If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to work with a coach, this article walks you through a real example of how coaching works, what it looks like in practice, and the kind of personal and measurable changes it can create over time.
Scenarios That Lead to Working With a Coach
Let’s be honest.
There are times when life feels totally unmanageable.
You’re trying. You’re showing up. But life feels hard and maybe even a little cruel.
Maybe you’re overwhelmed by everything on your plate.
Maybe you’re questioning yourself and feel lost.
Maybe you feel like you should be further along, but you don’t know how to get there, or even where “there” is.
And if you’re really honest…
There are moments when you feel defeated and you don’t know what to do to move through it.
As someone who has coached individuals facing these scenarios, and many more, over the course of thirty years, let me share some of my experiences through a real life example that also answers the following questions:
👉 What actually happens when you have someone in your corner?
👉 What is it really like to work with a coach?
How Working with a Coach Began as a Surprise
A few years ago, I met a young man named Gabriel at the library.
We didn’t know each other. It wasn’t planned. Just one of those ordinary moments when I noticed someone who needed my attention.
Here’s how Gabriel describes that moment:
“I was standing outside a study room feeling stressed and defeated when Joan noticed me, looked me in the eyes, and started a conversation that somehow felt like she had known me her entire life. She listened without judgment as I shared what I was going through.
As she talked to me about seeing problems as guideposts instead of dead ends, something in me shifted. I walked away from that first encounter feeling lighter and more hopeful, realizing that it wasn’t my future that was dim, it was my mindset.”
At the time I met him, Gabriel was struggling.
He had started college and it wasn’t going well.
He had failed most of his classes.
He wasn’t completing coursework.
His GPA was 0.67.
But more than that…
He felt defeated.
What Working with a Coach Actually Looks Like
We talked. We connected. And we stayed in touch.
Over time, we had many conversations.
We talked about:
- Pressure and anxiety
- What it means to keep going when things feel hard
- Work ethic, priorities, and self-care
- Celebrating wins and learning from setbacks
We exchanged emails.
We met over Zoom.
I encouraged him.
I challenged him.
I reflected things back to him that he wasn’t yet seeing in himself.
And he kept showing up.
What Coaching Is versus What it Is Not.
Coaching is not about giving someone all the answers. In fact, it’s all about asking the right questions so a person can source the answers for themselves. That’s what leads to the best outcomes.
It’s never about fixing them because no one is broken. It’s important they discover that about themselves.
It’s about:
- Helping someone see clearly when they can’t
- Holding belief for them when their own belief feels shaky
- Creating space for them to think, process, and move forward
- Supporting them as they build consistency over time
“Coaching isn’t about giving you the answers. It’s about helping you see clearly enough to find your own.”
Coach Joan Jakel
What Starts to Change When You Work with a Coach (And Why It Matters)
Over time, life began to shift for Gabriel.
In real, measurable ways.
He began excelling in his classes.
His GPA steadily increased.
He made the Dean’s list.
He took on leadership roles and significant research projects.
But the most important transformation wasn’t academic.
It was personal.
He became:
- Someone who followed through
- Someone who believed in himself
- Someone who stayed committed, even when things felt hard
- Someone who could stay centered no matter what was happening in his life
That’s the shift.
Not just results.
Identity.
As he approaches graduation, his GPA grew to 3.57, and he’s graduating with a bachelor’s degree, a major, and a minor.
While these are notable accomplishments, what matters the most is who he became in the process.
Why Having a Coach in Your Corner Changes Everything
At one point, Gabriel shared the following:
“Knowing that someone truly saw me, believed in me, and reminded me to focus on what I can do has changed the way I handle stress, make decisions, and think about my own potential.”
That’s the power of coaching. It’s about helping you see what’s possible in yourself and in your life, then supporting you to achieve it.
Gabriel did the work.
Every bit of it.
But he didn’t do it alone.
Having a coach in your corner:
- Gives you perspective when you can’t see clearly
- Grounds you when you feel overwhelmed
- Helps you move forward when you don’t know what the next step is
- Reminds you of who you are when you’ve lost sight of it
And that makes all the difference.
How to Know if Coaching Is For You
If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed…
If you’ve been questioning yourself…
If you’ve been trying to figure everything out on your own to no avail…
If you know you want something more, but you’re not sure what or how to get there…
Maybe it’s time to have someone in your corner.
Your Next Step to Explore Working with a Coach
If you’re ready for this kind of support, the best place to start is a conversation.
You can schedule a 30-minute complimentary discovery session with me. We’ll talk about the realities you’re facing and what support could look like for you.
You can access my calendar and select a day and time that works best for you: Joan’s Calendar
You don’t have to figure this out on your own. I’d love to support you and help you find your way, just as Gabriel found his.
I help purpose-driven entrepreneurs upgrade their mindset, eliminate limiting beliefs and reprogram critical, negative self-talk so they can courageously and authentically use their voice, gifts and talents to make a bigger impact.
If you're ready to thrive and develop an unshakeable belief in who you are and what you can achieve, let's talk!
Carpe Diem!
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