| When I left corporate America several years ago to | | | | seriously than that. |
| strike out on my own I was so happy to leave | | | | And worse, there's a subculture telling us that if we |
| behind corporate greed and lack of loyalty. | | | | aren't playing that game our mindset is a problem. |
| I'd come of age as a professional in the 1990's-the | | | | We're not playing a big enough game. Hmmm. I know |
| era of rightsizing, downsizing and reengineering. And | | | | that you can make a great living at coaching. I know |
| I'd personally handled the layoff or reorganization of | | | | that coaching is a powerful force that dramatically |
| over 1000 people. I'd also done high level consulting, | | | | changes lives. I also know that focusing on making |
| where again I was working on projects to streamline | | | | money at all costs, forgetting your core mission, and |
| processes and improve profits while shuffling | | | | overinflating the value of anything leads to a crash. |
| headcounts and impacting people's livelihoods. | | | | I've watched the housing market, the automotive |
| Now those are worthy efforts (streamlining, | | | | market and the financial market go the same route. |
| profitability, stability) -especially in the automotive | | | | My mindset is just fine, thank you. |
| industry where the tide needed to be turned (and still | | | | So what's a disillusioned coach to do? |
| does). But I was tired of HOW it was done-over | | | | I left corporate America to get away from the |
| focusing on the bottom line, and under focusing on | | | | greed. I'm not planning to leave coaching on the |
| the people. We're still seeing the impact of the | | | | same terms. What I am ready to do is stay |
| damage done to worker confidence in the 80's and | | | | grounded in my values and to stay 'on mission'. I'm |
| 90's. | | | | prepared to ride this wave, staying true to myself, |
| When I found coaching as a small and burgeoning | | | | my voice and my vision. |
| industry I was enamored! I found a way to do the | | | | And, I know I'm not alone. At least 3 times a month |
| kind of work I love-helping people navigate the dark | | | | I hear a client or colleague struggle with what to 'call |
| and murky waters of change-but in a whole new, | | | | themselves'-not wanting to use the word Coach |
| more positive and contributing way. I finally felt like I | | | | anymore. And there's a groundswell of support for a |
| had found a place where I could thrive. | | | | new, more realistic way of approaching our craft. |
| But in the last couple of years I've grown slightly | | | | The change leaders are emerging as I write this and I |
| disillusioned with my industry. I know many others | | | | couldn't be more excited! |
| from various industries share that feeling....from | | | | If you are disillusioned in your industry, here's a few |
| financial services to real estate to automotive....feeling | | | | strategies to keep grounded and focused when |
| like the industry you once loved isn't what it used to | | | | things around seem to be going in a direction you |
| be. | | | | can't get behind. |
| In the coaching industry there has been growth, | | | | - Upgrade your environment as much as you can. I'm |
| which is exciting. But there has also been a shifting | | | | removing myself from the kinds of people who aren't |
| tide which I believe is the result of trying to make it | | | | on the same page as I am. In my own business I get |
| a legitimate industry and lucrative business. Not a bad | | | | to choose the culture I play in. I'm only following |
| goal at all. It's HOW it's happening that's making me | | | | people who are still 'on mission' and are shining |
| weary (just as before when I was a corporate | | | | examples of the best of what coaching has to offer. |
| change agent). | | | | If you work for a company, you can still, to a limited |
| So many people have gotten over focused on the | | | | degree, choose who you spend time with. Limit time |
| 'holy grail' of becoming coaching millionaires. In and of | | | | around those you find toxic, draining or derailing. |
| itself, that's not a bad goal. We want growth in any | | | | - Trust that this too shall pass. Everything shifts with |
| industry, and need the creation of solid, stable | | | | time. In my case, I know this is a product of the |
| coaching companies. However, what has happened is | | | | newness of the industry and that eventually the |
| a loss of focus on the mission of coaching (the | | | | pendulum will swing back to a more moderate |
| purpose for why we exist in the first place) and a | | | | ground. In the meantime, I have to stay my course |
| shift toward over focusing on the bottom line. You | | | | and not let the trends cast a shadow on what I am |
| don't have to look too far back in history to see the | | | | most excited to do and become. |
| downstream impact of that. | | | | - Take the longer term view. I look ahead, to where |
| I feel the quest for Millionaire status has become the | | | | I want to be and where I want my industry to be in |
| holy grail of the industry...at the expense of what got | | | | the future. I look forward to the impact, growth and |
| most of us started in the first place...making a | | | | contribution that will come from coaching when |
| difference. | | | | making a million dollars is no longer worth talking |
| There's talk of private jets, million dollar homes, spa | | | | about and we're on to bigger and better innovations |
| trips, bling, big ticket packages that price many | | | | in this great industry. |
| people right out of the market and lots of bragging | | | | - Reconnect with your own voice. We become |
| about who's making what. In the age of social | | | | disillusioned when we can't find the leaders we're |
| networking we get videos and pictures too boot! | | | | excited to follow. That just tells you there's a |
| We've definitely accomplished the goal of not looking | | | | leadership gap and you may have to go within to fill |
| like psychotherapists...and instead started looking like | | | | it. Yes, search for likeminded people who get you. |
| Hollywood celebrities branding lifestyles instead of our | | | | And step up as the leader you are. |
| contributions. Is that what we want? | | | | - Be the change you wish to see. As Ghandi |
| Personally, I'm unimpressed. I care about the carbon | | | | reminded us, change only comes when we take a |
| footprint on this planet, so flying private just seems | | | | stand and serve as an example of what we want |
| garish and egotistical. I don't know of very many | | | | the world to reflect back. Be a successful, clear, |
| industries where the leaders talk so openly about | | | | confident, mission-minded expert and do great work. |
| their balance sheets-with the exception of sports and | | | | The rest will take care of itself. |
| entertainment-and I'd prefer to be taken more | | | | |