Life Coach

While discussing typical day to day life issues with my friend who lives in US, i was suggested to hire an Coach for my self,for help me navigating the career and relationship.Same is very popular in western countries, where to get ahead in life and to have a peaceful life people do engage Life Coach or Professional coach by paying 10's of thousands of dollars.

In last decade Personally as well through organisation where i worked i have attended some seminars of motivational speakers or self development gurus who are pontificating their belief system in class rooms. Typically after closing lecture / presentation a young lady comes to the stage and begins speaking on her take of the world and how we can all achieve success.

Typically, she will introdue as a 'Life coach" or " professional Coach"..will highlight importance of teacher, coach, in acheving desired success personally and professionally. 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 blah blah.

I believe the art of motivation and the psychological benefits derived from feeling good about oneself are 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, competition, rat race.

What I can't stand or condone are 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. Our history and traditions were built on stories being told while catching up sleep with parents, since the dawn of civilization.

Back to the speaker... In those 30 minutes, at one course of an accomplished speaker.. I found out that speaker didn't have an good college degree..just some bachelors or masters from unknown university, she had failed marriage, flogging career in sales till few years earlier and she now feels her destiny is to help other people by sharing what she went through.

"What?"

So, what qualifies her to be a life coach? Well, the fact that she never finished education or she's been through disturbed marital life or family life... 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 Rs 20000 per year coaching program) get their life on track. There's the rub. Now let me be a considerate to her traumatic experience in life and in profession and assume that given her past experiences she can offer some valuable information or insight on life.

But question remain un answered can anyone really be your LIFE coach? What are the qualifications to be a LIFE coach? Does this mean this coach will be with me for life, until I 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 self development and helping others, my beliefs are
You can't insure success, you can only guide people.

To guide them you have know their thought process, their life style, their motivations, their aspirations which are beyond words.

Before giving them first piece of advise, guide need to understand them, beyond what is communicated in words ..need to live with them ( metaphorically) day in and day out, know there various interactions in life, at their work place,with sprituality, with spouse, with kids, with neighbours, with friends

Is it humanly possible...?

I don't think so..It is impossible for anyone to become our 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 any one 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, along with How TO IMPLEMENT..

I still wouldn't call that person a life coach.

I would either call them a friend or a mentor...who shares your daily, day to day life, who knows you for pretty long period in life ( atleast 5 years), who has seen you in different phases of life, your challenges, happy and sad moments.