Oz is the Yellow Brick Road

Hanna Cooper, master architect of Making a Difference , combines coaching, life's journey and the Wizard of Oz in her post The All Powerful Oz .  Hanna talks about demystifying the perception that coaching will somehow lead to glorious revelations.  That, in fact, what is truly needed and forthcoming is already inside of us.  I must say, Hanna's post caught me in the cross hairs as I was skinnying on down the road this morning.

About eleven years ago I ramped up an already in-gear effort to improve my business skills.  My effort involved more reading, more networking, more industry associations, more effort.  I really pressed.  After about five years I realized internal growth, but on paper my ROI would've bankrupted any company.  This caused me to rethink a thought that I had carefully tucked away in the recesses of my mind:  "What did I want to be when I grew up?  Or, more precisely, what could I do now that I was grown up...sort of?"  For the next three years blood trickled from my ears as I pressed even harder.  I was a mess.  I began to think, "what had I been missing along the way on this insane march to such a vague destination?" 

I have always had an infatuation with the movie The Wizard of Oz.  Hence one morning the line, "Oz is the Yellow Brick Road" popped up in my journal.  I've used this thought to turn down the ultimate career question noise.  I've used it to help internalize the life-is-a-journey mindset.  And, I've used it while recently seeking employment.  I think it's relative to Hanna's statement, "coaching is taking a journey to find our own truth inside."

Back to the cross hairs...I came across a coaching opportunity a couple of weeks ago.  There might not be a better job on the planet in which I am suited for.  This particular position would have me working with managers - doing the job I did for twenty years.  The rarity of this position in my industry defies desciption.  The rarity of the owner's business philosophy and culture in my industry defies the thoughts that would even precede description.  We connect.  The problem following our initial conversation was that they had just brought a gentleman on and couldn't bring me on.

The very next day after our conversation, one of the company's other coaches came across an opportunity.  It was an assignment where a client had a need that I could immediately address.  They had to do some legwork to see if they could pull it off.  That's where we stand today.

Why bring this up other than the "coaching coincidence?"  Coincidence might best explain it.  There are so many good things available to us on our journey down the Yellow Brick Road.  Friendships, hope, trust, faith, integrity, love...serendipity.  As serendipity somewhat brought this company and myself together, I hope she'll continue to follow with me a little ways longer down the road.