One of my favorite things well-nigh existence a part of the handmade and blogging communities is the fact that I've been able to run into and speak to a lot of talented, smart people about well-nigh everything y'all tin can imagine from real life to business.

And recently, I had the opportunity to talk to Brad Waters, of How Well-nigh Cake. I asked him a few questions I thought you would want to know the answers to. Brad is a life and career coach working in the artistic niche, with designers, writers/bloggers, and freelancers.

Hither's the interview…

1. You habiliment many hats in your field. Working with clients, yous do everything from exploring their life stories to overcoming time management issues. If you had to sum up your work in just one judgement, what would that judgement be?

I tend to wear the hats of coach, consultant, and personal strategizer so I endeavor to provide my clients with a warm and non-judgmental space where they can exercise some seriously fun brain-picking and change-making.

two. You have a actually interesting story nearly how you came up with the name for your coaching / personal development practice. Can you share that story?

Youve probably heard the proverb "similar an ostrich with its head in the sand." Well, ostriches dont actually plunge their head into the sand when theyre afraid to confront something caput on, just thats how the onetime saying goes and I like the visual. Its symbolic of clients who come up to me with the fears and challenges of making changes in their life. They attain a betoken where the realize the old ways of doing things just arent affective anymore and they need to face their life with fresh perspective "" to find support for moving forrad in a more meaningful and authentic manner.

As for the cake, well, I just really like cake!

3. I love cake too. Then we should go along  just fine. Ha!

I'k sure you have started to see patterns in people'southward problems and behaviors, working with clients regularly. What is the most common obstacle you see people facing mean solar day to mean solar day in piece of work and/or home life?

One of my roles is to aid clients break downward their big challenges into small manageable pieces.

Regardless of the original concern, most challenges distill down to issues of: self-imposed limitations, lack of confidence & self-criticism, fright of change, lack of motivation, overwhelm from having too many ideas / options / obligations or underwhelm from lack of inspiration/direction. The truth is we all struggle with these things, so from my perspective I become to see how were all more alike than we are different.

"The truth is nosotros all struggle with these things, and then from my perspective I become to see how were all more alike than we are different."

4. When you are building a business and a make, it is easy to get lost in information technology, and beginning to ignore other aspects of your life that are equally (if not more) important, like family, friends, reanimation, etc. Any suggestions for help with work / life balance?

A few of the most universally helpful concepts or skills we can cultivate are mindfulness, acceptance, compassion, and gratitude. Mindfulness, for example, is the concept that we reduce our suffering when we stay present and not go caught up in the stories of our past or fantasies nigh our future. In other words, when we brand time for our loved ones or ourselves, make sure that time is truly spent with them. Not just physically present but besides mentally present- not daydreaming about yesterdays regrets and tomorrows to-do list.

Theres so much talk about life balance these days that information technology tends to sound like all the same another job we have to bear witness up at. I believe that life balance will be a natural manifestation of fostering these other healthy personal habits, and they volition come with exercise.

"When we make fourth dimension for our loved ones or ourselves, brand sure that time is truly spent with them."

5. I beloved what you lot said in a recent blog post: "Cocky doubt volition forestall mastery." I couldn't agree with you more. What would y'all say to someone who is struggling to gain confidence, and push button forrad, whether at home or work?

In a coaching environment I would ask her to share with me the story that plays in her listen near what it means to exist facing that push button forward. We all accept narratives playing in our listen that tell us how much we can and cant do. The vocalism of inner-criticism tends to speak louder than the phonation of inner-conviction. Everyone has faced that, even the most successful business owner or poised celebrity. We tin can develop a new empathetic relationship with that inner-critic because there are times when it serves a real purpose still times when information technology really gets in the way. In one case that cranky narrator gets put in her place we can begin to take our story in a fresh direction.

"The voice of inner-criticism tends to speak louder than the vocalization of inner-confidence. Everyone has faced that, even the most successful business owner or poised glory."

6. You'll shortly exist launching a collection of creative exercises, designed to help tell and retell your personal narrative. What type of person would benefit nigh from this product?

Certainly the person you asked almost in the previous question! Beyond that I recall the "your life story" workbook volition have universal appeal. You dont have to working on a specific goal or challenge to savor the exercises. Its that one identify on your bookshelf where you can tell your story, share your memories, list your favorite things, brainstorm possibilities, and get swept away in creativity. Just as much as information technology can be a personal development tool, information technology tin can likewise be a living-document of your entire life"¦ like an activeness book for grown-ups.

Thanks so much for the interview Brad. Be certain to check out Brad's site, How Almost Block, for blog posts and info regarding services.

images (not including header image): Block +Be Present Every Solar day

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