UNFILTERED ??

The newsletter today is a little different…

I was reflecting on my journey as a coach over the past 14 years, and I thought that I would share some insights with you.

There have been some amazing client wins over the years, such as new jobs, personal brands, and newfound confidence ??

However, there has also been some out-of-integrity behavior.

I thought to call this newsletter article "UNFILTERED."

Some of you may be able to relate to the below in your industry.

TRUST

We are living in a world where trust is more important than ever.

Social media has been a great tool; however, it has also led to lots of people being burnt.

You can be anyone you say you are on the internet! It can get pretty wild!

In 2020, there was a rise in people becoming coaches. Lots of people was chasing the 6-figure-a-month lure.

This led to lots of people signing up with coaches who were not able to fully support them after they paid, creating less trust in the industry as a whole.

INTEGRITY

Integrity is one of my core values.

If I am out of integrity, I work to restore it.

I had to learn to understand that not everyone lives by the same values ??

As a coach, people would book calls and not show up.

They would cancel at the last minute or even ghost ??

One thing about coaching is that it can be confronting for people to look within themselves to make changes.

A few years ago, when I first shifted to virtual coaching, I booked 18 calls with potential clients, and 6 people did not show up in a row.

There was no email, message, or pre-warning—just me sitting on a Zoom call waiting.

I stopped trying to get people on calls to enroll them and started building relationships.

Not everyone is a client.

I began to work only one-on-one with people fully committed to their transformation.

This means not trying to pitch to everyone.

I used to think that people would see my work and come to me.

If you are a service-based business not reaching out to connect with new people regularly, you will soon find your business drying up.

There are people out there who do not know that you exist and you can literally help change their life.

A mentor taught me that if there are no conversations, then there is no business.

Even though I had lots of calls with people, not everyone was the right fit. I have made some amazing connections in the process and gained some new friends and advocates.

VULNERABILITY

I struggled with vulnerability.

I thought, as a coach, I had to project this perfect image. You are under a lot of scrutiny when you're a coach. Some people believe that your life has to be flawless before you become a coach.

Trust me, my life is far from perfect.

I have had failed businesses, relationships, bad finances, multiple redundancies—the list goes on and on.

However, all of these experiences have shaped me into who I am today.

COLLABORATE

I used to want to do everything alone.

I still have this tendency in some aspects.

However, over the past few years, I have found some great people to partner with.

They have opened doors that I would have found challenging to open myself.

For example, I worked on a year-long leadership program coaching senior leaders in the music entertainment industry.

I also ran two cohorts of my group coaching program for doctoral researchers at two leading universities for 2+ years.

I now regularly facilitate corporate group coaching for employees at some of the biggest companies in the world.

Collaboration is key.

CASHFLOW ??

Once I left my corporate job and solely relied on the income from my business, I realised that you can be one invoice away from losing everything ??

Without clarity around cash flow and a consistent stream of leads every day, entrepreneurship can feel stressful.

Getting an accountant to help me forecast and plan released a lot of anxiety around future-proofing my business.

Lots of entrepreneurs face this on a daily basis, sometimes it can feel that you are the only one but when you find like minded people or a coach to share the journey with it can put you at ease.

THE SIDE EYE ??

Over the years, I have seen some interesting behaviour.

?? I've had people book calls with me pretending to want a clarity call only to quiz me about my business and get free advice.

?? I've had people book calls and try to record a live podcast interview without permission.

?? I've had people have meetings with me and try to publish the transcript of our calls in a book.

?? I've had people ask me in-depth details about my business only to implement them in their business without acknowledgment.

I remember when I used to get triggered when I saw some people showing up, and I wasn't.

I didn't understand that the trigger was that they were activating something that I wanted to do but wasn't doing.

Sometimes when people want what you have and can't get it, they will try to sabotage you.

They will secretly compete with you, and you do not even know you are in a competition.

In addition, when you have thoughts that you are more qualified or have more experience than the person you are requesting support from, you will find it challenging to accept help from them.

Trust your intuition and observe people's actions.

JUDGEMENT ??????

No matter how many qualifications or years of experience you have, some people will look at you and not see a leader.

As humans, we make judgments and often live with them without questioning, especially if everyone in our network looks the same.

If you see someone and your inner thought is that this person cannot be a leader, then subconsciously, no matter what they do, you will never see them as a leader.

I have seen this scenario play out repeatedly, not just in my life but also with my clients.

I witness the tears, anxiety, and imposter syndrome that arise when you are in a space that does not value you.

We often tolerate it because we need the income, but the toll on mental health is significant.

Sometimes, all the signs to walk away are there, but the fear of the unknown outweighs the fear of staying the same.

I had to learn to go where I am celebrated and not just tolerated.

RESULTS - SHOW ME THE RECEIPTS ??

So many gifted people are the world's best-kept secret.

You have the results and all of the receipts, but when it is time to show up, you do not.

I work with leaders who have big businesses, multiple awards, and long lists of accomplishments, but when it comes to sharing them, imposter syndrome will eat them for dinner.

Accomplishments do not speak for themselves.

It's not about ego, being, loud and in your face.

It's about owning your gifts and accomplishments with power.

I post regularly because I teach self-promotion and personal branding; that is what people come to me for.

They are often shocked when they find out we are not designing a website or looking at branding but focusing on their mindset. It's the biggest surprise.

We build personal brands from the inside out.

IF YOU CANNOT SEE IT THEN BE IT ??

When I first started coaching, I would often attend events and feel that I didn't have much in common with the other attendees.

I was from inner-city London and working class, while most people were high-level executives.

This experience inspired me to launch my own events, creating an open, safe, and inclusive environment.

My events are very diverse, attracting people from all levels who are passionate about personal development.

I love the vibe and positive energy of all sessions. That is why I love running group sessions.

There is magic in knowing that you are not alone.

People make lifelong connections and begin new personal development journeys or gain a refreshing perspective.

I don’t just create events; I create experiences.

I also love facilitating group coaching for aligned organisations as an associate career coach.

I have coached over 1000 people in the past decade, both physically and virtually.

Even though sometimes it may be challenging, it warms my heart when I receive feedback saying I helped people be more confident in their careers.

I regularly get messages saying people have gotten new jobs, started businesses, and found their gifts.

CONCLUSION

So, there you have it—my unfiltered journey through the wild and amazing world of coaching.

From the highs of celebrating client wins to side eye moments of encountering some questionable characters, it's been quite the ride.

But one thing remains crystal clear: integrity is the name of the game.

As I reflect on these 14 years of coaching, I can't help but laugh at the twists and turns along the way.

Trust me, there have been moments where I've questioned everything!

But hey, that's all part of the journey, right?

So, whether you're a newbie coach, an aspiring entrepreneur, or just someone looking for a insight (and maybe a bit of inspiration too), I hope this unfiltered journey has been useful.

Let me know if you resonate with any of my journey in the comments below.

ARE YOU READY TO BE BOLD AND SHARE YOUR STORY?

Introducing BOLD Masterclass! Where I share the 7 steps on how to be more bold and confident in your career.

Over 70 people from around the world signed up to attend.

I have now released the replay on YouTube!

Watch the replay here.

BOLDly yours

Careeta ??