Richard's Story

What originally attracted you to Coaching, Richard?

My best friend told me that she had started Life Coaching. She hadn’t been doing it very long but I could already see the difference in her. She was so much more positive and excited about the fact that she was starting to take control of her life. It rubbed off on me. I wanted some of that! It made me look at my own life and circumstances and I really was feeling like I was spinning too many plates. I thought I had nothing to lose. If I could gain even a fraction of the sheer enthusiasm and excitement that my best friend had been energized with I thought it would be worth it. After all, it only involved a phone call

Did you have specific goals in mind? Or was it a general feeling that life could be better?

I had a general feeling of ‘is this it?!’ in all areas of my life, work and private. In particular for my career. After a couple of sessions with Ann I identified an action plan and a few things I could do to help me start to feel better. I wanted to be more successful at work – win awards for my work, get a pay rise, move to a better company etc. I also realized I was depressed about my lack of physical fitness. I was a heavy smoker at the time and my diet was atrocious.

And how have your coaching sessions helped you achieve results?

My coaching sessions have been invaluable at helping me focus and stay focused on what is REALLY important to me. The sessions are always positive and friendly. I’ve never come away from a session feeling bad or down. Quite the opposite. It’s like a shot of feel-good-factor straight into your brain! Whenever I’ve had doubts, whenever I’ve been upset, whenever I’ve needed some encouragement, or just a sounding board, my life coach has been able to help me re-focus. By providing impartial advice that changes my perception from negative to positive, that makes me look at problems from different angles, that shares the enjoyment when I’m successful, that helps me view a perceived failure or a setback as an opportunity to learn. So that next time I’m ‘armed with experience’ and am not going to make the same mistake again.


Richard, you've changed your lifestyle radically. Whats the difference for you now?

It really hits me how much I’ve changed when I look back to where I was twelve months ago. I’m a happy, healthy eating, non-smoker. I’m in the best physical shape I’ve ever been. I have some lovely new friends. I LOVE my job. I’ve had a pay rise. I’ve even managed to win an award for my work. I’ve never felt so focused and mentally strong. But the best feeling is, is that I feel like this is just the beginning…There’s even more good things to come! I can’t wait to see them! I just wish I had started coaching sooner!

I think the key difference between me now and me 12 months ago is that I am so much more self-aware now - I have identified the things I need to do on a daily and weekly basis to feel good inside. And when I’m feeling good, good things start happening to me. I feel that I can do anything I put my mind to. Whatever it is I want to achieve, I just work out a plan of how to get it, what might get in the way and how to overcome that. From then on it’s only a matter of time.


Were there any hiccups along the way?

Most definitely. I’ve failed several times in my attempts to reach my goals. I was upset at the time, but I’ve learnt something each time, which made me that much more resolute –and more likely -to succeed at the next attempt. I believe that failure is not ‘GAME OVER’, it’s ‘TRY AGAIN’.

One example that comes to mind happened in December ‘05. I was just coming to the end of a fitness goal – I was doing one of those Men’s Health get a ‘6 pack in 6 weeks’ workout plans. I was just at the end and I was REVELLING in my success when I developed a nasty abscess in my shoulder and was admitted to hospital where I suffered a week of hospital food and two operations, having a good chunk of flesh cut out of my arm for good measure. I was devastated.

Thankfully coaching helped me realize that this wasn’t the end of the world, but an opportunity. I had lots of spare time. I could use it to explore what I really wanted to do once I’d recovered, in every area of my life. Did I want a new job? When could I get a mortgage? Did I want to travel? I had the time to plan out what I wanted and how I could make these things happen. I would never have had this opportunity to step back and re-assess my life and plan for the future had I not had the abscess and be still at work in my busy routine. My focus was renewed.

What differences have friends & family noticed in you?

Friends tell me I’m completely different now. I’ve lost weight and have ‘buffed up’ according to my brother. My friends say that I’m a much more positive person. They even come to me for advice! That’s never really happened much before! I’ve always been the one asking!

And hows your self esteem? How do you feel about yourself in comparison with this time last year?

I feel SO much stronger mentally, healthier physically. I’m much more comfortable with who I am and how I look. Last year was quite the opposite. I feel good because I know I’m doing things on a daily and weekly basis to maintain a healthy lifestyle and to improve my career. Nothing is static. Whenever I have a doubt I tell myself ‘I’m doing something about it’ after all, small steps achieve big goals…

What would you say to anyone considering coaching?

JUST DO IT.
There is NO downside.
And you have EVERYTHING to gain.
YOU are the only person who can change your life.
You DO have it in you to achieve whatever that change may be.
It only takes one little step to start a fantastic journey to a happier life.