Today is the last day of my third financial year. As I look back over the last 3 years, and wonder to myself, “How did I do it?” the Beatles refrain, “With a little help from my friends” suddenly starts to play in my head. Possibly my biggest learning on this journey has been that I cannot do everything on my own. I have been humbled by the support that I have received from all manner of people and places.
From the outset I had a conversation in my head that went along the lines of “you have no right to ask for help when you did this to yourself, you should be grateful that they aren’t telling you to get over yourself and go find a job!” Oh, certainly there were those who suggested it as a means to stay afloat while my coaching practice was growing on the side, but no-one doubted my abilities as a coach, or to make the business work.
I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to those who believed in me then and who continue to do so. My parents, who are both in their sixties, no longer have children to support and are far from millionaires, helped me out financially and provided huge amounts of encouragement.
My daughter, who had to take quite a step backwards in terms of the extras and luxuries she was used to, has trusted my ability to make this work without wavering. She has learned to budget resources from groceries to utilities. She celebrates the growth of my practice alongside me, and has even become somewhat of a mini coach herself!
My sister and friends, all of whom have their own lives and families to support and nurture have provided practical, moral and financial support, not to mention those who trusted me enough to become clients of mine, and then to spread the word!
People have taken risks on me; my first client who is also a friend insisted on paying for her coaching sessions even though I was still in training. Magazines have given me a break to write for them, although I was unknown. The business community in Port Alfred invited me to speak within months of me arriving here. People invested in my business financially, without any proof that coaching was a viable career or that I could make it
work.
And would you believe it, even my bank has my gratitude. At all times they have been
patient, understanding and in no way punitive towards me, even when it would have been justified.
I am reminded of the words of WH Murray which are so very true;
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness concerning all acts of initiative and creation. There is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans; that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too.
All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen events, meetings and material assistance which no one could have dreamed would have come their way.”
Without the support of the world around me or “providence”, I would not be writing this blog today. I am overwhelmed with gratitude and committed to proving to myself and everyone else that their support was not in vain!
Here’s to year number FOUR!