Lights, Camera, ACTION!

Life fully loved
21 January 2024

“Laura Barker, step on to the stage and under the spotlight.”

Activate

Positive Intelligence (PQ) teaches the five (5) powers of the Sage: Empathize, Explore, Innovate, Navigate, and Activate.

Notice that Activate is the final sage power. Just like actors must learn their lines, you must prepare your plan of action, which I navigated with you in last week’s edition. My plan, as you know, is to focus solely on coaching.

Through Life fully loved, you’ve learned how to shift from a negative, fear-based saboteur mindset to positive, loving sage mode through PQ reps. In sage mode, you have access to all of the sage powers. Make sure you do your PQ reps before taking laser-focused action to ensure you’re in the right mindset.

Lights

With the spotlight on me, I can clearly see I need to sell my services. If I want to coach, obviously people need to know about what I offer. I need to tell people why they should care, as Schwarzenegger points out in his delightful new book Be Useful.

Recently, my brother asked my mom for advice on various mortgage options for a condo he’s buying. Which one should he choose? My mom likes solving problems but she had more questions than answers based on the limited information she received. We had a talk. As a result of our collaborative discussion, she realized she didn’t need to know the right answer (“pick option 2”). Her value lay in asking the right questions. My brother needed her insight into what was missing in addition to identifying the pros and cons.

Coaching helps you see what you can’t see because you’re lost or stuck or simply don’t know what’s next. You gain clarity by considering powerful questions that nudge you to think differently. You feel empowered when you realize that answers lie within you, no one else.

Camera

My camera lens shoots images of me coaching 1:1 and in small groups. Picture it: that “a-ha” moment when the client lights up because he realizes something new about himself. Scroll to the next frame showing a client working through a problem and coming up with an innovative solution. Cue a fist pump in the air. Then a third frame of a client comfortably communicating a clear message to her team because she’s clear on her goals and how to achieve them.

Coaching regularly employs visualization as a tool for personal and professional development.

Action

Coaching works. It’s action-oriented, in fact. You receive homework at the end of each session, which is followed up at the start of the next session. Accountability is baked in as you progress toward your goal(s).

Goals create meaning and purpose in life. Fulfilment comes from the action related to achieving the goal. It’s not even about the actual achievement of the goal as that’s only momentary. While you should rightly celebrate accomplishments, satisfaction actually derives from stretching yourself, being uncomfortable, and trying something new.

Coaching gives you clarity, impact, and growth. Who wouldn’t want that?

Coaching Solutions

Below are the three coaching solutions I offer. Click each for a breakdown of each.

Career Focus gets you back on track by identifying what fulfils you.
Life fully loved is about leading from a place of strength.
Changemaker involves driving positive change, making a meaningful impact to your industry, community, the world.

If you’re curious to try coaching, sign up for a free 30-minute session and see what it’s about. No strings, I promise! And, please share my message with those who may be curious about coaching too. All you need to begin is a willingness to see things differently.

Header Photo by The Maker Jess on Unsplash

You have to be open minded in order to grow. The coaching that Laura gave me opened my eyes to what and how I was doing things and allowed me to see the bigger picture. I am not done yet but I already see the changes in my everyday life.
MM

I think coaching is a great way to help you clear your mind when you get stuck with overwhelming situations or when stepping into changes in your life.
MO

Coaching is life changing. It pushes you outside your comfort zone and challenges your perspectives. It is highly motivating and the exercises and techniques used are both fun and informative. I think the main benefits of coaching are to see yourself, others and the world more clearly. I think coaching is valuable to anyone regardless of where you are in your life or career.
LE

I honestly never thought I’d need a coach. I thought coaching was for CEOs and industry VIPs. I didn’t think it was for the “little guys” (i.e. me). Now, I’m of the belief that everyone – yes, EVERYONE – needs a coach. Coaching has really benefitted me and I’m so grateful to have had that time with Laura. It’s changed my life!
VB

Laura is very patient. She took the time to understand what was causing me to be stuck where I am today and help me build a better vision so I can continue to grow.
MM

I think Laura’s coaching was what I had been waiting for. Laura was so approachable, kind, and open. Her willingness to help and support made a difference for me. I found in her coaching new strategies, ideas, and perspectives that I could incorporate into my goals and objectives that I didn’t see before.
MO

Laura is an incredibly intuitive, positive and caring coach. Her techniques helped me recognize both my strengths and areas I might want to explore as I embark on the next chapter of my career. The exercises she employed were instrumental in providing self perspective and challenging my frames of reference.
LE

Laura is a natural coach. Her probing and compassionate questions helped me learn about myself: my value system, interests, goals and strengths.
LM

Coaching sessions with Laura gave me new perspectives on how to process specific feelings and situations in life. She showed me how to sit with my emotions, acknowledge them, and then use visualization strategies to move through them. I now feel more confident and in control of how I choose to walk through life.
CP

From the beginning, Laura put me at ease, creating a safe, open space for me to talk and share freely without fear of judgement. I loved the variety of approaches she used depending on the topic we were working on and it was fun being able to try out things I wouldn’t have considered before! With Laura’s coaching, I substantially grew my confidence in the workplace, overcame fears, dealt with issues I’d been carrying around for many years and, most importantly, learned to value myself and define a path forward into the future.
AG

Laura’s coaching was a breath of fresh air and EXACTLY what I needed at that point of my life. I didn’t realize how impactful coaching was going to be, but by the end of the sessions together, I left feeling refreshed, inspired and genuinely curious about what my future held for me. Because of Laura and her coaching, I believe I became a better person – someone who is more open-minded, someone with a clearer focus, and someone who is willing to explore opportunities and possibilities far more than I ever did before.
VB

I engaged Laura for coaching as I took on an expanded role leading an asset management company in Canada. As a female, I knew I would be a role model and had high expectations of myself. I was feeling overwhelmed and anxious.

In our first few coaching sessions we worked through exercises that allowed me to reflect on my purpose, leadership style and what mattered most to me. I continue to be grounded by the clarity I achieve in my coaching sessions – allowing me to be resilient and confident when challenges came my way.
OS