Coaching doesn’t work. We do.

As a coach, most people come to me looking for a competitive edge in their professional or personal lives. Others are at their wit’s end or are on the verge of losing it all, and don't know how to move forward. At times they are looking for the magic ‘quick fix pill’. How to make the problem go away or how to make others be and act as they wish. I share with them the truth. Coaching doesn't work. You do. The ones committed to becoming a better version of themselves and stay the course, are the ones who build extraordinary careers, businesses, and lives. Those who work to move off the perpetual treadmill of life and are willing to get out of the rat race, those who work to break the self-created patterns of life that hold them prisoners, to their dreams, are the ones that experience successes that remain unachievable dreams to others. 

The coaching experience is an individual journey of self-discovery and reflection. We meet our true selves, discover our gifts, tap into our infinite personal power, and have the opportunity to embrace and create the life we love and desire through a level of commitment we have never had before to ourselves. It is a process of introspection and mindfulness, which allows us to seek for the answers inside ourselves. It is 100% internal and 0% external. Nothing happens to us. It happens because of us. True coaching participants develop and build greater awareness, resourcefulness, and hone in on their unique talents and skills. Likewise, true practitioners develop leadership skills, stay inspired, bring creative solutions, work co-creatively, and so much more. As Aristotle once said, “Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives – choice, not chance, determines your destiny.”

We all have internal knowledge, wisdom, and know our situations better than anyone. We are like a tree. Everything the tree will become is inside the seed; the size, color, texture of the leaves, bark, branches, and roots. A seed can lay inside an envelope and never grow into a tree that bears fruit until it is planted and nurtured in the proper environment. The right amount of water, adequate nutrition, soil, sunlight, and temperature must exist to grow to its fullest potential.

Every successful person has had a coach who believed in their greatness and led him or her to be the best they could be. One of the greatest golfers of all time, Tiger Woods would not swing his golf club without looking at his coach. However, Tiger was the only one who could swing his club. His coach was there only as a guide. Extraordinary coaches help expose our greatness, show us what is possible and probable, help us fine-tune our skills, expand our awareness. Also, they help us develop new tools, transform into a new way of being, and cheer us on along the way. We are the only ones that can push ourselves forward 24/7 and do what it takes to get to where we want.

My clients are excited when they experience what is possible and come to me for coaching. When they find out what it takes, they sometimes say, Rocío, "I love the idea of coaching. It will take too long, or I cannot afford it. I am not Tiger Woods.” Those are all reasons for the level of commitment they have to an extraordinary life.

Jennifer was looking for a breakthrough and did not think she could afford it. She was at her wits end in her marriage and with her home-based business. Jennifer had tried everything in her power, including an ultimatum. She had trouble finding new clients. She decided she was going to create the life she envisioned for herself. Jennifer and I met once a week at 6 AM for 1-year, enough time to establish many unique patterns and let old habits go. We met even when she had competing priorities, was convinced it was too hard to do the work and when the going got tough. Like Thomas Fuller once said, “The darkest hour is just before the dawn.” I helped her establish SMART Goals and achieve them, tap into her internal wisdom and power within, and shared leadership tools that she embraced. For $1,200 per month, she was able to bring in new business, landed her dream job, earning over 400% more than she had made previously. What would it take for you to be willing to create these types of results for yourself?

Her results were immeasurable. Who she became, and the ripple effects go beyond words. She is now in the best health of her life, rekindled her marriage, guided her family, became an impeccable communicator and impactful leader, and a renewed belief in who she is when she walks into any room. Jennifer will be the first to say, “It was worth it! It worked because I did the work.” Stories like this are all too familiar from my clients around the world. I have the privilege to work with students, teachers, doctors, administrative assistants, investors, leaders, retirees, and many more. The results are extraordinary for those who are committed to themselves.

In closing, a great coach guides us through our journey, shares new tools and how they work, and keeps us accountable to our successes. Our job is to pay attention and let them know our accomplishments, when and where we are stuck, and especially our failures and setbacks. They, in turn, will help us create the life we love and desire. The journey we undertake is OUR journey, not the coaches or anyone else’s. 

Coaching works when we are committed more to the best version of ourselves than anything else. Unlike Michaelangelo who chipped away at the David to free him, we must be the David chipping away at the David to free ourselves.

Rocío Pérez is the Founder & CEO of Inventiva and International Bestselling Author of Unstoppable: 7 Steps To Becoming A More Intentional Leader and upcoming author of Ripple Effects. Rocío delivers leadership Keynotes, webinars, coaching, programs, trainings, and morning motivation calls to help people develop greater awareness and resourcefulness. She helps people tap into and use their unique talents, develop their leadership skills, stay inspired, and bring creative solutions, work co-creatively, and so much more.

Rocío can be reached at 303.587.8367 or by email at [email protected].