TFI Friday

If Mondays are bad – are Fridays good?

I think I woke up panicking this morning. However things have started to come together. I’ve had an email from my B&B confirming that the change in dates to coincide with my new course dates are fine.

I then spend the whole morning pacing up and down. I HAVE to clear the dates with Boss. I’ve already sent him an email selling him the benefits. Its only really the Mondays that I am asking for. I have every other Friday off work and Boss respects that and my course falls on those weekends. So I’m only asking for three Mondays. He’s very good over my holidays and I am very demanding – they’re important to me. And in ten years he’s only refused me once (I think). So why is there a little voice in my head telling me to worry. (probably because this is so important as someone is offering me one hell of a deal on my training).

I know Boss isn’t coming into the office until 9.30 and then going straight into interviews. I’m off out at 12.00.

The waiting is killing me.

Finally at the eleventh hour – literally 11:59, I’ve got my shoes on and am stood by the front door, the phone rings. Boss does his normal umming and arring and then agrees. I like my Boss. I wouldn’t tell him, but right now I could hug him. He’s not really the hugging type.

So its all systems go. I’m soooo excited I want to tell the world about my good fortune. (I forgot sometimes that when I’m blogging – I AM telling the world – or at least those bits that want to listen.

We’re off up to the Lakes tomorrow for a week. I have to ring Mum to sort out arrangements for His Royal Doggyness as our last minute accommodation isn’t doggy friendly. Besides these days he struggles on our step into the garden let alone 3000ft hills. Mum and Dad seemed uninterested in my Coaching when I initially told them. They were too worried and focussed on the thought that I might give up my nice safe job at the bank. I mention that my course dates have changed. Largely because she worries about me and likes to know that I’m where I’m supposed to be. It’s a Mum thing. She goes onto to tell me that Dad suggested they give me £500 towards my course. WOW! I can’t go wrong at the moment.

So, Universe, I’m writing to thank you. I asked for £2,000 to pay for my course. You haven’t given it to me, however you have given me what I truly wanted. An opportunity to train on the course I wanted to do. I think I can manage the rest!

Business Help and Big Ideas

Now I have got my Coaching training course sorted with Barefoot, I need to start thinking more about the business side of things. This is where I need some real help.

I met with a helpful colleague again today.  You may remember Helpful Colleague from a previous post. I wanted to thank her and update her on how I reached my decision over the coaching course. And I thought there was very little to talk about. Before I knew it I'd had an hour and a quarter for lunch and returned to my desk feeling very motivated, enthused and very much in awe of her plans. I can't tell you what they are - its not for me to do so, but what she wants to do is VERY huge and could change people's lives. I'm secretly hoping she'll need an extra pair of hands because its very exciting.

Helpful colleague is forming a very important part of the support network that I am creating, but I feel as though I am taking up all of the time we share as its about me me me. SO, I'm pleased to find out that she has little experience of the internet and wants to start a blog. I'm more than happy to help with that.

She left me with some advice. And that was to get in touch with business Link. And then,

"stop worrying about my name - it will come to me - just keep asking the universe".

Observer day at Barefoot Coaching

I've been looking forward to today for ages. Today is my observer day at Barefoot Coaching. I get to go along to one of their workshops, sit back and observe the training. Its an excellent opportunity to see if they live up to their hype.

So my earlier than normal alarm goes off at 6am. It is of course light so that aids the getting up process.

I've planned what I am wearing. The dress code was whatever comfortable means to you. I've always found that I perform and interact better when I'm smart but I didn't want to be too business like. I've chosen a feminine brown/pink skirt. Not too casual, not too smart. With a simple camisole top and tie/bolero cardigan.

I am very nervous, but I think this is more about doing the busy drive along the A50. I set off at 7am, having asked the universe for an uneventful, but timely journey. I need to be there by 9am but have never done the journey at rush hour before. My worst fear would be to arrive late.

My journey is indeed uneventful. Within an hour I've reached the services on the A50 and am nearly there. So I make use of the facilities then move on to a lay-by close to the venue so that I cam compose myself and I am still 25 minutes early, but at least other people are beginning to arrive. Thank you universe.

Barefoot coaching is everything I imagined and more. I knew the other delegates would be friendly and people focussed but I wasn't quite prepared for exactly how touchy-feely they were.

Barefoot's approach to business works. The whole idea of letting someone sample a days training just smacks of having absolute confidence in their own product. It certainly worked for me. I also got a chance to try a sample of their coaching tools too.

I've come away with a very strong feeling that this is the course that I want to do. Its a combination of what they've shown me today in a very honest open (one of my values) way and the fact that I am still struggling to understand how the relationship between New-U coaching and the ICF accreditation works. The costs involved are less than transparent.

We're off to the lakes tomorrow morning for a 3 day camping break at Church Stile Camp-site in Nether Wasdale. The weather report is good. We know the camp-site is great having been twice before - so there will be lots of walking and chilling involved. A good time to allow me to reflect on what I've seen - just as a backstop - lets face it I wouldn't want to make a hurried decision would I?

Asking the Universe - Part II

I've tried to do most of my posts in chronological order, with the exceptions of the ones entitled looking back.

This tends to mean I'm about 1 - 1 1/2 weeks behind what's actually going on. It helps me to get a better understanding and perspective on my own thoughts. I keep a journal which is written with my thoughts at the time. By the time I write them up for this blog some of the emotions have dissipated a little, others remain as strong as ever.

However this blog post is an extra one. One I've posted especially as a result of a comment I was left on Thursday to the post entitled  Asking the Universe. This post was a light-hearted introduction to a technique that an awful lot of people believe in. I'll leave you to decide wether or not it works for you. But! That single comment has intrigued me more than any other left on my blog.

It was left anonymously, but I suspect that this was done for my protection - not the author. I strongly felt that the author knew something about me and the company I work for. If I'm right, then let me know in some way who you are. If you still want to remain anonymous then so be it - I will respect your wish.