I qualified with the Coaching Academy in 2011 (Life Coaching Diploma Diploma). I would like to share my journey to encourage you to continue in your own journey and to demonstrate that starting the course is only the beginning.
Before starting my journey in coaching, I spent over 10 years in the business world. I managed international marketing and communication campaigns as well as large departments. I earned a reputation to ‘get the job done’, (I now pass this on to my coaching clients).
When the recession hit, the industry changed and I spent most of my time resolving internal conflicts amongst teams. It was apparent that most people did not like their lives, their jobs and did not see a way out. I was encouraging them to look at things differently and positively but without telling them what to do. I guess I was coaching others without knowing it was called ‘coaching’.
I started spending time in California on a regular basis and discovered coaching there. I came back in the UK, re-assessed my career and the conclusion was – I wanted to do something to help others to see that they have the power within to achieve what they want to do, instead of being passengers of life and letting others make decisions.
I started to research who I could qualify with as a Coach. There are numerous course providers out there and my conclusion was The Coaching Academy. Why? I noticed that some successful coaches qualified from there and The Academy is well accredited by coaching industry standards.
I attended the free 2 day course and waited for 1 year to commit to it. Why? I was too comfortable at the time and not confident to start something new. I used the excuse of being ‘too busy at work’. I also convinced myself that I was waiting to see if coaching was for me. Waiting for what?! Well, the reality was that I was ‘scared’ of the unknown. One thing was certain, what I was doing for a living was no longer for me!
Once I got over my own fear of starting something new and understood that there is nothing wrong with getting in the unknown, on the contrary, it brings endless new opportunities, I finally signed for the course and got on with it.
(My advice would be, please do not wait for this long, just do it, you may be afraid, but do it! – I was able to coach myself whilst going through the course!)
I started the Life Coaching Diploma in January 2011 and obtained my Diploma with Distinction in September 2011. I never looked back.
I started as a sole trader coaching private clients one to one. One day the phone rang and I was negotiating a contract with an American company to become their internal coach. Since then, I set up my coaching and consulting business.
My extensive experience in business (sales, marketing, communication) combined with my coaching skills, allows me to coach/mentor both private clients, entrepreneurs and businesses around the globe (life and business coaching). I also volunteer as a coach for a youth leadership programme and give talks to groups to inspire.
Everything! The course is very well structured and will give you solid foundations. You will coach yourself whilst doing the course too.
I hope this is useful. Good luck with your journey. Whatever you do, don’t give up. The Best is yet to come ☺
The Coaching Academy was established in 1999, and is now the world's largest coaching school.
In that time we have trained over 14,000 people to become life coaches.
We are accredited by the International Coach Federation and the Association for Coaching, and we're rated 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot.
