As I sit here watching the waves of the Atlantic Ocean rush to greet the sand, I think about how this time of year brings endings and new beginnings.
During December, I reflect upon all that I have accomplished throughout the year, decide what is on my to do list to end the year strong, and begin planning for the next year. This year I am thinking about my business, as well as the members of ICF-NJ.
I encourage you to go through a similar process and challenge yourself to think bigger than you have ever done before, so that you can realize the dreams that you have. I was talking to a coach a couple of weeks ago who is considering throwing in the towel on her coaching business. She seemed distraught and frustrated about not being able to make the money that she desires and, quite frankly, needs to live her life comfortably. I realized that she is not alone and this saddened me because she has so much to offer all those who are waiting to become her clients. You see, we all have clients waiting for us whether we are internal or running our own business.
If you want to have a successful coaching business, now or in the future, it is important to get mentored on how to run a business. So many coaches earn way less than they could because they lack the belief they will be paid what they are worth, knowledge about how to run a business, discipline to do the things that will create a pipeline of leads, confidence to invite people to work with them, and the stamina to see things through. Fear steps in and takes over.
So this December, as I write my last ICF-NJ newsletter as your President, my hope is that you choose to live your dreams! That you desire to be of service to others fuels your excitement to take that next bold step. I have met many of you throughout this year and am honored that you felt comfortable sharing your stories, successes, concerns, and ideas. I know that there is even more greatness in each of you who will read this message and I wish you a passion-filled, exciting, prosperous life as well as coaching practice - whatever that looks like for you.
It has been my pleasure to serve as your President in 2015 and I look forward to continuing as your Immediate Past President next year.
2016 ICF-NJ Successes
Thanks to your participation, we have touched the lives of many outside, as well as inside, the ICF-NJ community:
Sponsored Jersey Shore Association for Human Resources event to start to build a relationship, as well as educate those who have not experienced coaching.
Sponsored iPEC's first retreat and signed people up for ICF membership on the spot.
Facilitated a session and offered group coaching for the Morris County Dress for Success organization to help women in need prepare for their next step in life.
Offered coaching sessions to small business owners through a partnership with C3 Workplace.
Hosted monthly Community Group meetings to build a stronger community of coaches across the state of NJ.
Conducted welcome calls to answer the question of new members and help them fully take advantage of their membership.
Administered webinars, teleseminars, and in person events to grow the knowledge of coaches.
None of this would have been possible without the help of the 2015 ICF-NJ Board Members and the many volunteers. Please join me in giving a virtual round of applause to this amazing and talented group of individuals.
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
~ Mark Twain
Be Engaged, Be Passionate, Be Visionary, Be a Coach
by Renée Robertson
I believe that there is a coach in all of us, and that it is incumbent upon each of us to take responsibility to find our own inner coach, to embrace it and to have the courage to follow our passion and support our clients in finding their passion and inner coach.
According to Gallup's 2013 State of the Global Workforce report, 80 percent of people globally never use their greatest gifts at work, which means that only 13 percent of workers worldwide are engaged at work, with Canada and the United States holding at about 29 percent engagement. These numbers are disheartening, however, an amazing opportunity for coaches.
I know for me, I will be forever grateful to my coach and the champions who supported me and put me in positions where I could use my gift and passion for coaching and to earn a living. For when I found my passion, engagement was an action, it simply was a result.
When I assumed the role of coach, it became my personal mission to coach those who reach out to me about business decisions and career planning. I know it's not always possible to use your natural gifts to make a living, but I'm committed to doing the best I can to help those who want to try. My thinking here goes back to employee engagement and the thought that if you can do what comes naturally to you, what you enjoy doing, you will be happier and more engaged; therefore, creating a win-win for all - you, your clients, and their organization and families.
I recall my career before coaching. I was a top-performing sales executive, responsible for $150 million-plus in annual revenue, working in a company with annual revenue of approximately $40 billion. At that time, I had a vision for my company, made up of tens of thousands of employees worldwide, to become a place where employees would thrive as they developed professionally. No one gave me this vision or held my hand as I voiced my ideas, however, my coach was always there for me - holding my vision when at times, it was difficult to see.
As a leader who had found her inner coach, I saw a bigger picture and I had the passion to see it come to fruition. I was determined to bring coaching to my company and inspire others to follow their passion, do great work, and to find their inner coach. Despite the challenges that I faced introducing coaching into the culture, I never gave up, and for that I became a better leader, coach, and role model. I encourage each of you to find the inner coach or support your clients in finding their inner coach, and to have the courage to pursue their passion, embrace their inner coach, and inspire their employees to follow their passion, be engaged, and inspire others.
Renée Robertson is a two-time International Coach Federation Prism Award Winner for Internal Coaching, in addition to being the CEO of Trilogy Development and Founder of the Robertson Coach Institute, where she teaches coaches how to coach inside organizations. She shares her insights and first-hand experience in her new book, The Coaching Solution: How to Drive Talent Development, Organizational Change and Business Results. To learn more, visit www.trilogydevelopment.com.
Are your services a PERFECT solution for coaches? Reach several hundred passionate entrepreneurs by sponsoring the ICF-New Jersey's powerful live events, teleconferences, and newsletters.
Meet Your Fellow ICF-NJ Members at a Community Group Meeting
If one of your intentions for 2015 is to up level your coaching skills, build your business or collaborate with like-minded coaches, visit one of our Community Groups:
Hello New Jersey Coaches, 
