Your best life in 2007

Sometimes a coach can make all the difference

By Unsie Zuege
January 4, 2007
Chanhassen Villager

It’s that time of year—when we look back and look forward. And some of us can’t help but think, “I’ve got to make some changes!” It could be as simple as jotting down a list of resolutions on a napkin, or getting a “life coach,” someone who helps busy, overwhelmed people take charge of their lives.
Ideally, that someone would resemble a Chere Bork. Bork, of Eden Prairie, is bubbly, chatty, warm, and upbeat. She is a testimonial to the ideal of living your best life now, to paraphrase evangelist and author Joel Osteen.
Bork has been a been certified wellness coach since 2003, but in reality, has spent the last 30 years doing similar work, much of it as a registered dietician and then later, as a lifestyle counselor. More than six years ago, the word and concept of “coaching” kept hitting her in the face every where she turned, she said. She finally had an “Aha!” moment when she realized that coaching would enable her to take her clients to a whole different level.
The difference between lifestyle counseling and life coaching, Bork explained is that the first teaches people how to set goals. But a lifestyle counselor works with a client to unearth their core values and needs, then make a plan to find a life that aligns with them.
“It’s deeper,” Bork said of life coaching. “It’s their soul.”

“As successful as people are, they are either too busy, or too tired to live their best life,” Bork said. “But they all have dreams that are bigger than making more money or having a bigger house. Many people are coming to me because they want to make a difference, have more purpose or create a legacy.
“Money is not the only measure of success anymore. My passion – and I mean passion – is to help them identify what their dreams are. Together, we make them come true.”
People seek her out for assistance in finding new careers, discovering healthy new relationships, or starting a business. Defining their values, and emotional needs and wants provides a clearer picture of what, ultimately will bring them real happiness and satisfaction.
“And, some people just need to get ‘unstuck,’” Bork said. “Then life really begins.”

A passion

Bork likes to say that life coaching found her.
“I am passionate about life coaching,” she said. “I always was interested in helping people and empowering them to be their best and this was a natural part of my journey.”
Her 30 years of experience includes helping clients lose weight, enhance general health and achieve more balance and purpose in their lives.
In 2000, she enrolled in Coach U, a three-year program, and in 2003, she graduated from Wellcoaches and became a certified wellness coach. All of her coaching is done by telephone. The average client coaching session is for 30 minutes, three times each month at a scheduled time.
Coaching fees are set up in packages—they can be monthly, weekly, or a certain number of sessions, depending on the client’s needs. Individual sessions may cost between $75 to $200 an hour, or more.
“Over the phone coaching is not only convenient but also empowers me to listen to what the client is not saying,” Bork said. “I listen and ask powerful questions without the distraction of in-person coaching. With phone coaching, there are no distractions – just the beauty of listening and then asking powerful questions.
“Typically clients stay with me one or two years,” she said. “Some never leave and go to once a month coaching or ‘just in time’ coaching where they pick up the phone and schedule a call when they need one.
“The new year is a great time to reflect on the goodness of 2006 and use that energy to create an even better 2007,” Bork said. “Whether you want to take charge of your health, discover your values and align your life with them or find a new job I will listen, support, inspire, challenge and celebrate every step of your way.”

Cherecoach Top 10
Tips for Keeping Your
New "Yours" Resolution

• Get support and build on it. Everyone in your life is a potential supporter. Pick one person in your professional life and one person in your personal life. Tell them you want them to support you in your goal.
• Tell someone about your resolution. Really tell them. Much research has shown that social pressure is a great motivator and telling someone who is committed to your success is crucial. Thomas Leonard from Coach U always said, “When it comes to support 1 + 1 really does equal 3!”
• Do something truly important to your life. Ask yourself why the change is important to you. Light resolutions and dreams yield light results! Changes based on your life values stick.
• Be willing to change forever and ever. If you resolve to lose weight for a few weeks you will do just that. Resolving to lose this weight forever will have a much grander effect on you.
• Do something in which you know you can be successful. What is the point of making a resolution or a change in which you already know you will fail?
• Change only one thing at a time. Most of us don’t like change anyway. So, focus on one little change at a time — do it and go on to the next!
• Write it down. Write down exactly what you will do, why you will do it and by what date. “I will ______ by_____. The benefits are_______________.
• Let go! Let go! Let go! Ask yourself, “What do I need to let go of to devote more time and energy to this change?
• Celebrate! Never wait for a party to reward yourself with your new behaviors.
• Forgive yourself in advance for not being perfect. Think consistency, not perfection.

Source: Chere Bork

More on life coaching

Q Why get a coach? Can’t people do this stuff on their own?

A Some people have the same old, same old goals year after year after year! Remember when you were in school and you had to get your homework done? As an adult, who is going to check your progress on dreams and goals? No one! It is this accountability that attracts many people to coaching. Coaching is discovering the client’s needs, values and purpose that identify what we say yes to, and what we say no to. It is action- and solution-oriented. We focus on moving forward, not looking at the past. Clients are assigned and held accountable to weekly “homework” goals. People attracted to coaching are everyday normal people who want more—more success, more money, closer relationships, more meaning in life.

Q How does a person go about finding a life coach -- what kinds of questions do you ask to make sure it’s someone who knows what they’re doing and not just some busy body who put out a shingle?

A Great question as coaching is such a new profession —about 10 years formally — and certification and licensure are not required in most states in the U.S. Many people call themselves coaches and they have not been formally trained. Ask them if they’ve graduated from an International Coach Federation (ICF) Accredited Coach Training Program, which has rigorous industry training standards. Ask how many coaching hours they have, if they are certified, and ask for references. Ask for a complimentary coaching session too.

Q What’s the ONE New Year’s Resolution you’ve made in your life, but still haven’t managed to keep? Be honest now!
A One year, my resolution was to take one cooking class a month. I lasted about six or seven months. It was stressful when I had to leave work early for class, and it became a drain to “fit” it in. Resolutions need to be “wants” not “shoulds,” for them to be fun and energizing! This resolution almost became my duty and was no longer a joy.
Visit www.cherecoach.com, or call 952-937-5697, or e-mail chere@cherebork.com