Monthly Archive for August, 2011

Gratitude

When is the last time that you truly had gratitude for something in your life? I don’t mean the massive things that you have achieved as I believe they don’t happen every day so we have more awareness around them.  I mean the small things. Those things that we take for granted most days. I invite you to think about this for yourself.

In my experience it’s been my tendency to focus on what I want to have more of and not so much to focus on what I already have, what is around me each day. And it was with this realisation that I decided to change this focus and to take some time out each day to appreciate the small things in my life and see how this changes my awareness and focus. And already I’ve had some truly cool moments – for example, when I’ve expressed gratitude for a conversation that has brought new meaning for me, the smell of spring as I emerged from my car the other day and the smile on my gorgeous husbands face as I shared something funny with him (he finds my stories amusing…)

So the purpose of today’s article is to express gratitude for those that support you and I as we undertake our professional life coaching journey. I’m talking about that special someone who supports you and encourages you, that person who is there when you need them and remains consistent and keeps the faith in your moments of doubt.

And that someone can be your husband, wife, partner, son, daughter, mother, father, extended family member, best friend, work colleague, fellow student, member of The Coaching Institute team, next door neighbour…you get the idea. That one person who is a constant in your background, who may not necessarily totally understand what you are learning and how you are developing, yet they see how it is changing you and your life, and so they quietly stand by ready for when they are needed. That person who is patient, who assists you with a coaching technique you are practising, when you want to test something new, gives you  feedback on your first workshop, reassures you that ‘yes, you are a natural at this’ and is that one constant as you experience the journey that has the potential to totally change your life.

To you I say thank you! I express gratitude that you are in my life and I want you to know that you are truly valued. I want you to know that my experience in this journey would be that much more challenging without you there and my commitment is to regularly express my thanks for how your support has helped me keep the faith.

“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” -Albert Schweitzer

“Feeling grateful or appreciative of someone or something in your life actually attracts more of the things that you appreciate and value into your life.” -Christiane Northrup

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” -William Arthur Ward

Hop onto Facebook and share what you are grateful….I’d love to hear it. Kate Welk

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Unknowing Growing

Recently I had heard of someone who was moving on from their current place of employment to somewhere new. And I knew that this person had been experiencing some massive growth and stretch, and I also was aware that perhaps they weren’t aware of just how much they had grown, as they had experienced such a lot of uncertainty in the process. 

I was reflecting on this with a friend and we agreed that it is often the experience of the learner that they remain unaware of just how much they have grown, how much has actually been absorbed into their unconscious mind. The only way they may be able to measure just how much they have grown is when they find themselves in a moment in time when all that learning flows naturally from them effortlessly and easily. Often it is only then that they are taken by surprise, and consciously become aware of just how much they have mastered.

And the moral to this is to keep persisting, to keep learning, with the faith that our unconscious mind is absorbing and adjusting, until such time as it forms a natural part of who we are being. And my friend explained to me that in martial arts it is valued that the student learns each technique and practices this technique with consistency. Students are warned against the belief that as there is so much to learn, they should only learn it generally and attempt to learn it as quickly as possible. Instead they are encouraged to learn each technique separately and then once mastered, being able to blend together and have dance their overall martial arts craft, so it flows. And the more they practice with intent, the more their learning is absorbed until it becomes a natural part of their craft.

And I know from my own experience, sometimes when I am in discussion with a client, I am a little surprised about the depth of knowledge that flows so easily and effortlessly from me, and it is only when I reflect back on how I applied my learning that I yet again appreciate how powerful my unconscious mind is. 

Our unconscious mind is so powerful and it doesn’t discriminate.

 If we don’t believe, our unconscious mind will listen.

If we do believe, our unconscious mind will listen.

When we train to be a coach, we must make sure we give ourselves the gift of learning and patience, of persistence and consistency, with the trust that the more we flow the more our unconscious mind shifts and changes to accept our learnings.

There are plenty of ways in which we can work through this. It keeps coming back to the same thing, learn the learning, and apply the learning, in order to grow. And be okay with the experience that you may not know just how far you have grown, because you are so immersed in what you are doing. Go with the flow and TRUST. Keep ticking off your goals, setting new ones, and working towards your ultimate life purpose. Check in and remind yourself that it is part of the process, and that you are learning every day. You will do it, you will get clear on the results that you want to achieve so you can develop your own level of mastery and make that difference for others. Our community on Facebook inspire each other to persist and grow. Check us out… Kate Welk

Between you and every goal that you wish to achieve, there is a series of obstacles and the bigger the goal, the bigger the obstacles. Your decision to be, have and do something out of the ordinary entails facing difficulties and challenges that are out of the ordinary as well. Sometimes your greatest asset is simply your ability to stay with it longer than anyone else.
– Brian Tracy

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The Master Dabbler

Do you know a Master Dabbler? Or are you one? That person who enthusiastically joins all educational programs possible, reads as many books as possible, listens to CDS, watches DVDS, gathering knowledge along the way…dabbling into as many areas of learning as they can yet never really moving forward. And what differentiates a dabbler from a doer?

Exactly that. One dabbles in the knowledge, dipping their toe into the pool of learning, testing the water temperature to see if it is okay yet never taking the plunge.
And the doer learns, as does the dabbler yet the difference is that the doer then applies their learning, taking action, albeit possibly small steps, and seeks feedback to improve what they apply. They constantly take the learning and apply it, testing it out, seeing how it works, adjusting, tweaking, learning, and applying.

 And what prevents the dabbler from being the doer? What stops someone who learns so much from applying it?

In professional life coaching you will no doubt experience many times when your client presents to you as the Master Dabbler. It is your purpose to dig beneath the dabble, to explore with your client what holds them back from applying their learning. Your client has come to you because they don’t know why they do what they do. They don’t know how their unconscious is serving them. They just know that it’s time to change, to move forward and it is you that holds the key.

So in your role, you must also be the doer, not the dabbler. It is you who walks the walk, so you know how to take your client forward. And applying learning is progress. What you learn has no power in it unless it is applied. It is what is going on underneath your failure to take action that has to change. And it is my intention to move forward into this week as the doer, and assist the dabbler master the habit of application”.

“A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle” -Kahlil Gibran

“Knowledge is the source of Wealth. Applied to tasks we already know, it becomes Productivity. Applied to tasks that are new, it becomes Innovation”…Peter Drucker

Check out our community of doers on Facebook! Enjoy, Kate Welk

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When we were young….

Do you remember when you were young? Do you remember back to those times when you were really young and you had some kind of phobia about a ‘boogeyman?’ That dark character that scared you witless, that you were so frightened of you would jump out of bed over towards the door, for fear if you put your foot down it would be grabbed by that scary monster that lurked in the dark beneath your bed?

When I asked this question around The Coaching Institute I heard some fascinating experiences. My childhood scary thing was a character from a series that was on TV all those years ago, and I was utterly convinced that he was in my wardrobe and would ‘get me’. He was only there at night, never during the day. I can’t remember how young I was. I only know it was pretty early in my life and for awhile there it frightened me…yet I have no idea where this fear originated…and the good news is that this fear disappeared and I now see wardrobes as full of promise…and new clothes.  

Now, not all characters were scary. Some were simply a connection that served part of a ritual. One story I heard was where one child was convinced that Bert and Ernie lived down the drainpipe and this child would make sure that they said good night to them both, before they went to bed. And they accepted in their mind that when the drainpipe was removed, Bert and Ernie had moved away to somewhere else and life just went on. Funny huh?

I’ve heard so many scary stories of unknown monsters who appeared mysteriously once the light was turned off, and as a result the young child was petrified of moving. Pulling the covers up right over their head until it was too stuffy and they had to come up for air. Eventually they would fall asleep and wake up in the morning, where once again the monster had disappeared.

Another one that was fascinating was someone who shared a story about their childhood experience of having a bath, and the water rushing down the drain hole and making a loud gurgling sound. This child was told that they would be sucked down the hole along with the water if they went anywhere near the drain. So, with fear and trepidation, they would grimly hold on tight to the other end of the bath, as the plug was removed, and experience a feeling of relief when their mum picked them up and enveloped them in a warm fluffy towel, and all was well with the world again.

And these stories got me thinking.  Those childhood monsters have disappeared so I thought “what has taken their place?” What monsters do we have in our lives as adults that we are so convinced are real, yet they only appear when our lights are out and we’re in the dark?

When our world as we know it becomes filled with the unknown, because we are unable to see what is around us.

And it clicked…yup! That old friend Fear! Fear of the unknown, of what we cannot see…whether that fear is our future or some limiting belief within ourselves. And we are so convinced it is real….

And since this realisation I’ve decided that as I am training to be a coach and working in my business, this is one analogy that I am going to use with my clients. When I’m working with them on their fear I’m going to take them back to their childhood, to the time when they had their ‘monster’ that paralysed them with fear, and ask them ‘where is that monster now?’ And when they tell me that while they thought it was real at the time they now know it wasn’t real, it was made up. And then I’m going to ask “and now?”

What makes this fear, this ‘monster’ that lurks around you and paralyses you into overwhelm, into procrastination, why has this now become fact?

And you and I know what the answer is. When we realise that yet again we’ve created a made up monster that it isn’t real, and we’ve thought about it for so long that we now know it as fact.

And then once we realise this we can stop jumping out of the bed across to the door in fear of the monster underneath, it’s time to stop putting the covers over our head to the point we can no longer breathe the stuffy air, and instead we can confidently know that what is around us when the lights are out isn’t scary. It’s full of possibility, of whatever we choose to focus on.

And we can be confident that while we may not yet see what is around us, when it is dark, that it’s all okay and eventually the lights will be turned on again….

Share your childhood monster stories with us on Facebook…I’d love to hear them.

Enjoy! Kate Welk

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Welcome to our new friends!

It’s all happening in Sydney tomorrow, 26th August, when we welcome a new group of friends to The Coaching Institute community. Congratulations to all our new students who are participating in their Foundations of Coaching Success weekend. Over the past few weeks I’ve spent a lot of time getting to know our new coaching colleagues and listening as they share their dreams, hopes, desires, goals and their journey thus far and what inspired them to make this decision to invest in themselves.

And I know with confidence that what they believe they are capable of now, will change when they realise just how far they can go. I was chatting to one of our students today who told me (with some amazement in her voice) that she couldn’t believe how small her first goals seemed now, because she had gone even further than what she had ever dreamed. And she is only 3 months into her program!

And I was talking to another student who is 15 months into his program. His journey was definitely one that had many challenges for him for various reasons (personal reasons) and he admitted he had a choice when faced with those challenges. I heard the pride in his voice as he shared with me that it was through the support of our community that he took the road less travelled and decided to step up and work through those challenging times. Now his life is taking on a whole new level of success and it just keeps getting better. I had goose bumps when I was listening to his story…it was so inspiring, and I was so happy to be able to remind him that he was ‘living the dream’.

I can reflect back today and yet again say what a fantastic day it has been.  With every day that I connect in our community I have the opportunity to share similar moments with so many other students. And life is cool.

And I know that when you are training to be a coach at The Coaching Institute, it’s not just a training program. Its way more than that! I’m a Diploma student myself and one of the reasons I joined originally as a student was due to the quality and support that I experienced from the moment I met these beautiful people. It is a life that has changed for me so much and that’s one of the reasons I love our community. It is always a unique experience to listen to where someone has come from and where they want to head. And inside I smile to myself, because I know their life has so much more possibility than what they currently believe. I know that with certainty because that’s my own experience…. Bring it on!  

PS – Do you remember what it was like when you joined our community? Want to share your inspiration? Join us on Facebook…Enjoy – Kate Welk

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It’s called Perturbation

I’ve learnt a new word! How apt it is in professional life coaching. It’s Perturbation. One definition of Perturbation is ‘something that causes disruption, trouble, or disorder’…To put this into perspective recently I had a conversation with someone who was experiencing overwhelm in response to the possibility that their life might change from what it was, to…the unknown. And that unknown was full of possibility…loads of possibility. The possibility to change their life to one of purpose and freedom. And they had all the resources….

Their response to this? They ran an old familiar pattern that had served them so they could avoid having to experience this disruption to their old patterns (their ‘perturbation’) and instead they retreated back to a ‘safe’ place in order to avoid working through this disruption because the result was unknown.

Well, at least they ran the pattern temporarily until I caught up with them again and we had a chat. During that discussion they expressed frustration with themselves because they knew they were running the pattern and no, they knew it was no longer serving them…it was holding them back.

Appearances can be deceiving can’t they?  Running the strategy of ‘keeping safe’ when it no longer serves us is painful; we don’t necessarily experience this pain immediately. It’s later on when we are once again back in our cave and once there, our calm sets in and it is then that we experience disappointment, guilt, the same old same old…until yet again, our merry go round cranks back up and off we re-emerge from our cave.  

In professional life coaching we serve our clients by holding the line, by holding them accountable and at the same time assist them to recognise that this pattern is not moving them forward towards their goals. And we serve them by guiding them to move from ripe and rotting to green and growing, and guide them to create resourceful ways to meet their needs, and in turn achieve their goals and dreams.

And how do we know what that’s about? Because most likely we’ve done it too! We’ve run those old patterns until we finally got the message. It’s when we choose the new path of change rather than retreat that our courage assists us to step through the fear.

I love this word Perturbation… the time when we go through change (aka disturbance and disruption) and I connected with the theory that if we push through we will never be the same again. Just like the caterpillar that turns into a butterfly it will never go back to its original form or shape…It simply cannot go back after it changes. To grow into an adult butterflies go through 4 stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult – and there is no return.

So how does this apply to us? When we draw on our courage and move through our fear, we stretch and grow into a new version of ourselves and then everything shifts accordingly. We will never go back to where we were…we simply won’t. Because once we’ve conquered that old pattern, it’s change forever, because we have opened up to even more.

Now, you and I are the only ones that can change our pattern…no one else can do it for us. No one else can make the change for us, it’s up to us. And the more we grow and stretch the more we can offer to our clients. What about it? Why not make the commitment today to change your pattern? And embrace Perturbation!  Kate Welk

Don’t forget to check us out on Facebook. Tell us about your Perturbation experience!

“The main cause of failure is the inability to deal with self-doubt”. Bill Bartmann

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The positive power of rapport

I love my learning at the moment. (Okay, okay, yes… I always love my learning!)  At the moment however it’s even more special because I’m reviewing my Neuro Linguistic Programming CDs as part of my pre-learning for NLP Practitioner training. As a Diploma student of The Coaching Institute the NLP training is part of my program so here I am preparing for my October training and I’m now listening to the CD on Building Rapport.

I have my notebook out during this process so I can make notes and consider ways in which I can apply these powerful techniques immediately. I’m impressed hearing what results I can get rapidly once I master these techniques, providing they are used ecologically and with integrity.

So, why is it important to build rapport as quickly as possible with your client? What’s the benefit?

When you become a life coach you are taught that it is essential that you conduct yourself at all times with integrity (and rightly so). By effectively using NLP techniques you can settle into a trusted relationship with your client rapidly so you leave time and room for great results instead of spending that time ‘getting to know them’ and having them feel comfortable and trusting you. The more quickly and deeply you can build rapport the more rapidly you can get to the heart of what is holding your client back and assist them with transformational change, which is why they have come to you in the first place! And that’s the value….

The secret to being effective at building rapport is also about your mindset. It’s not just about applying techniques of matching and mirroring such as matching posture, facial expressions and other physiologies it’s also about how you present yourself to your client and what you believe about you and them. When you know that you can be present 100% for them and that you know with certainty that they have those resources inside them for change, this also affects your ability to build rapport and assist your client move forward.

Your client is not aware of any of this. The subtleties of rapport building will more likely have your client remain blissfully unaware of what you are doing and they will only know that they feel comfortable with you; they trust you and your words become their thoughts. And it is in this rapid building of rapport where the gold lies. For it is here that the change for your client sits. The more you master building rapport the more it is of great value for your client.

Now, I’m new to rapport building using NLP techniques so I’m certainly taking on board the advice to take one or two techniques at a time and apply them each day in all situations. That way I can master building rapport rapidly by observing, responding and ensuring that my mindset is 100% focussed on the other person. And my commitment to myself is that I will do this with the belief I have that there is no failure, only feedback. I will reflect when techniques result in rapid rapport and when they don’t, and take on the responsibility and accountability for those results.

What excites me even more is that because I have become a life coach, I am continually stepping it up to a new level by becoming a master of what I do. And as a result this creates even more possibility for my clients and that is such a great way to make a difference for others.

When I set off on this journey last year, to this day I never appreciated how much potential there was in me and those that I serve….and yes, I’m definitely loving the learning! J Meet the rest of our community on Facebook who are in for similar reasons – the journey of learning, mastering and serving.

Enjoy your day and learn, apply and master! …..and laugh often…..Kate Welk

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One meaning of Spring!

It is one of my favourite times of the year and I never get complacent about the learning that this time of year can teach us. Over the past few weeks I’ve noticed there is a distinct awakening going on, a re-birth of all things in nature as we move towards Spring 2011 in our part of the world. It serves to remind me of what I had put aside during the colder time of the year and it is time for refocus.  

This time of the year is the time we can once again wonder at how each aspect of nature simply ‘knows’ that it is time to emerge and grow. Signs we notice each day as we walk past flowering plants, drawing our attention to their unique scent, the call of birds as they move about with renewed vigour and energy, while preparing to bring young into the world. I always wonder at how unique this world is that we live in.

And it also serves to remind me that nature doesn’t go to class to learn how to move through the seasons. This just happens. There is no manual that says ‘do this first, then that and you will grow when the time is right, and you will shed old growth when the time is right’. Nature isn’t seeking certainty, it is simply inherent to all things in nature that this season occurs when it does. And it is only when the time is right that the growth and birth occurs. If the conditions aren’t right then it doesn’t happen, and when the conditions are right it does….

What has that got to do with training to be a coach? Well, that’s up to you. It can mean everything or nothing. You can choose to resist that the time is right or you can go with it. I choose it to be my main lesson in living each day and accepting that I am moving forward and when conditions are right for me I achieve what I achieve. I don’t resist…I learn…and grow, I observe, I model, I flow. I also choose to believe that I will have seasons in my life and each Spring will move into Summer when the conditions are right, and I will celebrate great achievements during that time, and then I know that Autumn will also come again when it is time for me to shed old and outdated thinking, shed what is no longer serving me and then move into my Winter when I will work on myself and my business with the knowledge that once again when the conditions are right, around will come my Spring, my time of new growth, learning and achievement.

And I can share that with my clients if this is connects with them and when they are ready they will hear it. These lessons from nature are in abundance if you simply choose to stop for one moment and listen, watch, and wonder. Know with certainty that the conditions you choose are what progresses you or holds you back, that your mindset progresses you or holds you back. It’s all choice, all of it. And you don’t need a manual for that; you don’t need to wait to have it all perfect. Just as the acorn grows into a tree when it is right, so you have all the resources inside you to be the best version of you that you choose to grow into. Go with the seasons, go with the progress. When the conditions are right, take that opportunity and move forward…you will never know how far you can go until you go there… and beyond. I’m off to smell some flowers…enjoy! Kate Welk

Spring into Facebook with us, share your favourite time of the year!

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One More Time….the key to success

I heard a great story about the invention of the light bulb. And it was hearing how all this came about that reminded me of how important the mindset of ‘one more time’ is to success.  

With acknowledgement to others that inspired this change in history, it was Thomas Edison who first invented the light bulb in 1879. And it was through his genius, his determination to give it ‘one more go’ that eventually saw the beginning of something that changed the world completely.

I was so intrigued by this that I did some research and discovered that Edison reportedly had 1,093 U.S. patents as well as numerous patents in the United Kingdom, Germany and France. Now that is a man whose mind just kept on going….and going……and I believe that his mindset must have been one of persistence, of flexibility in behaviour, of curiosity, in fact it probably wasn’t in his mind that he wouldn’t succeed, because he cut off all other possibilities.

And the lesson in that, as we move into this gorgeous Friday, is to remind ourselves that ‘one more time’ maybe the moment in time when we achieve ‘it’, when we learn and apply that one thing that makes the difference, when we have great success because it is that step we take just one more time that becomes the most important key to our success.

And training to be a coach is more than just training, it is applying the knowledge, it is applying the learning, it is taking on the belief that there is no failure only feedback, it is the ‘doing’ that achieves success.   And it is the will and mindset that we apply as we continue to learn and grow, and our intention that we keep giving it ‘one more go’ that will end up in success. And if we don’t take that ‘one more time’ action we’ll never know what we might have achieved.

Anthony Robbins once said…”You must know that in any moment a decision you make can change the course of your life forever: the very next person you stand behind in line or sit next to on an airplane, the very next phone call you make or receive, the very next movie you see or book you read or page you turn could be the one single thing that causes the floodgates to open, and all of the things that you’ve been waiting for to fall into place”.

I have this inspirational quote up on my wall, to remind me that opportunities exist and to open myself to them in every moment, and to keep going forward. 

As I close off for this week…I invite you to ask yourself what’s your next step towards success? Why not share those moments when your perseverance paid off with our Facebook community, as this will also inspire others to do the same.

 Enjoy your weekend – Kate Welk

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The legacy of stepping into uncertainty

I was thinking about how our world became what it is today. Just think about it. It was only a few years ago that facebook was invented yet some years later we can immediately connect with others across the other side of the world in a few heartbeats, and have live conversations with others in our community.  And for our ancestors this same connection could have taken days, weeks and even years to be achieved. Isn’t it simply amazing how much we have learnt and now achieve what was once thought to be impossible?

And the conclusion that I came to was this. The reason that we have had so many achievements, inventions and discoveries is because of the few who could be called the pioneers of our world. And we’ve known them over the centuries. Those men and women who against all odds, had a dream, a vision, a belief, a driving force that there was a better way, and a better way right now.

And these seekers of ‘truth’ usually did so at the risk of being ridiculed, being scoffed at, being told it was impossible, it could never happen. Yet these pioneers that have gone before us did indeed pave the way for us.

And it is highly likely there was an element of fear and risk about that path they took, blended with a massive amount of faith in themselves. Invariably there was probably challenges on the way, sometimes when even their best resolve took more strength and courage than they ever thought they had inside them.

And sometimes they succeeded and sometimes they didn’t. Yet what they did, and continue to do, is to inspire the rest of us. And when I think of what they have accomplished and left as a legacy I know my mindset is, ‘if you can do it then so can I’.

Today I give thanks to those that dreamed the big dreams, who stepped forward into potential failure, who led the way so that people like you and I could progress and learn from the mistakes that those pioneers made, and we can learn from their lessons so that you and I don’t need to repeat them.

Thank you to the dreamers, the visionaries, the stubborn, the eccentrics….because you inspire us to be okay with uncertainty, you inspire us to be resourceful in the way we embrace our challenges, teaching us how to reframe the meaning we give our experiences, encouraging us to allow the creative and innovative spirit that is inside us to step forward and blossom, so that we too may one day leave a legacy for those that come after us. In the world of professional life coaching we, too, can inspire those we connect with to dream big, be inspired and leave their own legacy.

Check out our inspirational community on Facebook…and share with us your dream that you intend to turn into reality. Kate Welk

“This nation was built by men who took risks – pioneers who were not afraid of the wilderness, business men who were not afraid of failure, scientists who were not afraid of the truth, thinkers who were not afraid of progress, dreamers who were not afraid of action”.  ~Brooks Atkinson

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Being on the sideline doesn’t influence the outcome of the game

Picture this…you are sitting in the stands at your favourite sports game…the game is close and you are sitting on the edge of your seat. One of the players on ‘your’ team misses an easy goal. You and your mate start yelling in frustration at the player…then turning to each other you agree that you would have got that one, it was so easy, how could he have missed it?!

You sit back in your seat again after feeling a bit more calm and start talking to your mate about how that player ‘always’ misses the easy ones. Why is it so hard for him…he should be dropped from the side he’s so useless, what do the selectors think they’re doing by keeping him in?

I invite you to think about this. Does sitting in the stands and expressing your opinion influence the outcome of the game? Does your point of view make a difference to what’s going on out on the ground where the game is being played? Do you influence the result by sitting on the sidelines? In that moment no doubt you believe that your opinion matters… we all do.

Yet, you and I don’t influence the outcome of the game when we remain in the stands. We have no influence on the result no matter how hard we yell, clap, disagree, agree…the only ones who influence the results are those that are prepared to get out on the field and play the game.

When you become a life coach, your success depends on whether you are prepared to get on the field and play the game. Or whether you continue to sit on the sideline, have an opinion, and believe that this will influence your outcome. And it won’t. It’s only by getting onto the ground, playing the game, and giving it 100% that will give you a result. And maybe that result is sometimes a loss or a draw…and sometimes that result is a win. When you work hard at what you do your chances of winning the premiership are even higher. The result of your game depends on how much you work on your own development, doing the learning, applying the learning, turning up to ‘training’ when it’s raining and cold, when it’s challenging, that makes a difference to your end game, to your result.

Along the way you will meet those that know more and you can learn from, those that are learning just like you who can support you and you can support them. And you can model those ‘players’ that have the results already so your learning is accelerated. By learning, putting in when others don’t, turning up, being prepared to get on the field so that you get that opportunity to influence the outcome. It is only then that you can make a difference to your success and give great value to your clients. And also, while you might hear the opinions of those that choose to remain in the stands, you know that you are the one who can influence the outcome, only you make the difference to your results…not them.

So I ask you…are you in the game already? If not, when is it going to be your time to step down from the stands and get out where you can influence your results?

“You are in charge of your feelings, beliefs, and actions. And you teach others how to behave toward you. While you cannot change other people, you can influence them through your own behaviors and actions. By being a living role model of what you want to receive from others, you create more of what you want in your life”. Eric Allenbaugh

Kate Welk

PS – At The Coaching Institute it is all about playing the game. Check us out on Facebook!

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Mastermind – The Power of the Collective

Ever stopped to think about the power of the collective?…..It is the last day of our Mastermind 5 Day event and as an observer sitting outside the room I get to see participants interact when they emerge from the room for a quick break. And in that time I have had the fantastic opportunity to speak to Mastermind members on how they are progressing within the room and what they are experiencing in those moments. And it never ceases to amaze me how a collective of individuals with a similar focus and talent can create such change for themselves compared to what might have occurred if they went through the same process on their own.

And it does get me thinking how mighty collaboration and support is in seeking what is possible, what opportunity sits ‘outside the box’ of our world we establish for ourselves.  And you can see how the energy and focus increases tenfold because these participants have the same intent and are seeking the same outcomes even though the content may differ.

In Mastermind it’s not just about professional life coaching, it’s about business. And it’s not just about business; it’s about growing and developing your business and mastering the art of uncertainty in business and turning that into success. And it is also about the realisation that when you first establish your goals in your early days as a student of The Coaching Institute what you achieve now is way beyond that, way beyond what you first thought you were capable of.

Interestingly, a number of Mastermind members I know where once new students like you and I, wanting change in their lives, not really knowing what that was, simply knowing that it was time to learn and grow and now, on day 5 of Mastermind, they can now move forward to a new level of success and knowing. And this is in part the power of the collective that has brought them to this point.

 It is through coming together as one, with the commitment to recognise that the contribution of individuals is far more powerful when shared, when celebration of success is shared, when knowledge and experience is shared and acted upon, that the true power of Mastermind emerges.

You and I can take such a lot from this. In any area of your life when you believe you are on your own, then you are. If you believe you can contribute, that there is power in working together for a common purpose, that there is much to be learned from others, then that is the experience that you will have. It is your choice. I know what mine is…what is yours?

Kate Welk

Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success”. Henry Ford.

PS – have you joined our incredible ‘collective’ on Facebook yet? Join us, contribute, grow, learn….enjoy

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It’s more than you

Today, I heard a great description from a new coach who was describing how he can assist others in their life. He works in a specific niche in the financial field and in the past (pre-The Coaching Institute) he used to notice that, rather than his clients becoming more independent through his services, they became even more dependent on him. And it was a situation that concerned him, as his purpose was to empower these people to take control of their destiny through managing their financial situation. And it wasn’t as if he was consciously aware of why this bothered him, it just did. So in the end he opted out of that business.

Now, some years later, he is back in the same field and he is also now discovering that coaching for life with the purpose of being able to empower others rather than disempower others is truly a great gift to share, and it’s way bigger than him.

And his vision is one of taking people from their current experience of ‘being a cork floating in the ocean’ to one of a ship sailing with purpose and focus, yet being resilient enough to ‘ride the waves no matter what the weather’. 

And along the way he has discovered what he knew all along. It’s not about him. It never was about him. It’s about how he can serve others, and create a difference for those that are limited by their own beliefs. And along the way he also benefits, and he sees this as a bonus, a gift, a way of giving back.

It is yet another example of how individuals, on their own journey of life, are attracted to The Coaching Institute community, at some point in their life, when they are ready for their life to be way more than what it is, and they are loving that it is this way. As you move into this week, the next month and the next year, know that your growth and giving serves a far greater purpose than you and I can ever imagine. Enjoy, Kate Welk.

“Act as if what you do makes a difference.  It does”  ~William James

PS- Check out our passionate and giving community on Facebook. Join today if you aren’t already!

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Learning for Life

Did you know that in life you are either green & growing or ripe & rotting? Have I got your attention? And when we make a commitment to ourselves to learn for life we experience more of green and growing because this is where the quality of our life is, where the game is played, in order for us to reach our goals.

 It takes courage to operate in green and growing, as change and growth bring with it an experience of challenge. It is also a great gift you can share with your clients so they move into a resourceful and consistent model of thinking that serves their purpose.

 Let’s imagine that our unconscious thinking is segmented into four levels. We call this the Quadrant Model, or the 4 Levels of Thinking.

 And these levels are:

Level 1 Thinking.  This is the thinking we experience when we achieve something. Something like completing our first workshop, getting our first paid client, creating our first article, finishing our assignments, speaking in public for the first time….our list goes on.

 And in terms of experience this is known as – Doing what feels good and is good for me, it is good for others and it is good for the greater good.

 The risk here is if you remain in this level of thinking for too long (in other words remain in your comfort zone) you risk becoming Ripe & Rotting….put another way you simply cease to grow. Our recommendation is you aim to be here 20% of your time, and the more you move from Level 2 to Level 1, the more Level 1 moments you can achieve.

 Level 2 Thinking.  This is the golden moment. It is here where we recommend you spend around 80% of your time. This is where the game is played…as long as it is done resourcefully. The more conscious you are in operating at Level 2 Thinking the more effective you are with your thinking.

 It’s where the nervous excitement experience is, feeling the fear and still doing it, knowing that what you are doing doesn’t feel good yet you know that it is good for you and it’s good for those you connect with, and for the greater good.  While it takes courage to operate at this level of thinking it is in these moments that you are always green and growing.

 Level 3 Thinking – Now this is not a level of thinking that we recommend although there are probably many of us that have visited this thinking at some point in our lives. And how would you know that you had?

By understanding that this level of thinking is about indulgence, is about addiction or some kind of excessive behaviour that is unresourceful and is done so consistently. Unconsciously it can feel good when you move to level 3 thinking however know with certainty that it is not good for you, and not good for others and not good for the greater good. And the risk in Level 3 thinking is if you don’t recognise the pattern of thinking then you can drop into Level 4 thinking unconsciously.

 Level 4 Thinking – Is where you quit on yourself to one extent or the other and the experience you have is one of being a victim, of being completely unresourceful and basically giving up on yourself. In terms of thinking it doesn’t feel good and isn’t good for you, not good for others and not good for the great of good. It is where your client may present with depression, experiencing in their world that there is an illusion of a lack of choice.

 Coaching for life in our community is learning for life. As coaches we have the gift of inspiring our clients for the same way of being. Raising their consciousness on how their choices will create their experiences empowers them to make a better choice.

 Level 2 Thinking is a commitment to being the best version of ourselves, knowing what strategies we run and of course taking responsibility for the experiences we have in life. 

In our moments of fear, we have two choices, Level 2 or Level 3… To put it simply, we can choose to play small, do what’s comfortable and limit ourselves and the lives of those around us or we can choose to push through the fear, be committed to the growth, the learning and find a way to overcome the fear, and remain green and growing.

 Level 2 thinking is a powerful place to play.  It’s an area where we are not always comfortable and that’s a good thing because it’s a sign we’re growing!  Level 2 thinkers are committed to completion, they walk their talk and they are committed to change. This is what The Coaching Institute represents in the community. Visiting our website and seeing the Success Stories of our community (www.thecoachinginstitute.com.au) and visiting us on Facebook is an invitation we extend to you today, to see others that are learning and applying in the green and growing experience.

 Some of us choose to live a life of certainty and comfort, running the same patterns, experiencing the same results and wondering what the purpose of life is.  This of course becomes very mundane!

 We invite you to decide where you have been living your life, and if you’ve been experiencing an unresourceful pattern of choice we invite you to make a new decision today to choose to live green and growing….after all Spring is in the air!

 Enjoy your weekend. Kate Welk

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The Fine Art of Procrastination

Have you ever had a time when you found every excuse you could to justify not getting something started or done?

Sound familiar? What is it that creates this response in us to the extent that we avoid starting something and instead retreat back into our world of safety and comfort, ironically only to emerge again seeking to satisfy our need for some kind of change and growth? 

To become a life coach requires you to understand and be curious about human behaviour and what drives an individual to run a pattern of procrastination. And how you, as their coach, can assist them understand how unresourceful the pattern of procrastination is and then assist them learn far more resourceful and sustainable ways to meet their needs and therefore increase their level of happiness in their life. 

Students of The Coaching Institute who participate in their Advanced Skills training learn about the Six Core Needs and know that how we satisfy those needs determine our experience of happiness in our life.

Meeting these needs in a resourceful and sustainable way results in a balance within self and knowing that our clients (and ourselves) meet these needs in one of two ways assists us to take our client through change and transformation.

So, what are some unresourceful ways of meeting the need for safety and certainty? By asking your client specific questions you will be able to gauge by their behaviour how they meet this need. If they describe behaviours that demonstrate their need to have control of others, to have routines that hold them back from achieving what they want (for example, simply being ‘way too busy’ to complete that assignment), watching hour upon hour of television instead of having a more balanced life, consumption of food as comfort and simply not making a decision to get started are all indicators that your client is meeting their need for Certainty unresourcefully.

And, how can you assist your client move to resourceful and sustainable ways of meeting this need? Educating them on the patterns they run and how it actually isn’t serving them for success and teaching them that behaviours such as being certain of themselves, creating a routine that is resourceful and supports their need and provides a foundation for their success, and simply backing themselves in order to get the results that they want. Modelling others who are successful that they admire, so they become who they need to be in order to be able to handle the challenges that are presented to them.

Learning about human behaviour and the patterns that we run that serve or stop us can create transformational change for ourselves and our clients. And as a coach the way you serve your client with certainty will assist them transform and grow into a life on their own terms. And the gold is that you both can make a difference for others in the process. (We have extensive examples of our resourceful coaching community on Facebook. We invite you to check it out.)

To dream anything that you want to dream. That’s the beauty of the human mind. To do anything that you want to do. That is the strength of the human will. To trust yourself to test your limits. That is the courage to succeed”. Bernard Edmonds.

Seize the day.

Kate Welk

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The meaning of your Beliefs

Just how strong is the meaning you give your beliefs?  And do these beliefs serve you or stop you?

Do you believe that in life you have to work hard just to make ends meet and money only comes to those that are ‘lucky’?

Do you believe that it’s your parents’ fault that you were hard done by and can never succeed as a result?  Do you believe that you’ll never be any good at anything because of what you were told when you were a child? Do you believe that you only have lousy relationships therefore will never fall in love again? Do you believe that Collingwood is the only team good enough to win the AFL Premiership this year? (Okay we know that this last one will definitely get a strong emotional response!).

I’m sure you’ve heard this before…..Nothing has meaning other than the meaning that we give it.

It is an interesting exercise in raising your awareness. (And when you become a life coach not only are you working through your own belief system to ensure it serves you, you can now assist others to create an exceptional life for themselves and their loved ones simply because they change their meaning on a belief).

Have you ever shared an experience with someone else and yet when you ‘compare notes’ your belief about this experience is polar opposite to theirs because of the meaning that you have given it?

For example, have you ever attended a movie with a friend, and you loved it and they loathed it? What happened? What was it in this movie that you connected with and your friend simply could not agree with? What was it in your past experiences that created these polar opposite meanings for you and your friend? Your logic tells you the movie was the movie – you know that you watched exactly the same pictures coming at you from the screen, yet your emotional response to the movie was completely different. And potentially as a result the meaning it had for both of you created a disagreement….

Like it or not, our beliefs become who we are and we reinforce this meaning with every experience that justifies our emotional attachment to that belief.  Often, we become that rigid about the meaning we give the belief that we refuse to listen to any other meaning. When that happens we’ve turned our meaning into fact… and fact is fact, right?

So, I invite you to take a moment and think about your own beliefs. Think about how you started your day and what meaning you have given this day. Take a moment to write down what you believed about today and then decide whether the meaning you give these beliefs serve you or stop you.

If we believe we can make a difference in this world, and that we are each here to serve a purpose with our uniqueness then our world of opportunity opens up to these possibilities in every moment.

We raise our awareness of what is possible by this belief and we find that we start to attract in those experiences and people that support this belief and as a result our beliefs are reinforced.

For example, in The Coaching Institute community there is evidence of the positive belief that we are a giving, generous community who want to share, support and cheer on each other to be the best we can be. So, where is the evidence of this you ask? Just check out the number of contributions we have on Facebook every day.  I believe with a strong and positive conviction that we are an incredible community who love what we do and who we serve and we have a passion to make a difference for ourselves and others.  

So, decide that today is the day when you change the meaning you’ve had about a belief so that it serves you, nurtures you and creates new opportunities….because they are waiting for you…you just have to believe so. Have an awesome day simply because you can….Kate Welk.

“If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.” Anthony Robbins

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Focusing on what you want

Have you ever stopped to think how often we focus on what we don’t want? Rather than what we do want? What is it about our mindset that embeds this thought pattern into our minds, and as adults we almost drift along in this pattern until (if we’re fortunate) one day an event wakes us up and we realise the pattern we’ve been running all those years has been holding us back.

And when you become a life coach your recognition of the patterns you run raises your awareness on what is now possible. The gold is in learning how to change those thought patterns in an instant so you can throw out the old pattern that no longer serves you, and create a new thought pattern, a new neural pathway that opens up possibility….for living the life you choose. And in doing so, you can then guide your clients through the same process, and watch them bloom and grow as they realise that they had everything in them in the first place! It was just buried very deep under a lot of ‘stuff’ that was ‘keeping them safe’ and in line with what others expected.

We invite you to think about this. When you are next in a conversation with friends or work colleagues what is the trend of the conversation? Is it full of possibility and positive thoughts of what is and can be? Or is it negative, what someone doesn’t want…complaints about what is holding them back from their dreams…in fact, are they even talking about dreams or are they talking about their lot in life as it is right now?   

Early in your learning journey here at The Coaching Institute, we talk with you about what you focus on is what you get. Sometimes it takes awhile for this to connect with you, and we love it when it does connect, and you then decide that you will now focus on what you want, rather than what you’ve not been wanting. Creating the vision of what you want, connecting with it emotionally and creating steps towards your goals are all important in your progress.

And we’ll let you in on a secret. We know that you have everything in you to create any possibility you want. And when we see these resources emerge, they do so almost like blooming into your own season of Spring…like fresh growth emerging after a long winter and then we know that the commitment you have made to yourself is becoming a reality…because it is what you are now focussing on and working towards that will create your new reality. And with that opens up possibility for what is, rather than what isn’t.

There are many different ways you can learn techniques to keep you focussed. Look around you; ask questions of those that have succeeded and learn what works for you. Then translate that into what will work for your client. The more you immerse yourself in this the more you will succeed for your own development and that of your client. You become the aspirational version that your client seeks to become.  

To become a life coach is more than your own development; it’s about sharing what is possible for your client and those that you connect with in your community. The ever present and consistent message that you project on what is possible is a great gift to give back.

“…What the world needs is the natural sincerity of people living their passion in a way that makes other people’s lives better…” Dr Wayne Dyer. Check out our passionate community on Facebook.

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When we embark on this journey…

Emerging from the weekend just past when the Foundations of Coaching Success training was held, we see our new group of coaching friends embark on their journey of learning and development, and manifesting their dream to live a life on their own terms, as they become a life coach.

And today The Coaching Institute the Student Support team  extend the hand of friendship to those students. We remember what it was like to be a new student and as a result we can share with them the techniques and strategies that will enable them to be planned and prepared to achieve their studies and build their business, and their dreams of making a difference in their own life and those who they connect with.

One strategy we will share now is the importance of setting goals. We remember our own experience after our Foundations of Coaching Success weekend when we were very excited and impatient to get started on our studies and create our new life. And getting distracted by that excitment creates a challenge if you don’t take the time out to make a plan. Like a solid building, lay the foundations of what you want to build on, by taking the time to develop your goals and break these down into manageable actions and then start step by step towards success.  Certainly know your ultimate outcome, then break it down into manageable timelines of how you will progress.

And keeping in contact with Student Support is part of the plan. We have a team of experienced coaches who mentor and support new students and keep students focussed on what they are intending to achieve. An effective plan is always the key and seeking support to achieve these goals is an integral part of plan.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life. What choice are you making to move yourself forward to achieve your dreams?

“The secret to productive goal setting is establishing clearly defined goals, writing them down and then focusing on them several times a day with words and emotions as if we’ve already achieved them”. Denis Waitley.

                                                                            

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Our new friends just keep on joining us!

It seems like yesterday that we welcomed a new group of students into our Foundations of Coaching Success weekend event on 22nd July. How quickly time moves on. Today, Friday 5th August, we say ‘welcome’ to another new group of students joining our community at The Coaching Institue and we look forward to hearing about their experiences as they realise that this is the beginning of a new life of possibility. 

What is really cool at The Coaching Institute and may not really be that well known, is that we genuinely love it when new students join us. We call them our ‘new friends’ and we actually get quite excited about the potential for our new friends for what lies ahead on the path of possibility. We know that they have taken a great step forward in realising their own dreams and its really really cool that we’re going to be part of that dream. We love it that we can be there to support and guide them along the way and share their achievements. We love it that we already know that the value they will experience is truly incredible. We know that because our new friends (and longer term ones) tell us that consistently. And we love it that all our friends consider themselves to be part of this like-minded community whose purpose is to make a difference, no matter how big or small, and grow and develop to become an even better version of themselves than they were yesterday.

So….to our new friends joining us today at their Foundations of Coaching Success weekend event at The Coaching Institute we extend the hand of friendship, and welcome you aboard the train of change! Congratulations on taking this step forward in the investment of yourself for the purpose of making a difference for others.

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The value of the genuine feedback

At The Coaching Institute recently we held our exceptional and unique training, How to Run a Successful Workshop (affectionately also known as HTRSW). For those in the know, this extremely valued event is run for Diploma students as part of their program. Now, HTRSW is not your standard ‘how to be a trainer’ training and those students who are accredited in their Certificate IV workplace training will testify to that. It is not an event that you step into without the expectation that you will learn….and grow…..when you just let go and just be….and experience this sensational program for what it can truly bring you (is there anything other than possibility of growth at The Coaching Institute?).

And to testify to that we’ve featured a genuine response by one of our valued students, Pauline, who has been with us this year as a Diploma student and whose journey has been one of learning, challenge and incredible growth simply because Pauline keeps turning up, despite her ‘inside voice’ saying otherwise. She is a great example of having the courage and resilience to go through the experience and discover on the other side is an incredible world of opportunity. Pauline was  a participant in this recent training and we share Pauline’s testimonial with you here…..

Before I set off for this training, (HTRSW), I was scared, procrastinating, doubting myself, believing I still didn’t have what it takes, wanting to run back to the “rabbit burrow” and do mediocrity yet again.  A couple of days before, I rang TCI, was honest about where I was at and was coached beautifully by Camille (thank you, so much Camille) who expertly guided me to a clearer understanding of what ‘smokes my wheels’ and WHY.
 
I knew then, in that moment, if I sold myself yet again on the old story of believing I wasn’t up to it, then I might not hear, see, feel  another opportunity to step up into becoming more of all I am and can be.  So, I trusted myself and the opportunity and stepped through the door into UNCERTAINTY.! I finally got it that it’s only in uncertainty that I can grow!!
 
Let me say to anyone who is hesitating on this – “Just come!  You must!  If you do, then you will experience the exhilaration of travelling paths unexplored, because you will be on an adventure with 100% + support.  You will move forward, further than you could ever anticipate!  You won’t just cross bridges, you’ll power across deep wide rivers!
 
All the way, you will be cheered on!  You will be shown how to get to the other side, where you’ve never been before and always wanted to go.  And there, in that place lies the land of opportunity – the gold mine of who you truly are and now you can take your shovel and dig, because you and your goldmine are no longer separated, you now stand side by side.
And even more, as you reveal the treasure that is you, as you see it sparkling, and feel the connection and joy, you know that now you can make all your dreams come true.

 
Pauline - Diploma Student

Thank you Pauline for sharing this gift of your experience. And we love the way in which you painted such a vivid picture of your experience….and know that we believe in you, as we believe in all of our beloved students. You all have everything that you need inside of you, just waiting to burst forth into new growth. The world is waiting for you……..

“The fact is, that to do anything in the world worth doing, we must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger, but jump in and scramble through as well as we can”.
Robert Cushing

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Sharing what the fabulous Mia has to say at Coach and Connect

On Monday evening, at our Melbourne Coach and Connect Event, a cosy group of like-minded individuals gathered together to listen to the fabulous Mia Montagliani who shared her valuable insights into Finding Your Passion and Niche, and overcoming challenges along the way. Mia referenced a number of different ways in which she gained her knowledge and experience and as an audience we soaked in every word. From personal mentors such as the ever generous and inspiring Carolyn Rowland to many many books being read by inspirational gurus such as Anthony Robbins, Eckhart Tolle, Louise Hay, Richard Koch, Brian Tracey and James Hillman – author of The Souls Code, as well as other people Mia admired such as Oprah Winfrey, Mia studied and modelled those she believed would assist her step into an even better version of herself. Mia was fortunate enough to be in Mastermind with the highly successful Sharon Pearson and certainly credits Sharon with much of her ability to finally find her passion and niche through the Mastermind Think Tank days.  

We couldn’t possibly cover all of the information shared by Mia over the two hours so here is some of the highlights in what was an entertaining and incredibly informative evening.

  • When you have a problem it’s not something you should do, it’s something you should know – if that’s the case then find the answers by asking the right questions.
  • In finding your passion there are four questions to ask. Mia credits individuals she has studied over time with providing the information that she has translated into four key questions to ask:
    • What have you come to learn and what have you come to teach?
    • If you had 5 million dollars in the bank what would you do?
    • What gets you ‘in the zone’?
    • What is your childhood diamond?

Mia suggests that mentors are the way to go, however she did say you don’t need to know the mentor to model them. For example, find those that have been successful in an area of their life that you are also seeking success in, and study them. You can read their books, watch their movies, watch them on youtube, and if you are indeed fortunate, ask those that you know and admire if they can mentor you in an aspect of your life you want to change.

There is so much more to share, and so little time. We leave you with the following testimonial received by one of the attendees Melinda Walker who in part testifies “…Last nights Coach and Connect was as always sensational and so unbelievably worthwhile. A question I hear most from myself and also from other coaches is all about niching….This was a class that no new coaches in Melbourne should have missed, and you know what even those that have a niche should have been there. People like Kirby Yates and Carolyn Rowland were there and those guys know all about niching, but still they turned up, took notes and learnt something…Coach and Connect is by far the best, quickest and cheapest form of training and education that you can receive with TCI where all you have to give up is two hours of your time once a month, and seriously it’s actually not giving it up, it’s growing yourself and your own learning…So thankyou TCI, thank you Carolyn and thankyou to our fabulous speaker Mia who last night brought with her a wealth of information that I know has helped me to get even more clarity on my niche and also how I can better serve my clients. I am so grateful to all those people that put this on for us and that keep on bringing in good quality speakers, and also selfishly I am so gratfeul that I turned up last night, because now I know that I have again grown in my journey and importantly my coaching capabilities“. Thank you Melinda for sharing this with us.

To our Coach and Connect organiser Carolyn we extend our grateful thanks for all you do in supporting and creating the fantastic event that you do, with such passion and commitment to serving others.

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An incredible group of individuals collectively creating change

Our Advanced Practitioner and Diploma students have spent the last three days immersed in learning even more about human behaviour and how it determines what we do and don’t do in our lives. Having stood in front of this same group on Friday it was with a great sense of pride knowing that these incredible individuals were coming together to create change for each other, in the spirit of generosity and support. It is truly amazing to see these students come into the room with such open minds, and open to any possibility in learning. Led by the ever incredible Joe Pane, they finished their weekend stretched and steeped in the knowing that we humans are fascinating in how we experience our own level of happiness through our behaviour. This is now their turn to create even more change in themselves and their clients through what they have learnt in this training. We wish them well.

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