help of one or more of these people?

#1: They serve different purposes for different seasons of life and business.

Whether it’s an acute situation, long-term strategy planning, or spiritual or emotional healing, growing as a leader in business is cyclical.  You may be divinely inspired to put a long-term strategy in place, then realize you have a major roadblock…an acute situation that must be dealt with.

Then, some things inside you surface. You realize you’ve got limiting beliefs or lies about yourself that you believed. Have a look at this internal dialogue:

• “It’s time to expand my social enterprise.”
• “This roadblock is I need help in the office.”
• “But we don’t have enough money.” Sound familiar??
• “Well, is it that we truly don’t have enough money or that I have a poverty spirit, which is my next area of breakthrough?” A coach can teach you how to ask this type of question of yourself.

#2: They can pull you out of the mire of your circumstances.

They’ve been there, done that. They can help you pull yourself up. They ask you the right types of questions to help you get a direct download from your spirit for the answer. As a species, people don't change very much. They’ve probably seen it before. They’ve probably experienced it personally.

#3. This is the big one. Are you where you want to be? Are you living your destiny right now? If not, something needs to change. 

If you’re not where you want to be… then… something needs to change. A practical definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. A coach can light the path to different possibilities.

A nuance here. Expect at some point to pay for coaching.  It’s an exchange. You’re exchanging your money for someone else’s experiences to fast-track you.  You’re exchanging being stuck for being free. You’ll never miss it, and you’ll never look back.

Here’s a recap of the “Why” of coaching. Why do you need the help of one or more of these people?

#1: They serve different purposes for different seasons of life and business.

• Whether it’s an acute situation, a long-term strategy, or spiritual or emotional healing.

#2: They can pull you out of the mire of your circumstances.

• They’ve been there, done that. They can help you pull yourself up.

#3. If you’re not where you want to be, then something needs to change.

I hope this post shed some light on why you might consider a coach now or in the near future! Remember, if you are not “there” yet, there’s someone out there who’s uniquely qualified to help you. Think of it this way, what is it costing you not to do it?

If you’re looking for more guidance in this (or any) area of your social enterprise, journaling gives the incredible gift of insight. Download your free 5-Day Promoted Journal here! If you have an acute area of concern and are seeking answers, download your free Quick Cards here. This is an excellent resource for receiving mid-crisis clarity.

Check out the Avant-garde Entrepreneur Podcast for stories, strategies, and shortcuts uniquely curated for you, the change-making social entrepreneur.  Maybe Episode 5 on strategies for managing your spinning plates…all the stuff you have to do to keep your social enterprise going…is a great place to start?!

Would love to connect on LinkedIn so we can chat 1:1!