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What is Life Coaching Like?

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In the beginning, most life coaches will talk with you about your goals, your values, and your beliefs to get to know you better and understand where you�re coming from and where you want to go in life. The first session is important; it sets the tone for your entire working relationship and determines what your subsequent sessions will be like and about.

You might sign on with a coach for one, two, or three sessions a month, for three to six months. Or, a lot of life coaches structure their programs like a course, with 12 sessions being the average for starters. It really depends on your goals, needs, and the structure of the coach you choose. Remember, you don�t have to hire a life coach for life! In fact, a lot of successful people hire different life coaches periodically to help them through different types of situations. No one coach will be able to help you with everything that comes your way. And the change in perspective is helpful.

Coaching sessions should be, and often are, friendly, relaxed, conversational, and encouraging. Your coach should be a partner in this endeavor, listening as much as or more than he or she talks. You may talk over the phone, via e-mail, or in person. Your coach will expect you to treat these appointments seriously; do your homework, come prepared, and keep your appointments just as you�d expect to keep a doctor�s appointment or business meeting. You�re paying for the sessions, so make them a priority.

Talking these issues out with a friend or family member is a good idea, but it isn�t the same as hiring a life coach. For one, a family member or friend is often too close to the situation to give you good advice. Two, someone close to you might be more willing to let things slide. Three, you might take the arrangement for granted or too casually, which will not get you anywhere in the end. By paying a life coach, you signify that you�re ready to make a serious commitment to improving your life. And lastly, a life coach is unbiased and doesn�t have a personal stake in your decisions as family members and friends do, so you�re often more willing to be honest and strive for what you really want, not what others want for you.

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