Being Independent

I am happy to announce that I am independent and at the same time feel more connected than ever. I'll tell you why.

The Professional Title

At the end of this year, my certification as a Master Coach through the International Coaching Federation will expire, as I have decided not to do the recertification required every three years. It's not that hard, I would just have to prove 40 hours of additional coaching studies. For me, who is kind of always studying, that was not the point. I have been one of the 3-4% of MCC coaches around the world since 2015 and a member of the ICF since 2002. I have learnt a lot and feel very grateful for being part of a growing industry that serves human development.

The reason I am leaving is that I feel that my experiences from sailing around the world, including letting go of most of my life, has given me an experience that is much bigger and beyond what I feel the ICF certification measures and stands for. My clients will have the last word on the value, and I certainly will want to meet them beyond their titles as well.

How will I present myself then? How do I let you know that my focus is the light in each of us? How can I make it understandable that I as a senior, at master level, feel in wonder and humbler than ever? Curious, not knowing and still in a deep investigation into what it is to be human.

Running My Own Company

I am a late bloomer in many respects. I was 50 when I finally started my own limited company, Avalona. I had an individual company before that, but that was only for the sidelines. This time it was for real, to make my living. Although I felt very shaky, I am so glad that I accepted the challenge of running a business, much more complex than being employed as a coach. It takes a lot of trust, will and perseverance to continue. It is my best leadership training so far. I can use my creativity, and I must develop.??

Like with ICF, I feel very thankful for the learnings I got as employed. Starting my own company was the next step, and it gave me much more than I first understood.

Running a business also involves total responsibility for my finances. It took eight months before I gave myself the first salary. I had to ask my husband if I could, as I was so unsure if the money I had was enough, or if it would all go to taxes. For a long time, I kept being a member of the unemployment fund (A-kassan in Swedish). If I was going to get some money from them, I had to close the company. When I finally realized how impossible that was in the stage of building, I cancelled that "insurance".

I understood that I had to be the one who stood up for myself in every way. Around the same time, I also stopped seeking partnerships with other coaches and stopped being part of large procurements. I realized the power and fun of being the one who set the rules of the game, rather than following someone else's. Avalona is my baby, and when I think it's time, she will close. Not yet!

Self-Publishing, Indie Author

As you may know, I have started writing books of a more self-reflective nature. The first, Leading from Joy, is my coaching legacy. An excellent way to summarize what has been valuable to me during my career. Not because it's over, but because it covers my twenty years of coaching in Stockholm. When it came time to publish it, I thought about my options. Getting published by one of the big publishers wasn't that easy, so I started looking at the hybrid versions, which means paying someone more established to publish for you. I had such a connection for a while before I felt that it was not my path. So, I decided to start my own publishing house and publish on my own. Some of you may think it was a defeat, but that's not how I feel about it. Just like when I put down my certification, I felt this was bigger. The possibilities I saw were learning the process myself. I am a very happy owner of Avalona Publishing. Here you can see my production so far.

Sail and Live on Board

Finally, after selling everything to live aboard and sail around the world, my husband and I are independent even from our country. We move on when we want. We own the boat and don't have to worry about loans or interest rates going up. We live a simple life, very rich in creativity and quality time. Thanks to the internet, connection is easy wherever we are. A big takeaway from the last few years is that the more I slow down, let go, and go inward, the more I find my unique essence and connection. My next book: Wave by Wave – from City Stress to Oceanic Freedom, is a memoir about all this.

Thanks

All the above would not have been possible without support. I want to thank you who have hired me as a coach, bought my books, or otherwise supported me on the way to a life I love. My hope for you (everyone) is that you too live a life you love and that you get the support you need. Please let me know if this speaks to you, I will be happy to help.

Anna Eriksson

Gran Tarajal, 24 September 2024

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