December 6, 2009 – The Star-Ledger – Newark, NJ, US
My 12-year wedding anniversary is Monday, and milestones like this extend rich occasion for reflection.
Undoubtedly, I am all the people I have been at the different stages of my life, and those people form the foundation for who I am. I realize the last 12 years enabled the systematic discovery and acknowledgement of my strengths and weaknesses.
In my teens and 20s, I had all the answers and 12 years ago, when I turned 30, I started asking the right questions.
My wife, who bore the brunt of my myriad infirmities, was more than inspired to assist me in my self-discovery. In fact, who better to identify areas for improvement and encourage growth than a spouse?
An unintentional consequence of her drive to improve her lesser one-eighth was that my wife, Lisbeth, became my informal coach. Vested in my improvement, she facilitated both my personal and professional development in a way I could not have imagined. A coach can help guide and support you, brainstorm and share ideas with you, point out flaws in thinking, play the devil’s advocate or simply help you communicate and influence others more effectively. I believe my growth and interpersonal skill set would be more limited today without my coach and I suggest everyone enter into a coaching relationship.
Tweet This
Email to a friend
