Tomorrow’s
Life Coach
Volume 3 Issue 10 - October 2004
In This Issue: Next-Gen and Retirement
Coaching
Tomorrow's Life Coach is a professional
monthly online journal of the Institute for Life Coach
Training that nourishes the intellect, intuition and
inspiration of the personal/business coaching community.
TLC continues to gain in popularity among diverse
coaches and is highly recommended by Peer
Resources:
"One of the best free newsletters,
Tomorrow's Life Coach consists of well-researched,
informative articles on a variety of key topics for
coaches. While a publication of the Institute for
Life Coach Training, many of the articles are written
by other well-known coaches."
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at diane@lifecoachtraining.com
Pat's
Ponderings
Dear Fellow Coaches:
When I wrote my book Therapist as Life Coach in 2002, I predicted
that the two hottest trends in coaching would become relationship
coaching and retirement coaching. Since all coaching is about more
purposeful living, retirement coaching is a natural for people who
have "made it" and for whom the coaching would focus on legacy. Retirement
coaching is also an area that can focus on helping the client move
toward a desired retirement, or what I call "protirement." For most
people, retirement does not mean that they quit working and move to
a warm climate, wear ugly shorts and play golf everyday. Instead,
everyone still needs something that they are excited to wake up to
everyday. So, retirement coaching is for those who are financially
set or planning to be, and for those who want their "retirement" years
to leave a lasting legacy for the people, family, and community they
impacted.
You will find stimulating reading in this month's
journal that will assist you in having retirement conversations
with your clients, and maybe help you in moving toward your own "protirement!"
Happy Coaching!
Pat
Patrick Williams Ed.D., MCC
Chief Energizing Officer, ILCT
Department Chair, Professional Coaching
International University of Professional Studies: "Get
a PhD in professional coaching from a reputable university without
walls. Go to www.iups.edu...the
quickest and least expensive way to achieve a PhD in professional
coaching."
Editor's
Pen
Dear Coach Colleagues:
This month's theme highlights two groups at opposite
ends of the spectrum: Next-Gen and Retirement! Here's a quote by
Frank Tyger that is relevant to people at any point on the generational
continuum: "Your future depends on many things, but mostly on you." How
wonderful to be involved in a profession that helps people to craft
satisfying lives! Thanks to Gary Collins, Richard Johnson and Justin
Johnson for providing such rich articles on these two coaching niches.
November's theme of "Coaching Certification and
Regulation" will include the controversy regarding coach certification.
In December we will present "Self-Care for Caring Coaches." We are
looking for additional articles on these topics and on marketing.
Also, we are developing our editorial calendar for 2005 so email
your suggestions for topics of interest to your coaching business
by October 31. Looking forward to hearing from you!
Your editor,
Annette
Annette A. Miller, MBA
Editor, Tomorrow's Life Coach
Graduate, ILCT
Member, ICF, CCN, IAC
President & Executive Coach, LifeSync Coaching®
amiller@lifesync.com
http://www.lifesync.com
Authorized Affiliate, Extended DISC® - the world's
fastest growing assessment system
Certified Birkman® Consultant - providing deeper
insight into your being
Coaching
the Next-Gen
Some people call them Gen-Xers. Others refer to them as the
Next-Gen. Most of these people between the early-twenties and the
mid-thirties don’t much care for labels. They used to be known
as a lazy generation that had no ambition and took no responsibilities.
But this characterization is long gone. This is a socially conscious
generation. They care about the world. They value community, perhaps
because so many of them grew up as latch-key kids who came home
to empty houses. These are the children of success oriented, fitness-worshipping,
materialistic, ambition-driven baby boomer parents. The next-gen
kids are less interested in success, more concerned about fulfillment,
making a difference, and being unique individuals but in community.
Many are fascinated with spirituality but they don’t care
much for religion, denominations, or anything or anybody that looks
phony.
Numerous books and seminars may try to define these people but the
best way to know them is to hang out with them, accept them, learn
from them, and respect them. These young people are inundated with
choices, information overload, technology, and endless experiences.
Many are starved for mentors and other adults who can walk with
them as they make decisions and get direction for their lives. They
value stable models who are connected with the past but willing
to pour themselves into younger people who grew up with overly busy
parents and little solid guidance.
In coaching this younger group, remember:
· They like participation. They may want to know what you are
doing and why. They can be actively engaged in the coaching process.
· They like stories rather than dry facts. They are accustomed
to telling their story, and often are happy to share freely.
· Many are overwhelmed by the alternatives they face every
day, confused about the available options, and open to guidance.
· Overall this group is not impressed with your expertise or
coaching credentials. They want to know if you are real, authentic,
genuine. They know that counselors, preachers, professors or coaches
who claim to have it all together really do not. They connect better
with “wounded healers” and others who are not afraid to
admit their past failings.
· These people were raised on technology, postmodernism, media,
the Internet. Consider how you can use these creatively in your coaching.
· This group tends to be less interested in individual success
but more interested in things that can be done in teams or community.
· Because they don’t like to be stereotyped, many of
them might dislike what has been written in these paragraphs because
it might imply that they are all the same. They are not.
· Like all of us, these people want to be heard and understood.
They respond well to genuine interest and friendship.
Next-Gen people are aware of coaching and appreciate its value.
They have fitness coaches, financial coaches, music mentors, and
coaches where they work. Some, including college students, don’t
have a lot of money so they may not be the best source of coaching
income. But others have high paying jobs and fewer responsibilities
than they will have within a few years, so they are able to pay.
Even the poorer ones, manage to find the money if they are motivated
and see the value of your coaching. But if they can’t see
its value, they won’t stay.
From my perspective there is no more satisfying group to coach.
They are enthusiastic, filled with potential, open to learn. When
they see that you have faith in them, they are willing partners
in the coaching process.
But don’t take my word for it. Show these paragraphs to somebody
in the next-generation and ask what they think. Let them see your
interest. Ask them what I missed that you should know. Send me an
email to tell me what you discover if you wish. And then start coaching
this most exciting group. You’ll be glad you did – if
you aren’t too stuffy.
Gary Collins has a PhD in clinical psychology from Purdue University
and is a graduate of ILCT. After teaching graduate students for
25 years he headed a large counseling organization and established
a counseling magazine before moving into coaching. Author of over
60 books, Gary’s book Christian Coaching is the standard text
for coaches with a Christian perspective. Currently he continues
to write, coach, and travel internationally speaking about counseling
trends and coaching. His main passion is equipping emerging, next-gen
leaders, to reach their potential. Visit his website at www.garyrcollins.com.
"What you see and hear depends
a good deal on where you are standing;
it also depends on what kind of person you are."
C.S. Lewis
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Marketing
Myths
Myth: E-zines are the best way to market my coaching
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Myth: One powerful message will transform my audience into a client.
Reality: Consistently repeated messages are more often needed to
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Retirement
Coaching – Designing the Next Chapter in Life
In the US alone, more that 10,000 individuals retire every
single day! Whether you are looking towards your own "retirement",
or are coaching as your "retirement" career, or even think the word
itself should be "retired", the facts are undeniable. Seventy-six-plus
million baby boomers will leave the corporate and government workforce
and 'retire' in some manner over the next 20 years.
This enormous group of people has re-written the rules as they have
grown up and are now literally changing the face of retirement.
There has not been a prior generation more focused on pursuing and
achieving career, health, lifestyle and personal development goals.
And as boomers reach what has traditionally been ‘retirement’ age,
the need for transition planning and retirement coaching will become
even more evident and ‘in-demand’ in our society.
Let me explain…So much emphasis today is placed on financial
planning and preparation for retirement that it leaves a huge void
for life planning and preparation. Surveys confirm that retirement
is one of today's most troubling transitions. Having defined themselves
largely by their work, men and women are asking themselves, "What
do we do when it stops?" "How will we spend our time and lead fulfilling
lives?" "What do we really want out of this chapter of life?" The
truth is many folks simply plan their retirement with a calculator
and then ask, "Now what?"
I know what you're thinking..."Retirement...that word is not even
in my vocabulary!" Well, the truth is that the words "retire" or "retirement" have
a whole new meaning today than they did just a generation ago. Research
has shown that the vast majority of baby boomers want nothing to
do with the traditional definition of retirement. Rather, they are
looking to stay engaged in work, family, leisure and personal growth...but
with a few changes...most notably, living on their own terms.
Now that we have explained the need and demand for retirement coaching,
let’s focus on what retirement coaches do...
Quite simply, Retirement Coaches help people identify their retirement
strengths and concerns and coach them to create personal roadmaps
to live successful and enriching retirement lives...transition planning
and coaching at the core with a direct focus on creating individual "retirement-life-plans." In
other words, Retirement Coaches help people design the next chapter
of their lives.
Creating a niche as a Retirement Coach can open doors to reach the
largest demographic group in the world by providing invaluable life,
transition and career coaching. And it’s important to remember
this group, as a whole, has the financial resources, the education
and insight to both afford coaching services and understand the
positive impact retirement coaching can have on their lives.
Did you know that this generation accounts for more than 50 percent
of the discretionary spending power in our economy and controls
more than 75 percent of all financial assets? Plus, women in households
composed of people 50 and older control more than 80 percent of
total personal and household spending.
Now let’s discuss with whom a Retirement Coach works: The
retirement coaching universe can be divided into three distinct
audiences: individuals, couples and groups.
Within individual retirement coaching there are two camps of people:
pre-retirees and the already retired. First, all those who are 50+
and actively planning their retirement or is within 10 years of
working less than full time or who will receive a pension or pension-like
supplemental income are excellent candidates for retirement coaching.
Second, anyone who is already retired and looking to inject greater
purpose or meaning into their lives are also excellent candidates
for retirement coaching.
The second audience Retirement Coaches work with is couples. Married
or non-traditional couples often transition into retirement together.
Whether a spouse is employed or not, both can benefit immensely
from retirement coaching.
Finally, the third audience Retirement Coaches work with is groups.
There are enormous opportunities for retirement coaches to work
with both pre-retirees and retirees in:
-company and/or organization benefit programs
-continuing education programs
-professional and/or trade associations
-government agencies
-church or religious organizations
-financial planning organizations
Become a Retirement Coach! You will open doors to coach individuals,
couples and groups who are facing this major life and career transition
en mass.
Retirement Coaching will be one of the biggest
and most lucrative niches in the coaching industry in the years
to come as our population inevitably ages. The universal goals of
retirement coaching are quite simple however…to help each
individual find his/her giftedness, their purpose and meaning in
this stage of their life. I find that there is nothing more powerful
and wonderful than sharing the experience with my clients as they
create the retirement lifestyle of their dreams.
Richard Johnson, PhD, is the founder Retirement
Options, Inc., the retirement coaching, assessment and training
leader. Under the direction of Justin Johnson, Managing Director,
25,000 clients have experienced the firm’s Retirement Success
Profile (RSP)® and Retirement Coaching Program®. More
than 300 Certified Retirement Coaches worldwide create personal
roadmaps for individuals to lead successful and enriching retirement
lives. For more information about Retirement Options, Inc. and
their ICF-accredited Retirement Coach Training & Certification
program visit www.RetirementOptions.com or email success@retirementoptions.com.
Editor's Note: Thanks to ILCT graduate and Certified
Retirement Coach Sharon Vander Zyl for recommending retirement coaching
as a forum for our journal!
“Things which matter
most must never be at the mercy of
things which matter least.” - Goethe
Tomorrow's
Life Coach™
Patrick Williams, Ed.D., Publisher
Annette Miller, Editor, annette@lifesync.com
© 2004 Institute for Life Coach Training
www.lifecoachtraining.com
Phone: 888-267-1206
info@lifecoachtraining.com
If you wish to use any of our content in
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please request permission from the editor.
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