"Life" Coach

Misnomer or Joke

Subject: Success, motivation, coaching, mentors

By Victor Antonio

So I go to see this big name motivational speaker who is pontificating his belief system in this huge, auditorium.   After he finishes, a young lady comes to the stage and begins speaking on her take of the world and how we can all achieve success.  This young lady happened to be the daughter of this well known speaker.  Can you spell NEPOTISM?

She introduces herself as a "life coach".  Immediately my mind yells, "What the hell is that?  Life coach?"  I silence my internal mechanism and continue to listen.  She goes on for about 30 minutes spewing all the basic motivational ya-ya I've come to despise.

Now let me stop here for a second to explain myself.  I believe the art of motivation and the psychological benefits derived from feeling good about oneself is important.  In a world bent on spitting out negativity through every media orifice, good thoughts and words are inspiration are a welcome antidote of modern day cynicism.

What I can't stand or condone are regurgitated, benevolent bromides or warm and fuzzy stories that have more to do with fantasy than reality.  Again, don't get me wrong, I like a good story like everyone else.  History and traditions were built on stories being told while sitting in front of a campfire since the dawn of man. 

Back to the speaker.  In those 30 minutes I found out that she didn't have a college degree, she filed bankruptcy a few years earlier and she now feels her destiny is to help other people by sharing what she went through.

As the rapper Lil Jon would say, "What?"

So, what qualifies her to be a life coach?  Well, the fact that she never finished school or has no formal education AND that she's been through bankruptcy.  That makes as much sense as a divorcee giving you tips on how to have a happy marriage.

But here's the killer part; she was dead serious about helping people in the audience (who signed up for her $500 coaching program) get their life on track.  There's the rub.

Now let me be a little generous here and assume that given her past experiences she can offer some valuable information or insight on life.  But can anyone really be your LIFE coach?  What are the qualifications to be a LIFE coach?  Does this mean this coach will be with you for life, until you die?

The absurdity of the label, "Life Coach" is obvious.  If you believe in a higher power (i.e., God),  then you might have a reason to want Him (or Her) as your life coach.   But God doesn't charge you by the hour!  He would most likely refer you to the "Good Book"; all the answers you need for success and prosperity are there for the picking.

I'm convinced that anyone who calls themselves a life coach has to be either delusional or has no concept of what the phrase implies.  On the subject of people, let me remind you: 

• You can't insure success, you can only guide people. 

• To guide them you have know their thought process. 

• To understand them you would need to live with them day in and day out.

Every day new challenges will crop up; a life coach would have to be there every waking moment to insure that all the right moves are being made.  Do you see where I'm going with this...

It is impossible for anyone to be your Life Coach.  Just because someone has suffered or has gone through some hard times DOES NOT qualify them to give you advice.  It only qualifies them to tell you how stupid they were and what lessons they've learned.  I don't think you should have to pay for this.

What is the exception?  If a person has real world experience and can help you shortcut your path to success by providing tangible steps and information.  I still wouldn't call that person a life coach.  I would either call them a friend or a mentor.

Victor

p.s. Don't ask stupid people for advise.  Keep in mind that others can only help you with part of your journey...it's really up to you in the end to make the necessary changes to attain success.

Please share this article with a friend who may need a word of inspiration.

Copyright © 2005 by Victor Antonio   All rights reserved.  This article MAY be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, as long as the author’s name, website and email address are included as part of the article’s body.  All inquiries, including information on electronic licensing, should be directed to Victor Antonio.