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approach a coach

that won't encroach
Missy

Contributing Author: MISSY MONOKIAN

When I heard the word coach after that in the 1980s, Coach has a notebook that was messy with myself in books and conferences for many years al-
it had a totally different concept than what I had lots of receipts in it. (I like things neat, orga- ways trying to be better than I was the day before. As
imagined. This new “coach” term included someone nized and professional) I learned, it seemed people came to me and I learned
guiding you to better yourself, self-improvement and the art of asking questions that would challenge oth-
obtaining some kind of wisdom. Great! Thought it Coach spent more time talking about herself ers to think for themselves. Someone told me I would
was worth a try. I am fresh out of college, living in a and how good she is at coaching. make a great Life Coach and I wanted to run for the
new state, not knowing anyone and wanting to put Coach went through her life story and how hills. I did, however, reopen that door and thankfully
clarity to my future. she got to be where she is. it has been a wonderful experience for me having
several coaches throughout the years for me.
My Coach or as I prefer to call her, Nightmare or Her clothes were wrinkled and looked like she
666(not a term of endearment!) was a hot mess. If just got out of bed. I researched the person and stalked her for a while
she was a Life Coach working the suicide hotline she before I committed myself to her. I am thrilled to say it
would have put you on hold. Coach asked me for advice on an issue. has been a wonderful experience. I have used coach-
Coach proceeded to ask me about my past es and mentors for various areas of my life.
The initial experience began with meeting for coffee and gave me advice on a subject she knew
to discuss what the process would be. We met at a nothing about and advice was not even asked The greatest kicker is I am also a Life Coach. I eat with

he first coach I ever knew was a man that local restaurant where she ordered a full meal and for. my mouth closed though. All that my first experience
would bark orders to me from the sidelines chewed with her mouth open as well as talking the taught me is everything I do not do. My heart gets
Ttelling me what to do, the play I needed to whole time. If I was playing Guess this Mess in My Then she said time was up and proceeded to hand me thrilled when I see hope rise up in someone’s eyes or
make and what I did wrong. Rarely did I hear Mouth, I stood a good chance of winning. what she would charge me and when we would meet. hear the excitement in their voices when they find
what I did right. In fact, if we did something clarity and purpose, the true beauty of coaching is
wrong, we ended up having to do laps around Let me list my feelings after my first meeting and Needless to say, I placed the paperwork back in her that each day, I reinforce my own clarity.
the gym. I am almost sure you either had a then you decide if this coaching stuff was for me. hand and said I would not be needing her services as
coach like that or have seen someone running I could get more coaching out of a baked potato than Here’s to my first coach who, by the way, is not coach-
up and down the field or on the side of a court. Coach was late to meeting her. ing anymore. Anyone surprised? I am grateful for her,
This was the only type of coaching I ever knew. Coach said we would meet for coffee. as I am a better coach today because of her! Here’s to

She ate a whole meal. From that point on, I steered away from anyone that the good, the bad and the ugly! We can always learn
from everyone!
mentioned coaching to me for many years. It left a
bad taste in my mouth and I ended up submerging
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