WiRE Blog

Circle of Excellence

Have you ever thought how coaches coach themselves?  As a coach I do this all the time and one day last week I was presented with an opportunity to coach myself BIG TIME.

I had been fortunate enough to be invited to a small company in Hertfordshire to interview a prospective client; a female executive who is so busy climbing the ladder of success that she is leaving ‘herself’ behind.

Anyway, the Director of this company invites me over to meet the Board members so that I can get to know them and visa versa. 

I set off on a beautiful sunny afternoon, enjoying the journey, thinking about the task ahead. Coaching myself with regard to how I wanted to feel in the meeting, what I wanted to tell them about Compass Life Coaching and the work I do etc, etc, etc.

First hurdle coming up.  I get lost, I know I’m near but just can not find the rural location.   So I have to phone the Director and ask for directions (no pun intended).  First thoughts of doubt start creeping into my head. What will he think of someone who can not even follow a map? How silly will I feel phoning the Director for directions? Will he think I am a stupid woman driver?  You get the idea?

I find the farm track up to the beautiful converted barn that houses the business and up I go. Its black cinders, a mile or so long and I have just had new tyres fitted to my car.

Second hurdle arising.  Worries about my car, expense of tyres and possible damage to suspension. Busy, busy thoughts that detract me from my purpose. Feelings of frustration and even a little anger for good measure. Does this put me in a good state for the task ahead? No?

I enter the car park, after a long and slow drive up the farm track that now extends into the car park.  I see a man appear at a door way and he waves a welcome to me, as I respond I see a parking spot to my right and begin to pull into it.

To my shock and horror my car comes to a thumping halt, stops dead, jolts me backwards and cuts out. I sit there shocked and confused, what have I done, what’s happened, oh my God he (the Director) has seen me and is approaching the car.

Third hurdle (no mountain) appears now.  I realise that I have driven into a thick wire cable that supports a telegraph pole. It does have thin yellow strips of tape around it in some kind of pathetic effort to warn people it is there, but I had not seen it.

Director arrives at car, I wind window down and he asks ‘what happened there then?’  If ever I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me this was it.  How did I feel at this moment? What thoughts were going through my head? How was my confidence level? How did I feel about the task ahead?  Aghhhhh!

So, I tell the Director I will park the car and see him inside – strategy to be alone and gather my thoughts

I park the car, survey the damage to my car and then park my thoughts.

Then I stand by my car, look out on to the lovely scenery, feel the breeze on my face, the sun on my skin and thank God I am alive. I get out my ‘imaginary’ Circle of Excellence and stand in the centre.

I recall the state in which I want to put myself in for the task ahead, confident, assured, friendly, approachable, knowledgeable informative, unique Julie Foster. As I do this I pinch my middle finger and thumb of each hand together. This anchors my thoughts and puts me in the state of mind I require.

Job done, fold up circle and replace in my imaginary pocket.

I proceed towards the building with a smile on my face, a skip in my step and only positive thoughts about the task ahead.

I am delighted to tell you that I have been awarded the contract to work with the executive but better than that I know that my coaching skills, my circle of excellence and my positive thoughts will always stand me where I want to be.

Where are you standing now? Are you where you want to be? Do you want to find out how to get there?

If you would like to know about building your own Circle of Excellence and how to evoke the state of your choice give me a call. 

Julie Foster

Compass Life Coaching

01438 216792

07970 600710

Journey to Success, Get Excited!

The magic of change is to embrace it, see it as an exciting time when you are given the chance to be different.

If you view life as a straight line, plan for the ‘normal’ eventualities and fear any variation on that, how are you likely to feel when imposed, unexpected change occurs?

Imagine this.  Look at your life as a path (not original, I know), try to visualise it, draw a picture of it in your minds eye, feel how it is, listen for the sounds you hear along your journey.

Ø      Make your path wide, so wide you can not see the edges

Ø      Visualise bright light surrounding your path

Ø      Fill your path with passion for what you desire

Ø      Let your mind play, what is out there?

Ø      Now – put some rivers, mountains, storms, fallen trees, deep snow, mountainous seas and the unknown in your path.

Not what you expected?  Well that’s life.

I used the words ‘passion’ and ‘desire’ in the instructions for a reason.  These two elements of life are what drive us to do things.  It is said that people will change and take action out of ‘inspiration’ or ‘desperation’, I believe this is true. 

If you have a desire on your path and feel genuine passion about it, want it so badly it hurts then do you agree that you will try anything to overcome the obstacles that may get in the way. Climb the mountains, get through that river, weather the storm, move those fallen trees, sail the seas and welcome the unexpected.

When these obstacles present GET EXCITED – switch your mind into solution mode and ask yourself questions you have never asked yourself before – you will get different answers.

Do not use the word BUT when you play around with this, it will limit your brain and you will not explore all possibilities.

The present times are presenting many obstacles for people and business is no exception.  However, at my networking groups I am fortunate to meet many special women who are facing their obstacles, seeking new solutions, using the strength of their contacts to brain storm issues and I am seeing fantastic innovation.

Why not brain storm solutions at your next WIRE meeting, you may be surprised at the results.  Remember no BUTS!

Warmest Regards

Julie Foster

Compass Life Coaching

www.compass-life-coaching.co.uk

01438 216792

Heard of the story?  I was thinking about what to write this week and in doing so reflected on my own week.  My thoughts lead me to think about the title of this well known book and film and how my feelings had been one of these things at differenct times this week.

• The Lion – courageous, brave, the hunter and the King of his domain.
• The Witch – wise, mysterious, feminine, all knowing
• The Wardrobe – dark, safe, hiding place, suits of clothing, entrance to another world.

I needed to use the attributes of the Lion when dealing with some difficult decisions at work, the need to be brave, hunt for what I needed and to believe in my self.   My confidence levels were high, I had a great sense of certainty and was bold in my actions.  The result was capture of my prey and retention of my leadership skills.

On the other hand there was a situation that required me to use my feminine wisdom. I wanted to heal feelings of stress and anxiety.  Using all my experience and knowledge and allowing my actions to ‘go with the flow’ enabled me to live with ease through a very difficult personal event.  The mystery of life is a wonderful thing if only we allow it to help us.

Last but not least I definately had moments where clothing from the Wardrobe were necessary.  The need to feel suitably dressed for different occassions is important to me.   A smart suit at times, a gym kit at others and a flowing dress for a special evening.  Know what I mean, the clothes change the mood allow us to take on a new persona for the occasion.

But I did have a desire to hide away this week, to bury myself in the dark, warmth and safety of the Wardrobe.  To be silent and at peace from the mad world outside.

Being a business owner requires you to have a lot of resources doesn’t it.  The computer, your stock, order forms, accounting books, transport, business cards and stationery, the list is endless.  However, never forget that the biggest pool of resources you have is inside yourself. Use those resources wisely girls, find your direction using your inner compass to find what you’re looking for.
Know where you are going and hunt till you find it.  Dress for the occasion and use your feminine guile to lead you in the right direction. Have fun this week, I’d love to hear about your week and what resources you found within yourself too.  Give me a call or drop me a line on e-mail

M 07970 00710
E julie@compass-life-coaching.co.uk

Going into business feels a bit like the journey that Dorothy took, in the film The Wizard of Oz.

A whirlwind takes you off your feet; you are thrown about a bit, swirled around and around and eventually land somewhere. The somewhere feels and looks very different to anything you have ever known before and it is SCARY!

You meet friends and guides in this new mysterious land of business, most of whom are also finding their way around. Seeking ways to improve, learning from others and quite often making the same mistakes.

If you are lucky you will find some great people who are willing to give you good advice and guidance that leads you in the right direction. People who have done it before you and are trying hard to help you to avoid the mistakes they made.

Watch out though, there are wicked witches, spells and tricks to throw you off course, munchkins to save and red slippers* to be found.

Eventually, of course the answers you are seeking are to be found inside yourself. Are you made of the right stuff to be in business? Do you know who you need to become to be a success in business? Can you be in business doing what you love?

My own Yellow Brick road continues to stretch out in front of me but I do not fear the journey. I strive to surround myself with people who can help me, learn what I need to and do not waste time learning anything else.

I know who I am, what direction I am travelling in and what I need to reach my destination. My road is wide and long and I know I can only ever hope to see the horizon – the exciting thing is that I do not know what is on the other side. Yet!

So what does your road look or feel like? Do you know the direction you are headed? And, do you have the right travelling partners to help you on your way?

Being a member of WiRE for the past three years and team leading for part of that time has given me a wealth of the things I refer to and continues to do so. I am constantly learning from others and given the luxury to pass my knowledge on to others.

What do you learn? What do you share?

Use your membership of WiRE to help you on your journey and I’m sure you will find the magic of your Red Shoes too.

Where will you find the Wizard?

* The Ruby Slippers are the magical shoes worn by Dorothy (played by Judy Garland) in the 1939 MGM movie The Wizard of Oz. In the film, Dorothy acquires the slippers after her house falls on and kills the Wicket Witch of the East, freeing the Munchkins from the Witch’s tyranny. In return for her unintentional good deed, Dorothy receives the slippers to protect her from the Witch’s vengeful sister, the Wicket Witch of the West. Dorothy knows the slippers are magical, but she is unaware of their specific powers. Only at the end of the film does Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, reveal the slippers’ secret: Whenever Dorothy wishes, she can return home to Kansas by simply clicking her heels three times and repeating, “There’s no place like home”.

Compass Life Coaching provides 1-2-1 personal coaching to fabulous women just like you.

You can join a local workshop, meet other like minded women and learn about your Inner Compass. See where it is taking you and change course if you choose to.

I hope you have enjoyed this blog and that I have left you with many questions (that’s what coaches do). Please leave your comments or by all means contact me directly at

e: julie@compass-life-coaching.co.uk

M: 07970 600710

T: 01438 216792