Dear Rain,

Being a life coach sounds like a dream come true for me! I have always been interested in inspiring and encouraging others to reach their full potential. What type of training do you need and can you recommend a reputable program?
Thank you!

Dear Reader,

It sounds like you are really excited about the opportunity to be a life coach. Coaching is a great way to connect your passions and spirit with others. I love that you said “sounds like a dream come true,” as that is a 10 on my Wow Factor Scale! Congratulations! That said, deciding on a career is like shopping for a good pair of walking shoes. You try on a ton until you find what you think is the perfect pair. However, you still won’t know if you love them until you have walked around in them for awhile. Until that time, you must be open that they may not work. Ahhh… but when you find that perfect fit, you can blaze your trail in total comfort and joy.

Here are the 5 steps I recommend:

1. Hire a life coach. Find one you really are connected to and continue to see them. They will help you take appropriate steps along the way, keep you motivated and best of all, you might discover more about yourself than you thought possible. I still enjoy seeing my life coach every month!

2. Start coaching. Immersing yourself in the world of coaching is extremely powerful, while you try on this pair of career shoes. A license is not required, and you can advertise that you are learning and would like to give away sessions for free. I recommend you coach about 8-10 clients for 30 minutes to an hour for at least 2 sessions each. Give it away for free before you decide on a school. You should love coaching most of the time.

3. Discover your niche. What is your experience? Where have you excelled in your life? As you work with others, pay attention to what topics get you the most excited. Is it in careers, fitness, parenting, spiritual work, motivational speaking, corporate climbing, or my personal favorite, inspiration. Finding what brings you joy will give you an edge with clients looking for a certain area to work on, though you will end up talking about everything in the end. You want to be open to any client, and they want to know what you are best at.

4. Decide if you want to go through a training program. After you have experienced coaching first hand, decide if you want to go to school. You don’t have to legally right now, and it is up to you how you want to move forward. What were your experiences with your clients? How important is a “certified coach” label to you? If you plan to go the corporate or motivational route through business, know they tend to hire certified coaches only. Personally I love learning, and believe it is important to spend your entire career lifetime (no matter what you do), learning about new ideas, new perspectives and keep you excited about what you are doing. Expect to continue learning, whether through schools, conferences, books, or self exploration.

5. Figure out if you want to be certified by the ICF or the IAC, or just get started. If you decide to go to school, you will want to look at the different certification programs available to you. As far as I know, there are two main global certification programs, the IAC and the ICF. Do your research and ask other coaches what they think about each one. Both were started by the same person, though the ICF has been around longer and has a much bigger name for itself. Then choose the school that offers the best training for the certification program you’ve chosen. As I don’t want to advertise on this site, feel free to write me at rain@authentictimes.com and I will be happy to recommend a couple of great programs. If you decide against being certified, just get started. Keep practicing until your clients are letting you know you are effective. Charge accordingly.

Have fun in your discovery process. Remember, the right career shoes are only there to help you comfortably walk down your own path and it’s up to you to decide if you’re wearing the right pair.

smiles and success!

Rain