You've hit a bump in the road.
You feel stuck, uninspired, and frustrated with everything that used to be fun.
Usually, at this point I recommend to people to get some perspective by introducing another person to the equation. It could be a loved one (though they are subjective) or an accountability buddy (though they can only give you their opinion, not guide you), or a coach (who do not have the answers, but know how to gently guide you to your truth, or at least the good ones do).
If you think you're ready to hire a coach, I just want you to make sure that you're hiring someone who understands your needs as a creative rebel.
Otherwise you'll have wasted your money and ended up even more frustrated.
Let's see what you need to look for in a rebel coach:
1. Do you need guidance or answers?
If you're a rebel, I find it hard to believe that you want someone to do the work for you. That you want to follow their blueprints. But if you're certain that you want answers instead of some sort of alignment, then hire a consultant.
Consultants give you their answers and coaches help you find your answers.
There are consultants who employ coaching tactics and coaches who employ consulting tactics, of course, but that is the general difference, and before you hire anyone, you need to decide what you need - answers or guidance.
Creative rebels usually need guidance, but sometimes we delude ourselves into wanting answers. As you know, want and need are two totally different things. While need is what you truly desire, want is what all the voices in your head convince you to seek, the voices being insecurity, fears, doubt, impatience. But you shouldn't let the voices distract you from what you truly need.
Ask yourself, What do I need to happen for me to take the next step in my creative journey? If someone were to help me, what would they be doing?
2. How do you know a rebel coach?
I always know rebel coaches when I see them. I just get that "click" moment.
It's called RESONANCE, and if you feel it, chances are, the coach you're looking at is also a creative rebel or at the very least they know how to handle one.
Also, be wary of what those coaches DO, not just what they SAY. For example, I have seen many professionals talk a good talk, but when it comes down to it, they do things that go against their values. And if you're wondering what values have to do with anything, values are at the basis of everything we do, and if your values are different from those of the people around you, there will be conflict.
Before making your decision, read their story and a few articles to understand what their values are. Look for testimonials to see if their clients are also creative rebels and what they said the experience was.
Finally, trust your gut. Sometimes we think we should make an "informed decision" but information is known to mislead. Your gut never will.
3. What rebel professionals do.
In my experience on this Earth, I have discovered there are 2 types of people: those who listen and those who talk, those who focus on other people and those who focus on themselves, those who promise and those who deliver.
A rebel professional puts their clients first. They deliver an experience that is perfectly tailored to each client, and they use the word "you" a lot.
Those are clues to look for on the coach's website, testimonials, about page, services page, and even the content they produce. If it seems like they have all the answers, then they don't. Authentic people admit they have flaws and that they have made mistakes, but they are working to get better.
Don't hire ego-driven people or people who seem perfect on paper.
And don't believe in blueprints too much. Not unless they are specific enough to fit your struggles and flexible enough to fit your needs.
4. what creative rebels need.
Tell me if this sounds familiar...
You have a goal/project that's pretty big, so you do your best to achieve it, and by the way, you drive yourself crazy in the process. Meanwhile, you need to learn all that you can so you start consuming everything you can that can help you do it. Eventually you find yourself butt-deep in some questionable content.
What happened? The Internet happened. Experts happened.
“You’re a creative rebel, sure, but you are definitely not immune to outside influences. And sometimes those (questionable) influences will make you forget who you are.”
It sounds weird to think that some expert on the Internet could make you forget your values and your entire identity, but trust me, it is easier than you think to get so caught up in the details and the fun of it (hello, multipassionates), and one moment you're having fun, the next you're being called a growth hacker.
True story.
When this happens, it helps to have a fellow rebel draw you out of your overthinking and over-consuming phase and call you out on your BS.
And who better to do than than your creative rebel coach! (:
Conclusion?
Only hire people you trust.
Sometimes you'll discover someone and experience resonance with them immediately. Sometimes you'll have followed them a long time, and when you need help, they'll be the first person you'll think of.
Either way, I'm always here for you if you ever needed a rebel coach.
