!44: Weider Total Fast: December 2011

!±8± "Gurus, Gurus and More Gurus" The Perils of "Life Coaches"

First things first - let me be clear, coaches and mentors are vital to one's knowledge, education and wisdom acquired in life. I am a mentor/coach myself, - always have been.

Life coaches are everywhere and it does not mean they are all good either. We have our automatic mentors and "coaches" who are our parents, teachers, religious figures and superheroes. Some are wonderful people who have shaped our life into happy healthy productive people, but for some, they can be the worst people to have been near us growing up and that causes us to turn to professional coaches, mentors and counselors. That can be a very good thing; to unlearn the twisted side of or subconscious to a more healthy and balanced one via a very good mentor, coach or counselor. The problem is finding the good ones. Whom do you trust for personal or financial guidance?

What I have noticed though is this trend to "hype" up the competition in the life coaching world with "hurry up deals" for their systems or programs and many are filled with just that, "hype." Much of the information is recycled and nothing is new accept the way to get rich via websites. Now this creates chaos. Now they all need to get everyone's name and e-mail information soon as possible via friend, coworkers and family (a "list" it is called) and, somehow, many of these gurus are linked together. I for one am tired of my inbox being flooded with deals and steals of "hurry up - last minute - deal" of the day from people I have never heard of. Ones who then try to scare me to death with "inside information" they have regarding an economic collapse, or make me feel inadequate in all areas of my life and I need THEIR information to survive. Oh brother....

When I take time to read their information and quick deals for a happier and wealthier life, I find that there are a lot of words but not a lot of substance. One would have to shell out money to find out just what the "secret" is to a happier and wealthier life. Ah ha! you see the light, too. These "gurus" are making money by recycling old information, by giving people this old information (much of which is free in a library). I would venture to say that to many who sign up to the gurus websites that this information is new to them and that makes sense... And the circle of life continues only technically as opposed to face to face, human contact.

I hired a coach recently (yes - coaches need coaches too) who was glad to meet me by phone only to send me to a website that I already subscribe to in order to download information and to listen to it every day (which I have already done). Then we would touch base for 12 minutes in a month.

This is coaching? Really? Maybe I am old school but I like to have contact with my clients. To talk to them and treat them with the respect they deserve; to guide them and work with them on a personal level. He had no idea where I was coming from nor took the time to find out. It was a bit disturbing to me. He is no longer my coach. I am sure he is a wonderful man who is full of help and wisdom, but got caught up in the flare of the competition of other coaches and the desire to fill up his bank account.

PLEASE - know that I want my bank account filled too! I just feel the need to do it more organically and with respect and regard for the people I am mentoring.

There are, I have found, some very wonderful people who happen to be mentors and share pertinent information and skills. These people are well worth their weight in gold. Jack Canfield is one, Les Brown another, Bob Proctor and John Assaraf are two more. As far as women - there is Marcia Weider and Marci Schimoff and others that I need to get know better. I respect these people and their work and have learned much from them. They are not fly by night life coaches. They are respectable human "beings" who care about people and the betterment of mankind on all levels. I thank them for helping me in ways that they will never know.

All this to say - when employing a coach really be specific with what it is you desire to work on and find one that you "click" with, or read their books, and articles, and one who will give you the time of day. They are out there. Known or unknown, there are some very good mentors and coaches on all pay scales.

Let your intuition guide you. Do not be fooled into "hurry up" tactics. You are more valuable than that and worth the time and effort it takes to get the guidance you need.