What is Life Coaching?

An recent article in Money Magazine said that "A coach may be the guardian angel you need to rev up your career." In fact, if you pick up any major newspaper or magazine, you are bound to come across a glowing article on coaching. It is one of the fastest growing careers, with an estimated 20,000 coaches in the United States. Because coaching is a relatively new profession, there are many people calling themselves "coaches"---unfortunately not all of whom are fully qualified. You should know that there is no required professional certification process, although it is coming in the near future.

When hiring a coach, it is essential that you know and trust your coach, as they are helping you craft your most important project---your life! The wonderful thing about coaching is that most coaches offer a complimentary sample session. This gives you the opportunity to see their style and find out if there is a match. To choose the best coach for you, ask them questions about their background, training, and any certifications. Most people simply choose someone based on the chemistry they feel after the session, so feel free to trust your instincts.

In the 21st century, coaching is no longer a luxury, but a necessity! All human beings have a natural instinct to grow and learn, and due to the increased interest in self-improvement, more people than ever want the extra support that a coach provides.

If you are in business for yourself, a coach is an integral part of your "success team." Your coach is invested in your success and provides insight, structure, and encouragement for increased effectiveness and fast improvements. He serves as your partner, champion and cheerleader for your success and fulfillment. She works with you to close the gap between where you are now and where you want to be in the future. Coaching is based on learning, reflecting, and taking action. It is an interdependent relationship, with the coach playing many roles such as that of listener, questioner, challenger, resource provider, and idea generator.

Top 7 Reasons to Hire a Coach

Are you tired of struggling? Are you working harder but not smarter? Then perhaps it is time for a change. Coaches are "change specialists." They bring a new and objective perspective to your challenges and stumbling blocks. They work with you to come up with creative solutions and exciting new directions.

A coach is professionally trained in human development and/or business processes, who forms powerful, insightful, and transformational relationships with his or her client. Through a process of discovery, life visioning, goal-setting, and strategizing, your coach partners with you to realize extraordinary results that could rarely be achieved alone.

1. You want to close the gap (more quickly and easily) between where you now and where you want to be in the future.

2. You have big dreams that scare you---and secretly would really like to live them out.

3. You want control over your own destiny.

4. You want assistance with staying on track---setting goals, managing your time/resources, and living in alignment with your values.

5. You've got great potential, but want help tapping into your intuition and personal power.

6. You want to be more successful---making more money or having more free time.

7. You want to explode your business and see amazing results fast!

Professional athletes and business executives stay at the top of their game with the help of a coach/mentor. For most of us, extra support can make all the difference in the world. Having a coach gives you the vehicle for accelerated accomplishment towards your goals. In this challenging world it is easy to get off track with what is most important to you. A coach keeps you focused, on purpose, and works with you to redefine goals and dreams. People dedicated to self-improvement work with different coaches throughout their lifetime and experience a higher level of living as a result. Depending on your need or challenge, you can find career coaches, relationship coaches, performance coaches, business coaches, executive coaches, prosperity coaches, communication coaches, etc.

***Just ask yourself: what life area would I like to change, improve or transform?

Coaching is an enlightening and empowering experience, and working with a professional coach can transform your life. There are a number of online resources to help you find just the right person. Visit www.locateacoach.com, www.coachvillereferral.com www.247coaching.com and www.coachfederation.org.

Michelle L. Casto, M.Ed. is a whole life coach, speaker, and author. She has written three self-help books and a dozen workbooks on life empowerment topics. Her coaching practice is Brightlight Coaching. She helps people come up with bright ideas for their life and empowers them to freely shine their bright light to the world.

Michelle can personally work with you to build and brand your business.

Contact her for a complimentary coaching session: coach@brightlightcoach.com

Visit virtually: http://www.getsmartseries.com or http://www.brightlightcoach.com

Sign up for her free monthly ezine, Get Smart! Live Smart by sending an email to: Getsmarter-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

In The News:


Google News
Updated : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:51:23 GMT

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Cancer survivor shares her story - Naples Daily News


ChattahBox
Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Cancer survivor shares her story
Naples Daily News - 1 hour ago
By LIANE SMITH (Contact) She felt pain in her breasts. One of her aunt’s died in February from breast cancer. Another aunt, in her 60s now, has battled it on and off for more than a dozen years.
Pink And Purple Join To Help Women eFluxMedia
Breast Cancer Awareness Month Should Be Prevention Month! Food Consumer
Princeton Times Leader - San Marcos Daily Record - Hudson Reporter - WISC
all 136 news articles

Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 22:31:44 GMT

Mighty Chihuahuas Eclipse DiCaprio and Crowe in Test of Star Power - New York Times

Mighty Chihuahuas Eclipse DiCaprio and Crowe in Test of Star Power
New York Times - 2 hours ago
By BROOKS BARNES LOS ANGELES - This is how far movie stars have fallen in their ability to pull audiences into theaters, at least when the story revolves around Iraq and the messiness of the Middle East: A picture about talking dogs, “Beverly Hills ...
Dogs rule: 'Beverly Hills Chihuahua' No. 1 again Los Angeles Times
'Chihuahua' fetches $17.5M, remains top movie dog The Associated Press
Reuters - Hollywood.com - Cincinnati.com - Bloomberg
all 374 news articles

Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:18:44 GMT

Palin talks economic worries in Appalachian Ohio - The Associated Press


Times Online
Palin talks economic worries in Appalachian Ohio
The Associated Press - 39 minutes ago
ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio (AP) - Sarah Palin told voters in southeastern Ohio on Sunday that she and running mate John McCain would bring jobs back to this economically depressed piece of Appalachia.
John McCain and Sarah Palin try new tactics Los Angeles Times
US-POLITICS Summary Washington Post
Milwaukee Labor Press - Tampa Tribune - guardian.co.uk - FOXNews
all 2,032 news articles

Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:11:58 GMT

First Second-Generation Astronaut, Richard Garriott, Launched Into ... - AHN


Canada.com
First Second-Generation Astronaut, Richard Garriott, Launched Into ...
AHN - 2 hours ago
Vienna, VA (AHN)-Space Adventures, Ltd, a company that provides space missions to the global community, announced that client Richard Garriott and his crew successfully launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to the International Space ...
Video: Raw Video: US space tourist begins journey AssociatedPress
US game designer blasts into space with DNA cargo The Associated Press
VIP Breakdown - Independent - Slashdot - Houston Chronicle
all 1,036 news articles

Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:28:36 GMT

Tigers still seeking QB to turn season around - SportingNews.com


Seattle Post Intelligencer
Tigers still seeking QB to turn season around
SportingNews.com - 38 minutes ago
AP Sports Wri AUBURN, Ala. (AP) -- The Auburn Tigers didn't figure they'd be in this position: Unranked, desperately trying to salvage a once-promising season and still seeking a quarterback solution seven games into the season.
Tuberville And Tigers Trying To Regroup Dawg Post
A Pig Sooie Shocker in Auburn WTVM
BamaMag.com - Sports Network - The Associated Press - International Herald Tribune
all 647 news articles

Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:13:08 GMT

UPDATE 1-Tropical Storm Nana forms in Atlantic - Reuters

UPDATE 1-Tropical Storm Nana forms in Atlantic
Reuters - 2 hours ago
MIAMI, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Nana, the 14th of the Atlantic hurricane season, formed on Sunday in the Atlantic Ocean east of the Caribbean islands, the US National Hurricane Center said.
Forecasters: Tropical Storm Nana forms in Atlantic The Associated Press
Tropical Storm Nana Forms Central Florida News 13|
El Nuevo Herald - Orlando Sentinel - CBS 4 - WFMY News 2
all 175 news articles

Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:29:57 GMT

Falcons' Ryan is not your typical rookie QB - FOXSports.com


Boston Globe
Falcons' Ryan is not your typical rookie QB
FOXSports.com - 36 minutes ago
by Alex Marvez Alex Marvez is a Senior NFL Writer for FOXSports.com. He's covered the NFL for 14 seasons as a beat writer and is the president of the Pro Football Writers of America.
Falcons missed chances in red zone Atlanta Journal Constitution
Bears rally late, fall to Falcons on last-second FG Chicago Sun-Times
Sports Network - SI.com - The Associated Press - Rotowire
all 607 news articles

Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:14:27 GMT

Clickbank Data Feeds
How to Earn Money At Home


PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Worth Waiting For

Direct Answers - Column for the week of July 22,... Read More

Finding Peace: A Taste of Mindfulness

When we are ill and don't know it, we are... Read More

Personal Power

All of us would love to have personal power ?... Read More

Key Questions for a Coaching Conversation

There are 2 key skills that coaches need to be... Read More

Communicating Anger Compassionately

Whether it is irritability or unmitigated rage, anger is an... Read More

5 Steps to Derail Difficult People - Your Surefire Way to a Peaceful Resolution

That one guy at work that always has to be... Read More

Top Ways to Maximize Your Talents at Work

Are you maximizing your strengths and promoting your talents at... Read More

How to Turn Around A Sinking Conversation - 7 Tips

When a conversation is not working out there is the... Read More

Do You Make Less Money Than Your Taller Peers?

A recent study at the University of Florida found that... Read More

Tips for Writing Great Coaching E-Books

Never understimate the power of a well-written word. Tens of... Read More

Great Advice

It never ceases to amaze me that every time I... Read More

Emotional Dependency or Emotional Responsibility

Emotional dependency means getting one's good feelings from outside oneself.... Read More

How Coaches Find Clients Online

At a recent networking meeting Jana asked for a recommendation... Read More

The $10,000,000.00 Question

When I asked my client, Amanda, what she would do... Read More

A Coaching Secret

I've told people for a long time that one of... Read More

Why Therapy Fails Sometimes

I saw a couple for marriage counseling this week, and... Read More

Successful Implementation of Company Wide Coaching Programmes

Ten years ago I was fortunate enough to be heavily... Read More

Q-Tip It!

Back in the 1920's when Polish-American entrepreneur Leo Gerstenzang invented... Read More

Handling Disappointment

Disappointment is an inevitable part of home-based business. Clients won't... Read More

Expectations Can Get In Our Way

There are times when we truly look forward to something... Read More

Make Your Life Easier?

'Have you read the Art of War?' someone asked me... Read More

Executive Coaching ? Finding a Coach and Understanding the Process

Nobody in business can fail to have noticed the recent... Read More

Do You Make These Common Mistakes When Talking to People?

Many moons ago. Talking to people was something I avoided... Read More

Searching For Your Calling ? Quest or Curse?

Judging by the extraordinarily positive reader response to Po Bronson's... Read More

Tame The Financial Beast

Are holiday bills surprising you? Are you hoping that if... Read More