To Coach... or not to Coach..?

That is the question.

I have, of late, found myself being approached by friends and relations asking to talk to me, perhaps listen to their situations and possibly give them cusps of wisdom... perhaps even an answer to their obvious dilemma.

In reality, I may have certain opinions - and they may... or may not matter, but for some, I guess, they get to see so many things in what I do or say that tends to help them - and I am happy to help... no doubt about that. I just wish I too saw what they saw... and maybe package it - but if I do, I might lose the 'stuff' that makes it what it is... whatever 'it' is. Get it?

However, I just don't talk ahead of myself or others. I do listen, and ask clarifying questions, and I guess this helps them realize things, focus on a different dimension or outlook and then come up with a more balanced decision. I guess, this is where I help out.

Listening is, after all, a skill that surprisingly not everyone is good at - coupled with my asking clarrificatory questions and my penchant for digging-in... then making suggestions - who'd think that this was actually what comes across to some as coaching? I mean, huh? What I knew about coaching was what I normally saw in sports events - you know, the old geezer normally hanging around some young athletes, once in a while yelling at them to do better while in the middle of the game... and possibly yelling some more when the game's end is not in their favor.

Sorry if that was not a fair assumption, but it was what I saw... and understood. Goes to show what I knew about sports.

Anyway, assuming I did coach others by way of doing the thing I was doing... well, then I can definitely be a coach. I just didn't expect to be using the skills - though I have of late taught the concepts of coaching.

Practicing what I preach? Glad I found out about it too - and I am, likewise, humbled by the fact that people do approach me for help... and for some coaching.

But I still have half a mind to try to package the damn thing, and see it it can help me get rich quick. I mean, helping others is great - I just wish I helped myself more often too.