The start

Beginning of the year 2018 I was listening to one of my favourite podcasts hosted by Gretchen Rubin “Happier” and I got deeply inspired by her “18 for 2018”! Basically, it was setting 18 goals for the actual year 2018. And these goals did not need to be big or bold, could rather be short, little and easy to tackle. I started setting my goals and had some smaller ones (start playing Badminton again), some ambitious ones (reading 100 books this year!) and a real big one: Getting my PCC by the end of 2018. For the ones not being familiar with this abbreviation: As a coach you can get certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and with them you can have three different credentials: ACC (Accredited Certified Coach), PCC (Professional Certified Coach) and MCC (Mater Certified Coach). There are different requirements for each credential and what it meant for me was: I had to – next to other requirements – deliver 500 coaching hours to apply for this.

At the beginning of 2018 I had around 300 hours, meaning I was 200 hours short. Ambitious, and nevertheless I was convinced I can get them! I made a list with monthly goals basically saying: 20 hours per month is a good outcome! Ambitious, but manageable! 

The journey – Or shall I say rollercoaster?

January started and I got 5 hours, February came and with it 8 hours, March showed up and 13 hours were on my excel sheet… Oh boy, not good…  You see where this is going? Not really in the right direction, correct?  And then my true will showed up, my warrior, my “You can do this!” Giving up was NEVER an option! I wanted this PCC so badly and I got really creative (never thought of me being creative, but here you go) I thought of many different ideas, options, ways and sources…  and the absolute believe in myself! There were for sure days where I had doubts: doubts of not being able to stick to my goal, doubts of setting a goal too high and too ambitious, doubt of the right timing and maybe some more. And what never came to my mind: doubt myself! I knew I can get there, I just needed to find the right way!

And in April the magic happened: all the persistence, belief and hard-working paid off and the hours came in one by one and ten by ten and now the real hard work started: Now I had to

deliver! And I do not want to paint it all in pink and say it was easy. It was not! It meant a lot of suffering on various sides: my kids, my husband, my friends, family and not to forget myself. I am incredible thankful to many people in my life, especially during this “different time” of the year. Thank you to my many clients, employers, friends, colleagues, family and all the many people who supported and believed in me during this time (and hopefully will continue to do so…). I know it takes a whole village to raise a child and it takes at least this village to help me fulfil and live up to my dream!

And in April the magic happened: all the persistence, belief and hard-working paid off and the hours came in one by one and ten by ten and now the real hard work started: Now I had to

deliver! And I do not want to paint it all in pink and say it was easy. It was not! It meant a lot of suffering on various sides: my kids, my husband, my friends, family and not to forget myself. I am incredible thankful to many people in my life, especially during this “different time” of the year. Thank you to my many clients, employers, friends, colleagues, family and all the many people who supported and believed in me during this time (and hopefully will continue to do so…). I know it takes a whole village to raise a child and it takes at least this village to help me fulfil and live up to my dream!

Happy End

The summer has not even finished and I got the award of all this hard working and never give up strategy: I received my PCC!  Very happy and very proud! Of myself and of all the people around me helping me bringing the best out of me!

And what can you take from this? Where are your “never give up” projects, your “absolute belief in yourself”? Please let me know how this resonates with you and I’m looking forward to hearing back from you.

Warmly,
Cornelia