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 After
receiving my degree in business administration, it was off
to law school, with little thought about what career would
be genuinely satisfying to me. I entered law practice with
the same lack of introspection. As a trial lawyer, I was
a natural: smart, articulate, insightful about others' motivations,
and with an uncanny ability to manage details while never
losing sight of the big picture. In eleven years of practice,
I never lost a jury trial. But I also never (or at least
rarely) felt satisfied, beyond the short-lived ego boost
of winning.
As I began to examine my career choice, it became clear
that I wanted to help others in a significant way (rather
than suing the pants off their enemies) and that I really
enjoyed being in real conversations with people about things
that mattered to them. I completed two years of graduate-level
study in counseling psychology and did some clinical work,
before realizing that wallowing in the mires of why people
are the way they are is not necessarily a powerful tool
for change, let alone a positive experience for the listener.
Then I discovered coaching. My first coach was a real catalyst
for change. In the five months we worked together, I got
clearer about my true calling than I had in the prior two
years on my own. He served as a resource, sounding board,
and cheerleader for my success. His genuine caring and dedication
to service set the benchmark for service professionals.
In short, he did for me what I really wanted to do for others!
I've started training at Corporate Coach U, and am beginning
to build a coaching practice, working with professionals
and entrepreneurs to define and attain goals that are in
alignment with their deepest values. "Evoking excellence,"
I call it. The process is so exciting and deeply satisfying
to me that I could never return to the cold adrenaline rush
of the courtroom.
Contact Michael at mvaio@ix.netcom.com.
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