Life is a dynamic dialogue between me and the external world and I have had this animated relationship with 'Change' ever since I entered adulthood. While certain big changes in my earlier life, like moving to live independently in a big city to start my banking career with Citibank or moving for an exciting role to London in 2003, were all positive and I found the transition relatively easy to cope with. More recently in 2009, I experienced certain unexpected changes which were negative on the outset, however in retrospect triggered the best out of me!
Along with many other professionals, my job at Coutts as a private banker got restructured! Only two and a half years into my new job with Coutts, I had made this move after a lot of planning and consideration as I was making the first move after working over a decade with the same organization. I had visualized cozy plans of a long working life at Coutts UK. This was not to be! On the other hand, the economic recession brought with it a lot of changes in the banking industry which added to the gloom. While I did not partake in financial rewards of redundancy, my parting gift was a letter which gave me the facility to work out of a reputed out-placement firm and a generous package of 13 hours with a professional Career Coach who would be able to help me get a job back as a banker or to explore a change in my career path. Hmmm,I could see myself being drawn towards the second option. The harsh impact of losing my well-paid job was already softening...
Simultaneously, I clearly remember it was on one morning in April 2009 when I was browsing my email searching for job options, that The Coaching Academy Free Weekend Courses popped up on my screen. Was this what I call synchro-destiny? When the universe starts orchestrating a string of coincidences pointing towards a certain direction? I was quite intrigued to hear about coaching again, so I enrolled with some scepticism to 'check it out'. In hindsight, it was the best favour I did myself!
I attended the May-end weekend. By Sunday evening, I was completely bowled over by the personality of the speakers as well as the potential of coaching. It was my 'Aha' moment - the first time in 15 years I could see myself in a new role. Like a light at the end of the tunnel. I knew coaching would be able to support me to integrate my skills and provide me the platform to give expression to my passion for supporting others to achieve their goals. But first I had to prove it to myself!
An exciting journey began for me. I called my husband immediately after the course. As I was so charged up he supported me to go ahead and enrol the same day for 2 diplomas. It took me about a month to get my head around the paperwork. I was so motivated to start that for my 1st first accelerator day I travelled to Midlands for 'Values and Beliefs' with Pam Lidford, and she was so fantastic! I did not look back. Over next 3 months I completed all the accelerator days for both the courses! Of course, the written work was to follow..
It was in one of my coaching sessions with my consultant as I was exploring the reality of my goal to launch myself as a coach and trainer, I realised that the timing was not right for me at that point. So I put other goals in my planner which I would need to complete before I could take on the potential pleasures of being self-employed. I took another private banking job keeping the end goal in mind to launch my own business. Alongside, I completed my diploma, qualified as a NLP practitioner, certified as a DISC assessment trainer and gained valuable coaching experience.
I am happy to share that in June last year I quit my job. In July I launched the website for my new company. We are a boutique consultancy, training and coaching company and my niche is being a facilitator of change to business and professionals. Since then I have run sales training and leadership coaching for companies that I have previously worked with. In Dec 2012 I held my first seminar in Central London on 'Roadmap to Achieving your Goals' and got some excellent feedback and ended the year on a personal high!
So far, what worked for me
1. Founder of Central London ( Tower Hill) Community Group: I have been running this monthly forum since Dec 2009 and it allowed me to keep in touch with like minded people and coaching. It also gave me the necessary facilitation skills to run workshops and seminars.
2. Mastermind group of Coaches. In Jan 2012, I invited four other coaches who I had a good rapport with and we met once a month to support each other with the common goal of setting up our own business. We received support of ideas, contacts and encouragement which has been very critical in maintaining the momentum. I am proud to share that all members of our group launched and grew their respective business and we continue to tap into each other for motivation.
New Year Goals:
2013 is going to be a year of brand building for Rainbow Success and myself. This article is first step! But there will be lots more to follow.
Wishing you all a year of success, joy and abundance
Jai Ho!!
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