It is my deeply held conviction that our world NEEDS more leaders. It needs more people who are full-hearted, passionate, and motivated to DO something with their lives. I’m not saying that everyone has to try to become the President, inspire the masses, or save the world. I simply believe that as many people as possible should treat their time on this earth as the amazing opportunity it is, and do something they think is important with it.

Dr. Howard Thurman, in my opinion, said it best:

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

You see, to truly “come alive” is to care about something or someone enough to show up and share your unique gifts with the world, every single day. That’s my idea of a leader. Can you imagine living that way? Can you imagine living in a world filled with people living that way?

The first thing that ever made me “come alive” was a passion to study and practice Acting. I caught the “bug” in high school and it fascinated me, it challenged me, it made me listen to others and feel deeply. The journey could have ended there; many other areas of study would have been more practical and lucrative to pursue in my college career. However, I realized that for the first time I could choose my own path and I decided to take a chance on myself and my dreams. Today, because of that decision, I am a better listener, have greater emotional intelligence, and can easily connect with people from all walks of life.

Once I graduated college, I was tasked with a new challenge: actually creating the life I wanted. There were no degrees to earn, teachers to please, or any of the other structures that had been created for me. There were bills to pay, and the more subtle challenge of how to honor the value of my time and energy. My post-college day-job was paying my bills, but it did not challenge or excite me enough to warrant the 40+ hours a week I spent on it.

I had a choice: accept a mediocre job that ate up most of my day, so I could spend a few precious hours on what I loved to do, at night, or take on the challenge to reinvent myself. I jumped on an opportunity to move to Seattle to explore and experience the fast-paced world of Finance. I soon had all the challenges and excitement I could ever want; learning, surviving, and thriving as an Investment Advisor during one of the most volatile periods in the history of the Financial Markets.

This period of my life was on a whole new level. I worked harder than I ever had before, helping counsel and support individuals and families who truly valued the intelligence, professionalism, and humanity I brought to our discussions about their investments.

There was just one problem: I didn’t have a passion for Finance. What I enjoyed most was developing trust, building relationships, and empowering my clients. I was much more interested in their hopes and dreams, their struggles, triumphs, and personal growth, than in what stocks they had been researching.

I knew what I had to do next: take a leap of faith and trust that if I showed up to my life open-minded, full-hearted, and ready to work hard, my true calling would reveal itself.

So I made a graceful exit from the industry and set out to see what greater good I was meant for. That’s when I discovered coaching. I say “discovered” but the reality is that I set up the right conditions and attracted it, I drew it to me. I cultivated a positive and open mindset, showed up ready, every day, to put my full effort into whatever opportunity might lead me in the right direction. Most importantly, I stayed determined to commit to a career that would make me come alive. So, when it was suggested that I look into the profession of coaching, I didn’t hesitate. I took action, and have never regretted doing so.

I renew my commitment to my true path daily, and it is producing more opportunity, joy, and purpose than I had ever dreamed could be possible. The burning desire to empower others has deepened and strengthened with each passing year, leaving no question that I am on the path that is right for me, as an Empowerment Coach. As a leader, in my own life, I show up every day and choose to share my gifts with others, to help them become the leaders they can be.

Allow me to share that gift with you.

--Gaelen

 

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