4 Reasons Multi-Passionate Creatives Need a Coach

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You’ve identified that you are multi-passionate. You’ve always known you are creative. And your dream is to take your varied creative interests and build a flexible life you love! What you aren’t quite sure about is exactly how a coach is going to help you make that happen.

Coaching can be an invaluable resource for multi-passionate creatives. Regular coaching sessions will help you spend less time floundering around trying to figure out what to do next, and instead help you focus on the steps you need to take to create the life you long for.

Here are four ways a coach can help:

1 / An outside perspective can help you see patterns and clarify your vision. Sometimes you are too close to a situation to see things clearly. A coach can talk you through your interests, help you identify patterns in past experiences and current interests, and guide you in developing a clear vision. Figuring out what to do next is overwhelming when there are so many things you love to do. Coaching sessions help you explore options and review patterns so you can narrow down where you want to go next.

2 / A coach will help you process and make a plan. It’s easy to have a big brainstorming session and come up with a whole list of ideas you are excited about! It’s harder to take that list and figure out what your next step is. A coach will talk you through your ideas and help you filter them. Talking through what makes sense now, for the season you are in, will help you identify which ideas are ready to be pursued and which need to be saved for later. Once you’ve narrowed down your list and picked a place to start, your coach will help you create a plan. When you are excited about a new idea, it’s tempting to run full-speed ahead with whatever you are most excited about. A coach will help you think through what needs to be done first so your idea has a solid foundation to grow on. 

3 / A coach keeps you accountable and on track. When you are reporting back to someone, it’s a higher level of accountability than when you just tell yourself you are going to do something. If you promise yourself you are going to set up your new website this week and then don’t—you are the only one that knows. If you know your coach is going to check in with you about your progress, it gives you the accountability (and support) you need to make it happen. Regular coaching sessions give you benchmarks for reporting on your progress, plus a place to talk through what’s working and what isn’t, so you can adjust course as needed.

4 / A coach challenges you to take things to the next level. You are brilliant and capable, but an outside force will push you in a different way than relying just on yourself. Your coach will have a different perspective and experiences than you do, which will require you to stretch your imagination—always a beneficial exercise. Bouncing ideas off of someone else is often more productive (and more fun) than thinking alone. Having a coach to brainstorm, process, and plan with will take you from a list in your notebook (or ideas floating around your brain) to someone who is putting things into action and making visible progress. 

A bonus tip: a coach is on your side, cheering you on. Never underestimate the power of having someone in your corner, committed to seeing you make progress on your dreams.

If you’d like more information about coaching, you can find the guides here.

Start Creating the Flexible Life You’ve Always Dreamed Of

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I’ve been offering coaching for a while, but I find that people are often confused about what coaching is and how it can help them. This four-week blog series is designed to help you understand who I am, who YOU are, and how I can help you live the life you’ve always dreamed of.

JUMP TO OTHER POSTS IN THIS SERIES: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

We all have our own reasons for wanting a flexible life. Maybe being tied down to an office makes you feel like you are trapped. Spending more time with your family might be a priority for you. Or, maybe you dream of being location-independent so you can see the world! Whatever your motivation, it’s time to start creating that life.

You’ve established your vision; now it’s time to unapologetically own who you are and feel confident in building a life you can be proud of.

Here are a few tips to help you get started.

1. Start small: It’s tempting to make all the big changes at once. But it’s also easy to get overwhelmed that way. Instead, identify the first step towards your vision—and write it down. This first step will be different for everyone. Set up your website. Pick a name for your LLC. Cut back (just a little) on hours at your full-time job or dedicate the first two hours of Saturday morning to working on your business plan.

2. Stay flexible: Life happens. Things don’t always go according to plan. That’s okay. What matters most is your response. Don’t allow one setback to ruin everything. Take a deep breath and consider how you can pivot. Is there another approach you can take to execute your plan? If you feel stuck, remember that you are a person with multiple skills, talents, and interests. Pivoting to a new idea might end up giving you a new perspective on the original plan. Not right now doesn’t mean never.

3. Work to your strengths: When you are starting something new, it might feel like you have to do everything yourself. But sometimes that turns out to be both inefficient and frustrating. If you love to paint but dread crunching numbers, consider hiring a bookkeeper. If hiring someone isn’t in the budget, think about your network. Do you have a friend with an accounting background who would be willing to make a trade with you? The trade doesn’t have to be your product or service—maybe they would love a night of babysitting or assistance redecorating a room in their house. Get creative with what you have to offer!

4. Find what works for you: Pay attention to what is working and what isn’t and make small adjustments along the way. If you are too distracted by chores at home to dedicate time to your new endeavour, block off a few hours to work at a coffee shop instead. Notice when your mind is clearest and your energy highest, and see if you can adjust your schedule so that you are doing the work that requires the most thought during that time of day. Stay curious—don’t be afraid to see what would happen if you try something in a new way. If it doesn’t work, you can always go back to the old way!

Congratulations! You are embarking on an exciting journey and I am cheering you on as you take these first steps towards creating a life you love! And remember—to build a strong foundation, first take the time to understand who you are and create a clear vision. If you need any help or encouragement along the way, download one of my self-coaching guides!

Establishing a Clear Vision

AUTHENTICITY•0 Comment(s)

I’ve been offering coaching for a while, but I find that people are often confused about what coaching is and how it can help them. This four week blog series is designed to help you understand who I am, who YOU are, and how I can help you live the life you’ve always dreamed of.

JUMP TO OTHER POSTS IN THIS SERIES: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

Now that you understand a little more about your personality and your strengths, let’s talk about figuring out what you want to do with your life. If you dream of freedom and flexibility, the next step is to create a clear vision.

If you find yourself hesitating because you don’t trust yourself, if you worry you’ll end up back where you started, or you are worried about what others will think, you might need a new perspective! Instead of thinking about what trying something new might cost you, think about what staying stuck means.

Ignoring an idea that just won’t leave you alone means looking back years later with regret, not knowing what could have been. Staying in a job that doesn’t work for you anymore means stressful days. Not claiming your full, wonderful self means living with the shame of feeling like you don’t fit the mould or measure up to others who seem to have life all figured out.

This is YOUR life—not anyone else’s! Who cares if they would never take the risk of leaving a steady paycheck to strike out on their own? So what if your version of success doesn’t look the same as the girl next door? What matters is that you are living life on your terms and figuring out what the next best move is for you. You don’t have to see all the way down the road—just take it one step at a time. With each step forward you’ll grow in knowledge of what does (and doesn’t) work for you and confidence in what’s next.

The first step forward is creating your vision. Here are a few ideas to get you started—you can pick your favorite, or try them all!

  • Create a vision board: digitally on Pinterest or the old-fashioned way with magazines, scissors and a glue-stick!
  • What do you think of when you envision your future? This might not be a job title but rather what you want your life to consist of: financial independence, flexibility to pick your kids up from school and volunteer in the classroom, studio space to create. Spend a few minutes writing out what you are dreaming of.
  • Make a list: what do you need to do your best work and, just as importantly, what doesn’t work for you? Do you dream of working from home or would finding a co-working space be a better fit? Do you work best alone or do you want to be part of a team? Do you need structured hours or do you prefer to go with the flow?
  • Write a mission statement for yourself.

This process can be overwhelming: there is a lot to learn about the way you are wired and how to create a clear vision for yourself. If you’d like an outside perspective as you work through the process, you can see my coaching packages here. As you continue to learn about yourself, don’t be afraid to make adjustments to your vision. This is a fluid, evolving process—and an exciting one. Don’t forget to have fun as you dream!

Understand Who You Are

GROWTH•0 Comment(s)

I’ve been offering coaching for a while, but I find that people are often confused about what coaching is and how it can help them. This four week blog series is designed to help you understand who I am, who YOU are, and how I can help you live the life you’ve always dreamed of.

JUMP TO OTHER POSTS IN THIS SERIES: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

If you are struggling to figure out what you want to do with your life and desire to create freedom and flexibility in your career, first you need to understand who you are and how you can incorporate ALL of your valuable strengths and skills into your life.

If you’ve ever…

  • Felt worried you’ll choose the wrong thing.
  • Been overwhelmed by feeling forced to figure out your entire life.
  • Thought you can only do or be ONE thing.
  • Worried about your career path and whether you can create a sustainable life you love.
  • Been frustrated by your own indecisiveness.
  • Felt misunderstood.

… then you are in the right place!

I believe that we should all be able to do what we love. But first you have to know who you are, and how to work in your strengths.

Understanding your motivations can help you uncover WHY you do what you do. Personality tests are a great way to start learning more about yourself. I recommend starting with learning your Myers-Briggs type, StrengthsFinder, and maybe even your Enneagram number.

Then, take some time to consider and journal through the following questions:

  • What are my greatest strengths?
  • What interests or desires do I keep returning to?
  • What frustrates me about my current situation?

If you are ready to dig in and do more work on identifying who you are, I offer a self-guided mini-course, My Unique Blueprint, that will walk you through exercises to help you with this process.

Writing it down is a great place to start untangling your thoughts, but sometimes an outside perspective can give the insight you need. My self-coaching guides can help you identify your personality types and show you strengths you may not have considered.

This process may take a little time. Don’t be discouraged if you take one personality test and don’t feel like you’ve made progress. You might need to take multiple assessments to unlock the understanding you are looking for. Each test reveals something a little different and you might need to sit with the results for a little while before you are ready to use them to further explore your personality and motivations. Spend some time observing yourself. Note what brings you joy and when you feel irritated or overwhelmed. Use your journal or planner to jot down what you are noticing or use an app like Mood Meter.

The time you spend getting to know yourself will be well worth it when you start to work on establishing your vision. Understanding yourself is the foundation for everything that comes next!

Meet The Coach

GROWTH•0 Comment(s)

I’ve been offering coaching for a while, but I find that people are often confused about what coaching is and how it can help them. This four week blog series is designed to help you understand who I am, who YOU are, and how I can help you live the life you’ve always dreamed of.

JUMP TO OTHER POSTS IN THIS SERIES: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

The idea of coaching can be a little intimidating. Laying out all your hopes and dreams for someone else is vulnerable and scary, and finding the right fit in a coach is important. Before we go too far into what coaching is and how it can help you, I want to be sure you know who I am and why I’m passionate about what coaching offers you.

I’m a multi-passionate creative—which means I’m interested in lots of different things. My work doesn’t follow a traditional linear career path because I want to invest in the full range of my skills, talents, and interests, instead of investing in only one area of who I am. I consider myself a Cyclical Scanner, which means I have a handful of things that I return to over and over again, like graphic design, drawing and lifelong learning.

I’m obsessed with personality profiling (My own mix includes: Enneagram 5-wing-4; INFJ; Maven + Advisor; Creator-Coach-Teacher-Architect; Explorer archetype; and Top Strengths: Learner, Input, Developer, Individualization, & Intellection). I’m big on personal development and am an avid learner, which means I read a lot of nonfiction (currently reading: Slow by Brooke McAlary). All the reading and learning I do means I’m a bit of a digital curator or “walking encyclopedia” and I love to help people find the resources they need. I spent a few years as a book blogger and independent book reviewer and have been self-employed since 2013.

A few other things to know about me: I’m a Jesus-follower, a cat person, and a stationery junkie. I love to journal but I’m not a girly-girl (you won’t find me doing anything that requires “dressing up” if I can help it!) I’m a little bit of a rebel when it comes to “shoulds” and rules that I find a bit silly.

It took me a while to find my own path because I felt like I needed to stick to traditional expectations of what a career looked like—but I never quite felt fulfilled or settled.

I started coaching because I wanted to help other multi-passionate creatives understand who they are, establish a clear vision for their lives, and start creating the flexible life they’ve always dreamed of. During this four week blog series, I’m going to share some of my favorite tips and tricks to help you on this journey.

If you are ready to jump right in, you check out my coaching guides here or join my email newsletter for monthly tips and resources.

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