Hey love bugs! This blog post is going to look a little different from the usual ones. As we blast off into the new year, one thing I’m choosing to make a priority is spending more time, and putting in more effort to bettering myself in any way that I am able to do. I want to be able to provide the same opportunity for you as well.
Over here on the blog we believe that personal development is extremely important. You can learn so much about yourself, your strengths, and your weaknesses. Personal development is not stagnant, it is ever changing and ever evolving. Which means that there is always room for you to grow and expand on your character.
As a Health and Wellness Coach I work with women in various areas of their personal development. The overall goal is to help women improve many different areas of their life so that they can unapologetically live their most authentic life. This is a very small part of actively working on your personal development.
I recently interviewed a personal development coach, Martin, and had the opportunity to pick his brain so that we could learn more about how he best serves others as a coach, and what it means to actively engage in personal development.
Continue reading below to check out the interview!
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Before we begin, tell us about yourself and share a little bit of your journey to becoming a coach.
My names Martin Verduzco and I am a Chicagoland resident. My journey started back when I was a young adolescent. I have always seen myself as different, more in touch with people beyond their physical presence, it was like a 6th sense for me. Growing up, in my teenage years I started to realize people would gravitate towards me, and as I would listen to their story, my mind would race with suggestions, alternate perspectives and even “answers”.
I’ve been overly blessed with the opportunity of hardship which has only expressed my ability to grow mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically – providing me with a path to help others!
1. Coaching is a new area of development for a lot of people. While it has been around for a few years not many people are aware of it, let alone understand what coaching is. So, how would you define coaching?
We must look at the larger scale of what coaching really is. We have all been “coaches” in one form or another, they are just not labeled as such. Parents are coaches, older brothers and sisters are coaches, grandparents are coaches and even strangers are coaches. We may not see it that way on a smaller scale, but that is exactly what it is.
I’ve personally been a victim to these unconscious forms of coaching. Looking back my whole life was a lie, an accumulation of impressions, thoughts, beliefs, and even down to my personality which is supposed to be mine. I was just an impression of everyone else’s impressions, beliefs, etc.
So, when I am asked how I define coaching I see it as an opportunity. An opportunity to discover, design and build your greater authentic self, whatever that may be.
2. As someone who has sought out coaching a couple of times in my life, I can honestly say that it is very transformative. Of course, it all depends on the type of coaching that you seek. However, not everybody is open to receive coaching and this may mainly be due to not fully understanding if they may need coaching. What are some reasons someone may seek out a personal development coach?
The reasons are endless, but at the midst of it all what people are seeking is information. They’re attempting to make a connection from where they are to where they want to be. Or in some cases, they’re making an attempt to change themselves entirely. Personality, thought process, emotional wellbeing, etc., in order to achieve the desired state of being for the long term.
3. There are many different types of coaching out there. You have personal training coaches, business coaches, acting coaches, mindfulness coaches, and even various transformation coaches. However, I believe no matter what type of coaching you seek there is always a transformation of the mind that occurs. This transformation often leads to the development of new skills. How can transforming the mind help an individual learn new skills?
The most important thing we can do is to learn new skills and the knowledge to back up these skills as much as possible. Learning new skills can and will transform the mind and the way it operates. Of course, it would be a good idea to learn skills that will ultimately develop you; that is what keeps the mind sharp. The right type of information can and will alter the perspective you have of yourself and even life.
4. Mental blocks are blocks of the mind within the individual to be able to see past whatever hardship may be currently presenting itself. This can often lead to the belief that no matter what an individual may do, things will never get better for them, and various mental health struggles such as anxiety and depression. What do you believe are mental blocks and how does one overcome them?
Mental blocks at their simplest form are challenges we are attempting to overcome with our limited knowledge. Expanding knowledge on the subject would make it easier for anyone to start the process of overcoming mental blocks. For instance, a person may want to lose weight, but they have no knowledge on where or how to begin the process due to their lack of knowledge on the subject.
In order to start the process of overcoming mental blocks you must first identify what the mental block is for you, then learn as much on the topic as you can, and then applying what you have learned. You’ll notice over time that the more you learn, the more methods and ideas your brain will develop in order to resolve those mental blocks.
5. Fear holds us back from a lot of things! Often times I think we tend to underestimate the power of fear because we are not always aware of when it is presenting itself to us. Why do you believe fear has such a powerful hold on most individuals?
Fear is an important human emotion that can help protect you from danger and prepare you to take action, but we make the mistake of attaching ourselves to the fear that isn’t so life threatening. Our mind and imagination then become our enemy creating imaginary scenarios of failure. We’ve already failed many times in our mind, which ultimately holds us back from even trying.
6. Self-limiting beliefs are beliefs that we tend to hold about our ability to do something. As the term “limiting” would suggest, we tend to tell ourselves that we cannot do something because we are not qualified to do so. As a fellow coach myself, I know that this is absolutely not true! What do you believe is the biggest self-limiting belief that prevents people from growing into their full potential?
The set-backs are the beliefs in yourself and the ability of allowance. People will come up with unlimited amounts of excuses of why they cannot accomplish something. Regardless of how real it may feel to you, I can assure you it is another illusionary attack by the mind. So, focusing less on the issue and more on learning ways to resolve it will slowly dismantle those set-backs.
7. Coaching can be very beneficial for many different types of transformations that happen way beyond the physical. As coaches we know and often witness transformations happen mentally, physically, spiritually, and even emotionally. What are some ways people can begin the process of transforming their life?
We must first become aware of our current life, it’s a process, and the things we want to improve. Secondly, analyze how you play a role in this life model. What are you doing that contributes to this life? Thirdly, I would suggest creating a vision/plan for what you would like your life to look like in the next five years (most people have no thought beyond the day), create journals, vision boards, etc. Remind yourself daily of where you want to be, giving you more purpose in your day-to-day life.
Finally, learn as much as possible. Preferably, from those who have succeeded in the area you want to improve. Learn from their success and their failures and implement their philosophies into your life.
8. People seek out specific coaching for very specific reasons. This is because not every coach is going to offer the same results. As a personal development coach who specifically focuses on the transformation aspect of coaching, what are some of your strategies that you use to help people reach their goals?
I like to keep my strategy flexible. My strategy shifts as the client’s needs change. Everyone is different and unique in their own way, everyone is pursuing different outcomes, so to have a one size fits all approach wouldn’t resolve the issue for a larger scale of people. I can surely tell you my overall idea is to transform oneself from the inside out.
Let’s dive a little deeper into your services as a coach…
9. How do you believe you best serve your clients?
I best serve my clients by making myself accessible. I am also well aware that I do not know everything, so I also stay open to learning through the coaching sessions to better serve my clients.
10. There are many coaches who serve many different populations for many different reasons. Whom are the type of clients you usually work with?
I wouldn’t say I have a particular client in mind, but I am also aware that I can’t help everyone. So, in order to better serve our clients, I have an application form on my website with a few questions detailing their specific needs. This way we can filter through to ensure that we identify qualified clients. By doing so, it keeps me from being completely overwhelmed to ensure I can give each and every one of my clients 120% everyday!
11. There are many rewards to be given and received as a coach. What do you believe is the biggest reward you get out of being a coach?
I love helping people and always have, so the fact of me helping others and seeing the differences in their lives impacts me tremendously. It keeps me motivated at the end of the day, but most importantly I feel fulfilled!
12. Coaching is never about the coach themselves but what they can offer others and how their services can improve at least one specific area of an individual’s life. What do you believe is the biggest reward people get from getting coached?
The main benefit of my coaching is the ability to gain a freshly informed perspective on problems. In addition to offering new insight, I help clients zero in on negative patterns that could be standing in the way of their complete transformation.
13. If someone were to stumbled upon your website and services, what is something that they can expect to receive from you?
There are a few things I promise every client, and that is to provide them with the most authentic and honest version of myself. So, for me to say my clients are receiving something other than my authenticity and honesty would be foolish. At least that is my take on it. The hard work is in their hands, and they’re discovering themselves through my powerful coaching.
14. What specific areas of personal development do you focus on?
There is a broad range of services we provide from personal development to marital. It really has to do with my knowledge and the capabilities I have to help. Again, I don’t know everything, but I do know a lot, and it would be a shame to sell myself short. This is part of why we integrated the client intake form on our website.
15. As a coach your main mission is to share your message, whatever that may be and however it may present itself. What do you believe is the biggest challenge you face as a coach, and clients face as someone receiving coaching services?
I think the biggest challenge I face as a coach is ensuring that the work is being done and to what degree. It’s obvious that I can’t be with the client 24/7 unless that was a special criterion requested by our client. We do our best to serve the clients at hand and we go above and beyond to ensure that you get the highest quality coaching. Our goal is to get our clients standing on their two feet as quick as possible!
As for the client’s challenges it would be the work that comes with the change. It’s difficult and as someone who has done the majority of what I coach I can honestly tell you there’s nothing easy about the “transformation”. It takes a toll on everything you ever believed. It’s difficult to change anyone’s way of thinking or belief by the snap of a finger. It would make both mine and the client’s job easier, but it’s unrealistic. We really enjoy working with people who have a burning desire to change.
Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions and share your perspective of coaching. It is still a grey area in the world that a lot of people have never heard of, but is slowly on the rise. Before you go, I personally have one burning question that I would love to get your answer to.
Bonus question: What makes the work you do so fulfilling, purposeful, and above all meaningful?
This one is easy. My coaching has never been about the money. I have coached hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals for free. My coaching never comes from a perspective of lack. It makes my coaching much more authentic and efficient. Coaching has been my childhood destiny from day one. It fulfills my soul, knowing that I am making a difference in the lives of others. It is also quite exciting knowing that I will forever be a piece of their journey and life.
Thank you once again!
If you would like to reach out to Martin to learn more about his coaching style and services you can check him out at Ego Soar Consulting!
-Xo
Kimora