Welcome October 12, 2008
Posted by Anna Fernando in Life coaching.Tags: Life coaching
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Welcome to Coach with Spirit blog. Thank you for visiting. This blog is to provide information about life coaching and about me, the life coach. I started this blog last year to reflect about my coaching journey at ICA.
Coaching is about moving forward in your life and taking actions to help you have the life that you dream of. All of our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them. If what I write resonates with you and are interested in coaching, I invite you to contact me.
I did it! November 20, 2009
Posted by Anna Fernando in Coaching, Inspiration, Life coaching.Tags: Coaching, coaching journey, ICA
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Congratuations to the ICA December 2009 Graduates
Well it is official! I am graduating from ICA in December. My paper has been approved and I am ready to celebrate. My coaching journey of 1 year and 10 months is finally coming to an end. There has been many trials and tribultations, ups and downs, good and bad times for my coaching journey. It has been a humbling experience for me. As I look back, I could have done things a lot differently but given my sitaution at the time, I know every action I took was meant to be. I became a better person with skills that cannot be learned anywhere else. So, I thank you teachers of ICA for your expertise. patience, and knowledge. I congratulate the other December 2009 graduates. Good luck to all of you on your next step in your coaching journey.
Learning about Blogging November 9, 2009
Posted by Anna Fernando in Coaching, Life coaching.Tags: blogging
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Even though I am finished with ICA, I found yet another hobby/passion/project to keep me occupied. Almost 2 years ago, I had no idea how to use WordPress so I created an ICA at blogspot.com. Then a year ago, I wanted to get creative and learned on my own how to create a blog. So, a year later, I am bored with just writing posts that I don’t even know if people are reading to getting serious about blogging. I mean really serious. I even purchased an ebook from ProBloggers, follow ProBloggers and signed up for his RSS, joined a WordPress meetup and am going to my first WordCamp this coming Saturday. If that’s not serious, I don’t know what is.
I am interested in learning to make my blog more creative and readable. I have perused the blogsphere and only found a few blogs that were really interesting or caught my eye because of the use of images. Like I wrote in my last post, I really dug Michelle Ward’s blog. It was very personal and she allowed her readers to get to know her. I was always afraid to get my readers to know my “true self” possibly because on the Internet everyone is anonymous. That’s why people go on the Internet, right? Then, I was concerned with safety and how safe are we really on the Internet?
I realized that if I would like to get some people reading my blog is for me to open up in my writing and express my authentic self. I know I have to be patient with myself. I can always coach myself:)
Looking back on my Coaching Journey November 8, 2009
Posted by Anna Fernando in Life coaching.Tags: Coaching, Coaching for Transformation, int, New York Open Center
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It is such a beautiful day outside. You would think that I would be outside enjoying the beautiful 65 degree weather. Nope. I am eating breakfast at 12 Noon on a lazy Sunday afternoon. For the past 4 hours, I have been glued to my computer, writing on my blogs, prettying up my website, and perusing through my fellow ICA student’s blog, Michelle Ward. The first time I saw Michelle’s blog, I was attracted to the pretty pictures and her sense of humor. Today, I decided to look at her very first posting to see how her magical blog came together. I did get some ideas and looking at her ICA blog, I started feeling guilty. I felt guilty because I did not spend that much time on this blog or reflecting on my studies and lessons learned. Oh sure, I wrote about when I was low in confidence and my lack of coaching skills. But for me, the perfectionist, always wanting to do the right thing, wasn’t enough. I wished I had taken the time from when I started in January 2008, to blog about my Foundations class, Advanced 100 classes and so on. No, I was ticking off how many classes I needed instead of taking the time to learn how to blog. Since I did not know how to blog, I wasn’t a willing participant to learn something new. I just wanted to rush the journey and be done with.
I am learning now. I am learning that you cannot rush the journey in improving yourself. There is a time and place for everything. I learned that no matter how many coaching classes or workshops I took, it still doesn’t make me any smarter or have more knowledge. I am learning to be patient with myself and my coaching business. I cannot expect to be making money if I did not even invest the time to develop my blog or website or have a coaching welcome packet.I should not be focused on the money so much but to develop my coaching and business skills.
There are some lessons learned in my 1 year and 9 month journey at ICA:
- Be patient with myself and the learning process
- If I don’t get it the first time, I will the second or third or fourth…you get the picture
- Don’t give up
- Don’t think another coaching school is the answer, it’s not. Don’t do the same mistake as I did. Enroll in another coaching school and that school is not even on par with ICA. I did manage to finish another coaching program in New York’s Open Center called Coaching for Transformation. Be forewarned: RUN, DON”T ENROLL IN THAT PROGRAM! Not only is it one of the most expensive coaching schools, you don’t actually learn anything and the teacher and founder does not give their students valuable marketing information or anything valuable at all!
- Learn the technology, even if it is painful, it is worth it at the end
- Sign up for blogging classes or buy a blogging e-book – it will be the best investment that you make
- Link to other bloggers-don’t just blog and think people will find you, you need to be proactive and find the blogs that you enjoy and make some comments once in a while
- I am a great coach-Don’t listen to negative people-they are only jealous of you
I found a new passion. Blogging. Writing allows me to be creative since it is virtually impossible to be really creative at work.
Moving on…. October 30, 2009
Posted by Anna Fernando in Life coaching.add a comment
In two months, I will be graduating from ICA. I enjoyed my journey as a coaching student and I know this is only the beginning. As I begin my professional coaching business, I started a new blog: www.annafernando.wordpress.com and just launched my new website: www.annafernando.com
Thanks for visiting.
Good luck to all of you as your coaching journey continues…..
Finally Finished! October 27, 2009
Posted by Anna Fernando in Life coaching.Tags: graduation, ICA, ICA paper, research paper
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Well, finally finished my paper! I have to say I am relieved. On the other hand, I felt like I did not spend enough time on it. I started writing my paper in August and it is the end of October already. How long do I really need to spend on it? Being the perfectionist that I am, I don’t think my paper will ever be ready for reading. I would like to post my paper on my website but really it has very little relevance. Hmmmm…..or I can always submit it to ezine for some other poor schmuck to research and read. ICA recommends only 2,000 words +/- 150. I decided to add the bibliography at the last minute and the word count just went up…Ooopppssss….What can I do? I did the best editing job as I could.I am very happy to say that all of my assessments are in. Now what????
I am sure I can think of something.
Good luck to those ICA students who may have a few more classes and requirements to go. I have been at the program since the beginning of 2008 and now it is my turn to graduate.
Writing the ICA Paper October 4, 2009
Posted by Anna Fernando in Nurse coach.Tags: ICA paper, nurse coaching
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It took me awhile to write my ICA paper, partly because I kept changing my topic. I finally found a topic and have been writing it since July. I could not get myself into it, maybe it is because there has not been much written about nurses and coaching. I realized I needed input from my peers at ICA and my nurse colleagues so I created a survey to see how the general public really knows about nurse coaching. I received a few replies back and realized that the general public do not know about nurse coaching and what it can do for nurses and people in the general population.
This is good for me to know how to market my services and if I want to continue in this path or to take the health and wellness route. At least I know the general public is aware about health and wellness. But, I just think the topic of health and wellness is too broad. I can life coach myself to narrow down my niche. I know my path will shape up as I continue my journey as a life coach and entrepreneur.
Today, I found myself at a standstill at 3 pages and over 1,000 words. I keep telling myself that I have only 1,000 more words to go. It took me three months to write 1,000. I don’t have another three months to write the next 1,000 words. I want to graduate in December 2009. I have been in the program since January 2008 and have come a long way to the end.
The only items I need ticked off my list are nine business building classes and four more communities of practice and then I am DONE! I can do the “I am a life coach” dance.
Survey for my research paper October 4, 2009
Posted by Anna Fernando in Life coaching.add a comment
Please take a moment and fill out my survey. I will greatly appreciate it and help me to write my paper for ICA.
Thank you in advance. Here is the link: Click Here to take survey
Supervised Coaching September 13, 2009
Posted by Anna Fernando in Life coaching.Tags: coaching journey, ICA, supervised coaching
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My supervised coaching with Kathy Munoz has come to an end. The past 6 weeks were nerve-racking, yet exciting as I hone my coaching skills. I was able to witness not just my own transformation but my classmates as well. I was impressed with my classmates coaching skills and the knowledge that we learned from each other. The ending of supervised coaching is bittersweet. What will I do now in replacement of my supervised coaching days? I know I have lots to do as I come to an end to my ICA journey. It was been a long journey but I am grown in many ways. I am very grateful for that. Thank you, Kathy and my fellow classmates: Karen, Lydia, and Jaylene. I learned something from each and every one of you and Good luck to all as you become certified professional coaches. Congratulations to the September graduates of ICA!
To coach or not to coach August 18, 2009
Posted by Anna Fernando in Coaching.Tags: Life coaching
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For the past few months, I wondered if I should even pursue being a coach. I feel, or people like professional coaches are making me feel that I would not be a good coach. I strive for excellence and perfection and I get stressed if I feel I am not performing the way I could be. I know I need to give it time.
I remember when I was in nursing school that I did not become an expert professional nurse overnight. I definitely do not give myself credit. I understand that I am still in coaching school. But, something that I was so passionate about two years ago is not igniting the same passion in me. A lot of questions pop up in my mind. Like, how many people would actually pay me to coach them. Sometimes, I feel that coaching is an outlet to let people vent.
I have done so much research in coaching. There are a lot of naysayers that think life coaching is not a real career. I did some research today and felt that RM’s program was a combination of gestalt therapy, co-active coaching, and the business world. They used a lot of business terminology like “appreciative inquiry”. I believe people have their own viewpoint on coaching. I once believed that coaching was action oriented but now looking at RM’s coaching model, not so much action oriented. I think the coaching profession needs to offer a professional certification and licensure like mental health counselors. There are too many people who call themselves life coaches and not even certified. They are the ones that give the professional life coaches a bad rap.
Self-Assessment August 13, 2009
Posted by Anna Fernando in Life coaching.add a comment
As I near my coaching journey, I look back to when I started classes at ICA in January 2008. I came a long way. I believe my coaching is getting better as I coach more people and have had four supervised coaches. With each of my coaches mentoring, I am able to perfect my coaching style. I am planning on graduating in December, 2009. I have two more AC 200 classes to take and communities of practice and business building classes. I am finished my power tool classes, submitted my coaching model and power tool. My coaching model is of a daisy and is attached to this blog. See the coaching model tab in the home page. My power tool is called Acknowledgment versus Dismissal. I will copy and paste my power tool to this blog as well soon.
Now with my coaching style improving, it is time to build my coaching business and start marketing myself. My niche is health and wellness and my clients are patients, nurses, and healthcare professionals. I have a blog for my business called www.mynursecoach.wordpress.com. My next step is to build my website and then order business cards. I will join the International Coach Federation in September and start going to meetings and meet other coaches in NY.
