On Monday, June 1st, I graduated with my life coaching certificate from the International Coach Academy. The day started out as a normal one like any other, but when I got home at 6:30p and realized that this night's activity was going to consist of my graduation ceremony, I literally froze in my tracks & said intelligently:

"Whoa."
 

Granted, this is a monumental occasion, a milestone, a climbed mountain and a crossed ocean. When I started ICA in the summer of 2007, I was a different person. I was without a husband (or even a fiance!), and still had a hesitancy of going down this path, of having it actually be something I'd be passionate about as well as being a viable career option for me. Heck, part of the reason I left The Business of Show and took a Career Change Workshop was to find a stable career that I could love. Life coaching was hardly stable. Will it allow me to pay my bills? Is this really going to be able to be my Grown Up Job? How could I learn anything over the phone anyway (yes, every class is over the phone)? Am I being a massive idiot?
 

Well, that was July of 2007. Here I am, 2 years later, still with the vampires but so much more secure in my knowing: knowing that I'm a fantabulous coach, knowing that I'm passionate about it, knowing that it'll be tough to support myself financially at first, but knowing that I have a plan in place to give it a go. I learned oh-so-much over that phone, and when the graduation facilitator said at the start of the call, "You have set a goal for yourself. You accomplished it. You should be proud, and make sure to celebrate big," I found myself getting emotional. Look at where I've come! Look at what I've done! I've held a full-time job, planned a wedding, got married, did a show or two, and held fast to my new grown-up dream. I am proud of me, and sort of in shock and amazement, too.
 

In thinking of the other goals I've set for myself that have fallen flat, I've tried to piece together why this one worked. How did I set myself up for success? I think these were the key components:
 

* I knew the limitations that were out of my control. I had my job, and wasn't going to leave it. Therefore, Monday through Friday from 9a to 6p were off limits. I had to find a program that could be flexible with my work schedule, my wallet (I was determined not to accrue any more credit card debt), and my location. ICA - with it's phone classes that can be done from 6a-11p five days a week plus a handful of classes on the weekends, and it's reasonable payment plan - fit the bill.
 

* I went with what "felt right". I was nervous about finding a life coaching program, and I had nobody to go to for recommendations (I never even had a life coach before I decided to become one!). Thankfully I discovered ICF & a list of schools that they accredited, and went through them one by one. I interviewed three or four, with ICA being at the end of the line. Not only did they fit my limitations, but my gut was telling me that this was "my place." There was support, and laughter, and not as much hippie dippiness going on as I feared. I got off the initial phone call and knew this could be my home for as long as it took for me to complete the program.
 

* Success was within my control. This sounds silly, but sometimes outside factors are the ones that are pulling the strings, like when you audition for a part in a show. Here, the only person that could get in my way was me! It was up to me to attend the classes, and finish the requirements, and find the people to coach.
 

* I had support. For a long time, this was something only my family & closest friends knew I was doing. Thankfully though, no matter who I spoke to, I got a resounding chorus of, "That's so cool!" Through this blog & Twitter I met other life coaches & people that could be life coaches (!), and my net was cast even wider than before. It's really built my confidence and made me proud to tell the world that I'm a licensed life coach.
 

* I made it a CHUTZPAH goal. I knew that I was getting my life coaching certificate for me - it was nobody else's dream or goal but my own. I knew that it would be a challenge, but one I could definitely achieve. I gave myself a road map each month so I would be able to see how fast or slow I was moving, and adjust my schedule accordingly. I added zest to whatever was asked of me, molded it to my passions and interests. I celebrated each big and little step, making them precise and assessable along the way.
 

Here I am, at the end of this journey, heading towards a new road that's a little more uncertain. There's no class schedule or papers that I'm being told to write, but there is warmth and fun in getting to choose my own adventure. What new road are you walking down? What recent goal have you accomplished? Share them with others, get that support, & celebrate!