I am a formally trained and internationally accredited coach and mentor. I am also a Chartered Accountant with over 40 years’ experience.
Whilst I was in practice as a Chartered Accountant, I “walked the walk” with people from various walks of life including when they faced difficulties. I also faced great difficulties in my own business and personal life and am grateful that I was able to still succeed. I experienced some people succeeding and other people not. Sometimes those who succeeded might have appeared to be the least likely to succeed.
If people fail to learn lessons in their difficulties, then they will not reach their potential. So, I am passionate in my belief in the value of coaching. It has been helpful for me and I have seen it benefit my clients.
As a Chartered Accountant, I found that I enjoy building relationships with people and the privilege of journeying with them to help them to achieve their desired results. I have even had the privilege of helping some people who have immigrated from South Africa, to build a new life for themselves and their families in Australia.
I built an accounting practice from scratch by building relationships and meeting peoples’ needs. I love meeting people and pioneering something new. It’s an expression of the creativity within me. So, I know about the pain and joy of being in business. I have faced tough times in the past, but it seems that many people who have achieved success have also faced some tough times.
Some of my own coaching has been “on the job” where I have been thrown in the deep end and faced with “sink or swim”, I swam. Yes, I learned, and I survived, but I thought there must be a better way. So, I decided to be formally coached myself. The first two people who coached me, took the approach that they were the experts and that their clients should just do as they said. Well that is one view of coaching, but not mine.
My approach is that unless a client understands and takes ownership of the actions, any results will be short lived. I think it is far more effective to listen to someone (asking the right questions) and to facilitate them to make decisions for themselves, than to tell them what to do. Sometimes people need help to recognise what the roadblocks are to them achieving the results that they desire.
I have the gift of being able “think outside the square” and facilitate the way to break through to a good result. Everyone’s life has a purpose, and I am passionate about helping people to reach their potential.
For people who are not satisfied with where they or their business is currently, I facilitate clarifying the vision, making an effective plan to fulfill that vision, and identifying and dealing with the barriers or roadblocks. I facilitate growth in business owners so that they can become better drivers of their business. I also work with people who are not in business but may want greater effectiveness in their work environment, in their transition to retirement or have it on their heart to do a particular project.