What is the best professional title for a “coach”?

Every title has its own limitations. Leadership coach (not all people consider themselves leaders). Life Coach (isn’t that just pseudo-science). Spiritual Director (this often tends to have more of a monastic connotation). Coach (too vague, little league coach or professional sports coach). Guru (are we doing yoga?). Executive coach (aren’t these hired by my employer to spy on me?). Therapist (this tends to fall in the counseling instead of coaching category).

I tend to go with leadership or life coach and then explain how all coaching is life coaching or how everyone is a leader. Maybe this is a good thing that creates more conversation.

What is the difference between a counselor / therapist and a coach?

Therapy tends to be more past oriented and seeks to address trauma. Coaching deals with a person’s present and guides them to a more desirable future. Therapy tends to be a doctor-patient relationships in which the counselor prescribes a treatment. Coaching is co-creative and develops an equal partnership allowing clients to discover their own answers.

What academic discipline does coaching stem from?

The short answer is philosophy, psychology, and organizational development. I would argue that informal coaching has been around since the beginning of time and continues to evolve. In the beginning older/wiser individuals mentored younger/less experienced people. The ancient philosopher Socrates (“the unexamined life is not worth living”) would formally enroll students in his school. Psychology as a social science emerges in 1879 (Freud, James, Skinner, Maslow, Jung, Frankl). Leadership studies continue to propel research based theories (Trait, Skills, Style, Situational, Contingency, Path-Goal, Leader-Member Exchange, Transformational, Team, Servant, Authentic). Life is good, we don’t have it all figured out, but it seems like we are making progress.

Do you have another question about coaching? Email me and I will add it to this section.

Looking forward to putting out some more reviews for you via YouTube. Santa, friends, and family were very good to me for Christmas!

Paul uses this phrase often. Here is a quick video that explains this crucial phrase and what that means for us! Enjoy!

I really enjoyed the book Soul Keeping: Caring for the Most Important Part of You by John Ortberg. Below is a link to my review on YouTube. I have also been posting quotes from the book on social media. I hope you enjoy!

Throughout the month of January, I will be releasing short videos on my Facebook page. Each video will highlight a leadership principle from the Proverb of the day. 31 Days in the month of January and 31 Chapters in Proverbs. We are doing one each day (coordinating with the day of the month). If you want to cheat ahead, all of the videos are up on my YouTube Channel.

A quick look at Scott Alexander’s book. Enjoy.

1) Put All of Your Focus on Gifts. This is the perfect way to stress yourself out and distract yourself from more important things. When selecting items to give, please be sure to worry about buying the perfect gift. When thinking about receiving gifts, just think of the disappointment when you open a gift that isn’t really what you wanted. Think about how all gifts tend to wear out, and break over time. I mean in general the things of this world do not satisfy. As we grow up our gifts get shiner and more expensive, and they still leave us feeling unfulfilled.

Verse to ignore: 1 Corinthians 7:31b “For this world in its present form is passing away.”

2) Rack Up Some Debt. Hey it’s Christmastime, empty that wallet and then charge it up. I mean this one closely relates to our first principle. But the advice here is to splurge first, ask questions later. And just think it won’t matter… until January when that credit card bill comes in.

Verse to ignore: Proverbs 22:7 “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.”

3) Isolate Yourself. Be sure to stay inside all by yourself. Stay clear of church, you are too tired anyway, and you might catch a cold from all those snotty little kids. Also, do not go to any family reunions or work Christmas parties. If you are feeling tempted, just picture that one person you don’t like and remember that you are bound to run into them at the event. Let’s just all agree to ignore the theological and biological fact that we are social creatures (yes, even you introverts out there).

Verses to ignore: Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

4) Rush Around Everywhere. The goal here is to remain so busy rushing from place to place that you don’t have any time to reflect on the meaning of Christmas. Given our current society, this should be an easy one to accomplish.

Verse to ignore: Psalm 46:10 “He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’”

5) Keep, Start, or Renew Grudges with Friends and Family. This one could have the most impact if you are looking to truly have a terrible Christmas.

Verse to ignore: Leviticus 19:18 “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”

If these 5 don’t guarantee a successful terrible Christmas, I invite you to create a 6th. My church family came up with things like: whining, complaining, bringing up politics, being ungrateful, unforgiving, and my personal favorite Be Sure to Always Compare Yourself to Others.

Blessings to you and yours during this Advent season!

Thanks for journeying with me!

The above picture was taken this past week while I was strolling along the beach. This is Panama City Beach, FL, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. White sand and crystal clear water are abundant along the entire panhandle of Florida. The odd thing about my hour walk in paradise was that I was all alone. I mean, I only saw three other human beings. How is this possible? Where was everyone else? Was I the only one aware of this amazing gift from our creator?

I don´t think everyone should be required to enjoy this life just like me, but it was odd. I mean throughout the week I used the beach to: play paddle ball with my kids, clear my mind, meditate on Scripture, run, build sand castles, write a love note to my wife in the sand, and of course walk. Thousands of people were staying in this same area, right along the coast and had the same access, but did not take advantage of it. The thought sadden me. I wish I had a big billboard, or a giant megaphone to tell people, ¨stop just existing, start living.¨ Get out there! Do something you love. Life is too short. I want to suck the marrow out of this God given life, and I plan to do so until Christ returns or calls me home!

Let me close with some lyrics from Burlap to Cashmereś Is Anybody Out There? 

Is there anybody out there?

Does anybody care?

Are the people really there?

Is there anybody seeking?

Does anybody see?

Or are they deaf and dumb like me?

A quick video I put together this morning! I hope it encourages you!

I’ve wanted to share some great insights from this book for a while now. It was published way way back in 1997. I read it as an intern in 1998 and again in 2018. Go pick up a copy!