Last weekend I was in Tampa, Florida for the first of several in-person events as part of a year long EnergyRich® Elite Mastermind Group I joined. The group and the event was unbelievably spectacular and I felt it was a great time to write a bit about the benefits of working with someone (or a facilitated group) who can be a coach and mentor to you along your journey.

First let me share with you that I did not take joining this group lightly. It is the most significant investment of time and money I have made to a program in my life (and that's saying something). To be fully truthful with you, it is a big stretch for me and every last excuse and story I tell myself about money joined me on my journey to a decision. After much head AND heart-centered reflection, I chose to be in charge of my choices rather than be at the whims of other people's opinions or be a servant to my money (rather than having it serve me). It is only early February and I have already had breakthroughs and transformational growth and cannot wait to continue my journey with this group for the next 11 months.

Here are four specific ways having a coach can transform your life and your business/career. I know this because I have experienced it firsthand and I've heard it from my clients.

Big Thinking And Holding A Vision Of You At Your Highest Potential

We think they way we think because it is always the way we have thought. What we see as possible for ourselves is a combination of past experiences and what we witness in those who we surround ourselves with. For most people their future looks very much like their present circumstances +/- 10%. Why? Because that is all that you know, think is possible, or will give yourself permission to want. With a coach at your side you get to live in the realm of possibility of much, much more. That more can be anything you want it to be - common things are more money, more time, more meaning, more satisfaction. It can also be more of that intangible spark that makes your passion and purpose be expressed in the world in a way that only you can deliver. A coach will hold you in that highest vision even when you feel like crap or your outer results aren't what you want to see (yet). This isn't about denial or wishful thinking, but about making that powerful shift into the role of creating that vision you most want for your life personally and professionally. And if you don't yet know what that vision, what "It" is, she can help you discover it, name it, and claim it.

Accountability And Forward Movement

Let's face it, without someone to be accountable to, most of us will skip the uncomfortable stuff and do what we already know; what is already familiar. Who wants to take the risk of being seen, taking a stand, or (gasp!) making a mistake or failing at something? Worse yet, what will it mean if I succeed? Left to our own devices we procrastinate even when we vow that we'll keep ourselves on track. How many books have you pledged to read and do the exercises? And what did you DO with that information that brought measurable results in your life? While occasionally you can have a mini-breakthrough this way, lasting, sustainable results are obtained far faster and easier with the support of a highly trained coach.

Hearing And Speaking The Truth

Everyone has blind spots. A coach will help you see these and tell you the truth about them, unattached to any specific outcome. In turn you can also speak your truth. Without the inevitable bias of loved ones and colleagues, you get to give voice to your authentic self and what is really going on, what you really want to create in your world. A good coach will help you set and enforce healthy boundaries and take good care of yourself so you can create the present and future you most desire without being subject to distraction and competing agendas that leave you feeling conflicted and guilty.

Focus And Shortcuts

You need to be clear on where you want to go but also where you are right now. You know those maps in a shopping complex - the ones with the big dot that say "YOU ARE HERE"? Without that dot you have no idea how to get where you want to go. A coach will help you get clear on both these points so you can start moving forward right away. Not "someday" not "maybe later", but starting today. While coaching is not designed to be a speed trip, it will increased the velocity at which you achieve your goals and move forward because you'll be armed with proven tips, techniques, and shortcuts to get you in action.

So You Can See ...

that this kind of support is not about just some cheerleading from the sidelines. It's not a "feel good" strategy that you can get from a book or a class or your colleagues/friends. Yes you will feel energized and inspired. That is certain - and if you don't feel energized or inspired by your coach, he or she is not the right fit for you. Where the real exponential return on your investment is found, however are in the real, tangible results in your life, your career, and your business. It is an investment that will only ever appreciate in value (goodness knows you can't even come close to that in the financial markets) You will experience truly life-changing inner-shifts from which you'll reap the benefits for years and outer results that align with what you most want to be experiencing.

Author's Bio: 

Paula Gregorowicz, The Paula G Company, helps women boost their confidence & break through limitations so they reignite a sense of freedom & adventure in their lives and careers. Learn "5 Steps to Move from Fear to Freedom & Experience Greater Confidence" (free) at http://www.thepaulagcompany.com/feartofreedom