So, this is my first blog post EVER. It’s for my first website EVER, which represents my first official business EVER…so no big deal.
First anything’s are a total mind bender for a (recovering) perfectionist like me. Of course, right out of the gate, I want to write something relevant and thought provoking that will go viral, capture the heart of the nation and land me a seat next to Oprah. I’ve got soooo many ideas about what to write and who I want to help and what outfit I’m going to wear when I meet Oprah.
But… But what if it sounds great to me, then I publish it and I notice a big typo? What if the only person who reads it is my mom? What if Oprah sues me for using her name or that really cool parent at school reads it and thinks what I have to say is offensive.
Or, what if what I say is completely unrelatable and people will never want to work with me and they start thinking that I’m going through something, and maybe I should just stop now before it gets really embarrassing and just admit this is just a silly midlife crisis already. Holy hell.
When is the last time you did something new for the first time? I’m not the only one out on a limb here, right? All this self doubt could talk me right back under the rock I just pried myself out from under.
I watched Brené Brown’s special “The Call to Courage” on Netflix last week and she reminded me that I’m going to fail. I’m going to fail a lot actually. Failure is a certainty of showing up fully in our lives. It means that we take risks and we are courageously vulnerable. Imagine that, but come on, what a bummer. I want the Oprah interview, or at least the respect of my peers. Or at this point maybe just that of my mom would be nice.
Put another way, the right kind of failing is a sign of playing full out. If this was the hokie-pokie, I’d be putting my whole self in. It means that I’m ok with it if it’s not perfect and I don’t get the phone call or the likes. It means that I care about something enough that I am willing to be bad at it until I get good at it.
And so it goes on my professional coaching journey. Ok so it's not like a pivot in career is a big surprise for people these days. However, learning a new skill after years of honing another skill set is very uncomfortable. I am a natural coach and have been so since childhood. As I’m mastering the International Coach Federation (ICF) Core Competencies and Code of Ethics, I’ve had a lot of learning “opportunities.” Like, daily.
I've felt silly, exposed, embarrassed and more than a little sweaty. I ugly cried in front of a room of strangers for feck’s sake! All the while, “trusting the process” and my essential oil aluminum-free deodorant. BUT HERE IS THE COOL PART...I am getting better at it. It’s been a couple of months since I started and it feels more natural now. What initially felt awkward and clunky is now a little less awkward, and more of a bump than a clunk. Doesn't mean I won’t ugly cry again, but neat right?
So. I’m doing it. Here’s my first EVER blog post for my first website EVER representing my first business EVER. Even it its not perfect and I mess something up, I’m ok with it. HTere is always spell check.
Anna Scelfo
Becoming an iPEC Coach
New Growth Coaching LLC
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