An Interview with Noel Posus

Do you remember the moment you decided to become a coach? Could you share that with us?

Yes, definitely. Although I feel I’ve been coaching for most of my life and career, like many of us do, it was when I was being coached for the first time. It was the third of twelve sessions, and I had my first epiphany. I didn’t really know what an epiphany was before other than by definition because I hadn’t remembered experiencing something so profound before. The value of that experience was something I was looking for in coaching, and when I found it I also knew I wanted to assist others at that level.

Coaches come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. What’s your background?

My background is a combination of teaching at the University of Colorado for 5 years, being a corporate executive for 7, a professional singer, dancer, model and actor, being an artist, being multicultural and having lived and worked all over the world. But most importantly, being someone who is incredibly aware of my own journey, my life’s achievements and tragedies (which I view as achievements as well) and my unique view of the world.

Do you have a coaching specialty or niche? How did you come up with that? If you are a general life coach, what inspired your choice?

I have a very diverse business and I love that. I do personal, relationship, group, business, executive and mentor coaching. I want to do a number of things and have the variety. It’s also part of my formal business model that the corporations that I work with pay an additional “community service fee” as part of their rate so that I can offer pro bono and reduced-rate coaching to people all over the world who really want someone to help them navigate change, but can’t necessarily afford it financially. I am also a teacher and mentor coach with a couple of coaching schools.

How do you conduct your coaching? In person, over the phone, workshops, chat services?

I love face-to-face coaching and that’s about half of my business. The rest is over the phone, via email and online chat. I really enjoy the challenge of different mediums, and am so grateful there are a number of ways to connect with people.

What’s been the most challenging moment in your coaching career to date?

I was planning a big trip back to the USA to spend some time with my family during a very dark period for them. I had planned to continue to work over the phone with some clients, having others waiting here when I got back, and that business would continue. I didn’t plan as effectively as I could have, and some of my processes weren’t well tested. Essentially and without going into the whole story, I didn’t earn any money from coaching for nearly six months and my business nearly failed. Thankfully, it recovered with a lot of work, determination and patience.

What’s been the greatest highlight?

I look at this one two ways. One, every moment my clients share with me is a gift and I’m incredibly grateful for that. These are my daily highlights. Second, I’m about to launch my first national tour of a coaching programme called Dragged Kicking And Screaming To Success in partnership with the Life Coaching Institute of Australia. If you’d like to know more about that programme, the link is http://www.lcia.com.au/DKASTS/

What’s your big dream for your coaching business?

To teach life skills to every man, woman and child on the planet! This is also the vision of an organization called Greenwig which I’m affiliated with. You can check them out at http://www.greenwig.com.au/home.htm

What area of self, coaching or business do you feel you have the greatest to learn and what are your plans for that?

I’ve written my first e-book and I want it published this month. This means I also have to lift my game for finishing to proofread and edit it, learn how to do an online shopping cart and payment system that works for me, and establish the processes I need to both earn passive income and continue to develop products that add value. To reach that objective, I’ve set certain target dates for myself throughout this month and am asking others for help on different sections. I know I don’t currently have the competencies, energy or resourcefulness to do this all on my own so I’m building relationships to collaborate instead.

Do you have a mentor and get coached now? How has that experience helped you?

Yes, I have a number of mentors for different reasons. The relationships I have with each of them is that we set up times with each other when we need them, versus having regularly scheduled sessions. However, I’m about to enter into a new coach mentor relationship with one of my mentors to focus on some very specific things over a period of three months. Very exciting!

What are your thoughts about the Australian coaching community?

I have lots of opinions on this topic, but the most important thing I can share here is about how exciting I feel the next couple of years will be in this space. There’s a lot on the horizon in terms of new groups, collaborations and new opportunities for coaches and our clients. For those who feel a bit overwhelmed by all the different ways coaches are working today, well watch out because a heap of innovative new approaches are being launched every day. Wow, there is some great stuff happening.

What advice or suggestions would you offer new coaches?

Build your network of colleagues now, right away, and build a community together. We can feel so isolated sometimes as coaches, and part of this has been due to how little some parts of our coaching community actually communicate and connect with each other. I’m a firm believer that you don’t have to accept that’s the way things are. If you need something, let people know and feel comfortable asking for it. At the same time, get in the habit of asking others what they need. This is called networking to give (versus networking to get) and this has been the single-most successful part of my life and business.

How about for established coaches?

The same. If you’re not already in the habit of networking to give, then maybe this is the time to start. I feel strongly that you’ll be amazed and the transformation for yourself and your coaching business.

If you have a personal vision statement, versus a business one (unless they’re the same), would you share it with us?

In line with Greenwig’s…To bring life skills training to every man, woman and child on the planet.

Thank you for sharing your time, ideas, feelings, energy and passion with us!