Coach Yourself!

Introduction: Preparing for the Journey

“Life is a journey, not a destination.”

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

A couple of years ago, I called my coaching colleague, Lisa, to ask her advice.

“Lisa,” I said, “I feel like it's time for me to work with a coach again, is there anyone you'd recommend?”

“If someone asked me to refer them to a master coach, I'd recommend you,” she said. “And besides, can't you coach yourself with the frameworks you use with your clients?”

I was shocked by her response. Is that me she's talking about? I didn't consider myself to be a master coach, but I felt incredibly validated hearing her refer to me that way. (Yes, coaches can have moments of imposter syndrome, too!)

I am passionate about what coaching can do and that exchange with Lisa got me thinking about how to spread what I knew about coaching with others.

I realized I rely on certain “go‐to” coaching frameworks when I hit bumps in the road—ranging from small speed bumps to major obstacles that require a metaphorical four‐wheel all‐terrain vehicle to overcome. My recent bumps have ranged from needing to develop better communication skills with my teenage sons to grappling with my adult ADHD diagnosis.

After receiving my diagnosis, I found it challenging at first to apply the label of ADHD to myself although I immediately felt a sense of relief: “Oh, so that's what's going on… . It's not just that I lack self‐control.” It also became the catalyst for me to write this book.

A great deal of my journey ...