Most people become a life coach so they can help others.  But how can you help others in areas where you yourself are struggling?  The biggest challenge many coaches face is that they don’t value their own time enough to impart that skill to others.  And if you want to become a life coach whose clients value every second of time they have with you, you’re going to have to become a mentor in time management.  And when I say, ‘become a mentor,’ I mean you’re going to have to figure it out for yourself first.

Become a Mentor in Time Management by Understanding Where You Spend Your Time

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The first step if you want to become a mentor who values your time is to understand where you spend it.  Most people spend their lives in ‘Routine Time’.  Getting up, going to work, eating meals, etc.  Whatever you are currently doing is most likely your routine.  It has taken you to where you are today, but if you want to become a life coach you will need to make some changes.

Why You Need ‘Project Time’ if You Want to Become a Life Coach

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If you want to become a life coach, you’re going to have to either allow yourself to empty your routine or create a block of time in your schedule to work on creating something new out in your life.  Let’s face it, you’ll probably never get all the routine things done.  New fires will have to be put out, leaving no time to work on your future.  Once you overcome this struggle, you’re ready to become a mentor.

Become a Mentor That Leads by Example

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And I do mean struggle.  Just because you place a block of time on your schedule to work on your goal to become a life coach, doesn’t mean you will actually accomplish anything.  Unless you are totally committed to setting aside time for creating something new, it will never happen.  People will call, emails will draw you away from your intent, or something else will show up that appears more important.  You will put it off until next week.  But if you really want to become a mentor, you’re going to have to lead by example.

The key to success in creating something new in your life, to become a life coach or any other noble endeavor, is to place a premium on your own time.  No one is going to free up time for you.  In fact, it’s usually just the opposite.  When you become a mentor who sets boundaries on your own time, you set a standard.  While there will be some who don’t like it, you’ll find many people will appreciate your time even more and get better results.

Colette Seymann

JTS Advisors Bi-Designated Strategy and Accountability Coach

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Become a Life Coach, Become a Mentor Become a Life Coach, Become a Mentor

I realized that if you want to become a life coach — a world-class life coach — the fastest way to improve your skills is to become a mentor for other coaches.  For the past few weeks, I’ve been mentoring coaches training clients, and this week I noticed a few new shifts not only in their skills but mine as well.  By putting myself on the line and deciding to become a mentor for these coaches in training, I have become a life coach who has taken my coaching skills up to a new level.

You can do the same as soon as you become a life coach.  Find someone who is one step behind you and become a mentor to that person.  Their desire to grow will challenge you to be your best.  And you will learn the material at a deeper level when you teach them.

When You Become a Mentor, You Also Become a Life Coach with More Clients!

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Using this strategy will help you become a life coach with more clients, as well.  Whether or not these coaches pay you, it is your job to provide value.  Make sure you become a mentor who asks for feedback.  Ask questions like, “What part of this session was most valuable to you?” or “What result occurred as a result of last week’s coaching.”  You can problem solve with these clients and look for new solutions and insights together.

Your Motivation Will Skyrocket When You Become a Mentor

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When you become a life coach who has also become a mentor your clients will motivate you.  As a mentor, you will need to continue to grow or risk losing your ability to provide value.  And through challenging them to be the best they can be, you also give yourself permission to do the same.

Mentoring Will Help You Become a Life Coach Who Has Confidence

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As you become a mentor for coaches, you will become a life coach with a greater sense of confidence and clarity about what you do and the value you provide.  It’s also a great measuring stick to see how far your skills have come, and in which areas you need to continue to grow.  If you are looking to make a contribution to the world, you are leveraging yourself by empowering other coaches to take on that challenge as well.

Colette Seymann

JTS Advisors Designated Accountability Coach

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Become a Life Coach, Become a Mentor Become a Life Coach, Become a Mentor

If a wild imagination encouraged your quest to become a life coach, why would you want it tame it? Imagining the success you’ll have once you become a life coach is probably what keeps you going. But does your imagination working for you, or against you? Are you aware of your thoughts? Or do your thoughts flow without much consideration of reality? Do you monitor which ones are helpful and which ones hold you back? If so, you’re ready to become a mentor. And if not, you can use these coach training tips on yourself and your clients until you are ready to become a mentor.

Become a Mentor: Start a Journal

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The first step to become a life coach and become a mentor who is controls their thoughts is journaling. Just type or write as fast as possible for 3-5 minutes. No spelling, no editing; don’t let your thoughts control you.

Become a Mentor: Use Journaling to Take Charge of Your Thoughts

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The next step to become a life coach who helps their clients take charge of their thoughts is to have them use their journaling to bring thoughts into their conscious. To become a mentor, you’ll need to master this for yourself and incorporate it you’re your daily habits. Without a doubt there will be amplifiers, or phrases such as “I hate…” or “I love…” or “I’ll never.” Put these statements on a piece of paper folded in half so you have two long columns. Across from where you wrote the sentences with the amplifiers, re-write the phrase in a softer way. For example, “I hate prospecting” becomes “I’m not in love with prospecting.” You’ll probably even laugh because the new thoughts mismatch with your old beliefs.

What does this do?

It softens and lowers emotional intensity. It doesn’t take all the emotional intensity out of it; it but keeps it more stable. “This is terrible” turns into “Things could be better.” Once you master this, you become a life coach who can turn your life around. And you’ll be able to coach your clients to turn their life around, too. At that point, you can become a mentor.

Become a Mentor: Put Your Thoughts and Plans into Action

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The last step is to become a life coach who puts this plan into action. Post the sheet somewhere where you will see it every day, like by your bed or on the bathroom mirror. Go on a 10 day mental diet. These are your consistent bingeing thoughts, and they take your power away. Every day when you look at the sheet remind yourself, “When I think this, I’m going to become conscious of it and use the new language.” At the end of the day give yourself a check. If you miss a day, you need to start over at day one. By the time you do this for 10 days in a row, this will have shifted for you dramatically and you’ll be ready to become a mentor for others. Remember, 10 days in a row. The time you least feel like doing your ritual is when you need it most.

Colette Seymann

JTS Advisors Designated Accountability Coach

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Become a Life Coach, Become a Mentor Become a Life Coach, Become a Mentor

Tell me… What does it take to become a mentor?   Can I become a coach before I have the experience and expertise to become a mentor?   To become a mentor requires knowledge.  A mentor is someone who has “been there, done that”.  They are an expert (at least compared to the person they are mentoring). 

Becoming a coach doesn’t necessarily mean you are an expert in a given area.  You just need skills and tools for breakthroughs, and of course accountability.

Knowing this, let me ask you, can I become a coach to CEO’s?  What if you don’t have the background to become a mentor at that level?

Can I Become a Coach, Really?  The 5 Different Ways Coaches Provide Value:

1.       Consultant (information)

2.       Guru (confidence)

3.       Friend (listening)

4.       Strategist (planning/ time )

5.       Leader (accountability)

Can I become a coach who is a consultant to a high powered executive?  It depends on the area they need results in.  You don’t want to give strategic business advice and become a mentor for the business of executives if you don’t have a MBA.  Your would-be client will “call you out” on it.  

“Hey! What do you know about this?”  Isn’t that one of the greatest fears of a coach? 

But can I become a coach who is more of a friend and confidant?  Is that valuable?  Of course.  It’s lonely at the top. 

Can I become a coach who is a strategist?  Would that be overstepping boundaries?  If they need strategy about marketing peanut butter in Europe?  I’m toast.  I have no grounds to become a mentor in that area.  But if they need someone to help with time management, getting past blocks that are keeping them from achieving their goals…I can get results. 

What about a guru?  That takes time and a following.

Can I become a coach who is a leader for someone that’s accustomed to being the top dog?  Sure.  If I have the skills to hold them accountable, with the finesse and skill to maneuver between being dominant and allowing them to still feel in charge.  

You Don’t Need to Become a Mentor to Lead

As a coach, there are a lot of ways you can provide value for even the most successful people in their field.  It’s all about getting them the results they are looking for. 

Colette Seymann

Accountability Coach, JTS Advisors

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Become a Mentor, Can I Become a Coach Become a Mentor, Can I Become a Coach