When I was a senior in college there was a special meeting for all the international students. The career center got us all together into a room and explained that in the United States, when interviewing for a job, you wanted to make sure to talk about your strengths. They said that while they understand this may look like boasting for some cultures, at a job interview, it was the only way for the interviewer to find out more about you. It is important to talk about accomplishments and credentials and successes.
However uncomfortable it might feel.
Even though I don’t think I come from a culture like that, it seems to be incredibly difficult for me to give myself any kind of credit. Maybe it comes down to lack of self-worth. But I think this partly comes from the fact that I know exactly how much I don’t know. I am very aware of how much more there can be. I have a good sense of the people who are better, more capable, more talented, more intelligent than I am. I tend to be improvement-focused so I don’t pay attention to those behind me. Just what’s ahead and how much more I can be. So it seems obvious to me that I just don’t qualify to boast. To claim.
It feels too much like posturing to me.
So I always shy away from it. I hope that I have good managers and that my work can speak for itself. I know there are times this gets in the way but I haven’t found a way to work around the discomfort.
So here’s why this is coming up today. A while ago, I began the certification process for coaching. Life coaching. The kind where you talk to someone about anything in your life: career, family, friends, goals, dreams, daily annoyances that you want to change, etc. Where you’re committed to change but need someone to coach you along. This not about having someone with the answers. You already have all the answers or know how to get them. This is about having someone completely on your side who wants you to get to your goals and dreams as much as you do. Someone on your corner cheering you, invigorating you, etc.
And so now I am looking for clients. But I don’t want to come here and write a long post about how great I am and why you should work with me. Feels inauthentic. No matter how I try. Instead here’s what I will say: I am a big believer that our current life, just as it is, without huge modifications, can be lived with so much more joy. So much more aligned with who we are. And I am very motivated to work with people who want to live every minute of their lives. This might mean a career goal, a new relationship or it might mean a million small changes. Either way, I just believe that it’s worth making your life magnificent for you and if I can be a part of helping you get that, well that’s just a privilege. And you’ll get 100% of me on your side.
So if you’re looking for a coach and want to consider me, email me at coach@karenika.com. I’ll be up front, there will be a fee involved (though relatively minimal compared to industry norms) and it will require commitment. So if you’re up for it, email me and we’ll take it from there. If you have friends who might want it, please feel free to send them my way. I don’t have a lot of open spots but I do have a few.
I never like to advertise things on this blog so you will likely not hear about this again for a while. But I might mention it, especially as I feel my way around this.
And I could list a bunch of my credentials, or make a post on why I am the good choice and I am worth your money and time, but I can’t seem to do it the way I want to so I just didn’t want to sit on this any longer. If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve been here a while and know me, who I am, and what I might bring to the table. And if you don’t but you’re still interested, well, email me and we can see where it goes.
I am grateful to say that even though I am not one for self-praising too much, I’ve been luckier in life than not. I have a solid career, a loving husband and some amazing friends. So I am going to hope that being who you are and showing up as fully yourself works more often than not.
Let’s hope.
I think that’s awesome! I’d love you to be my coach but I’m in Australia and probably can’t afford it- but if I was in a position to have a life coach you’d absolutely be my first choice. Lucky the people that get to have you are! I wonder if you could do a variation on a coaching course combined with scrapbooking at BPC? I would definitely take that class!
that is so incredibly kind of you 🙂 if you ever decide you do want it, we certainly can do it over skype 🙂 as for BPC that’s not a bad idea, I’ll put some good thought into it and see what comes up, thank you!
Karen, I so appreciate what you have given me so far. I am not sure if it is connected with other things that have flooded in to me right now or if they were already a long time coming. I want to let you know that our conversations have opened some flood gates for me – I had a frank email discussion with my own sister tonight when I felt she had let me down and was honest and called her on it. I am taking baby steps with so much to plow through. I am open to talk again this week but I am afraid I will just unload with all the new gunk that has come in. I am processing internally but have done little to process concretely. I want to ask why it has to be so darned hard.
I am so grateful to hear that. Sometimes we just need the seeds inside of us and they grow slowly and little by little we take the steps we need. But it’s important to go at the speed you need. This is your journey after all, no one else’s. And it’s hard cause you care so much. If you didn’t, it wouldn’t matter. So if it’s feeling hard, i think that means you are taking it seriously and giving it the work it deserves. i love you sweet girl and you have all the time you need to get there slowly and in the way that feels most right to you. listen to the whispers of your soul and have faith in yourself. your strength amazes me and i have no doubt at all you will get where you need.
Congrats! You’ve been my life coach since the day we first talked! And in the last two years, I’ve overworked you and taken advantage. You are an awesome coach! You can quote me!
Congratulations Karen! It’s a perfect fit for you and I wish you the best of luck for success!
Well, that explains the new direction you’ve been working on. Congrats! Great fit for you, miss. Sounds like the pieces are falling into place and you’re moving onward with it. Settle in, less stress, keep moving forward – you can do this!
Wonderful. I could not think of a someone more qualified to do this. Well done you.
What an awesome path you’ve chosen! I worked with a life coach many years ago, and often refer to the material again and again, until life got on the way, but I can imagine working with you would be all kids of awesome!
Congratulations! How wonderful – anyone who needs any recommendation on you just needs to read your many thoughtful posts on change, perseverance, taking joy in things… etc. Your words speak for themselves!