People have asked me over the years what really gets me out of bed in the morning. For years I would say discipleship because I love to see the “lightbulb moments” as people begin to understand and fall in love with Jesus. But what I have come to realize is that I love one significant aspect of discipleship: coaching.
There are three main helps that people need while on this journey of life, and I believe all three are necessary at different times in our lives. The big three are counseling, training, and coaching. But, before we talk about when you might need a coach, let’s define our terms.
Counseling
Counseling helps you resolve issues in your past to move forward in life. The hurts and heritage of the past produce certain thoughts and actions that might not be healthy for you or others and often become self-sabotaging and destructive to your future. A professional counselor has studied things like psychology and knows the right questions to ask, helping you become self-aware of your issues. Once the source is uncovered, they give you the skills to overcome those issues. Counselors answer the question, “Why am I the way I am?”
Training
Training is the development of competencies and skills necessary to accomplish specific tasks in life. No matter your calling in life, training will be essential to get you to the next level. There is an old saying, “You don’t know what you don’t know.” And how can you know unless someone is willing to invest in your knowledge? Trainers answer the question, “How do I accomplish the necessary task?”
Coaching
Coaches are usually not the star of the show but the maker of stars that shine. Coaching is forward-thinking that helps you realize your potential and path to be the best version of yourself. A good coach can pull out your passions for life and help you organize a plan to accomplish your dreams. The coach answers two questions: 1) Why am I doing it? 2) What do you need to do next?
The distinction between these three has helped me set limitations in my ministry. It’s not good for me to play the “Jack of all trades” when lives hang in the balance. For example, I’m not a counselor. I have never been trained to see the signs or ask the right questions to help people stuck in their past. After 30 years of ministry, I know people and can give sound biblical advice, but I’m not an actual counselor, and I don’t want to be. I am a trainer in church planting, spiritual growth, public speaking, leadership development, and team building. I have had the opportunity to train people in many places worldwide. These training events have been some of the greatest moments of my carrier. I am a coach. Some of the best trainers have taught me the competencies and skills of coaching as part of the Maxwell Leadership Team.
Now that we’ve established a working definition of a coach, here are five questions you should ask yourself:
- I need to dive deep into my soul to find my passion and purpose.
- I’m ready to take it to the next level. (Whatever it is.)
- I am worth investing in my future and success.
- I’m prepared to unscramble my thoughts and form a viable growth plan.
- I desire some caring accountability as I move my life forward.
If you answered “yes” to all of these questions, you are ready for a life coach that will bring out the best version of yourself as you press forward in life. I would love to walk this journey with you. Let me help you realize your goals and dreams. And let me be the first to say, “You are worth it.”
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Bill Sizemore 