Amateur to Pro

"Identity" refers to who you are as a person. It is not determined by what you say, hope for or what others want you to be. However, the way others perceive you can give you a good indication of your “Identity”. Our “Identity” is shaped by the choices we make and the actions we take on a daily basis. Walking our talk is the ultimate decider of our “Identity”.

Powerful coaching happens on three distinct but beautifully integrated levels: Identity, Mindset and Strategies and Tactics.

Deep and sustainable transformation, the kind that sticks even after we are complete with a coaching program, can only occur through a commitment to regular practice — a fundamental principle of powerful coaching.

If we want to lead a more meaningful and fulfilling life, we must dedicate ourselves to one or more practices, just as we would if we were learning a new language, sport, or business skill.

However, we often confuse our habits with our personality.

Words have the power to shape our reality. Language is not just a way to communicate or interpret; language acts as a call to, or just as importantly, an inhibitor to action — Shane Parrish. Language is action. This truth is particularly apparent in this profoundly challenging and historic moment for the Jewish people.

"How do I make it happen??" was the question I often asked myself as I grew up and well into adulthood. I was raised to be independent, resourceful, and high-achieving. Bars were not set low in my family. I embraced that perspective and elevated it further because, for whatever reason, I felt compelled to deconstruct and reimagine what others considered ‘good enough.’

One of the foundational practices of Life Coaching is helping our clients understand the distinction between being a victim and having a victim mindset. So many of us navigate through life with a victim mindset, convinced that external circumstances control our fate instead of realizing our own power to shape it. When we embrace this mindset, we often find ourselves depleted of energy, creativity, and agency. We feel like a dinghy being tossed around in a turbulent ocean — dependent on the next wave to determine our direction.

Professional Coach Rich Litvin advises that those who have embraced coaching as our profession refrain from labeling themselves as "Coaches." In his article, “Never ever say you’re a Coach,” he explains, “Coaching isn’t a title. It’s a tool.” He continues to say, “I’m not a ‘Coach’. Coaching is just one of the tools in my tool belt. Sometimes, I’m a Coach. Sometimes, I’m a Consultant. Sometimes, I’m a Teacher. Sometimes, I’m a Trusted Advisor.”

Life before GPS, cell phones, and text messaging may seem different from today, but it wasn't a constant struggle. We managed just fine. We found our way to places, stayed in touch with loved ones, and generally stayed safe. Bad things didn't happen more often just because we couldn't be reached around the clock!

I have no words for the jumble of emotions that have me so moved in this moment. Nothing sad, bad, or particularly emotional has happened. It is the most quotidian of mornings. But here’s the thing.