What Do You Want?

That’s considered a powerful question in coaching. And we are at the end of the year so it may be a good time to ask each other some powerful (some uncomfortable) questions. Imagine that folks, 2024 is ending and this is our last article of the year. Kweli time flies and I hope your dreams, plans and desires fly high too. This year I became a credentialed coach. I earned my Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential in March. It was a timely gift for a significant birthday. I even wrote about it.    https://lucasmaranga.com/a-credential-at-50/

In my preparation for the ACC exam, I was required to send a recorded coaching session to an external examiner to check if I demonstrated the coaching competencies.  As I did my preparation I came across an article that had a series of powerful coaching sessions.  They were categorized by the number of words each question had. I had learnt earlier that the shorter the question I ask my client the clearer and more powerful it will be. And then also remembered the ka slogan on my dad’s office door when he was the branch manager at Housing Finance (HFCK), Gill House branch many years ago. It read – the more you talk the more you are likely to sin. We could say Mzee had a coaching approach to work hehe.

Coaching is helping me speak less and listen more. It’s a continuous effort especially because I am an extrovert. Giving stories is my default setting. Two-word questions I asked in my recording were like what else? Like what? How else? Less is more as far as asking questions is concerned. Some 3-word questions are, what is working? What is possible? What is next? Some 4-word questions are, what is not working? What is stopping you? What do you want?

My new coaching colleague and 2024 business partner asked me that last question a week ago in our end-of-year recap drink-up. What do you want? It made me take a long sip followed by an even longer pause. We talked about what we considered achievements this year and explored how 2025 can be even better. My goal remains to be a thought leader as far as transitions go. I have made some progress this year but feel there’s still a gap. I don’t want my thought leadership journey to be like my golf one. My buddy Chris teases me that I usually start strong and finish weak.

I started saying how I need to have a signature program that sets me apart and cements my authority on transitions. The halftime program is life-changing and I was once called the poster boy of halftime so I’m sorted. I also make good noise on LinkedIn and this blog plus a few other public forums. My pal confirmed that I’m already creating good awareness. What I need is to be clearer about what I’m offering my clients that’s unique and beneficial, not just good opinions. I paused and took an even longer sip when I heard that.

I know people who have signature programs and they have run class after class throughout this year. I envy them and wish I could be running halftime roundtables all year and help folks find and live meaningful lives. Now with the awareness that I’m a lousy finisher, I’ve been studying what these thought leaders are doing that I’m not. They finish strong by offering a clear and structured value proposition and guide on how to go about it. I’m a big-picture guy and logistics and admin of an event or program bog me down.

Maybe I need to outsource the necessary but boring work that makes a successful program. I remember telling Sir God earlier in the year that nimechoka. We made a deal. He fills the class and I come to teach. Has that happened this year? In a way that I didn’t expect. I’ve had platforms to help folks transition but not purely as halftime classes. But I should have done more I feel.

It felt like an end-of-year rebuke from my buddy. Folks, clarity is important if we are to achieve our goals. Making noise about our good intentions and capabilities is good but not sufficient. We may get the buy-in we are looking for but we need to land the plane and offer the main course, not just soups and starters. The main course is a well-structured and valuable program that easily displays the value one will get from attending our program. That’s how we maximize our gift for impact and income.

That’s the work I have to do for next year. It is long hard work but necessary if we are to be set apart and sought after. So what do I want? I’m looking for six individuals who are in halftime/transition and wonder what the next season of their lives will be. High-impact folks who are at the end of their current season, eager and restless enough to find and live a life of impact, joy and balance. That’s what I want.

 We start on February 22^nd (virtually) from 8 am to 11 am and plan to meet every three weeks for six sessions up to the end of May.  We will then meet in person and spend three days at the Masai Mara in what we’ve dubbed, Halftime in the wild. That will be our graduation and hopefully, the beginning of an amazing second half for the 6 individuals to go out and live the movie of their lives.

Is that you? do you want to start a new thing in the new year? Are you hungry for significance? Do you long for your life to count for something and need some guidance on how to do that practically? I’ve got you. Drop me a note and I’ll be happy to guide you further. I commit to walking with you and helping you discover your second-half calling. Look out for the poster on my LinkedIn page plus a testimonial of a recent halftime graduate.

Folks, asanteni sana for passing by here throughout the year at one time or another. I hope it’s been helpful. Enjoy the Christmas break and may it be reflective enough to discover what you want in 2025. My wifi is also taking a break so see you in the new year when it returns hehe. Live long good people.