Coaching is becoming a profession....?

Published in NorthJersey.com, this article highlights some interesting points of the coaching profession:

- "The ICF, coaching's most prominent organization, says there are more than 8,200 accredited members worldwide, up from 1,800 in 1999. In the United States, there are just under 5,000 ICF members. There are no reliable estimates of the number of clients, but the ICF estimates perhaps five per coach."

- "I don't know I would call it a profession yet because I don't think most people know a lot about it," said Dr. William Greenberg, president of the New Jersey Psychiatric Association, with a private practice in Ridgewood. "I don't know that they have the expertise to help people when they need it." But he added, "I think conceivably they might have complimentary roles. That would sound logical."

- "With so much confusion between the two professions, there is a danger that the wrong client could wind up in the wrong chair. Anything dealing with substance abuse, domestic abuse or major emotional issues holding a person back are issues for a therapist, not a coach. Most ICF-accredited coaches are trained to be able to identify the differences between coaching and therapy issues, but some (no one knows how many) are not accredited at all."

- "If we're going to be serious as a profession, we need everybody to be accredited. "Therapists have gone through it; most basic professions have credentials. You're looking for a common standard."

So basically, to become a recognized profession, accreditation is necessary.

Read Complete Article Here:
Personal coaches gain in popularity, seek respect

A "coach is a cross between a shrink, a friend and a Nazi"

"Your coach is a cross between a shrink, a friend and a Nazi. They ask you what you really want to do with your life. And then they ask you why the hell you're not doing it. Some of us have our mothers for this. Others pay. It costs about £50 an hour over the phone. "

...says Viv Groskop in the UK's Sunday Observer.

Not sure about the 1990's and Colorado Springs as the origin of life coaching (some say it was actually in 1980's), but UK definitely has a lot of growing to do! (Or maybe we, as coaches, do! Hopefully, with Coachville and other organizations going international, the public opinion of coaching in Europe will improve).

Read Full Article Here...
Actually, I Think I'll Coach Myself

How One CD Duplication/Production Company Lost My Business

- They didn't meet their own deadline for shipping the CDs to me, therefore I was late sending them to customers

- They never apologized for or accepted the fact that the CDs arrived 3 weeks later than I expected them

- They made me feel ignored when I tried to figure out how to prevent this in the future

- They didn't respond to my "URGENT" request until late evening

- They've obviously outgrown their customer service department, but haven't realized it yet

Thank God there are alternatives!

So, I Am Unemployable!

After I reviewed my old resume over the weekend, I realized that I could never work for anyone again.

I am my own boss.
I am independent.
I am lazy when I want to be.
I create my own projects.
I am very demanding.
I am a perfectionist.
I like to sleep until 9AM.
I don't take orders from anyone (unless they have a "$" sign in front of them)
I set my own fee structure.

...In other words, I am completely unemployable. Isn't that grand?!

Why My Graphic Designer Made Me Sad...

Before I learned to delegate, I did graphic design myself. I think I was pretty good at it, and really enjoyed making my clients thrilled.

Since I hired a team of self-employed contractors, many times I outsource logos and headers to my designer.

When my client e-mailed me this weekend, saying how much she liked the graphic portion of her web site, I was sad because I couldn't take credit for it. I used to take great pride in my design ideas, and the ability to sense what the client is looking for, but now my graphic designer received these comments.

My sadness quickly disappeared when I realized something important...

It doesn't matter who designs the graphics, as long as my clients are happy! Because THAT's why they hire me - for my ability to delegate as I find necessary to accomplish the task.

Plus, I am now able to concentrate on the content and e-commerce aspect of the web site development, as well as my own projects.

Blast from Milana's Past - How it All Began...

What a productive weekend...

...gasp! Milana worked all weekend long! But only because I work 4-5 hours on weekdays, and had an opportunity to catch up with my work, while my husband took the kids to the zoo.

After I completed 3 web sites - I can be extremely fast and productive when no one is around - I wend down the basement to clean up.

I couldn't believe what I found there!

- Printouts of all the e-books I purchased at the start of my business, back in 2001, including Ken Evoy's "Make Your Knowledge Sell," Ken Silver's "E-Book Secrets," some local author's "E-Bay Secrets," and a bunch of other e-books I treasured back then.

- My very first web design flyer, which I distributed in my college, grocery stores, computer shops, and YMCA (which is where my first client saw it and hired me!)

- My old resume - the only thing that's missing there is my very last job at the newspaper, which I quit in 2002 to focus on my business.

At the risk of revealing too much of myself, I am posting both documents here! Laugh it out!