Advice from a Life Coach
How to achieve the writing goals you set for yourself.
Life coaching is a fascinating resource that I don’t think nearly enough people take advantage of. I worked with a life coach a few years back, and the experience helped me find clarity regarding anxieties and thoughts I allowed to hold me back. So, when I first spoke with Gloria Sloan, I knew she’d have extra special insight for readers because she’s not only a life coach but also published a book, Life Skills for the Journey, through Xulon Press.
I had the chance to interview Gloria Sloan and pick her brain on life coaching and writing, and today we’re sharing what we’ve learned from her.
Keep reading for the full interview with Gloria below, and don’t miss her advice on overcoming roadblocks to finish writing and publishing your book.
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about life coaching for people who may have never heard of it?
A: Life coaching is a one-on-one, collaborative process in which a trained professional (the coach) helps you (the client), achieve your personal life goals. Working with a life coach provides the ability to gain fresh and informed perspectives on problems that you face.
It can help you to improve your sense of personal fulfillment and happiness. Some people view working with a life coach as a means of bridging the gap between a current situation and the life they would like to lead.
Q: How did you decide to be a life coach?
A: During my forty years of business management, employee development, and training, it became a practice [in which I helped] individuals enhance their current skills and learn new skills and competencies necessary for growth. The process included goal setting, coaching, and mentoring.
Becoming a certified life coach was part of my personal development plan to gain professional coaching knowledge. As an author, I realize that I share with readers powerful and intellectual teachings through my coaching experience that benefits them mentally, spiritually, and physically.
Q: What is typically involved in a coaching call with a life coach?
A: A crucial first step is structuring the life coaching call for maximum client satisfaction by using effective communications that establish [clear] expectations and goals.
Understanding each other’s perspectives will help to ensure a smooth coaching process that builds trust. Both parties should feel comfortable sharing thoughts without fear of judgment, which allows the client to be more [receptive] to feedback. Active listening on the call [provides] empathetic support and appropriate guidance.
Q: What is the length of time you typically work with someone? What is the end goal of working with someone?
A: I offer flexible schedules to adapt to a client’s needs, ensuring the time spent remains focused and productive. My usual session is for 60 minutes. This typically allows for meaningful discussions. The frequency of coaching sessions for a client typically runs three to six months.
The end goal is for my clients to feel heard, supported, and empowered to achieve their desired outcomes with an overall positive life coaching experience.
Q: You have coached a lot of people during your career, so I know you have some special insight into this next question. What is the predominant roadblock that holds people back from doing something they say they really want to do?
A: The one main challenge that clients often face is the lack of clear goals and objectives to guide the process. To overcome this during the life coaching process, collaboration helps set steps that will help them work through the roadblock.
Q: Why do you think that a lack of clear goals and objectives diverts so many people from wanting to achieve a specific goal they have set for themselves?
A: Limited self-awareness can hinder individuals from recognizing their strengths and weaknesses. Coaching can help find areas for improvement, motivation, and mindset shifts.
Executive coaching is a learning approach that creates self-awareness, helps drive transformational change, and provides critical support to improve leadership and performance.
Q: What realistic steps can people take to actually start reaching their goals?
A: I recommend these steps to achieve your goals:
Write down your goal
Develop a positive mindset
Set a deadline
Learn a new skill or gain knowledge
Be committed
Create an action plan
Maintain accountability
Be visionary
Know your “why”
Celebrate milestones
Q: How can people take their large goals and break them down into manageable, smaller tasks?
A: You can start making small behavior changes to set the right path, then take [specific] steps on a timeline by dedicating time to work on each task. Identify any potential obstacles or fears [ahead of time] and how you will handle, manage, or eliminate them.
Q: Are goals best worked on alone or do you recommend people find a support system?
A: Sharing your goals can have some motivational benefits if you need external accountability.
Q: You wrote your first book Life Skills for the Journey and published it in 2022. And I know you are working on another book now. What are some life coaching tools you used to help yourself accomplish your writing and publishing goals?
A: Discipline was an important tool because it kept me empowered. I developed a plan to achieve my writing goals that included accountability support. Working with Salem Author Services for structure and organizing was key to my accomplishment. Lifelong learning is my tool for gaining new coaching skills and techniques as resources for my next book.
Q: How can other people put these life coaching tools into practice during their own writing journeys?
A: Writing is a personal growth journey. I wrote an article in June 2023 for Brainz Magazine titled, The Power of Focus and Commitment to Personal Development. Writing goals can be achieved by using the method and means of personal development growth.
Q: Are you applying any different or new life coaching concepts as you write your second book?
A: Absolutely! The life coaching industry is poised with continuous growth and a need for sharing fresh and informed perspectives on life to be happier and more productive.
Q: If you met with someone who said to you, “Gloria, I’ve really wanted to write a book for a few years, but I can’t seem to get started.” What advice would you give them?
A: That does happen, and just recently I was approached by someone with a story. The best advice I give them is to journal their thoughts and start writing. Be in love with what you want to write about and make viable connections in the authorship community to learn, grow, and get published.
Meet Gloria Sloan
If you’d like more life coaching insights from Gloria Sloan, read her book Life Skills for the Journey. It’s a practical guide that shares profound insight to help elevate your personal development, which allows you to reach your personal and professional goals. She shares new concepts in a self-directed learning format that will help you reframe your mindset and achieve spiritual, mental, and physical growth.
Gloria Sloan is also an executive contributor for Brainz Magazine. She just launched her podcast, The Gloria Show through Bold Brave TV. Her podcast is available for streaming using Bold Brave TV and Talk Shop Live, YouTube Live, ROKU TV, Amazon Fire TV, Spotify TV, Daily Motion, Facebook Live, LinkedIn Live, Twitter/X Live, Google podcast, iHeart Radio, Deezer Radio, Sound Cloud, and Apple podcast.
Where to Find Gloria Sloan
You can follow or contact Gloria Sloan at the following: