In Part One, I listed four of eight major areas to consider when choosing a good life coaching program. Here you will learn of the next four areas to consider.

1. Certificate vs. no certificate. Some programs will not offer a certificate. Some believe a certificate is not necessary or required. Although you can coach without a certificate, most potential clients want to know you have a paper stating you received training in your area of expertise. An effective program will provide certification. If you’re going to spend your hard earned money and your precious time, wouldn’t you want a certificate?

2. Business start-up help. Does the program offer you advice on how to start your own coaching business? An effective program will offer that information and even suggest where you can get the necessary tools/materials.

3. Getting coached. Do the programs require that you get your own life coach? Being coached is a valuable experience. It really prepares you for coaching others. Some coaches will coach you for free as a way to help you out. Others will charge you. Regardless, it is worth doing.

4. Support groups. Do the programs say “so long” to you after you’ve completed it? An effective program will continue to provide information to you through newsletters, emails, and special offers for further studies. More importantly, it will provide a support group for you, which is beneficial.

Remember that in any field of study you will have to continue to learn on your own even after completing a program. Don’t expect to learn everything you need to know in a coaching program. Read books, join a support group, network with other coaches, and continue to grow.

Copyright – Mary L. Weinstein. All Rights Reserved.

A few years ago we got a quote from three different carpenters to build a built-in entertainment center in our living room. It wasn’t supposed to be anything fancy, just a place to put the TV, stereo, and all the junk that goes with it.

The first guy came and offered to do the job for $10,000. I nearly had a heart attack. Guy #2 bid on the job for $2,500. Now I was really confused. As much as I thought the first guy was trying to rip us off, I thought maybe the 2nd guy wasn’t qualified because he was so much cheaper. Guy #3 offered to do it for $5,400. In the end we went with our gut instincts and found the solution that fit our needs.

People have the same confusion about the costs of coaching. Coaches themselves are even confused. Part of the challenge is that there are so many types of coaches out there. From general life coaching to very specific niche marketing, the topics run the gamut. Coaches also come from a variety of backgrounds. Many come from the world of psychology, but there are wonderful coaches with backgrounds as teachers, cops, business people, human resources executives, physical therapists, chiropractors, etc…

I’ve seen pricing as low as $50/hr for life coaches just starting out to executive coaches that work on retainer for $40k/year. So, when you’re looking for a coach, what should you pay?

Before answering that, consider this. Let’s say you want help from a coach to create a better marriage between you and your spouse. What’s it worth to you to not get divorced? Or what would it be worth to you to get out of your own way and have better self esteem? Or to lose 10 pounds? Ultimately, no matter the goal, what’s a better life worth?

Then consider the likelihood that the coach you’re considering using can help you get there. Nearly every coach offers an introductory session to see if the two of you are a good fit. Use that time to get a feel for their skill level. Follow your gut.

Ok, but really, what should it cost? Here are some very rough guidelines
Life Coaching – $125 – $175/hr is typical. More for a very experienced coach with a great reputation and background. Less for someone starting out or with less relevant experience. Business Coaching – $250-350/hr when working at the Director/VP level. More when working with C-Level staff, less if working at the manager level.

In all cases, consider your ROI (Return On Investment). Set clear goals. Show up and be willing to make the tough changes.

What’s it worth to you to reach your goals?

Can stress relief games really help ease your feelings tension and anxiety?
Definitely.

It’s true that stress is often caused by outside factors that we have no control over, like having to pay for a new water heater, or having to take up the slack for an absent co-worker. But how we deal with those outside stressors can make things worse.

Many people dealing with stressful situations try to hold things in, keep it all together, and stay in control. But what they actually need is an outlet, a way to just let themselves go for a while and get everything out.

And that’s where stress relief games can help.

Exercise

Physical exercise is often a great way to deal with stress. Once you are in the pool swimming laps, you will soon forget about the problems at work. And hitting a tennis ball for an hour or so is a great way to work out your frustrations.

People often feel better after they’ve done something fun and active for a little while.

Fun is the key. Doing a workout probably won’t relieve as much stress as playing an actual game or sport, like basketball, would. If you are trying to relieve stress, make sure you are doing something you really enjoy.

Board and Parlor Games

How many times have you been really stressed out about something? Then something happens to give you a good laugh, and whatever was bothering you doesn’t seem so bad anymore.

There is truth to the saying that laughter is the best medicine, so playing funny board or parlor games is a great way to relieve stress.

It’s hard not to laugh during a fun game of charades. And you can find games online that are guaranteed to tickle your funny bone.

Games That Occupy Your Mind

One way to relieve your stress is to get your mind off of whatever is causing it. And playing intellectually stimulating games is a great way to do that.

There are plenty of games online that will occupy your mind and keep you from thinking about your troubles. Choose games that are challenging enough to hold your interest, but not so challenging they would cause you to feel frustrated.

If you like pencil puzzles, buy several puzzle books, along with a good supply of mechanical pens, and stash them around your home or office.

Jigsaw puzzles are also good stress relievers.

Stress relief games are a great way to ease your feelings of tension and anxiety. Whether it’s engaging in physical activity, playing games online, or solving pencil puzzles, you are bound to find a game that will help you manage your stress.

There are many motivational theories out there, but one of my favourites I’ve come across in the past has to be Dean Spitzers 8 Desires of Motivation.

In his book ‘Supermotivation’, Spitzer describes 8 desires which causes inner motivation. These inner motivators are closely linked to Hertzberg’s Internal Motivators.

Spitzers 8 Desires are:

Desire for Power – People want to be in control of where they are going. In organisations with top-down structures this can be difficult. People want their power to control where they are going. You can do this by allowing people to set their own objectives, providing they are in line with the organisations vision.

Desire for Activity – People want to be involved and active. In our lives we try to avoid boredom and monotony, yet at work we tend to accept jobs that are like this without complaint. However, internally we know that we don’t want to be doing these. As leaders, we could involve people in decisions that affect them and in team decisions to provide that power of choice.

Desire for Recognition – People want to be recognised for a job well done and feel appreciated by others. A simple thanks or some feedback on a job or task carried out can go a very long way. This is a great way of energising people to want to do more.

Desire for Affiliation – People want to feel part of something, whether it be the local team or the wider organisation. Doing things to create a team environment will energise those who are social and will create a stronger team bond. Help people to see where they fit into the organisation.

Desire for Competence – People welcome opportunities to become more competent. Training and developing people to be better at their jobs can provide the energy these people need.

Desire for Ownership – People want to feel as though they own tasks or jobs that they do. Physiological ownership can be even more powerful than physical ownership. Delegate ownership of tasks and don’t just use GOFER delegation. Agree objectives and ensure you discuss what THEY are going to do.

Desire for Meaning – People want to understand what they are there to do. If they have to press a button all day at work, ensure they know why and what the consequences of not pressing the button are. People want to know what difference they are making.

Desire for Achievement – People want to achieve what they set out to do, whether its climb a mountain or a work based objective. Help people to understand how realistic their goals are, envisage what problems they may encounter and what they will do to overcome them.

What can you do to understand what individuals motivators are? Simple answer is ask them. Share the above motivators with them and question them on which of these motivators relate to them.

Remember the pneumonic PARACOMA.

We have a free self assessment questionnaire for you to use available at our website or on request.

MAJOR PROBLEM: All the big deals, all big projects, and the goals, and dreams that will change your life forever will occur with people outside of your circle. Those people have Drunk Monkeys just like you. They have an opinion on everything, just like you. The question becomes “Who is going to be conscious enough to give up their position to make things work?”

Consider this: You’ve already blown hundreds of opportunities to expand your dreams because of your need to be right. Right about your limitations, right about the situation, right about people….Right about how wrong people are. Right about how people should behave and not behave. Right about the process. Right about the procedure. Right about how it’s supposed to look. Right, right, right.

This week be flexible: Flexibility is your greatest asset in money making. You can either be right, or you can be in action…filled with joy…totally satisfied with who you are and where you are going! Take action on your intentions today. Give up being right about you, your limitations, the situation, the timing, and people.

Engage the mystery of life, you have no idea what is going to happen next, just take the next action and enjoy the result, positive or negative…both are just opinions. Trust that you are on the right path, if you are reading this, then by the vary nature of your intention, it is true, you are on the right path…weather you are producing results or not.

Take action in-spite of the uncomfortable feelings you might have. Just make it an experiment, not important, just see if you can take the action without feeling anything.

Click the link below to report any victories, wins, or accomplishments you are proud of.