FESTIVE SPECIAL OFFER - in honour of 100 facebook page likes, Christmas and the beginning of a New Year.

Get ready for what's next!

At the end of our 2 coaching sessions, you will be able to say:
'I know more about myself and what I want for the new year.'

Discovery session - your own personal leadership plan (2hr session) +
New Year's Special - map out 2013 and get it rolling (1hr dedicated to your new year)

It is that time of the year where new year's resolutions come into conversations, families come together and talk and fight and all sorts of reflection is going on.
It is also a special New Year, because on December 21st a major calendar ends and all sort of shift and new era talk is in the air, making it even more potent for people to get ready for 2013 and what it will bring.

This is an offer to you to do those end of year reflections and plans for the New Year supported by someone who listens deeply to who you are, what you are longing for and who you are becoming. This will give you a head start in 2013 and lasting important knowledge about yourself.

This is also the perfect Christmas present, because think about it, what you give to the person is longer lasting than any pair of socks and certainly empowering for the person you are giving it to.
 If you are thinking "Working with a life coach, that is only something for people who really need help or 'sorting out'." Think again. These three hours of coaching can put anyone in just the right place to start into the New Year, especially those curious about what more is possible for them.

Discovery session - your own personal leadership plan +

New Year's Special - map out 2013 and get it rolling

Both for just 100 pounds (worth 200).

Held via skype/phone or if logistically feasible in person.

 

Get ready to book!

Sell Tickets through Eventbrite

To make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where you start from. - T. S. Eliot

picture credit: tim coleman http://paintcrash.wordpress.com

 picture credit of top right picture: weheartit.com

Get ready for what's next!

Getting to Play Full Out with Young People

This year took me on a journey to Youth Leadership.

I am not entirely new to it, when I was a teenager I became member of a German scouting organisation (Bund der Pfadfinderinnen und Pfadfinder), loved every moment of it and started co-leading my first group at the age of 13. I volunteered for a youth lead in my sports club, in school, activities and during my traineeship with Lufthansa. Can you tell I love putting my hand up for this?!

What do I love about Youth Leadership? 
First of all, enabling youth to lead youth and the learning they get from it is so rich. It is an eye-to-eye relationship they establish, there is no hierarchy of age or position making it clear who leads, young people gain experience in what it means to unpack their leadership toolbox and get to add to it. I get to witness and encourage that. Yay!
Secondly, I frequently get the chance to give a young person the confidence and permission to be themselves, not what their parents, teachers or their peers expect. No, permission to be who they want to be and making them aware of who they are at their best.
Not to forget, raising aspirations; did you know Barack Obama, now US president in his second term, could have just as well ended as a drug dealing gang member. But he chose a different path. Every young person has their own choice too and I get to help making them aware of that.
Young people portrait such a range from " I don't know what to do in the future" to "I know exactly what to do. I will become XYZ." and I get to ask what their next little step is towards knowing more and walking their path and I see them take it and learn from it.
Work with Young People gives full permission to be creative, to challenge, to engage in every moment not only their minds but their bodies by getting them moving. And I get to be with them outdoors, cause what is better then fresh air and unexplored paths to open young peoples' minds.

I am entirely grateful for Future Foundations to have entered my (professional) life. Contracted with them I have been working with Young People in the following programmes:

• Team Coach for Future Foundations: Being part of the delivery team for Leadership Days, Sixth Form Inductions, Higher Education Experiences and Raising Aspiration Days in Schools around the UK
•  The National Citizen Service Stand out this Summer Programme: Team Coach supporting the Young people in the challenging three-week programme (including two week residential): Team bonding in the challenging outdoors, followed ba a week of raising aspirations and getting to know their community better, followed by forming a project team to impact their community in a Social Action Project.
• The National Citizen Service Stand out this Autumn Programme: Team Coach supporting the Young people in a one week PGL outdoor adventure, plus engaging them in Social action and a nationwide team test on 6 consecutive weekends after.

And this is the sweet sugar I get from the young people and my colleagues:

"Laura, you are always so completely positive and encouraging it's constant!! Thank you." 

"Laura, you are so inspiring with your confidence in leading the whole of team B (approx. 60 people) in activities. Cracking great jokes and having great energy and spirit! Thanks for always keeping me smiling :)"

"Laura, you are a complete professional - your experience and ease with the learners shines through. Thank you and well done."

"Laura I've been so happy to be on your team this week. You are calm, confident and hugely supportive. I've had loads of fun with you!" 

How could I not love this work?! If you want me to engage with a group of young people or with a young person in a one-to-one coaching relationship. Get in touch!

Make Yourself Home is born as an idea.

It wants to invite you home. Into a place where you feel free, calm and able to connect with yourself, what you want and need. A place where you can be selfish and pamper yourself, a space where you can reflect, dream and envision, a nexus where you meet other like minded people and connect to your strength and clarity enabling you to pioneer on your path.

That is the vision I, Laura, have for this place and it will be born in the world wide web soon.
You can help me give birth to it and send me your ideas and wishes for it: What kind of posts, information, functions to communicate etc would you like to see in this place? Please send me your comments and stay tuned!

The source of trust within you

Trust, I realised last week, goes deep. It is the one thing you choose to believe in unconditionally or until disappointed. I've learned that my trust lies in, what I call life force. A believe that I am interconnected with everything that surrounds me and a knowing that where there is aliveness, love and passion in my physical and mental reactions that is where I am walking and creating the right path for me. Often the connection with God or whatever spirit encompasses this unconditional trust for people: "You've send me this challenge, knowing that I can learn from it, knowing that I can overcome it". People gain trust in their own abilities from believing the higher spirit or destiny send them a challenge with intention.
What if you were to find a place inside you, in your body, where you can find trust, Where you can access your inner wisdom, your intuition and where you might also connect to whatever spirit or divine you believe in?
Why am I saying that? Often we are seeking outside of ourselves for approval, security, answers or confirmation, when the answer really lies within us already.

Trust yourself

12 young people, two beautiful people by my side, miles of outdoor walking with heavy backpacks on, army food from aluminium bags, lots of fun and not so fun challenges. The programme I am being a team coach in is intense, being back home for the weekend I could only rest, rest and rest. My body is hurting and yet, it is worth it and I am truly energised from the inside!

I feel alive, because I get to do what I love: I get to be outdoors, I get to sing, I get to dance, I get to lead a group of fantastic and unique people and I get to help their unique qualities shine.

What does it take to do this? Patience, trust, assertiveness, believing in my strength and in every other person's humanness and whole being, deep breathing, humour, asking for help.

Trust and patience - I was tested during this week. You might not be surprised that young people are not always happy doing what you tell them to do. At one point I remember being close to tears. Not because I was physically hurt, but I felt rejected and I began to doubt myself. If this person is trying too wind me up, treating me with disrespect, I am probably not worth it, I deserve being treated like this, I want to run away, send someone else to sort it for me...

Deep breath up, deep exhale down, relax the muscles, becoming aware of the world around me again and slowly I gain access to my inner strength once more, my mind is no longer swamped with critical voices anihilating myself, I can make sense of it to a certain extend. I can invite other voices in that appreciate, that I am putting myself on the line in this job, that I am doing great in being patient and not lashing back and that it seems time to stop swallowing, move into action and set my boundaries in a conversation.

Conversation held, tides tamed, and I know they will start rising again, but I can trust myself.

I think trust is where it has to begin, if you don't trust, things are unsettled. Imagine if gravity was failing and we would all wobble walk and fall, trust is the gravity on your planet.
How can one build trust? Is a question I am gonna take away with me, but here are a few tips I'd like to share now:

1. Get curious: Where do I trust myself and other people? Where is there mistrust/where do I wobble? 
2. Acknowledge: When I am trusting, what is possible? E.g. I can let go, I can relax into what I am doing, I can ask for what I need.
3. Practice: Breath deeply, up from the earth along your spine past the top of your head into the sky, down along the axi softening your front rooting yourself on and in the ground. Notice the space around you, to your left, your right, above you, below you and inside you. Notice how gravity holds you and the centrifugal forces of our planet help you stay upright. Invite trust, and notice how your body responds to it. 

What are your ideas on trusting more? Any tips and tricks? Leave me a comment below!

Summer Challenge

The amount of sun shine in the UK is telling a different story, but in reality we are in the middle of summer and my summer always tends to have two elements: some version of a holiday and some reflection time. Reflection time in summer? You might think that's what you do at the turning of the years and that is exactly what it is, I am turning a year older :) Not a drama, but always a good reason to check in with myself.And holiday, yes, Germany you'll have me soon.

Double excitement! Serving young people's growth.

This summer has an exciting challenge in sore for me. I'll be out of office for the next three weeks to be a team coach in Future Foundation's National Citizen Service Programme. Where I'll have the honour to team lead a group of 16 year olds while they "Stand out this summer!" I won't be alone I'll have a couple of helpers by my side and yet, I have respect for this task.
The first week will be a survival week outdoors, so what if I have spoiled kids who hate it... Deep breath Laura, you might have a group of kids who love it. after week two it is all about them finding their strengths and what they want to do in life and with their summer time, because it is community project time. In week three the young people plan out the 30 hours community project time. Promises to be tiring and awesome a the same time.

I'll keep you posted, how I am getting on.

Hm, that is actually the real challenge for my summer. I love leading groups and I am truly thrilled to go. It will be a challenge, but one I can achieve.
So what's more challenging is to keep you posted and to do it with a similar thrill. I've already written a blogpost on failing to write blogposts, I can't pull that one again.
So herewith, I commit publicly: I will tell you about my summer, once a week, every week until I am back from Germany end of August. And I'll experiment with fun ways to do so!
Why am I doing this? For the purpose of making my voice heard, creating valuable content by sharing my learning with you and receiving yours in the comments. To make this a habit by practicing or if I don't find the flow by the end of it, to find other ways to connect with you lovely peeps out there. A conscious summer, that rings and resonantes with my heart. A SMART goal and challenge for my summer (Specific, Measurable, You hold my Accountability, Resonant and Thrilling)

Do you have a summer challenge? Let me hear it in the comments! Why not make it smart.

Truly Proud to be a Failure?!

'Impossible to overturn'! Roly-poly your life.

Today, it hangs over me like a dark cloud, a bit like a dementor, sucking my energy - the feeling of possible FAILURE: "You will never get this blog post written and your newsletter is not going to be published in a million years and you have a writing blockage and you don't like words anyhow and...". Enough, in the end it comes down to 'I am not doing it' and before I am not doing it I cannot actually fail.

Huh, have you thought about that one before? You can only start failing, when you dare doing it. Beforehand, it is all hypothetical.

Anyhow, I now had a two week break from writing this blog post. I intended to write it since mid of May, I started it on the 6th of June, today is the 18th, uff. And I feel both F... words coming up, because seriously, it can't be so hard to write a few lines about failing.

I guess it is time to think of what I bring to my clients in these situations. First of all I agree with them to celebrate failure as much as successes. Why? Because they hold valuable learning. And we often do not take the time to pause, celebrate and learn.

So what is here to celebrate? Oh boy, it took me two weeks to return (wtf @/$%!, okay let's not get caught up by the saboteurs, what is here to appreciate and learn?).
I am starting a new writing habit (whoohoo) and it is only working when I have scheduled time slots for writing upfront in my calendar (good to know). When I start writing it tends to flow (okay, so once I overcome procrastination, things will move, that is annoying AND promising). And I am doing it right now (Big Woop Woop!).

Ah, the roly-poly, it is not there for nothing. With my little reflection just now, I feel I rolled up again a good deal. For me the roly-poly toy is a strong reminder of our resilience, now matter how flat and sad a situation can look, recovery is possible. Especially when we start looking for the gold in our shit (happening).

So HOMEWORK: Where are you currently failing or telling yourself you are about to fail? Or maybe even more nasty, what 'fail' in your past have you still not forgiven yourself?
Start looking for the important learning and something to appreciate in the scenario! What is there to celebrate? What do you learn about yourself and your habits? What resources, structures do you have and can you put in place to put your learning into effect and try again?
Here you are roly-polying your life. You should try it for real, e.g. rolling on your back, it is fun :D

And REMEMBER: When you fail it does not mean that you are a failure. You get to choose to learn from it. Make that choice to go for MORE right now.

Tell me in a comment or e-mail in case you have questions or get stuck with your homework! I am also sure that you have a few more brilliant tipps as to what helps when the dark failure cloud is hanging over my or your head, please share generously in the comments section below!

AuthentiCity Coach Laura - launches new website for Young Achievers who want more

Celebrate good times, common! ...

Thank You for attending my website launch party.

Actions for you to take:

• Have a look around. And join into my happy dance. Having my website out is a great achievement for me. And I want it to reach and serve as many of YOU as possible.
  
• If you like what you see. Sign up to the monthly newsletter, to receive great free stuff, exciting news and loving personal leadership lessons to your inbox. Just pop your e-mail and name into the mask on the top right.
• Visit the blog regularly. Every other week you will find interesting reads and little action requests to spice up your day. Join in with your comments and questions.
  
• Spread the word. There are little facebook, twitter and e-mail buttons a little further down to the right hand side to make that super easy for you.
• And last but not least send any Young Achiever my way! I want to meet 96 YOUs (see my post below) and am signing up new clients right now. Anyone ready should go ahead and book a free consultation. If you are interested, get as much info as you want and need from this site and send me your questions, so we can talk.

Thank you for your support and interest. I am thrilled to have you here and am sending a virtual toast:

'To a great launch, many happy website visitors and even more Young Achievers going for what they want!'

'

96 unique YOUs (Young Achievers)

I need your help. 

I am running this business because I want to serve people like you. In order to do this I need to know more about you. I invite you to spend 30 minutes of your time with me in a short  interview either in person over coffee/tea, on the phone or via skype. 
There are no strings attached, and I want to make it worthwhile for you too. My thank you is a 15 minute individual coaching session, which we schedule at the end of the interview. And should you be interested in creating your Personal Leadership Plan with me you'll get a 15% discount too.

I get to ask you questions like: 
What are your biggest challenges?
What would really help you?
What would you google to find resources? etc.

You just get to be yourself and might even benefit from my curious questions. 

E-Mail or call me! Post a comment below, letting me know that you are up for it and I will get in touch with you right away. Or claim your slot, right now by clicking and booking here.  Be the first just don't be number 97! This is a win - win.

You might think 96, what a random number, well it is 4 times 24, and 24 is my favourite number. 
You might also wonder: Why only 15 minutes?!' When I was practicing for my oral exam I discovered this period to be superb, it forces us to focus and yet has every potential to create something amazing, you'll see!

A Milestone in Laura's Coaching Career

It is a week to celebrate!
Not only is my website launching, I have just received THE letter from the Coaches Training Institute. It confirms that I have passed my Oral Coaching Exam.

I am officially a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach!

With passing my written and oral exams as well as completing more than 100 hours of coaching with my clients, I have now gained an international quality stamp in the coaching profession, and it looks like this: 

My jumping up and down, screaming 'I am a CPCC!' and dancing with joy might make you wonder or smile or shake your head. For me this puts a dot on the i of an amazing learning journey. 
It tells you that I am a damn good coach, because not many Coaches are certified, let alone with the renouned Coaches Training Institute. But I don't intend to boast about it (only a little ;), the reason I mention it is that the coaching profession is not all that regulated for good reasons. However there are many coaches out there, who just start calling themselves a coach from one day to the other without a clue what it is all about.  
I want you to know that I know what I am doing. I am a CPCC.

LOVE: Pay it forward on 26th April

Watch the movie, visit the website be inspired and choose your three random acts of kindness for April 26th. What is possible when random people act on their intention? 
Write us a comment.

Website coming together

I am so happy. After a period of procrastination and blurred view, this website project is moving with clarity and pace.


We will need a lot of feedback, so a little pre-launch is currently happening before the site goes truly live and will be communicated to my contacts and beyond.


If you come across this 'work in progress' and are getting curious, there are two things you can do right away: Send me a comment with your thoughts AND sign up for the newsletter in the right column, so you'll be the first to know when we are up and running and you can benefit from a monthly updates, offers and snippets of wisdom around Innovation, Transparency, Love, Trust to be Yourself and Stretch in life and work.


Have fun exploring as much as we are having fun creating this place in the world wide web.