Are You ‘Coachable’?

I always thought I was.

Decades of sports, team projects, music ensembles, group productions, volunteer work—you name it, I’ve been coached in it. So when someone asked me recently, “Are you coachable?” I expected to nod confidently.

Instead… I bristled.

And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that bristle = trigger.
So I got curious.

This reflection is partly for my fellow coaches, but it applies to anyone navigating personal or professional growth.

Right now, the coaching space is loud.

We’ve got coaches.
Expert coaches.
Coaches for coaches.
Mentors for coaches.
Packages to help coaches create packages for other coaches…

(You still with me?)

While I happily raise my hand as part of the Awesome Life-Changing Coaches club, I’ll be honest: it’s a lot.

There are so many voices telling us what to do in order to “succeed.”

Some of those voices? Just looking for a quick cash infusion.
Others? Legit. Brilliant. Backed by thriving businesses and years of hard-earned expertise.

So shouldn’t I listen to those voices?

Wouldn’t I be a fool not to?

Here’s the thing:

Gone are the days of “Just do what you’re told and everything will work out.”
We don’t live in that world anymore.
We don’t want to live in that world anymore.

So when someone asks, “Are you coachable?” what I sometimes hear is:
Will you follow my system exactly, even if it feels misaligned, awkward, or not-you?

That’s not coaching. That’s cloning.
And I didn’t sign up to be a copy-paste version of someone else’s brand of brilliance.

These days, I’m listening carefully to the mentors I admire and learning to trust my gut even more.

Because the truth is, I serve best when I run my business—and live my life—in a way that honors my voice, values, and vibe.

And a great coach? They won’t try to replace your voice. They’ll help you turn up the volume on it—and help you stand by it, even when the world’s shouting something else.

Doesn’t mean I won’t mess it up.
(Spoiler alert: I will.)

Doesn’t mean I never need help.
(I definitely do.)

But if something doesn’t sit right in my body, no amount of external validation is worth the cost of ignoring myself.

A wise friend once told me:

“If you do it your way, it may or may not work out. But if you do it their way, it definitely won’t.”

I’m choosing my way.
With joy.
With heart.
With hope.
And yes, with a coach or two who actually sees ME.

Be YOU—loudly, proudly, as often as you can.
That’s where the real magic (and abundance) lives.

Good luck out there.
I’m rooting for us both. 💛