Inside Coaching is where we dig into coaching conversations, starting with questions from real women living savvy—my coaching clients, friends and readers. Don’t forget to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments, and send in your questions here.
This is the next installment of my coaching series with Gaynor Alder, the woman behind The Modern Woman’s Survival Guide.
In our previous coaching conversations we asked and answered the questions:
- How do I take the very difficult first step towards change?
- How do I make life changes that last?
- how do you radically overhaul a lifestyle habit, when it’s no longer working for you?
- What happens when you have the courage to act on your dreams?
This week Gaynor looks back to see how far she has come and recognised what she needs to do to keep moving forward.
Where it all started
Gaynor and I first began coaching in February this year.
In view of Gaynor’s busy life schedule, we agreed bite-size email coaching would be the most sustainable and effective approach for me to coach (support, encourage and challenge) Gaynor to fine tune the ordinary to live extraordinary.
As a coach I have enjoyed every Champagne Friday and Monday bites update from Gaynor, each email shared, and reading Gaynor’s insights and thoughts in the articles featured on her site The Modern Woman.
The path to Living Savvy
Before we delved into asking any of the ‘big questions’ we love so much at living savvy, we set a focus for the coaching series. Gaynor’s chosen theme:
Keeping my mojo securely in place in 2011!
Next I tapped into Gaynor’s motivational juice by asking her to write a letter to her future self. You can read Gaynor’s full letter here.
After reading Gaynor’s letter I encouraged her to:
- Start a Monday Bites list with a focus on simple things that keep her mojo in place, the people and activities that make her life sparkle, and avoiding anything that feels like work!
- Take 15 minutes a week and have a Champagne Friday moment.
- Spend March securing the foundational habits and routines that will keep her moving forward towards her big dreams.
What happened next
By focusing on the small things Gaynor discovered some big things that she felt were getting in the way of her living her extraordinary life. She asked: How do I radically overhaul a lifestyle habit? Her answer? One sustainable step at a time!
For the last three months Gaynor has been taking those small and sustainable steps forward, tripping at times and picking herself up again, and most importantly fighting the urge to sprint towards her goal—she knows slow and steady will win the race!
Mid-year check-in
In my coaching post last week I asked what direction are you heading in? and encouraged you to take 15 minutes to have your own mid-year check in.
Gaynor did this and wrote:
A very timely post for me indeed, and I do love a mid-year check-in to make sure I don’t get the wobbles.
So, what I have achieved this year?
- Took a leap of faith to cut down hours of my day to focus on my writing career
- Offered a paid writing job with a new website and asked to represent them at Melbourne Spring Fashion Week
- Taken to the Crown Casino by high profile cosmetics company for online media lunch
- Made Wednesdays all about me
- Cut down my intake of vino (still work in progress, but progress nonetheless)
- Started drinking water and taking vitamins
- Passed external audit at work as part of my day job *wipes sweat off brow*
- Getting more sleep and have more balance with new work hours
- Started getting weekly blow dries and manicures (but on hold now whilst I focus on my writing and taken a cut in day job pay)
So, now looking forward for the rest of the year:
- Secure more paid writing work to be able to quit my day job
- Secure a publishing deal for my book
- Go to yoga or pilates on ‘All About Me’ Wednesdays
- Be only drinking 3 days per week by the end of the year
- Fit into my size 10 skinny jeans
- Find a new place to live
- Start blow dries and nails on weekly basis again
Take the time to celebrate not only what you’ve achieved, but HOW you achieved it!
The promised of quick fixes and overnight transformations can be very alluring… but if you’re in any doubt about the effectiveness of fine tuning—of small and sustainable changes made over time—then Gaynor’s story might be just the inspiration you need.
Take a moment to think back over your own experiences with making changes in your life—have you noticed that you have more success with one type of approach over another? Is there a relationship between how quickly you make the change, and how long they last?
What’s next?
Have a coaching question? Ask in the comments or via our living savvy contact form.
Stay tuned for the next installment of Inside Coaching with Gaynor—sign up for updates so you don’t miss a post.
Watch Living Savvy Episode #12: How to acheive life goals and find satisfaction.
Related posts:
- Inside Coaching: How do I make life changes that last?
- Inside Coaching: How do I take the very difficult first step towards change?
- Inside Coaching: What happens when you have the courage to act on your dreams?
- Inside Coaching: How do you radically overhaul a lifestyle habit?
- Inside Coaching: Am I ready for life coaching?
