I love the coaching approach because it tends to look optimistically at the future. In regular life, we all fall into traps of being depressed about how messed up things are, and how impossible it will be to surmount the obstacles in front of us.

What you have to realize is that it’s mostly a story in your head. Sure, there are barriers and challenges ahead. But that’s been true since the day you were born.

And you overcame most of them, right?

This is why I always start with my clients on clarifying goals for a better future. Personal goals, business goals, vision, mission, however they think about it.

Because we can’t change the past, but we sure can work on the future.

But it’s not just about figuring out how to get from here to there. In my engineering background, I would rely on that kind of planning and problem-solving as my primary tool.

As a coach, I’ve come to realize that it’s even more about energy and inspiration. If I’m not that excited to work on something, well, it probably won’t happen. And certainly I won’t do a great job if it, I’ll just do enough to get by.

But if I’m inspired, that creates energy. It builds focus. It gives me a reason to apply myself and do the hard work to achieve something important. And there’s a decent chance that I’ll do a good job of it, depending on my level of skill. And next time will be even better.

THAT’S the real reason why I work with clients on imagining a better future. It’s not woo-woo at all.

It’s about creating those powerful intentions.