As a Coach

Guide
Like a mountaineering guide who takes you up a difficult climb; that’s what I do too, but instead of a mountain, it’s your Life & Career.

Toolmaker
I love precision and I love tools. Making a customized tool for a client is one of the joys of what I get to do everyday.

Developer
My objective is to teach other teachers or develop other developers or build into other builders; which means: to work myself out of a job.
As a Guide
Coaching is like climbing a mountain…
As a guide, I am there with you, to walk with you; to encourage you, not to judge you, but to listen to you; to inspire you to remember who you are and for you to hear your voice so you can discern what you deeply want from your life and career.

- you have to assess IF this is what you want to do
- you commit to it
- you set aside all of the money you’ll need
- you put together a plan
- you get the needed resources and training
- you do the needed preparation and training
- you go
- you are the one to climb
- you have a guide (that’s what I am)
- But, you still have to climb – you move your legs -- the guide will not climb for you

Climbing checklist
- Aerobic Conditioning
- Strength Conditioning
- Flexibility Training
- Practice Climbs
- Trial of Gear
- Learn from trips
- Acclimatizing
- Practice Climbs
- The Climb
- Guide
- Gear
- Permits
- Time
- Money (some climbs <$100K)
As a Toolmaker
Coaching is like launching a rocket into space…
As a toolmaker, it is my job to know when to introduce the right tool at the right time. Through directed listening during coaching sessions and reading your weekly reflection writings, I can assess what you need and when you need it. It is what I do.

Focus, courage, energy and time
- It takes a tremendous amount of energy to launch a rocket into space
- Human beings can grow and change but it takes a tremendous amount of focus, courage, energy and time
- The tools that I make…help you:
Focus more - Have more courage to face your fears - Have the necessary energy to do what needs to be done - Have the discipline to carve out the needed time to make it all work.
As a Developer
Coaches inspire without causing resentment…
As a developer, it is my unique ability (via coaching) to help others improve, grow, and progress in their life and career. As a systematic thinker, I see a path forward even in the midst of potentially discouraging conditions or situations. It is my job to figure out a way forward so that you can “see” the path and begin to take the next best steps for you in your life and career. It is all about YOU.

Below is a 'vision' for what leadership (and coaching) means to me: (it’s a poem, so don’t get caught up in the grammatical structure.)
When the Master governs, the people are hardly aware that he exists.
Next best is a leader who is loved.
Next, one who is feared.
The worst is one who is despised.
If you don't trust the people, you make them untrustworthy.
The Master doesn't talk, he acts.
When his work is done, the people say, "Amazing: we did it all by ourselves!"
– Lao-tsu, Tao Te Ching, trans. Stephen Mitchell.
My coaching philosophy –
the importance of FOCUS
I believe that people can grow and change, however I believe it takes a significant amount of focus, courage, energy and time.
- Focus: if you are detail-oriented, dedicated to your own steady progression, determined to reach your goals, disciplined to follow a plan of action and you have the desire for growth in your life and career, then you will do well in my coaching program.

My coaching philosophy – the
importance of COURAGE
I believe that people can grow and change, however I believe it takes a significant amount of focus, courage, energy and time.
- Courage: if you are ready to do the needed work to work ON your life and career and you do not want to continue on with the status quo, like the axiom about the definition of insanity, “doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results”; then it is time to show some courage. When we show courage in life, this is not the absence of fear; no, this is the epitome of courage when we face our fears because our goals (the things we want to do and accomplish) demand that we do so.

My coaching philosophy –
the importance of ENERGY
I believe that people can grow and change, however I believe it takes a significant amount of focus, courage, energy and time.
- Energy: if you are ready to address how you think; meaning, if your current thinking is impacting your life and career, then it may be time to address this both directly (through coaching) and indirectly (though reflection). Our preset approach to life or “how we think about our life and career” can make a big difference in our trajectory. This can significantly impact how we experience happiness and contentment.

My coaching philosophy –
the importance of TIME
I believe that people can grow and change, however I believe it takes a significant amount of focus, courage, energy and time.
- Time: if you are ready to commit to “me time”, then this could be the right thing for you. Calendar control is critical. The coaching is weekly for an hour (over the phone) with weekly homework exercises that take about 5 hours per week with a required weekly reflection paper. Time is an important commitment in my coaching program.




The degree & depth of your persistent processing determines the grip and impact of the coaching
Coaching Packages
Coaching is 1-on-1; weekly for an hour (all coaching is via the Phone and sometimes the Internet)

The shortest length of time the coaching will last is SIX months – this is the initial understanding of working together – a SIX month minimum; from here the coaching can continue up to TWELVE months – in increments of three months at a time. The longest the coaching will last is TWELVE months. Please budget for TWELVE months of coaching.
Coaching Process
Coaching has three parts…




Why Hire a Coach?
I'm Stuck
Life can be hard and at times, everyone gets stuck. Everyone would love to have help in these difficult times and that is what I do. I help you regain your bearings; so you can go in the direction you want.
Need some Inspiration
Having another perspective (or vantage point) is critical and when it is provided at just the right time, it can make all the difference in the world. One of the key ingredients to true growth is taking the time to discern (listening and seeing) your own voice; what do you really want, deep, deep down. That’s what I do, I help you connect to your own voice.
Life has Changed
Change is inevitable. How we adjust and adapt to these changes can make a big difference in the quality of our life. Expectations can play a big role in our overall level of happiness and contentment. That’s what I do, I help you move forward by sorting through your best options and by helping you develop a mindset that is oriented towards growing.
I'm Overwhelmed
Sometimes, life can be overwhelming, and when this happens, it is incredibly beneficial to have someone with you; to walk with you amidst the discouragement. That is what I do; I won’t be able to change your situation, but I will sit with you in it and help guide you out of it. I’ve been there myself, and having someone with you can make a big difference.
I Need Help Making a Decision
If you are at a crossroads in your life or career; this can be daunting, especially if you have multiple roads to consider. That is what I do; I help you navigate the best route, so you can make the best decision for your life and career.
I'm Not Sure What I Want
This is one of the most important questions to ask yourself and this is what I do; I ask you (in many different ways) – what it is that you want, deep, deep down from your life and career.
Working with Byron
This Is A Great Fit For You…If You:
- Are ready to take action in your life and career because you are seriously tired of being stuck in the same place, thinking the same thoughts, doing the same things
- See yourself as someone who is driven and passionate, but simply need a guide for a short period of time to get back on track
- Lost some traction and have experienced a few setbacks and as a result you feel stuck and overwhelmed and you do not know which direction to go; you need direction and clarity
- Are a hard charger and driven; you need (and want) to be challenged to go to the next level
- Are ready, willing and able to take action for your life and career
- Are ready to work through deeper issues to get unencumbered to launch to the next level
- Want more confidence and clarity with your next steps
- Are focused and determined to gain more meaning, intention and control for your life and career
This Is NOT A Fit For You…If You:
- Are not interested in taking a long look at yourself; to assess your strengths; define the life and career you want; create a plan of action to follow
- See yourself as someone who really doesn’t need a coach and you don’t really want to put in any effort for self-improvement
- Despite experiencing a series of setbacks, you aren’t going to make any adjustments; you are simply going to keep on keeping on and you do not see the need for any self-reflection
- Don’t have any time (not a second) to spend on thinking about yourself, your life or career; you are just way too busy for that
- Are not ready to take a deeper dive into what could be holding you back; stuff like this terrifies you and you are not interested
- Are not interested in learning new strategies that could help you in your life and career; you are stuck in your ways
- Are willing to think it over but if you are honest, that’s all that you are going to do; there won’t be any action
Coaching needs to fit
I believe people can grow and change but I believe it takes a significant amount of focus, courage, energy and time.
Ready, willing and able…?
Are you ready? If it’s not the right time, wait until it is the right time.
Are you willing to make a commitment to yourself? Your commitment will force you to be honest about who you are; this will be daunting and it will make you feel uncomfortable.
Are you able to carve out the time (up to year) to dedicate to focusing on your own life and career?

This should never happen!
What clients are saying about Byron
Client Comments
Things we say to ourselves…
“I am not ___________ enough: "ready", "expert", "smart", "talented", "experienced", "original", "good."
Any of these sound familiar?
The truth is that -- You are enough.
“I can’t afford the investment (in time or money).”
The concept of affordability all comes down to priorities. What is important to you – what is your priority?
“I am who I am…I cannot change…it’s too hard.”
The only limits on what you can learn and become, are self-imposed.
Someday.”
Often this sentiment turns into never. Take just one "someday" and convert it to "today.“
“I’d like to but…”
Are you creating very specific blockades for yourself, buoyed by your misleading sense of practicality?
“I don’t have the resources I need.”
Time, money, people. Whatever the resource, you likely already have all that you need.
“It’s too risky.”
The real risk is stagnancy or doing nothing.
Which mindset do you have?


What is Coaching?
According to the International Coach Federation,
“Coaching is an ongoing professional relationship that helps people produce extraordinary results in their lives, careers, businesses or organizations.
Through the process of coaching, clients deepen their learning, improve their performance, and enhance their quality of life. In each meeting, the client chooses the focus of conversation, while the coach listens and contributes observations and questions. This interaction creates clarity and moves the client into action. Coaching accelerates the client’s progress by providing greater focus and awareness of choice. Coaching concentrates on where clients are now and what they are willing to do to get where they want to be in the future.”
Truly effective coaching is a process of mutual discovery, which creates an environment that enables the meeting of business challenges, fosters innovation, and enhances overall development.
How to Draw an Owl
“The two circles aren't the point. Getting the two circles right is a good idea, but lots of people manage that part. No, the difficult part is learning to see what an owl looks like. Drawing an owl involves thousands of small decisions, each based on the answer to just one question, "what does the owl look like?" If you can't see it (in your mind, not with your eyes), you can't draw it.
There are hundreds of thousands of bullet points and rules of thumb about how to lead people, how to start and run a company, how to market, how to sell and how to do work that matters. Most of them involve drawing two circles.
Before any of these step by step approaches work, it helps a lot to learn to see. When someone does this job well, what does it look like? When you've created a relationship that works, what does it feel like?
Incubator programs and coaching work their best not when they teach people which circles to draw, but when they engage in interactive learning after you've gone ahead and drawn your circle. The iterative process of drawing and erasing and drawing some more is how we learn to see the world.”*
Coaching is an iterative and interactive process whereby everyone learns by trying new things and then shares results and then tries again and repeats the process.

FROM How to draw an owl (from Seth Godin… http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2014/01/how-to-draw-an-owl.html)*
Next steps
You want to learn more…
You are ready to learn more and maybe even set a time to talk on the phone with Byron to determine fit. You understand that by setting an appointment to speak with Byron, the purpose of the meeting is to determine if Byron is a good fit for you and vice versa. It is therefore not a free coaching session or some kind of sales pitch. You understand Byron’s process and philosophy of coaching.
You confirm that you are 100% ready to begin coaching aside from determining if Byron is a good fit for you. Meaning, you are ready to start your coaching. If you are not ready, it is best for you to wait and set a time to talk with Byron when you are ready to begin your coaching.
You understand that the investment part of the coaching has 3 components:
- Time: weekly 1-hour phone calls – you understand that these coaching sessions will be on both of our calendars and you will do everything in your power to be on time and ready to go
- Effort: weekly homework that requires about 5 hours of work each week and a commitment to send to Byron a weekly reflection paper summarizing your thoughts and the work you completed in the week of coaching – you will send the weekly reflection the day before your scheduled coaching call
- Heart: you understand that it is impossible to go through such a coaching program and not invest financially for the coaching and you understand that this is ultimately an investment in yourself