From Designer To Coach: What Coaching Taught Me About Growth
September 23, 2021Here from my last blog? Welcome! This is part two of that story (read part one here).We left off talking about what to expect as you step into a new evolution of your business, like with my own journey from designer to coach.
Well, it goes a little something like this.
My design days
In 2017, I worked at a local design studio in Baltimore. While I loved what I did, I felt stifled and unfulfilled. Frankly, I was bored.
Then I got laid off from my job.
The perfectionist in me was scared. I didn’t have a lot of money saved up. I didn’t have clients. Everything seemed out of my control.
But I had time in my day now. Time to answer questions I hadn’t thought about before. Questions like:
Am I happy?
Am I doing design because I want to or because I fell into it?
What do I want out of life?
That last question hit me. My answer? I want to make a bigger impact.
Becoming a muralist was the first step towards that. The process allows for more freedom than graphic design and, because paint is fluid, murals look handmade. Imperfect.
And they’re not supposed to look perfect. Which got me thinking, why was I trying so hard to be?
What it looks like to evolve
Perfectionism is the enemy of progress.
It causes you to second guess yourself.
It holds you back from trying (and failing).
It keeps you from evolving.
“Going for it” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, let me tell you. But it pushes the perfectionist in you to get comfortable being uncomfortable and release the need to control things every step of the way.
To help me heal and move through my fear, I hired a coach. This made me realize it’s OK to ask for support because it can help me make the impact I want in the world.
The amazing part? It’s also OK for you to do the same.
Why I became a coach
I think a lot of people don’t reach out for help until they’re at their wit’s end (guilty as charged!). But if you don't wait until you’re burnt out or unfulfilled, you can save yourself a lot of headache.
When I think back on my own experience, I realize I never felt good enough and nothing was ever good enough for me. It pointed to how deep my perfectionism ran and the childhood experiences that shaped me.
My trauma and upbringing made me feel like I had to work hard to deserve love. That I wasn’t worthy of making a living unless it was super difficult and I worked my ass off. Those feelings are valid, but continuing to repeat old patterns didn’t help me grow.
That’s when I realized how powerful coaching can be. It gave me the space to listen to my own needs and heal my wounds.
I’ll be honest, imposter syndrome came up a lot when I first became a coach. It felt unnatural to guide my clients through the same struggles I was going through. I thought, “Who am I to help them?”
Now, I feel fulfilled helping others reach their potential because that’s what coaches have done for me. You have all the answers within you, but it always helps to have someone else guide you so you can look at things from a different perspective. Especially if you’re going through a season of growth and evolution.
How I help my clients
As a mindset and pricing coach, I’m here to guide designers like you on a journey to understand yourself and find your uniqueness (aka your magic!), so that you can make an impact on the world through your badass design business, get paid your worth, and find fulfillment in your life.
We work together to solve your current life and business problems while focusing heavily on being proactive. For example, if you struggle with stress, we find the right tools for you to heal it before it turns into complete burnout.
Through the magical tools I’ve come to use – everything from oracle cards and higher self visualizations to human design and the enneagram – I found I’m good at reading emotions. Holding space, listening, seeing, and connecting with people deeply.
If you want an extra boost of support as you grow in this season of business, I’m here to help you! Choose your own adventure, depending on where you are in your evolution:
Meet other designers in Holy Fuck Pricing Facebook Group who are also challenging the starving artist mentality.
Book a pick-my-brain session to ask all the awesome business questions — like how to add an income stream to your business, working through perfectionism, or how to paint a mural!
Get a pricing coach (me!) in your pocket for the day to help you raise your prices and gain confidence in your business.
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