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.