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View this issue online at www.todayscoach.com/2003/112603.html
Wednesday, November
26,
2003
The
CoachVille Announcement Heard ‘Round The World!
Have
you heard? CoachVille
recently attended the International Coach Federation’s
(ICF) International Conference in Denver, Colorado on
November 12th – 15th, sharing
some really big news with conference attendees.
As the
leader of CoachVille, I was invited by the ICF to say a
few words as a memorial to my friend, and CoachVille’s
founder, Thomas Leonard. Peter Redding, President of the Association of Coach Training
Organizations (ACTO) commented, “I
believe that Dave’s visit to create bridges with the
ICF and
ACTO
will
strengthen the coaching profession and is therefore the
single most important event in the coaching profession
that has occurred in 2003!”
Due to
the overwhelmingly positive response from ICF and
CoachVille members, we have decided to share the speech
I gave at the ICF conference with “Today’s Coach”
readers in this special edition.
It elaborates on the exciting trend of
collaboration and cooperation amongst the coaching
industry. We
hope you enjoy it!
Next
week, we’ll return to our continuing series on
“Evolving As A Coach, (And As A Person) with Part 4:
Conflicting Intentions.
We appreciate your comments!
Please
send your feedback to letters@coachville.com.
Keep
playing,
Dave
dave@coachville.com
Dave
Buck, addressing the ICF Conference, November 13, 2003
Prologue
Every
one has experienced a conversation that
goes something like this: "So tell me about this
coaching thing. You help people live extraordinary lives
and build thriving businesses and careers. You add value
and make a contribution.
You engage in deep conversations about the real
issues of life in way that has a profound impact by
solving problems and creating possibilities.
I’ve been doing that my entire life and
you’re telling me now I can get paid for this?"
The
thought, “I can get paid for this” was made possible
by the work of Thomas Leonard.
I’ve
been asked to say a few words to celebrate the life of
Thomas Leonard – the founder of the ICF – in 4
minutes.
Minute One: The Vision
“Thomas
Leonard was a true visionary, a prolific creator.
"In a
brilliant synthesis of counseling, consulting, advising,
life-planning, guiding, ministering and mentoring, the
coaching profession was born.
“The
idea that you could add value to the lives of others as
a coach and earn a living doing it was a remarkable
shift in human consciousness.
“Until
that moment in recorded human history, those of us who 'had the
calling' to live our lives in service of
others did so as a charitable act or by living a life of
poverty.
“By
creating the coaching profession Thomas Leonard changed
our lives. By
changing our lives, Thomas Leonard changed the world.
Minute Two: The Promise
“Thomas
and I had a wonderful friendship established over
several years. Our friendship was based on the values that we shared: an
incredible zest for life, an unquenchable search for the
truths about life and a yearning to know how to live
life fully in the glorious unfolding moment.
“Several
years ago, Jennifer White, a good friend and colleague
in the coaching business passed away suddenly and
tragically from a stroke.
Thomas called me that day as he did almost every
day. Jennifer’s
sudden passing frightened him and he said: 'Dave, if
anything ever happens to me, will you take care of
CoachVille for me?'
I said: 'Of course I will. It would be my
honor. But
do me a favor and don’t die on me!'
He told me not to worry, but as was so often the
case in our relationship, he just wouldn’t listen to
me. (audience
laughs)
“The
next day, a Fedex arrived containing a will wherein he
left me his entire estate in the event of his untimely
death.
Minute Three: The
Perfection
“This
leads me to minute three, the perfection.
Fast forward to February of this year, Thomas and
I had just co-led a Full Practice Marketing event in
Atlanta. He
was so proud of the work we had done together – we
were so close to solving the mystery of how to help
coaches become financially successful.
He was happier than he had ever been in the five
years that I had known him: he
was so peaceful--the ever-present underlying agitation
gone.
“That
Tuesday after the event we spoke on the phone for almost
an hour. I will always cherish that conversation.
We both shared our visions for CoachVille: continuing
to innovate what it means to be a coach, and creating
programs to help coaches succeed in the business of
coaching.
“A
few hours later, he was gone.
“Thomas
always said that there is perfection in every situation,
even death. I believe he knew what needed to be done for the coaching
industry to thrive, AND that he was not going to be able
to do it himself.
“So
the torch passes to me.
Minute Four: Oneness
“Which
leads me to minute four: oneness.
Thomas
Leonard founded Coach U, the ICF, CoachVille, the
International Association of Coaches (IAC) and several
other coaching organizations.
As is often the case with great creators, he had
some disdain for his original work (the ICF) as a way to
justify his new creations (CoachVille and the IAC).
“I
am here to tell you that as the leader of CoachVille,
with our 40,000 member coaches, the animosity toward the
ICF is over.
“While
we will continue to support the work of the IAC, we will
also fully endorse, embrace and support the work of the
ICF. To
that end, we will encourage our members to become
members of the ICF and we will seek ICF accreditation
for our school.
“I
believe oneness is possible even when there is more than
one. The
animosity must stop for the coaching profession to
thrive.
“As a
memorial to Thomas and all that he did for the
profession of coaching and for each of us, I am here to
tell you: The animosity ends here and the love begins
here. My
heart is for you.
“Thank
You.”
Epilogue:
"I
didn’t have time to share this while on stage at the
conference, but I feel these lines from a beautiful Joni
Mitchell song describe perfectly how I, and many coaches
who knew and loved him, felt about Thomas.
'Oh I
am a lonely painter, I live in a box of paints. I’m
frightened by the devil and I’m drawn to those who
ain’t afraid.
I
remember the time you told me: love is touching souls.
Surely, you’ve touched mine. Part of you pours out of
me in these lines from time to time.
Oh,
you’re in my blood like holy wine. You taste so
bitter, and you taste so sweet. Oh, I could drink a case
of you. And still be on my feet, and still be on my feet.'
-
Joni Mitchell, “A Case Of You”
|
 The
CoachVille Commitment
I feel
very strongly that the most important challenge in the
coaching industry – and the fulfillment of Thomas’
vision – is the financial success of full-time
coaches. Toward
this end, CoachVille will dedicate 2004 to the business
of coaching, marshalling our talents, resources and
energy in creating programs that develop and support
financially successful coaches.
We hope you’ll join us.
-
Dave
Buck |
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