DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER

Yesterday I had a consultation with an Indian gentleman that blew my mind. It didn't start off too well. He was late, looked grumpy and tired, and wanted to keep it short because he had more work to do.

Not great signs. I work with people who are excited about the possibility of making their life better.

He shared his challenges, and it turned out to be a typical "nice guy" situation where someone struggles in life because of the lack of assertiveness, confidence and poor people skills.

Where some coaches work in the "looking forward only" fashion, I always what to understand people's story because there are usually clues or even explanations there.

So I asked him; What's your story?

He looked at me and said: " when I was 21, I got a sore throat. I went to a doctor, and he gave me an injection. I went home, feeling the usual flu symptoms, weakness, shivers, etc. The next day I felt worse and really weak. I went to the bathroom and couldn't even get up from the toilet. I thought; something's not right! The next day I could barely move at all..... My parents took me to the hospital where I fell into a coma and didn't wake up for three months. It was a severe case of Guillain-Barré syndrome, an autoimmune disease of the peripheral nervous system. No one was able to say what triggered it. When I woke up from the coma I was unable to move any muscle in my body. When people wanted me to see them they had to open my eyes with their fingers. I could not do even that. I could do nothing while fully conscious. After four months I was able to move my big toe. It took one year for me to be able to get out of bed, and another year to be somewhat independent. The control over my facial muscles has never fully recovered. That's why I always look tired and grumpy (!!!!!!). When I smile it looks like I'm crying. I was so embarrassed about it that I didn't smile for seven years after I came home from the hospital. Since then I was avoiding any social interaction. It was ok when I worked in Japan; no one smiles there, haha. Because of that, I lost my confidence and people skills. Even as an IT consultant I need good people skills to move up. So yea, that's part of my story. I've never really told that to anyone outside of my inner circle. "

When he finished, I no longer saw a grumpy and tired guy. I saw someone extremely inspirational man who got up after one of the hardest slaps life can give you.

There is a good chance you have heroes like this in your network but you'll never know until you get to know them.

Or maybe you're one keeping it secret from others like it was something to be ashamed of.

I hope he'll go ahead with coaching because I'd love to work with him. ????

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Tomas Svitorka | Life Coach & Speaker | Award-winning Entrepreneur

More about me at https://tomassvitorka.com