I remember as a kid always being curious about everything. I aways wanted to know the reason of why things were. I must have drove everyone insane in my family. At some point I started to find my answers in encyclopedias (yes, prior to the internet everything was printed in a collection of books). I excelled in school and got all sort of awards and even a medal granted to the best students of the country. My dad suggested to me to become a doctor. He mentioned that he noticed healing qualities with my presence, and a good scientific background. I was not interested in medicine at that time, I was rather mesmerized by technology.
I took my undergrad and masters in the computer graphics design field, and my career in technology took off. Throughout my career in technology I was able to explore the fine art of balancing knowledge, hard/soft skills, relationship building, and emotional intelligence. I noticed that having a clear path in mind, a good strategy, resilience and ability to build successful relationships at work was a good way to escalate the corporate ladder. I also encountered those moments that were disappointing and challenging that we all face at times. These challenging moments became lessons that I had to learn how to process and let go. Intuitively I was navigating my career path with a positive and generative attitude that helped me along the way.
A few years after I became a manager, and I noticed that working with my direct reports provided so much joy. This joy was rooted in the moments when I supported my team to get through tough times. I would really enjoy seeing them grow and become the successful professionals they aspired to be. My curious mind wanted to know why those moments would bring me joy. I took different personality tests and styles assessments, and discussed with my mentors. I discovered I had a natural ability to develop, guide and connect people with their passions.
Back in 2013 is when I heard the concept of coaching for the first time. I always thought that coaching was for athletic development. After attending some presentations related to coaching, I decided to enroll in a program that opened my eyes and energized me in new ways. At that time I was taking coaching as one of my managerial duties. The methodologies I learned were part of my toolset, and I happily applied them when interacting with my direct reports, business partners, and with important clients.
Several years went by and I experienced a big loss in my family. My beloved father passed away, and I found myself at a loss. The grieving process brought an opportunity for reflection and soul searching. These moments clearly communicated the importance to live a balanced life, and aligned with our most important values. I had been coaching all these years, although I couldn’t really coach myself. I decided to go back to coaching school to take a more in depth course and become certified by the International Coach Federation (ICF).
One of the most fulfilling aspects I experienced while taking my certification program was to learn first hand what it was like to be coached. This was a powerful experience that helped me empathize and become more sensitive to the powerful transformation that coaching brings to the sessions when done right. There is a healing and humbling quality to coaching when a successful client-coach relationship is established based in vulnerability and trust. I can literally say this program transformed my perspective of what I wanted to do with my career.
Not long after I earned my coaching certification I decided to start my own practice. I was coaching in the evenings and weekends since I was still working in my regular job. Little by little i noticed that I was more excited about my coaching work, than my regular job. That was the moment I decided to pivot and dive into my coaching practice. I must admit it wasn’t easy all the times, some of my limiting beliefs and fears surfaced at times. By then I had already acquired the skills and techniques on how to transform them into positive energy.
Reflecting back to the words of my dad when I was a kid, he was right. He had seen in me the healing and natural abilities that are required for coaches. I just had to take a detour to learn my own lessons, and acquire my own expertise that now it becomes an asset to my clients. I can say I coach by my experience in the corporate world, as well as implementing the methodologies that I have acquired, and the experiences learned with my motivated clients in my coaching practice.
Marcus Aurelius