Orchid, thanks for your comments. As for small group facilitation, I've done much of that in terms of social work. I am very comfortable facilitating groups. My degree qualifies me to do so. I've also did some "free lance" facilitations, such as for a church that wanted me to do a journal writing workshop, for a breast cancer group, for mom's who needed a "retreat" and for a health and wellness seminar. Your idea makes me realize I've dropped that aspect, and I should pick it up again. I received great evaluations. Hmmm, you gave me something to think about.
Thank you

Gosh, if I had a manager who said, go here and do this workshop, go there and do that workshop, go speak at a high school, college, teach a watercolor class here, do a book discussion there, I'd do it. I don't know what you call someone who books. It's way hard doing it myself, setting up the engagements, that is. Orchid, I was not quite sure of the meaning of the second part of your post. How was your vacation to Seattle? PL

Princess it's a good sign that you got good evaluations. Guess you would have to focus on a niche /topic area.

My last paragraph was more musing about myself and what I need to do.

Hi Women,
I too am a life coach and loved my training. I took it with CTA, Coach Training Alliance. It is online and once per week classes for maybe 14 or 16 weeks. Classes are small and one gets a comprehensive syllabus/text with live links throughout for using online. This course is ICF accredited.
Happy to share more just PM me as well.
Marketing and "getting" or attracting clients is, like any business, a big part of what you'll do if you want to do only one on one coaching. After 2 years of that I have branched out to more groups, teleseminars, writing, and now, creating products so people who do not want a coaching relationship--or don't have the funds, can still have access to what I offer.
I have also taken other courses to broaden my skills and will in '09 get my certification in Neuro Linguistic Programming or NLP.
CTA is not as costly as going to CoachU or the like and expensive is a relative term but the price felt fair for the information and value I received.
Happy Sunday
mscoach

Ms Couch, thank you for the information. I for one am taking it all in. Would you like to tell us more about the products you create, are they on your site? PL

And I too became a Life Coach through Coach Training Alliance and found it to be a very comprehensive program.

Life Coaching is very rewarding and enjoyable and yes...you grow as much or more than your clients do!

Well Hello Miss JC, I don't think I've seen you in a while. How are you? Are you still hosting a web radio show?

A couple of years ago I was reading "The Dark Side of the Light Chasers" and I love the statement (paraphrased) " pay attention to what you're giving as advice to others because it is what you need to learn". That was the number one most freeing statement for me as I moved into coaching. I had this "story" that I wasn't supposed to get anything out of the encounter or I wasn't truly giving. As I've done more coaching, I realize I always get something out of the encounter, learn something new, learn a new way to explain, something. And I positively adore the "aha" moments shared with people. Wow, that is so kewl. One of the tools I use is The Passion Test and I love seeing the surprise on people's faces when they realize something they've been beating themselves up over isn't even in the top 5 or they recognized a long forgotten dream and realized how important it was to them.

That is the kewlest!

MR, thanks for voicing the rewards coaching brings to you. I also read The Dark Side...
I had a step sister named after her mother Geraldine. My step mother called herself Jeri, and the daughter was called B.J. as in "baby jeri." My mother wanted to name me Lynn but the priest said that was not a proper name for a Roman Catholic, thus I got Lenora, which no one could spell or pronounce. So everyone called me Lynn. My father bought a boat, wanted to name it, and thus the name Jerilynn (no e) What a coincidence lo these many years later! Not until now have I come across that name.

Hi Princess Lenora

What an interesting story...thanks so much for sharing it! I LOVE the name Lenora...it flows so beautifully off the tongue.

When I was it was "Jeri Lynne"...my mom wanted something "different" and my dad vetoed, vehemently, Katrinka! Thank goodness for that at least! The whole time I was growing up, I hated the name "Jeri" because I was teased mercilessly about it being a boy's name and I was very much the prissy little girl who played with dolls and screamed properly when faced with a bucket of worms!

When I became an adult, I combined the two names informally and when I married the first time, I had it officially changed. Now I like it...and I got such a hoot out of the nurse at my new doctor's office who exclaimed "oh, such a beautiful name, so feminine!'. Now mind you, this comes on the heals of a long drawn out battle with me being PO'ed about being a poor downtrodden female in this lifetime. How funny is life anyway!!!!!!!!!!