help you to commit these core elements to memory. Just write down key words or even draw a picture to remind yourself of the important points.
As well as insights, in Quick Wins Gained from the Step you can list breakthroughs and changes you’ve already started to make to enhance your life, and in The Action Steps You Now Agree to Take you can list the actions you’re now willing to take to transform your life.
Finally, for each step there are Real Results – some life histories to inspire you!
Martin Luther King
Getting the Most out of the 10 Steps
Just by reading, absorbing the information and following the exercises, you’ll begin to actually experience the benefits of lifecoaching. You are the creator of your life, no one else, so the more effort you put into answering the quizzes and questions and taking action on the assignments, the more results you’re likely to achieve. Why not start now? It’s never too early (or too late) to start to transform your life!
Familiarize Yourself with the Process
Before you start going through the steps in detail, you might find it useful to quickly skim over the chapters to familiarize yourself with the process. The steps themselves can be followed in sequence or you may prefer to focus on the sections that appeal to you the most. Go with whatever works best for you. Some people find that following two steps in parallel can work very well. (You may be tempted to skip over the steps in Part 1, but I would strongly advise against this, as you’ll find the insights you gain from Steps 1 to 5 will strengthen you and save you time in the long run.)
Like anything in life, some concepts in the book will work brilliantly for you while others may have little value. We all respond to things in different ways. If you find yourself stuck on a step, making no headway, leave it. Take what works for you and leave the rest. But stay open-minded and give yourself the opportunity to see things afresh. You could be pleasantly surprised by the results!
As life is constantly changing and moving in cycles, you may find you want to revisit a step several times. The process can provide the structure for a regular review that you can return to year after year as you perfect different elements of your life.
Progress at your own Pace
Remember, there’s no rush. Whether the changes you are making are fast or slow, subtle or fundamental, it’s up to you. But even small changes can have a significant impact over the long term!
Make Yourself Accountable to Someone
No man is an island and one of the great benefits of lifecoaching is the synergy between the coach and client. People can often achieve a lot more by pooling their resources and supporting each other – two heads can be better than one. Bearing this in mind, I suggest you get the support of someone – perhaps a friend, family member, work colleague or even a coach – as you work through this book. You’ll derive great benefits from sharing your thoughts and insights with another person.
Any process of change will, at some point, bring you face to face with thoughts or issues that you would perhaps prefer not to look at and your support person may also be able to help you with these ‘growing pains’.
Your helper will act as a constant reminder of who you want to be and what you want to achieve. You need someone who will stand by you through thick and thin, someone you can trust to support you, hold you to your commitments, and keep you on track.
Allow Yourself ‘Quiet Time’ to Think Things Through
When working through the 10 steps, after reading a specific section you might want to stop and ponder for a while. I actively encourage you to do this. Sometimes it’s during the gaps between our thoughts that we gain the real answers to our life’s questions.
To do this, I suggest that you take yourself to a quiet inspirational place in your home. You might want to play your favourite music, sit in your favourite chair, light a candle, look at your favourite view – do whatever is necessary for you to fully access your thoughts. If you prefer, a visit to your local café or park or a drive in your car might spark your imagination and give you the answers you’re looking for. Remember, the answers are inside you, so the more comfortable and ‘at one’ you feel with your environment, the easier you’ll find it to open yourself up, increase your awareness and draw the answers to you.
Keep your insights in a Journal or Notebook
As you work through this programme you’ll probably want to make notes or jot down your answers to some of the questions. You’ll find it useful to keep all your thoughts, insights and action plans together in a journal or notebook – so why not treat yourself to one now, before you begin?
Here’s to the first day of the rest of your life!
Mark Twain
Step by Step Progress Tracker
As you work through the steps track your progress by colouring in each star section as you complete it.
Part One: Preparing your Launch Pad
Part Two: Real Results
