Guest Post by Deborah A. Bailey

Has the news about the economy made you nervous? If so, you’re not alone. However, one of the worst things you can do is to stop investing in yourself and in your business. Ups and downs in the economy are inevitable. Making choices based on fear will not help you to succeed – and you should keep in mind that those who invest in themselves will succeed no matter what is going on in the world.

How can a coach be of help to you? A coach provides accountability, support and motivation. A coach has no agenda other than working with you to identify ways to be more productive, make your business more profitable or help you to become more focused. Being inside your own head makes it difficult to know what is the best action to take. A coach can point out things as an objective observer in a way that a friend, family member or colleague cannot.

So how do you choose the best coach? First, have a conversation with them to find out if the two of you are a good fit. Even if the coach has the qualifications you’re looking for, you may not feel comfortable confiding in them. It is extremely important that the coach you choose is someone you are comfortable with.

Here are some reasons why it would be good to work with a coach:

• If you want to make career changes, a career coach can help you identify a plan of action.
• A coach will be supportive of your vision for your career or your business and they will help you design a plan to fulfill it.
• It’s hard to make decisions in a vacuum. Having someone else who you can brainstorm with can be a big help.
• We can often get stuck in fear of moving forward; a coach will be a partner when you need support to move through the fear.

Successful people will always have a career or business coach working with them throughout their careers. Even career and business coaches will have their own coaches! If you want to achieve your goals, you can never stop investing in yourself. Hiring a coach is an investment that will always pay off.

Copyright © 2008 Deborah A. Bailey

About the Author

Transition Coach and writer, Deborah A. Bailey successfully transitioned to career consultant and coach by founding her company Deb Bailey Coaching. Her extensive personal experience in the employee to entrepreneur transition makes her the partner of choice for many successful entrepreneurs and career professionals. Deborah is the host of “Women Entrepreneurs – The Secrets of Success,” a weekly Internet radio talk show where she provides candid discussions with today’s top entrepreneurs, authors and industry experts. She has been interviewed on radio stations around the country and has published in Baseline magazine and on Bankrate.com. Learn more and sign up for her Personal Power Connection newsletter at http://www.dbaileycoach.com.