Standing at the front of the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica is a magnificent fig tree that has welcomed visitors from around the world for more than a century.
The tree is stunning, at over 80 feet in height and with a breathtaking 167‑foot spread of branches.
I love to take clients to the hotel at the beginning of a coaching program. We sit on a bench that looks directly out at the tree, and the view is awe‑inspiring.
I take time to point out the remarkably thick roots that in many places protrude well above ground. You cannot see the majority of the extensive and deep root system supporting the tree from beneath the ground. This is a wonderful metaphor for how a strong and deep foundation is needed for us to achieve great things in life.
To become highly successful as a coach,you need to master three disciplines:
1. You need to master the business of Creating Clients (in fact, to be highly successful, you need to love creating clients as much as you love coaching clients).
2. You need to become adept at Fearless Coaching (a willingness to courageously lead your clients in the most powerful way possible).
3. And beyond these, you need to be willing to work your own process—and do the Deep Inner Work necessary—so you can see your own blind spots. You can’t take your clients any deeper than you have been able to go in your own life.
Love. Rich