The Portable Coach E-Zine - Kensel Tracy

The Coaching Principle - The Story Can Always Be Rewritten

noreply@blogger.com (The Marketing Coach - Kensel Tracy) — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 18:19:00 +0000

Its been quite a few years for me as coach now almost 20 years in this business and I have seen a lot of changes come and go. The biggest change now is that everyone calls themselves a coach. When I first started it was difficult to discuss and tell people what a coach did.

I stumbled around saying I could make a difference in how you viewed your business or personal life and that with a few simple ways of changing in thinking you could have the life or the business you wanted. To me it was a simple thing. Live in integrity, get out of your own way and make a difference by making key decisions that move you towards your goal.

In the old days we thought we all needed to take personal responsibility for what it was we were doing with our lives. Today however there is a real reluctance on the part of individuals to accept that responsibility.   Its still just as simple, it just means doing the work to get closer to who you are and living your life so that it is meaningful to you and to those around you.

So what's up with everyone being a coach. Most people think that its a simple thing to tell others how they should live their life and with a few strokes of the pen, your common sense will improve, you will be able to jump off the side of that mountain or you will be able to find the job you want. With the permission of your coach you will be able to further understand yourself and the reason why you have only been employed for approximately 14 days at the last four jobs you have had.

Coaching in general is really not that simple. Life is actually really simple and yet pretty complex. Its simple because it all operates directly in the way you see things through your own perception. Its complex because you need to know that you will always be in conflict with what is and what your ego says what is.

What is, is usually the reality of the situation, but the ego has a way of turning that into a lot of things. Fear, drama, lack of understanding, frustration, anger, greed, .. it just keeps throwing emotions at you until you attach yourself to the one that gives you the greatest pleasure and the best story at the moment and why?

Well the why is that it that feels good, then you hold onto it and don't let go since its a safe place to be and you don't need to make any real life altering decisions because you can just keep adding to the story until it does not feel so good.

So in hiring a coach, interview a few and get a better understanding as to the process the coach uses to help you manage your story. Its not just about having a casual conversation on the telephone, getting together for coffee, its about knowledge of your how they can help you find out more about who you are and where you are in your story.

The best place to be is at the beginning which means you need to remove the past, accept the present for what it is and then you need to decide to make the shifts and commitments you need that will let you grow within you own story.    These shifts can be assisted by a professional coach that has been there before with clients like you and your story or stories.

The simple part of the story is you can rewrite it at any time you want as long has you have the ability to see that the story can change and with it so can you. Coaching is a complex and very rewarding profession and I am not saying there are not lots of good coaches in the world. However what you need is to ensure that the coach you decide to hire, can help you rewrite the story and provide the guidance and support so that there is a much more happier ending. They need to have the skills, the insight the knowledge and the experience to help you see that yes there is a end to your current story and yes there is even a better and brighter story will be available in the future.

The process takes time and since its your story, you will need to decide what the main character is going to do and the steps that will need to be taken for the story and the situation to change. A coach can help get you there and help you through those changes and help you correct your grammar and spelling along the way.

Being a Coach and Getting Coached

noreply@blogger.com (The Marketing Coach - Kensel Tracy) — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 16:31:00 +0000

As we continue to walk through this thing called life, its important to notice how things change as you get older. For one thing, the quest for money seems to change. You move from doing to being. Once you move from being a human doing to a human being you start to become open to all the great things life has to offer.

As a professional coach for the past 17 years I have spent my life trying to improve the quality of my life so that I am a peace every day. That means giving up the past and the future and trying to be more in the moment.

The past movies were a big part of my life and with the passing of my parents I was able to finally step out onto the planet with an unencumbered view of the world. This view was not shaped by those voices of the past that haunted you about what you could or could not do. Just when you were about to take a step the word of caution from a elderly mother said " be careful dear". Although I shared lots of love with my family and especially my parents, it was this continual refrain was the last thing you would hear in your mind as you embarked on the triple diamonds at Tremblant, stood up to sing a solo with the band or walk in and close a million dollar deal.

Getting beyond that allows you to now participate in your life totally clear. You now have to build your own reputation and you do it on your terms. In order to help others you now encourage and hope that you are not the last voice a client hears when you have asked them to step out of their comfort zone and participate in something that is a little beyond their usual scope in life.

It is this one thing that I can pass on in today's blog. Coach yourself to give up your past. Especially the things that hold you back from reaching your greatness. The fear, the anger, the frustration, all the things that hold you back from accepting, understanding, learning and growing. That old expression about the student is ready when the teacher appears should be changed to the the teacher is always there waiting for the student to appear. Its time you showed up in the present for your own life. As Bruce Cockburn says on is latest CD, life's short call now. Getting clear with the past allows you to better understand the present and learn more about being the coach to yourself and coaching others about how they can be more themselves in the process.

Coaching on Purpose

noreply@blogger.com (The Marketing Coach - Kensel Tracy) — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 15:04:00 +0000

Quite a while has passed when I first started coaching in 1995 in regards to the coaching industry. At one time the International Coaching Federation had 10 members and I was the only Canadian Coach. I remember thinking at the time that I was on the edge of something that would grow, I just did not know how big coaching would get. Now there are thousands of coaching and they coach on every subject.

In regard to coaching then, coaching on purpose, ( or your purpose) is one of the toughest things for us as humans to get into. We spend our whole lives trying to discover what our purposeis when in most cases its right in front of us, we just need to find it.

Purpose is based on values and what is it you want to accomplish with your life. What values do you operate under. In my case I focus on educating, motivating and teaching. These three values are the things I put into everything I do. This has become my purpose. So as a coach, I now focus in on these things with every person or client I work with.

What is your purpose? If you don't know, perhaps that is when you could seek out a coach and ask him or her to help you find your purpose. Once you are on purpose, life becomes pretty simple. You also begin to attract those things you want in your life and the people you also want in your life and you are never alone.

Think about it.... and coach on purpose.

Why Coaching Works?

noreply@blogger.com (The Marketing Coach - Kensel Tracy) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 14:46:00 +0000

Have you ever wondered why it is that when you do something with someone else that you usually get it done faster, better and with a whole lot more fun. That is sort of what coaching is all about. As a marketing coach, I can help clients cut the learning curve, work with them, remove their fears and get it done a whole lot quicker.

Remember the hockey coach that drives you harder, or the personal trainer that gets you to do those 3 extra reps, just when you think you have nothing left in the tank. Well that's what having a business coach is like.

Coaches challenge your thinking, push you just enough to consider the options, debate the issues and give you the support you need to make the changes either to your business or yourself so that you can get to the next level.

Coaches are trained in the business of human knowledge. They know that when a person is out of sync with what it is they really want then that is what creates problems.

A coach can also help you get clear with what it is you want. Sometimes we forget that regardless of whether its in business or our personal life that we are just human and sometimes our thoughts, goals and directions get bogged down in things we really don't want. It then becomes important for a third party to help us get what we want and need and help us to identify these issues.

Sounds confusing but actually its a lot easier then you think. You just need to become honest with your emotions, your truths and your commitments and then its as simple as riding a bike, skiing or skating. You remember what it felt like and before you know it you are back in the groove again.

Think about this the next time you are wondering how you going to fix something that has gone wrong. How did I get here and what is it that I need to do now to fix it. If you accept the present for what it is, regardless of the situation you are taking the first steps go moving forward regardless where its happening, either personally or in business.

When in doubt, think about hiring a coach. A coach can help.

Change Your Thoughts Change Your Life

noreply@blogger.com (The Marketing Coach - Kensel Tracy) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 02:34:00 +0000

By now most people have heard or read "The Secret". I have been preaching about the power of attraction ever since I first read about it and heard Thomas Lenard the father of coaching talk about at my Coach U classes back in 1995. Thomas had it all together. Lately Echart Tolle has been preaching about the ego and the fact that the ego controls everyone and that it is your thoughts and the ego that you need to get in check to make a difference in your life.

My wife has been a big believer about thinking and if you change your thoughts you change your life. Its really easy to get bogged down in negativity and as humans its kind a bonding thing to stand around the old water cooler and complain. Its harder to take the high road and make a concious effort to be positive and maintain positive thoughts.

As a coach my job is to get my clients to think about the future and what they can do. Its about getting clear and getting on with what the creator or the source or the power or god wants for you. You can have anything you want as long has you think positive thoughts. If you not sure where you are going then any road will get you there. In my book " The Ten Commitments to a Better Life" I talk about how you can confuse the universe by not having positive thoughts. Like attracts like. So if you are thinking negative thoughts then thats what you attract. Its that simple. Thats why a " vision board" or a journal works. It helps you define your thoughts and when you see something you have identified with you are attracted.

Remember change your thoughts --- you can change your life. As a coach, my job is to help you do that.

Kensel Tracy is a personal and business coach that helps individuals and companies grow and prosper.

Why a Person with a Coach is Successful

noreply@blogger.com (The Marketing Coach - Kensel Tracy) — Wed, 28 May 2008 18:41:00 +0000

Coaching works for a number of reasons and most people that hire a coach are more productive, focused and dedicated on getting what it is they want. The bottom line is; coaching helps individuals get what it is they want. How it works is quite simple. A coach works with you to help develop a personal or business strategy and then helps you as a success partner to carry it out. For example, a few years ago I hired my own coach to give me guidance on what I should be coaching people in.

We worked over a 13 week period where we developed a strategy, a focus, skill level and an understanding of my personal skill sets and the areas where I thought I could be the most help. I ended up developing a profile that focused in on working with advertising, sales and marketing people and small and medium sized business executives. I was quite surprised how having my own coach gave me the confidence and understanding to move forward in developing my practice and the help he gave in facilitating what it was I wanted. He challenged me and guided me and at the end of 13 weeks I had done a whole lot of work in finding out who I was as a coach.

There are plenty of sites to find a coach and you can just about find a coach in any field. For example: sites like coachu, coachville and The International Coaching Federation can help you find a coach.

If you are thinking of hiring a coach it is also helpful to interview up to five different coaches to find one that fits your style. Coaches are quite open to the fact that a person needs to take the time to find a personal coach so just don't take the first person that comes along. Find one that fits you.

Shopping for a coach is quite simple. You develop a set of questions which you ask of the coach and then compare and find the one that fits. Questions can include, expertise, how does the coach work with clients, how do you think the coach can help in your area of need, ask for the coaches credentials, potential references ot clients that have been coached and special things that the coach would bring to you.

You can also ask the coach to outline his coaching style. Mine is firm but fair, creative, open, committed, want a lot for my clients and I am a motivator, teacher, communicator and a visionary. I also tell my clients I am a bit of reckless optimist so ... that anyone that coaches with me should be prepared to be optimistic and open about the future.

You can see how having a coach can help you move forward and that he or she will help you get what you want. Also a coach can help you get rid of what you don't want to it works both ways.

There are a lot of reasons to hire a coach and most people that have a coach can make decisions faster, are more open, help developed a lot of personal skills and are most likely living the best life they can have.

The Power of Commitment

noreply@blogger.com (The Marketing Coach - Kensel Tracy) — Thu, 22 May 2008 03:14:00 +0000

One of the reasons many people fail in what they set out to do is that they have no commitment. A few years back I wrote my first book called "The Ten Commitments". It was all about commitment. One of the things a coach can help you with is getting fully committed to what it is you want out of life.

Most of the time we wander around wondering what it is we want. We think about it but we don't fully commit to getting what it is. A coach can work with you to get focused, to commit, to follow through and not give up. After a while you break through the rice paper and take matters into your own hands. A coach is your partner in commitment.

It is the joy within that creates a magnificent life on the outside.

How Coaching Works

noreply@blogger.com (The Marketing Coach - Kensel Tracy) — Wed, 21 May 2008 11:55:00 +0000

Have you ever wanted to change a part of your life and were not sure where to start. Well, then that is where a coach comes in. A coach is your partner in change. As a partner, we take no ownership in the issue, only in helping you, achieve what it is you want.

Coaching works because it helps you to see the world differently. When you are living your life,you are caught up in the issues surrounding your problem issue. You are more concerned about how it is going to look and feel and making a change on your own is tough because you are uncertain about which way to proceed. A coach is trained in the areas of human response. In other words, we view life as getting into integrity and doing what is right for you, as we know, this time around you only have one life and why should you suffer.

The issue that humans suffer from, is this one simple thing. Getting to know yourself better. In doing this, there is always some work. A coach guides, promotes, helps, pushes and prods and lets you make the decisions about where it is you want to go.

Most of us already know. We are just too afraid to make a change because we already have too much invested either personally or with others to be honest and admit that we need help or we are not happy.

In order to get back to the place of pure happiness it is important to realize that everything you are doing right now is perfect. Yes the present is perfect. However the present has a few things that you want to change. So start here. Identify what it is you want to change and start thinking about how to do it.

Most issues as also self inflected. In other words, a person is doing something out of habit, guilt, past incompletions, fear, a feeling or a lack of something and most of the time we just ignore it until it all catches up with us.

Relationship problems for example are all about past guilt and past incompletions and the fear of change. One partner is usually stronger than the other and this creates a series of problems as there is always something missing from the communication. This is usually honesty. So - coaching helps you get your confidence back, points you in the right direction, helps you with past issues, setting new boundaries and developing the confidence you need for change. Want to change something give me a call.

Kensel Tracy is a personal and business coach and Senior Partner with the Corporate Coachworkz. He also has a coaching company called The Marketing Coach and is located in Chelsea, Quebec. see Kensel's other blogs, http:themarketingcoach.blogspot.com and http:thetencommitments.blogspot.com

Introduction to Coaching

noreply@blogger.com (The Marketing Coach - Kensel Tracy) — Wed, 14 May 2008 02:52:00 +0000

Hi everyone, this is the first of many posts in regards to introducing you to the world of personal coaching. I have been a coach since 1995. As a matter of fact I was the very first Canadian coach registered in the International Coaching Federation. Thomas Lenard the father of modern day coaching was really the guy that put coaching on the map. It was Thomas that made personal coaching a mainstream topic. I remember going to events and telling everyone I was a personal coach and creative counselor.

At that time there was a real lack of awareness about how coaching could help anyone to become better at who they are. In fact if I talked like that, most people thought that I was from another planet. Today however coaching is accepted by all major industries, government organizations and individuals. As a matter of fact, its almost become fashionable to have a coach.

What Is Coaching and How Can it Help?

Like a sports coach or a financial planner, a life coach can help you get your life in order by coaching you to become better at what you want to be.

What does that mean?

Well for someone without a strong concept of personal integrity, it means helping people to get rid of the things that clutter their life and that are not that meaningful and replacing them with more of what a person wants from life.

We all want something. More time, more money, more satisfaction, more understanding from a boss or a loved one. By working on what you want and not what you don't want you start to change your life and attract what it is you truly want.

How Can a Coach Help Me?

Well a coach is just that. The coach helps the client to develop a strong sense of self worth and commitment and as such helps the client to move in a direction of the clients choosing. Too often we are held back by our own personal fears and "can't",
" woulds" and " I could ifs". A coach gives you the confidence to view what it is you need or want and to go for it. Since a coach is paid a fee and takes no real ownership of the issue, the client then, is free to make choices based on their own views and on their own terms and in their own way, with the coach providing the moral support and a few specific coaching techniques that move the client forward.

How Much Does Coaching Cost?

Well a coach can run anywhere from $75-$250 per hour. I personally charge $150 per hour to assist clients. I charge a client for four sessions, one per week, for 3 months. This is an investment of $1800. It represents good value because if the problem is significant its a really low fee, considering what you are getting is your life back.

A coach can work on a number of things, if you send me an email I will send you a "free report " outlining 500 things that a coach can help change. I am sure that you find one or two things that you would like to change. As Bruce Cockburn said, " life short, call now".

Kensel Tracy is Senior Partner in the Corporate Coachworkz Inc. and is a personal, business and marketing coach. see his blog at www.marketingcoach.blogspot.com or his other blog www.tencommitments.blogspot.com