I was sitting in a friend’s back yard last summer talking about my ‘Next Steps’. I asked, “what do ‘you’ think I should do”. The answer that I received was one that surprised me and opened up a whole new world of possibilities for me. The answer was, “I think you should consider coaching.” Over the next hour or so, I asked questions that revolved around the questions why, how and what. Before long I was hooked on the idea and that began my journey of taking courses, considering my life experiences and creating, ‘My Next Steps’.
I took courses that certified me as: A Life Coach, A Career Coach, A Relationship Coach, and A Motivational Speaker. These certifications with an accrediting institution, INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONS CAREER COLLEGE, give me credibility but it is really the sum total of my life experience that qualifies me.
First, I grew up on a farm in rural Saskatchewan where I learned to be a creative problem solver. With limited resources at my disposal I was taught to be an creative thinker that could overcome obstacles and set backs by making the best use of the resources available (which almost always did NOT include money).
Second, I earned an undergraduate degree that taught me how to do research and share that reseach in a meaningful way. It gave me the tools to pass along information gained by an enquiring mind.
Third, I spent almost seventeen years leading and teaching in two churches. This brought patience and empathy as well as a wealth of knowlege. Sharing a wide range of real-life experiences with people from all walks of life and socio-economic standing broadened my perspective on life. It gave me life-skills beyond my years as I ‘walked with people’ through the challenges of their lives.
Fourth, I worked in the business world for another seventeen years as a business owner where I provided oversite to a company responsible for creating an ‘award winning’ customer service record in the challenging daily newspaper market of Lower-mainland British Columbia.
Fifth, I obtained and maintained my Life Insurance Advisor Licence in the province of British Columbia.
Along with these employment experiences, I have served on the Board of Directors for Queen Victoria Hospital in Revelstoke, BC. I spent five years on the board, two years as the vice-chairman and two as the chairman. I have also served on the Board of Governors of a local seminay for twenty one years, the last nine years as the chairman. The sum total of these life experiences has brought me to the unique place of being equipped to lead a coaching enterprise.
