You’re not failing. You’re learning.

 You’re not failing. You’re learning. You’re Training.  

Last year, I started a new adventure: I’m a firefighter. I joined at the end of the year and to start this year, I am enrolled in fire academy. So right now, now through June, I am practicing, studying, testing…basically back in school, learning a lot every single day.

I realized that this is really helpful in my coaching practice. This whole experience has been a reminder of the process. The process of starting where you are and taking things one step at a time. On day one, I knew nothing. But I’m starting small, I’m learning something every day. Each repetition, I am taking away at least one thing that I didn’t know coming in.

Example: When our station gets a call, I’m able to respond with the crew, so we rush in, gear up and jump on the truck. Since I’m not qualified to do much, that adrenaline rush usually ends up with me checking a smoke detector or cleaning out a dryer vent that started smoking. Super glamourous. The last call was an elderly resident that couldn’t get up to their smoke detectors. They were beeping and there was no one that could reach them. When we arrived, I was able to get on the ladder and check the one that was making the most noise. It turned out to be just a battery change. No big deal. But, to that resident, it was something that was needed and was a big help to them. Something that they couldn’t do on their own.

It was a rewarding experience to help. Not because it was heroic. Not because it took any special skills. In fact, all it took was a ladder and a 9-volt battery. And that was the lesson for me that day. We had the tools that they didn’t have to complete this task. And for me personally, the day before, I didn’t know where these particular tools even were. I knew they were somewhere on the truck, but I hadn’t had that repetition yet, so it was a new step for me to complete that particular task. It was another learning opportunity.

I think about my coaching clients in both the tools and the learning. Sometimes we expect to be able to do something that we don’t have the tools for. Sometimes we expect to know things we have only just heard of. Both are common challenges with living healthy. It may feel like we are failing, but we may not have all the tools necessary. It feels like we are failing when we don’t know something, but we can find the answers and tools we need. We can ask someone, a friend, a teammate, or a coach how to find the tools we need and we can learn how to use them, one repetition at a time. We don’t have to be experts on day one.

With that mindset, I feel like I’m building something real, mastering my craft, and stepping into my calling. One step at a time, I’m committed to learning at a pace that lasts. And I know that my clients are doing the same thing. That is what I’m committed to: starting small, building one step at a time. Helping you start small, build one step at a time. I’m committed to helping you find your path.

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