When I first started my coaching practice, no one called, emailed, or hit me up on social media.  I had zero clients for months.  I did have a business name, logo, and business cards but no one knew that because I only slightly hinted what I was up to.  It took me forever to get brave enough to start marketing myself and even when I did, I was so cautious and quiet about it.  I created a concrete timeline.  On an exact Monday in October, I planned to do an email invitation for my business to my previous co-workers.  As I prepared on that Sunday night for the Monday morning email, it happened - I got an email from a former co-worker.  It went to me and all the people on my email list.  It was an announcement of his coaching practice with this picture of him shooting finger guns at the camera.  WHAT?!??  Just hours before my perfectly timed email was due to go out announcing MY COACHING PRACTICE!  WHAT??

I could not believe it.  I was enraged with jealousy, frustration, and disbelief.  I cancelled my planned invitation so that I didn't look like I copied him.  And fumed about it all for months.  As my first year in business continued, it felt like coaches were popping up everywhere.  A woman I worked with 20 years earlier, a gentleman who I had volunteered with at The American Cancer Society a decade before, and my first couple of clients shared their desire to become coaches.  What was happening?

I understood intellectually that coaching is a growing field.  That there was room for all of us.  I knew that we each had our own gifts, niches, and special talents.  But my jealousy triggers were activated.  I felt competitive.  As a good coach, I was able to find my positive self-talk.  However, the bigger help was coaches.  Coaches who were well established, who had been in my shoes, and who were able to mentor me without competitive energy.

My mentor coach at the time was in the Boston area and to her credit, she continued to encourage me to join my local International Coach Federation chapter.  I finally listened and joined ICF Michigan the following spring.  There was a social event scheduled in Detroit.  I asked my husband to make the 2-hour drive with me across the state to check it out.  I didn't know what to expect.  At this point, I had been out networking and finding myself explaining what coaching was and feeling defeated.  That evening at The Skyline Club I found myself in a room of professional level coaches who were welcoming and encouraging.  The conversations were engaging and thoughtful.  Aha, this is what I was missing.  Connection. 

In my previous profession as a commodities trader, we were competing against each other.  But we were also friends.  We knew that if one of us got business it was good for the whole profession. I think it's the same with coaches.  When my ICF colleagues are doing well, we all do well.  We learn from each other.  Grow together.  And as we connect over competing, we're able to serve Michigan and beyond in a greater way.
 
I know I'm a much better coach because of the amazing coaches that I now call friends.  Mostly through ICF Michigan.  The 2019 board of directors has made connecting a much bigger part of your ICF Michigan membership this year.  I can't encourage you enough to take advantage of the upcoming events.  The Coaches Connection in Grand Rapids on September 27th and our Annual Conference in Lansing on October 17th.  I look forward to the continued connection with you all.