I am often asked if my coaching client base is predominantly women. I am not sure what prompts this question but the answer is usually surprising to the asker. It is no. I have coached more men than women by a small but meaningful margin.
The sobering statistic that I have noticed from my unscientific, but based on real-life observations research, is that women fail to take the steps necessary to prepare and promote themselves. Looking through my database, I see time and time again where women stopped short in preparing themselves to move forward. It sounds something like this: “I am too busy to focus on my career”; “Once we fill this position, I will have more time to focus on me”; “When my child no longer has after-school activities, I will have time to work on me”. Can you guess? These tomorrows never come.
If you have been reading these messages for some time, you’ve heard me state on more than one occasion that the only person who can promote you is you. Yes, you and you alone, are responsible for the trajectory of your career or business. It is a lovely thought to think that the CEO, boss or managing partner will “notice” you and put you on the fast track to career stardom. If you have your own business, perhaps you are thinking that clients will simply find you. If you are still thinking that, consider this your wake-up call. It is not going to happen that way!
The only way your career will advance is if you take the lead. Take the lead in determining what you want and where you want to be, the type of business you want to have and the clients you want to serve. Toot your own horn! Nobody is going to do it for you. While most of us can take charge of our career on our own, we won’t (see second paragraph). Hire a coach to light the fire under your behind and make your career or business the stand-out that it can be. I would love to coach a few more dynamic women and make my client base equal in gender!