The thought of writing blog posts about coaching started when I learned to coach in LA 3 years ago. I’ve quit my job in tech and was contemplating making coaching my second career. Boy, it was hard to convince myself to give up the high-paying profession in the tech industry. I didn’t believe I could make a living as a coach. As a practical person, I know I have evidence: the average income for a life coach is less than 60k. In the coaching schools’ newsletter, people celebrated coaches who made 100k. My first thought was “what? 100k is not even close to the amount I’m making, what was I thinking“. Since I signed up for the coaching certificate program and chose to be a coach anyways, I knew I WANT some powerful coaching to tame my doubts. That’s when I volunteered to be coached on stage.
In 15 minutes, my belief was challenged. There are so many successful coaches like Rich Litvin and Brooke Castillo who make millions a year with the lifestyle and impact they love. I immediately knew that my thoughts were limiting my reality. I don’t want to be an average coach. I want to be a master coach who make millions by changing people’s life. The trainer brought me back to the reason I want to become a coach – to hold a safe space for others to be seen and to fail, to challenge people to see the dreams that scare them, to partner with them to realize their dreams, and most importantly, to celebrate the wild growth journey along the way. I wanted to make a big impact on the life I touch to create a positive ripple effect. One intuitive way to help others learn the power of coaching is to put it in writing. I made a promise in front of the class that I would have a blog post by the end of month to share what I’ve learned and how much coaching has transformed me. Little did I know, it took me three years to make it happen.
I am an introvert. For most of my life, I avoid the spotlight and confrontation. I am an immigrant. Since English is not my native language, I re-read what I write probably too many times before I let others see it. I don’t usually speak up unless it’s about something really really really important to me. I feel naked when I think of writing a blog. Because I know I need to be 100% authentic for it to work for me. I need to share my fears and weaknesses that I’ve spent so much time hiding. A big part of me wants the sharing to be so powerful that my readers can be inspired. The very thought itself triggers so many “what ifs”: “what if people find out I don’t write perfect English“, “what if I’m just like all other noise on the social media“, “what if people read it“, “what if people don’t like it“. The list goes on and on. The more I think like this, the more I procrastinate, questioning why I even thought about writing it in the first place.
However, the idea of writing keeps coming back to me. There are so many occasions that make me think “wow, this is so impactful. I know it can definitely help someone” like the time
when I see my clients’ tones and faces change because of a powerful insight,
when I see my client get that promotion by being true to herself,
when I finally start loving myself more without relying on my productivity to prove my worth, and
when I know how to reframe our thinking to drive different emotions, actions, and results.
I then realize, I want to write because I can. I want to write because it’s a simple (although not easy) way to savor the magic moment and to share the gifts freely. I can be as creative and bold as I want. I can be as vulnerable as my heart is willing to take me to. I can create my life (and this post) as I want!
I am happy that I finally fulfilled the promise I made to myself three years ago.
Love,
Wen