I was recently asked, “Coaching, Consulting, Mentoring, Workshops, what the heck is the difference?”
Great QUESTION!
Having been in all of these roles as both a student and teacher, I’d like to share my thoughts on each.
Coaching: Having someone come alongside you to teach/assist you. You are doing the work. The coach is giving you the formulas for success. The playbook for the game.
Consulting: Hiring someone to do the work FOR you. You will learn what they are doing and HOW they are doing it, so that next time, YOU will do it. But essentially, you are paying for someone else to complete the task for you while you learn/watch. They have the playbook and THEY use it while teaching you.
Mentoring: Receiving advice from personal experiences usually from a single source. You sit with the retired pitcher and gain insight on how HE was able to pitch that way. Hopefully, you can too.
Workshops: Coaches and Consultants come together to teach a group by doing some work for you, explaining the playbook, breaking down YOUR task at hand, mentoring your on their own personal experiences. Sort of a little bit from each categories, but in a group setting instead of personalized.
So which is right for YOU?
It really depends. If you learn better from a group setting, find a workshop that will teach on the areas that you are struggling with. Sometimes the community you receive from attending with others can help support each other after the workshop if finished.
If your task is large and scary or you just have no idea where to start, I would recommend starting with a consultant to help tame and organize what needs to be done in a timely manner. Perhaps once it becomes more manageable, the next part would be hiring a coach or mentor to help or inspire you while you continue on.
If you are mostly where you need to be, but just need some help or tweaks or a listening ear, find a mentor who you trust and value their opinion. Not just one who will just reassure you. Be prepared to hear the hard stuff too and be willing to make adjustments.
Through my own journey this year of Redefining the Family Portrait Experience for my clients, I have turned to many mentors that have given me some great advice. When we are in the thick of it, it’s often hard to see things that might be right under our noses. It helps to have a friend or mentor that can be honest with you and point you in the right direction. Or even just to give you a pep talk when you are feeling weak and uninspired.
Accountability is a powerful thing. So no matter what your choice, or lack thereof, be sure to tell someone what your goal is and ask them to keep you accountable. Even a spouse. As soloprenaurers it’s very difficult to stay motivated and focused and having reliable accountability is a tremendous tool to helping to keep you on task.
As a business consultant I have worn many hats from consultant to coach to mentor. Whatever category you think you might fit into, the real question is:
“What do you need help with?” not so much how do you want to define that help. If you find yourself needing help with your business or financial management, wedding or photography fundamentals, or how to nourish & cultivate your family life while running a business, consider taking advantage of the education special currently being offered for a limited time. Only $225 for a private session. See website for more details.
So in case you haven’t heard by now, it’s all over the internet: May is the new January. There is no need to wait until the calendar changes over to implement changes and resolutions that have been on your mind for some time. Go ahead and start right now.
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East Coast Fine Art Lifestyle Family Portrait Photographer Angelsea Urban
Angelsea Urban is an entrepreneur and photographer helping women use their creative gifts to nourish their homes and cultivate their businesses through practical stewardship. Her unique photography work focuses on Redefining the Family Portrait Experience by telling the story of each family through personalized foundations while intimately creating a space to strengthen family bonds. Angelsea has helped the careers of photographers, restaurateurs, musicians and general small business owners. Her ministry work focuses on fostering creative gifts in women entrepreneurs to prioritize family and discipleship. She has photographed for families, brides, Bravo TV, NFL Films, and more and has been featured on multiple blogs and magazine print for her work in photography and in business. Angelsea teaches in various speaking engagements across the United States, and resides with her husband of 17 years, their two children, and their barely 3 pound Yorkie near Long Beach Island, New Jersey. She can be reached at angelseaurban@gmail.com.
To book your session with Angelsea Urban, please visit http://portraits.angelseaurban.com/#/contact/
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Brysen - Thanks alot – your answer solved all my problems after several days stggiulrng