To other life coaches that want to respond.

How have clients found you? ie. was there any one marketing tool that was effective?

If this is fulltime for you, do you find it hard to schedule your day?

Do you have another job besides fulltime coaching ministry?

It's hard for any entrepreneur to balance the isolating nature of our work. How do you keep balance?

Do you only coach Christians? or Non-Christians too?

I thought I should add here in case this looks like an advertorial or something. As a Christian Life Coach this is my ministry. It is a parachurch ministry which means I don't get a salary, but like a counsellor rely on fee for services. My question here isn't so much about business, as much as I have struggled with my calling in that I know God wants me to do this but at the same time it is personally challenging. I think like a pastor or his wife must sometimes feel isolated because they are the "professionals" that is sometimes how I feel. And because I don't have a salary I need to teach about my ministry which has to be done very carefully, not to come across as a salesperson. This is why I have to rely on God for working out things. Sometimes God seems slow though.

I have to be honest with you out of concern, and I have been involved in Ministry for many...many years, in many types of churches in many states. With all respect to you , I have heard of Life Coaches but I have never heard of anyone using a Life Coach, so I guess my comment is this (and I have read all your posts with your valid concerns of your calling etc...) Is there a "demand" for Life Coaches.....such that would draw people to seek you out for your services. I've just never heard of it before.

There is a need for life coaches, but not many people are aware of them or what the benefits are. I say there is a need because today is a global society. We move around and don't all find a close friend with whom to bond. Not having that "friend" to share our innermost struggles is a problem. A coach can help fill the gap. Sometimes when we are with a friend and need to talk or unload, we are afraid of driving our friend away. Or, our friend is ill equipped to handle what we share.

Life Coaching is similar to counselling, but isn't counselling. Counselling talks about the past coaching talks about the present and helps a woman set goals about which directions to step into.

I believe there are many women living less than a full life. The coaching process helps them make sense of things, puts pieces together, and helps them get a lot of loose ends into place.

One client I coached wanted to change careers or do something great for God. She dreamed and came up with so many great ideas that I truly hope she takes steps on. But through the curriculum and conversations she realized that God wants her to be a good steward of what she has and where she is right now first before he will bless her with these greater responsilities. For her that meant trying to find the answers to an ongoing depression, working on issues in her marriage, and cleaning up the clutter in her home.

She had thought the key to her life purpose was that she was in the wrong job. She wanted to jump ship. She also thought she was married to the wrong man and was ready to walk away from him too. We barely discussed these issues, but in the end she realized what was really going on.

I didn't proceed to do marriage or depression counseling, that is not a coaches job. But I did ask her what she could do about it. She decided to go into some marriage counselling and speak to her physician about her depression. Then she decided to set timetables to work on her clutter. Each week I asked her how she had progressed and with my accountability she got an entire room and its closets clean.

Yes there is a need for this. Women pay for haircuts, coffe and lunches, and life coaching is one more thing they should consider for themselves either temporarily or long term.

I don't believe any paid staff traditional ministry can match this and get really annoyed when church staff people feel threatened with para church organizations.

I am resolved that God will open the doors he wants open. I'm okay now. Actually he has opened a huge door where I will be leading a workshop where women can look at their lives through a 10 week coaching process. It starts in January. The local radio station has offered to advertise this group for free and a local paper has offered to put flyers out for me.

This 'Life Coaching" sounds like what I have been involved in for years at a local ministry. We refer to it simply as 'discipling'; often people tend to understand it more as 'biblical counseling', but the ministry doesn't really counsel. It is pretty simply, Pray for God to speak His words through the discipler to the disciplee and trust God to give the wisdom. Basically we are always going back to the Word to see what God has to say on the matter. Doubt I explained it well. Anyway, I think many believer's also call it mentoring.

It is similar to mentoring and discipling, but it is not the same.

Also we have taken specific training for which we paid tuition to become certified.

I would describe mentoring as someone being further along in some path and you are role modelling. ie. an older mom mentoring a younger mom, an employee that's been there 10 years mentoring a new employee, discipling as well is teaching others how to live in the faith, teaching what one knows, etc.

In coaching I don't have to have been involved in anything the coachee is. Our usualy coaching program is over several weeks. We delve into areas affecting one's life purpose. This is different than teaching a Biblical truth. We talk about relationships, passions, spiritual disciplines, dreams and blockages to those dreams. In every single situation the story will be different.

Often mentors are put together and are on a volunteer basis. As Certified life coaches, this is our profession, so we are focused on the client and intentional. We provide interesting challenges and exercises to a client. I'm not sure a mentor would do that. I picture a mentor giving advice. We don't give advice.

Businesses are turning to coaching - within the organization and outside. They tried mentoring and found in most circles it failed. They are finding that individuals want to be part of discovering the solution rather than being advised or taught.

Interesting, but definetly differnt than the ministry I have been involved in.

I know your point was addressing my first posts about my disappointment that more wasn't happening after I'd been trained, and I need life direction.

I was thinking today, however, that when it comes to a woman wanting to minister why would we question or discourage it.

New ministries should be encouraged. The fields are ripe for harvest. The laborers are few.

Actually I wasn't addressing your first post; rather what you said in your last.

I believe we are all called to minister...you know...the Great Commission. Matt. 28:18-20

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

and Isaiah 61:1 and I can think of lots more scripture in regards to us all being ministers of the Gospel.

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,and release from darkness for the prisoners,

Indeed the fields are ripe for harvest and the workers few. I just look for ways the Lord opens doors in my life to minister in and through me in everyday life. We all aren't called to a pulput or specific ministry but we are all called to "plant seeds."

Blessings,
Deb

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Saint Deb,

thank you for these great Scriptures. I realized after I posted I was addressing Amy, but didn't know how to edit.

The more ministries the better reaching the lost, discipling one another. I think its a new concept and will gain "popularity" for lack of a better word as people learn more about it. I know in my area the south east, I don't know of any. This I think like any new ministry will take prayer and time to build.

I just saw this post.
I like Becky Tirabassi, who is a life coach.
I wish I could afford to spend some time with her!
Her books are huge blessings...

I just wanted to comment, that most life coaching is done by long-distance telephone, or can be done by email or letter.

As a life coach myself, I have a long distance plan that I pay a flat rate of $25 and I can call anywhere in North America free so I can actually coach clients from all over NA and I will phone them if they don't have a similar plan (usually a client calls the coach weekly).

As for your reference to Becky Tirabassi, I will look her up in a free moment. As for "affording", most Life Purpose Coaches charge a variety of fees some quite affordable. Those that have a PhD. or are a Certified counsellor, etc. charge based on their current fees or education. Many of us who don't have those degrees but have been trained and are gifted in this field, charge a lower fee. On merely needs to make a number of inquiries.

I do hope it takes off. In the down time I am self-educating, using my services in small ways for free, networking, advertising, etc. I still may take a day job, though, because it can be a long time between clients.

I am personally finding women in there perimenopausal years or empty nest phases are looking for this kind of support. As well, women who have been at home moms and whose kids are independent and they are looking for new involvements.

For myself, boy the need is having a life while running small businesses. It's really hard.
A good example, last night my new bookkeeper called us about taxes. At 8:30 PM! We have no life to coach!

So as a life coach, I would ask you, "What are you needing to say no to?"

"What is over-riding your priorities?"

"Would you like to practice "saying no" with me?"

You know, I have a few chronic illnesses and I am good at saying no to over commitment. I keep my church service to one day a week, and I am not big on eating out or shopping with the girls etc. I'm a homeobody most of the time. I love being with my hubby and dogs and cats and Mom.
But my dh has become really disenchanted with the two businesses we started (one 20 years ago). So he kind of dropped the ball and I have been doing much of the work, or at least having the concern about finances.
We cant bow out, but we need to make more money.
We have the means and equipment to do it, but where I need a break from this (and need him to pick up the ball), he pretty much has left it to me.
I think, we need a whole counseling category for self employed people who dont find it very easy much of the time.

So what is your most challenging role? As in hard to face.

What is your most fun challenge? What do you look forward to?

As you've picked up the slack from husband, were there any old roles you were able to let go of? Laundry, dinner, other business roles that could be delegated or hired out?

Sometimes a little money spent with outside help pays for itself in other ways.

Is it really true that you can't give up one of the businesses? What are you afraid of if you did?

Hmmm,
Was pondering some of this today after listening to a life coach on Christian radio (Valorie Burton).
Challenging role--being a bookkeeper and marketing person by default. Hubby is really really good at sales, and has lost his ambition.
What I look forward to is my day of women's Bible study once a week and doing creative things (want to get back to sewing, learn to knit, reading, baking stuff like that.) I want to be a good wife, make dinner and get the laundry done. I really do!

The only thing we delegated out was hiring a gal to do the Quickbooks entries, for the CPA. We got a new CPA last year, and he seems pretty good. And she works with him, so we pay him less for his time because she does things for him. That was a good move.

Giving up the businesses--if we gave up our new business, it would be unfair to us. People love our product. They buy it, and never complain. In four years we only had to return money two times and it is because we could tell they used the product incorrectly. We have a zillion ways we could go with it, but we start bunny trails and then there is no follow up. Again, that is something my husband said he would do. Seek out one more property manager for carpet cleaning accounts (we have two, they pay well) and seek out places to sell our product.

At the age of 50 and 49, if we sold the carpet cleaning business we would lose money, and we would have a hard time finding meaningful employment. I fear we would lose our house, and our house has doubled in value since we purchased it in 1996.

I would consider a PT job at church if one came up. I would adore being able to attend staff devotionals with the staff and pastor! But, my dh would probably continue to do nothing while I went to work. It's hard to see someone act retired when they arent!
Anyway, after listening to that author today, I do see that putting God's priorities into action, may be what He is waiting for to help us. And maybe this pertains to more than just me. Even my best friend's dh has lost all ambition. He lets her work herself to the bone and refuses to do just about anything.
I think it applies to lots of women.
Maybe it's a form of enabling or something.
That's probably a whole other topic!

You've done a lot of thinking.

Where do you think husband needs support? Has he been taking care of his body? Would it be helpful for you both to have a medical checkup?

You mention enabling. How are you enabling him and thereby short-changing both of you?

I think it boils down to delegating. For myself, and I;m sure lots of other folks out there.
Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesnt!