Good Morning! Here’s the Monday Morning Blog!
Have you had a chance to talk with that teen or young adult in your life? Have you asked them about what they want to do with their lives? Maybe a mentor or coach could help them go where they want to go. Hope this month’s blog posts have given you some ideas on how to get some help.
January’s Theme – National Mentoring Month
According to MENTOR, National Mentoring Month is based on a movement to raise awareness about the power of relationships and how they can help young people succeed.
Like I talked about in my November post about Making Choices, Teen Resource – Other people teens can talk to about tough choices, mentors are people who have real world experience in something your teen may have an interest in pursuing. A mentor may be able to give your teen some advice or help them get there.
In November I launched a Mentor page on my website dedicated to this topic. On this page, I include some mentoring thoughts related to my chosen monthly blog theme. Here is a link to that page. Selma P. Verde – Mentor Page.
Difference between a mentor and a coach?
A mentor and a coach are very similar in what they do.
Mentor – shares their experience, knowledge, skills and experience to help someone develop and grow. They typically help their client find their own solution, but become more direct if needed.
Coach – provides guidance to a client on their goals and helps them reach their full potential. They are typically trained to ask the right questions and help their client come to their own solution, rather than offering advice or opinions.
Who are coaches?
For those of you who have played sports, you have had a coach who has led the team. Sometimes people need someone who can help guide them either personally or in their business. They look for a business or life coach to help them navigate the challenges they are facing and to make decisions on their own to help them achieve what they want to achieve.
My experience with a business coach
After a couple of years of big life situations, I was ready to jump back into my business. It was time for me to align my purpose, mission and what I was doing to get my message out there. I needed some support outside myself to help me make that plan. So, I hired a business and life coach
Some coaches are specific on who they will coach and what they will help you with. I figured I was looking for someone who could help me with my business, but also coach me in the aftermath of my big life situations as well. As entrepreneurs, how we show up personally will affect our business progress. Thus, I needed someone who could hear me out with those issues too.
My coach wound up not being just a business coach. She was also a friend from high school who was looking to grow her business. Her name is Karen Laos and she coaches women leaders in business who are 40+ and want to stop holding back due to self-doubt and speak with confidence instead; particularly in meetings, negotiations and conflict. Here is a link to her website Karen Laos Consulting.
How do you find a personal and business coach?
Finding a coach is a lot like finding a mentor. You can search the internet and find many options. To narrow the field down a bit,
- Be specific on what you are looking for. If you are looking for a horse-riding coach, be sure to search for someone who does that. Like I talked about in my post Teen Challenge – How Do I Find a Mentor, even though a person may be a pilot, they may not be a pilot in the part of the industry you may want to fly in.
- Interview them. Ask them questions about their philosophy. If you want them to coach you on both business and the personal side, be sure to ask if they listen to the personal side or are they just business focused.
- Attend a workshop or online seminar where they are presenting and working with other clients. It will give you a look at their style and if it would be compatible with yours. My coach has a group coaching session coming up in the next couple of months. If you are interested or want to see if she would be a good fit, here is a link to sign up Group Coaching Session with Karen. She also has a free resource for download 9 words to avoid and what to say instead.
Never be afraid to ask for help
Whether you are looking for a mentor or a coach, never be afraid to ask for help. There are people out there who want to help you achieve whatever it is you want to do. Had I known there were mentors and coaches available to help me achieve my goals when I was teen, I may have investigated that option.
When I got into business, I found that having a business coach helped me get over a couple of hurdles to keep things moving forward towards my purpose, to become an author, blogger, and mentor to teens. I am on my way to doing just that. Do you need some help getting started towards what you want to achieve? Don’t be afraid to ask. The resources are out there.
Have you heard of The Way Series?
The Way Series is my coming of age series for teens and young adults focused on the challenges teens may face. The first book, The Hard Way has a theme of peer pressure and its consequences when choices are made. And the second book, Shawn’s Way, is the story about a high school freshman navigating his school experience as the target of a bully.
Interested in learning more? Follow the link to the books tab for or information and a way for you to get your own copies. Selma P. Verde – Books
Have a great week!
