Last November, I was delighted to run a Subtraction Method workshop for readers of daily email maestro John Bejakovic’s newsletter.

Here's how John introduced me before I kicked off the workshop:

***

Dan Kennedy once said that he very quickly got out of the personal development business because he feels that people who are in that business are held to a kind of moral standard that you’re not held to if you're simply selling “how to make money” information.

I feel the same way. 

I wouldn't want to be in Tom’s shoes, but I can tell that what Tom is doing and what he's saying definitely seems to be working for him. 

He has a successful job, he's got a relationship that's working well, he's got a kid on the way. And somehow along with this busy corporate job, along with his side business, along with his relationship and along with a kid on the way he's got time for lots of hobbies and somehow he even has free time where he’s constantly making references in his emails to TV shows. 

I don't know how he has the time but maybe that’s something that he's going to share with us tonight.

***

As you might’ve gathered, the workshop was a couple of months before the stork touched down at Fort Grundy.

And I have to admit, my TV game has dropped off a cliff since that momentous day (which is probably why I write more about buggies and poop now than I do about Breaking Bad).

Anyway, John’s generous intro sparked something else in me.

Which was this:

Does being a coach, writing about personal development and talking about how my working life has changed mean I need to always have my act together? Do I need to live a life free of stress, doubt, worry and “off days” to somehow prove my methods work and thus coach other people?

The thing is, I don’t pretend I’ve got all this figured out.

I never have done.

Yes, my life has kicked up a number of notches since stumbling on the Subtraction Method. 

But I’m still navigating the ups & downs of work and life like everyone else and I don’t think I’ve claimed otherwise in the 3+ years I’ve been writing these daily emails.

So the question becomes:

Does it matter?

Does it matter that I’m pedalling the answers without being a perennial poster child for peace myself?

I don’t think it does.

When I coach, I’m not offering advice, dipping into my cheat sheet or handing out laminated life lessons.

i.e. I’m categorically NOT pedalling the answers. 

But what I am doing is suggesting a direction to look and exploring that direction with you.

This is the essence of coaching.

I’ve always liked the idea of the coach as a tour guide. 

A tour guide doesn’t walk the path for you. But they do know which way to look, depending on what the explorer is looking for (a museum? a park? a few glasses of sangria?). And the tour guide can highlight the overlooked corners and hidden viewpoints the explorer might miss.

Oh yes… and the tour guide might see something new too!

In fact, they probably will. There’s always more to see.

So no-one hires a tour guide because they know everything.

They hire a tour guide because tour guides know where to look.

Same thing with coaching. 

If you'd like a tour guide to help you spot the hidden paths in your own work and life, here's where to join the tour:

https://waitinglist.followingfulfilment.com