Since you’re reading this, I imagine you want to make some changes to your life, but you’re not entirely sure how to go about it. You’re not alone. That’s why there’s been such a phenomenal growth in life coaching in Britain and many other countries in the past few years.

The first time I heard the term was in a talk by the inspirational motivational speaker and author, Anthony Robbins, ten years ago. ‘Some people call me a guru,’ he said, ‘but that’s not true. I’m not a guru, I’m a coach. I coach people to get the best out of themselves.’

Since then, life coaching has become big business. Training, diplomas and certificates are offered by a profusion of ‘schools’ and ‘institutes’ worldwide, although, unlike therapy and counselling, there are currently no formally recognised professional qualifications in the UK for life coaches. That’s not to say these independent organisations are not very good, just unregulated.

Life coaches offer their services to individuals, groups and businesses, often at exorbitant rates. A friend of mine recently paid £375 for three, 55 minute, four-way telephone conversations with a life coach. That’s over £9 for every minute of his share of attention from the coach! He claims to have benefited from the sessions, but obviously many of those who need help can’t afford to pay that sort of money. Hopefully everyone can afford to invest in this book.

What do life coaches aim to do? Simply to support and encourage their clients in their personal and professional growth by helping them to identify and achieve their goals. They use a variety of conversational and written techniques to help them find the best way forward, strengthen their motivation and take action. Good coaches don’t give advice, but help the client to find the answer for themselves.

It occurs to me that I have been a life coach for over 20 years, although I have only recently begun to refer to myself as such. I have unwittingly coached my children, friends, colleagues and students. I have also been a life coach to my clients (I have been a hypnotherapist for over ten years), and often found life coaching to be more useful to them than therapy.

Some of my ‘coachees’ completely turned their lives around and went on to great success in their chosen fields. None paid anything like £9 per minute, and neither need you. If you follow the tried and tested methods offered in this book, you can transform your life with no financial outlay other than the cover price.

I base my methods on three simple ideas. You will become very familiar with these in the weeks ahead:

• The TGROW method.
• Eight Steps to Success.
• The ITIA formula.

I believe the best coach for you is you, and I aim to give free rein to him or her. This book will show you exactly what you need to do to turn yourself into your own life coach. There are 365 priceless ideas, exercises and skills to learn from and apply.

I want you to get more from this book than a warm feeling. I want you to put these principles and techniques into practice so you will reap the rewards. But you won’t gain full benefit if you merely read my words. That would be like expecting to get better by gazing at the label on the bottle without actually taking the medicine.

I guarantee: if you read the material carefully and use what you learn, big changes will take place. A year from now you’ll look back with amazement on all you’ve achieved.

So let’s get started.

david@davidlawrencepreston.co.uk
www.davidlawrencepreston.co.uk