I’m a big fan of radio. Specifically talk radio. I listen to more talk radio than watch TV. That’s probably because I don’t own a telly anymore!
Since as far back as I could rememebr, I’ve always been enamored with the medical profession.
When I was about 10 years of age, Mom enrolled me in a Saturday morning class at the local hospital educating youngins about medicine. I found it very interesting.
One day Mom brought home a book on embalming and gave it to me and my brother. She thought the funeral biz would be a great biz so she did her best to plant a few seeds. Little bro and me were not enthralled spending the rest of our adult lives with the deceased and their grieving families.
Because of Mom’s influence, my interest in medicine, physical fitness, the human body, and improving my health has grown each and every year.
I love listening to medical radio shows. You know the ones where people call in to the doctor with a list of their infirmities: high blood pressure, premature balding, arthritis, scaling skin, etc. etc. etc.
During this one show, almost every other person who called in was asking the doctor for a quick fix to a long term problem.
The convo goes something like:
“Doc, I’ve had this condition for quite some time. I’ve tried taking this organic green powder created by a medicinal man in Fiji. I’m eating seaweed imported from Japan. I’ve inhaled every supplement known to man, claiming to cure my ills. Nothing! Nothing seems to work. What would you recommend I take to fix this problem?”
Each and every time, the doctor would explain to the patient that there could be any number of reasons why they have this infirmity. He’d give a cogent explanation both in medical and laymans terms as to the possible root causes of the caller’s malady along with his process to hopefully make them better again.
After listening to the radio program for about an hour or so, I noticed a golden thread weaving through each conversation.
The doctor would explain his process for a possible cure:
- Make an appointment
- Drive out to his Long Island office
- Get pricked for blood work
- Analyze the results
- Provide a professional opinion to the patient of the results
- Recommend a course of treatment to aleviate the infirmity
Some people would acquiesce and say “OK, I’ll call first thing on Monday and make an appointment.” The doctor would reply “Great! See ya soon!”
Other radio callers however would challenge Doc again, insisting on a pill, supplement, powder, or a magicial root of whatever from wherever that they could buy at the local magic potion shop down the street or online.
Each and every time, he would explain it’s impossible to recommend a solution to their problem without seeing them first and going through his process. A process I imagined he’s perfected over many years.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again:
I don’t have the I Dream of Jeannie solution.
Like Doc, each and every one of his patients is unique in their own special way.
The same is true for my clients. I don’t have a one size fits all cure.
I could coach 10 different people with the same endgame:
- Increase the revenues in their business
- Build a coaching business
- Become a better leader
- Break bad habits
- Career transition
You know what?
Each one of these clients will go about slaying their endgame in their own special way. Each of them has unique behaviors, values, motivators, competencies, etc.
This is why I love coaching. I never coach one client vs. another the same way. That’s what makes my work fulfilling and so much fun!
Having said that, like the doctor, or the accountant, or the attorney, or chiropractor, a professional certified coach has a process.
The reason you pay a professional is because of their unique process.
The value is in the process.