“In order to do better, you have to feel better about what you know“.
~The DIAMOND Coach
When I was younger, I went to the library and voraciously read as many books as I could. Having read numerous books, I thought I was smarter than a college graduate. Seriously, everything I read, from studying to managing your monthly (cycle), was a news blast for my friends. There was only one problem. I did not ‘feel’ good about all the information that I had consumed. Dr. Maya Angelou said, “When you know better, you do better“. As I matured and conversed with other men and women over the years who have endured deep pain in one way or another, I found my quote to be a more accurate statement. You have to feel better about what you know to do better.
My contribution to the field of authentic coaching is multi-faceted. While some may think that imparting a few words of encouragement is all that there is to coaching, 1 Diamond attempts to leave people with more than catchy slogans and mindless mantras. For one, “real people” – who have real experiences that have in some way motivated them to cope and relate in new ways–is why 1 Diamond Coaching, Inc. breathes. I am dealing with my own fear and pain (i.e., the death of loved ones, the end of long-term friendships, romantic betrayal, and the realization of my own mortality and physical limitations), which is why I can use my experiences in ways that encourage people to get to where it hurts, relate to their pain, and journey through a beautiful, gentle healing process to VICTORY!
For the reason that people often feel isolated when facing their challenges and emotions, I thought if they had a personal confidante they could talk with or attended teleseminars, they could find support from other people facing similar challenges. My role as The DIAMOND Coach is to assist people by listening to their ideas and concerns, and in turn, provide them with a blueprint for living their Diamond Life.
My instincts are my natural advantage. I hear what people are saying, and many times what they are ‘not saying’. Before coaching, I studied aesthetics at Aveda Institute of Charlotte. As I was closing out a client, I leaned over and whispered in her ear, “Do not be afraid, all is well” and then instructed her to meet me at the make-up booth when she was dressed. When I arrived at the booth, my client was crying profusely. I asked her if everything was okay, and she looked up and me and asked, “How did you know”? I responded, “Know what?” She said, “How did you know that I was afraid?” It was a pivotal moment in understanding that I must stop running away from what I knew I was supposed to be doing. Upon graduating from Aveda, in 2006, I entered IPEC’s program in 2007.
The Life of a Life Coach
My first client was a young woman transitioning from a career into the job market after working 10-years with her former company. Depressed, Reset felt as if her whole world was crashing in right before her eyes without warning or permission. We met at a coffee shop to chat and determine if we were a fit. Without hesitation, Reset was ready to start. The first thing she did was take a value’s assessment, which told her more about herself than she was ready to hear or face. She, like me (at one time), did not have a healthy value system. Reset was flying by the seat of her pants. Together, we discovered what was working well (outer directed work) in every area of her life, and what was not working well. We examined what specifically made each thing work well (inner directed work) and how she could use her strengths, resources, and natural gifts to upgrade her game.
Next, I introduced the Wheel of Life to tap into each area of Reset’s life. Each life area also has a separate wheel that examines other parts in more detail. For example, we started with the Personal Development Wheel with eight areas of concentration:
1) Friendships, 2) Energy for Life, 3) Self-Acceptance, 4) Balance, 5) Communication,
6) Breaking Through Barriers, 7) Creativity, and 8) Personal Achievement. Reset circled the numbers that represented her current level of satisfaction in each area to examine, process, and balance over the coaching period. We all are going through something, so Reset invested in herself and gave her life a check-up. She shifted her energy from catabolic (negative) to anabolic (positive) and began feeling better about beginning her new life.
Today, Reset is an entrepreneur living in Atlanta, GA–a possibility that she never considered. Sometimes it takes a tornado to come through our lives and break our resistance.
Challenges are Opportunities for Growth
Coaching is an active working relationship with a person that knows how to communicate, listen, and collaborate. They are empathetic, sincere, and use their experience to get to the heart of the matter. Many times, we know what we should be doing, but knowing and doing are two different things. A coach could facilitate the doing by clarifying your goals while creating a purposeful vision that is also rewarding. In my diamond terminology, goals are blueprints. Therefore, the client is the architect that designs his or her own life. We (coaches) sit on the passenger side with no attachments, and no agenda except to assist the client in getting what they desire using the coaching process as the navigator.
Becoming a Coach
I feel as if I have been coaching some of the most sensitive situations all of my life, and professionally for the last 3 years. A social butterfly, I recall being a fount of advice for my girls, writing letters for their boyfriends, and being the liaison when their ‘stuff’ was falling down. Trusting your passionate gut is all that is needed to become a coach. As an Ambassador for Life Potential, I work on Turning Your Pain into a Passionate Enterprise. It is possible to discover the diamond in you and show off your shine.
If you’re considering coaching right now, the choice feels right doesn’t it? One, you know that Professional Coaching is your calling to positively affect the lives of others, and two, more importantly, it is who you are. This field is growing tremendously and those skilled in a level of professional excellence are in high demand. I highly recommend that you think about what coaching means to you and how you will use it to accomplish your vision, mission, & purpose of becoming coach. Do your due diligence by listening in on coaching calls, requesting eBooks, and talking to other coaches. Additionally, make sure that an all-inclusive tuition, a proven educational process, and a plan to start and grow your practice is in place.
To become a certified life, business or executive coach is an amazing experience, and the quality of the training alone results in lifetime rewards. The next step is to call me and let’s decide exactly how you want to use your talents to answer your calling and create your blueprint. I am available to visit your town, create a telecall, or send you the information in an Adobe file to assist you with your decision. Before you leave, my friends have a bit of advice for you: Coach Ryeal, The Relationship Coach, reminds us both to prepare ourselves so we don’t have to repair ourselves. Jawar, Motivational Speaker and Coach says, “Think, Plan, Execute. You can’t be good to others when you haven’t been good to yourself“.
Need a coach? Want to become a coach? Either way, the door is open and clients are waiting. WALK through and create joy in your life and in the lives of others.
Kimyon Zari, aka, The DIAMOND Coach is President and CEO of 1 Diamond Coaching, Inc., a Carolina-based life coaching practice. At 1 Diamond, we couple your wisdom with our resources to cut, shape, mold, sand, and polish your attitude to sweeten your character. “The Diamond Coach” also hosts The Diamonaire Living Lifestyles’ on Blog Talk Radio, Thursday’s at 8:00 PM Est where she promotes one to Discover the Diamond in YOU. A Massachusetts Native, Ms. Zari resides in the Carolinas.
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