I have two websites: one for my consulting work and one for coaching. One uses my legal name, the other uses my nickname. It’s not initially obvious they belong to the same person unless you’re really trying to connect them (or unless you speak Polish and are familiar with the nickname).
I intentionally separated the consulting part of my self from the coaching part of my self. I think it had something to do with the difficulty I had calling myself a coach.
I’ve enjoyed many aspects of my consulting career, but I didn’t love it. I always tried to ensure the work I was doing was in some way improving human experiences but in many cases this was a stretch. It became harder and harder to squeeze meaning out of products that helped people buy stuff more easily or sell more stuff more profitably. I spent many years doing work that I sometimes enjoyed but that rarely felt genuinely important.
On the other hand, coaching feels important. I love coaching. I’ve never had to do a second of work to convince myself that coaching is meaningful. Coaching doesn’t ever feel like work. I still can’t believe I get to spend time with amazing human beings and watch them transform – and that it’s my job.
What I do as a coach is one of the most important things I’ve ever done. I think this is why it was hard to call myself a coach for the first few years. Being a coach is not something casual, it’s not yet another consulting gig, it’s not what I do for money. It means something to say I am a coach.
My consulting domain is expiring next week. I’m not going to renew. I’m not a consultant anymore. I’m a coach.