From:                              ICF Michigan [kathyv@icfmichigan.ccsend.com] on behalf of ICF Michigan [support@icfmichigan.org]

Sent:                               Wednesday, October 23, 2019 9:13 AM

To:                                   kathyv@icfmichigan.org

Subject:                          October 2019 Newsletter

 

 

ICF Michigan Newsletter

October 2019

 

Uncertainty with Clarity

Kaan Aksu, 2019 Board Membership Chair 


It is the month of Halloween and I would like to write this article matching with the theme: Fears!

It is a nice sunny day and you are driving along very beautiful scenery. Your loved ones are in the car, sleeping peacefully at the back seat. Suddenly, you notice that the brakes don`t work and the car starts to speed, out of your control... That is it! Your heart starts pounding fast and you force yourself to wake up, before the terrible end happens. It was a dream.

Let`s leave this dream here for a while and we will come back to it later.  
I want to talk about the biggest fear of the coaches, who are transitioning into full time coaching -myself being one of them: How to make a sustainable income without compromising our life quality? I use this metaphor; the fear of jumping into the deep water for the first time, not knowing whether we will sink or swim.

What makes a new coach decide that it is the time for the leap? Should we just close our eyes, count until three and jump? Or, maybe, is it a better way to gradually enter the water... first until the knees, then waist, neck and let the current gently take us further in the river?

On one hand, there is the somehow secure job that pays alright to make a comfortable living. You know that you will do well, as long as the company is healthy and you are performing your job. Certainty is the sacrifice that you don`t want to make. In other words, uncertainty is the fear that pulls you back from making the leap.

On the other hand, there is this voice, coming from deep inside: "Follow your vocation, just focus on your coaching, be who you were meant to be...Everything is going to be alright" The voice is so clear, when you close your eyes, you can visualize your transformed life vividly. Clarity is what gives you the courage and desire to pursue your calling.

Uncertainty vs Clarity... No, the constructive way to define this situation is 'uncertainty with clarity'

As a coach myself, I am aware that actually 'the goal' is most of the times not the goal. What is more important is how we develop ourselves; enjoy the progress on our path and eventually learn to deal with uncertainty by relying on our clarity.

There is no one way for transitioning into full time coaching. Maybe the fear is similar, but all of us have unique circumstances to find our own way for how to enter the water. We should keep in mind that there will always be uncertainty. When we stay true to our clarity, the uncertainty can become even an opportunity. I guess a fatherly advice that I always give my children applies here too: If you feel troubled in the water, don`t ever panic and try to fight it. Water will always win. Keep your calm and float in harmony with the water. That is your only chance for survival.

Let`s go back to the dream at the beginning of this article.
Instead of letting the fear to take over and waking out of the dream, how about trusting your clarity and pursuing the dream? The car might be speeding out of control, but it does not have to fall off a cliff. It is your own dream!  When you choose to stay in it, who knows, you may notice a hidden lever. Be curious and pull that lever. It might be the one that puts the wings on your car and make you glide over the view that you have always wanted to see.

 

NEWS & RESOURCES FROM ICF MICHIGAN

 

SBAM (Small Business Association of Michigan) UPDATES AND RESOURCES

-Did you know that when you become a member of ICF Michigan you also get membership benefits from SBAM? Another great benefit of ICF Michigan membership!  


-Association Health Plan for SBAM members now available - Click here for more info  


-SBAM Events Calendar - Click here for upcoming events  


-Wednesday Wisdom - Click here to see tips, resources, advice, and best practices from fellow small business owners.

NOTE:  ICF Michigan members get a "Welcome Kit" email that outlines your benefits and other information.  Then you will get 2 emails per week from SBAM. As with any reputable company or organization, you can unsubscribe at any time.

Thanks to all who attended and participated in our recent events - our September 27th West Michigan Coaches' Connection and our October 17th Annual Conference!  The board is working on  upcoming events for 2020 so "stay tuned!"

  

 

NEWS FROM ICF GLOBAL

 

ARTICLES OF INTEREST

 

CALL FOR PRESENTERS FOR MIDWEST REGION COACHES CONFERENCE - OCTOBER 2020 

Proposals are due by November 30, 2019

For more details, click here.  

 

 

2019 BOARD MEMBERS

Please don't hesitate to contact our dedicated Board members with questions, observations or suggestions. 

 

Jackie Browning President

Cheron Freeman, President-elect

 

Kaan Aksu, Member Relations

Venus Brown,Community Outreach Chair

Beth Buelow, Education and Training Chair

Beki Fraser, Past-President

Matthew McCarty, Marketing Chair

Cathy Mott, Secretary

Jennifer Wilson, Treasurer

Kathy Vlietstra, Administrator

MISSION STATEMENT

A dynamic, diverse community of coaches, which grows, develops, connects, and serves  

our members, supporting communities and individuals with the highest standards of professional coaching.

 

TOP 10 REASONS TO
JOIN ICF MICHIGAN

There are lots of great reasons to join ICF Michigan, whether you are just starting out as a coach or have an established career...

Check them out here!

 

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

Caryn Bedford of

Lansing, MI

 

Kristen Walker of

South Lyon, MI

 

Patricia VerDuin of

Grand Haven, MI

 

Marie Lewis of

Grand Rapids, MI

 

Debra Anderson of

Wyoming, MI

 

Shariem Saterfield of

Grand Rapids, MI

 

Sheryl Bourzac of

Caledonia, MI

 

Kimberly Neely of

Oak Park, MI

 

MEMBER
COACH CELEBRATIONS

 

DO YOU HAVE A COACH CELEBRATION?

If you are an ICF Michigan member who would like to share your coaching celebration with our newsletter community, please send the (brief) info to our administrator, Kathy, at support@icfmichigan.org

 

UPCOMING WEBINARS

 

GUEST SPEAKER SERIES WEBINAR WITH BETH TUTTLE 

Topic: "Tapping Into Your Body's Inner Guidance"
October 24 at 1:00 pm  

Click here for more info    

 

EXPERIENCED COACHES' FORUM 

Topic: "All Things Niche"
October 29 at 4:00 pm 

Click here for more info

SPECIAL EVENT - VIRTUAL COACHING FISHBOWL 

November 12 at 7:00 pm
Click here for more info

 

 

WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN ICF MICHIGAN?

 

Click here for information about our membership options and rates.

 

If you have questions, please contact support@icfmichigan.org 

 

  ADDITIONAL LINKS

 

SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN (SBAM)
 PARTNERSHIP

We have renewed our partnership with the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) and have provided for each member the benefit of a premium level membership.

ICF Michigan supports our members with access to the benefits of an SBAM membership. You can 'buy up' for a VIP status or opt out should you choose not to participate.

SBAM has a wide range of benefits and services available and we hope you will take the time to explore how this partnership might benefit your coaching business. 

 

COACH CAFÉS

 Join us for Collaborative Coaching Conversations throughout Michigan!!  


Check out the Events section of our Facebook page for upcoming Coach Cafes,currently offered in Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, and Royal Oak. 

 

SOCIAL MEDIA

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