Almost every self help book I have looked at works on this simple formula. The secret to fulfillment and success is having goals and following through, persisting, visualizing and attracting what you want and where you want to be,  believing in yourself no matter what.

 Brilliant formula, if you actually know what your goals are. I have found for myself and many of my clients, that identifying and setting goals is a difficult and gradual process of self reflection, exploration, and trialing until a true goal emerges. 

There are many tools out there on goal setting, just google and see. What they all tend to assume is that you are at a place where you know what steps you want or need to take in order to move forward towards something. The formula involves, identifing, unpacking the steps required, and implementing. Now if you are already aware of your purpose, or are on a path, be it career or other areas of your life, setting goals is second nature, and it could be just a matter of working with a personal coach to refine and accelerate the process.

For those of us who are feeling lost or lacking direction, then working with a personal coach takes on a different feel. The role of the coach here is to work with you to explore and identify potential areas where you want to change, create or recreate your life. Left to our own devices we risk running around in circles, arriving at the same place, like an mp3 on repeat. Having a personal coach will take us off the repeat setting and get things back on track. 

The biggest mistake that people make is seeing the coach as the 'magic fix'. If I work with a coach for 12 weeks I will know and have what I want from life. For those who come into coaching with a goal already defined, then this will be the case. For those who come to coaching because they are feeling lost, stuck, wanting to change but not knowing where to start, the reality is likely to be different. 

If you are feeling lost, stuck, not knowing where to start, lets start by setting realistic expectations for ourselves. How many times have you placed all your hopes on reaching a place that others have achieved in the same space of time? When you fail to reach that place, or benchmark , how do you feel? 

Take a moment to reflect.. do you know what you want in your life right now? do you know how to identify what you actually want? do you know the steps to get there, do you understand what motivates you and keeps you motivated to reach goals?

Does this change the expectations you may have for the use of a personal coach? Imagine if at the end of 12 sessions you had more clarity than you have now and have glimpses of what is possible for you? Would it then be possible to begin setting some real goals in your life? The role of the coach becomes one of co-creator, like rocket fuel to get you to a place where real change can begin. When the first stage of coaching is complete, then setting goals and acheiving them will become exhilarating, life changing and lasting. It becomes validation that you are on a path that is right for you.