Tell Me What You Want

What you really, really want.

Don't know? Not sure how to answer? Unclear if you should run to the comments or to the dance floor? Fair. I'm a long-time fan of these Girls myself.

Photo Credit: DIY Mag

While that song dances around your head, I'll tell you a story.

It was Day One of my coaching education journey, in a class CTI used to call "Fundamentals." They kicked off the training with introductions, inviting each of us to say our name, where were were, and what our Dream was.

Reader, I panicked.

My DREAM, are you KIDDING? Call it my Midwestern upbringing, a lifetime of proving personal value through over-achieving, or simply life as a working mom, but that question--even the mere concept--was unavailable to me. As for the answer, forget about it. And, since I'd kicked off that first coaching class by announcing to the front of room leaders, "I'd like to get an A in Coaching," (because of course I did), I immediately freaked out. It was the first question they asked me, and one that presumably People, in general, have an answer to, and I was stumped.

Later, I found out--the freak out was the point. My intense emotional response was the point. It's like these brilliant teachers know that People, in general, actually almost never have an answer to that question.

And that is okay. We all start somewhere.

By the time I concluded my training in Fundamentals, I had a new Dream--I wanted to be a coach. I wanted to be the best damn coach I could be. That dream would then fuel countless decisions over the next few years, as I inhaled copious amounts of education and training, and started coaching as many people as I possibly could.

Which brings me back to you. You've had some time to think about it. Maybe you've done a little singing & dancing. Have you come up with an answer yet?

Whatever you want to say is safe with me. I'll give you a few more examples so you know for sure.

There was the client who admitted they really wanted to publish a book about one of their heroes, which led to a sabbatical, a lot of hard work, and a publish date in the spring of 2027. There was the client who, when pushed on what they really wanted said, "I want the awards!" And it led them towards choosing a job where they've been nominated--twice. There was the client who, it turned out, wanted freedom more than anything, and ended up choosing retirement ...in their 40s. Another client hollered at me one memorable day, "I just want to make cool shit!" And for them, that was enough of a stake in the ground to quit their day job and invest their time, energy, and talent into their own work.

Before I knew I wanted to be a coach, I made the shift from climbing the corporate ladder towards life as an entrepreneur because all I wanted at that time was a better phone & laptop, and a shorter commute. (Well, that plus I knew what I didn't want, which is where we so often start.) Just saying those simple, tangible wants out loud started a conversation that led to starting a thriving entertainment PR agency with some of the best people I know.

So now, finally, we come to you, dear Reader, and this all-important question:

What is it that you want? That you really, really want?

Tell me about it.