Do You Have a Virtual Coach?

Young nonprofit professionals are always looking for a few good mentors. Other, more experienced leaders that can show them the ropes and help them along in their leadership journey. While I have a number of great mentors that I can call on and/or meet with in person, my virtual coaches are just as important to me.

In a recent interview with Inc. Magazine, solopreneur Mike Koenigs was asked if he’d ever had a mentor or a coach. He replied:

“I have had a lot of virtual coaches; Napoleon Hill being one of the greatest. Also Dale Carnegie and Tony Robbins have had the greatest influence on me.”

I define a virtual coach is someone who you’ve never met in person (or have met only a few times), but who continually inspires you to do better and reach higher in your life and career.

Some examples of virtual coaches for young nonprofit professionals might be authors, bloggers, longtime nonprofit leaders or even celebrities. The idea is that we don’t necessarily have to have a mentor right there live in living color for them to be able to teach us valuable lessons.

Here are some of my virtual coaches:

Oprah

Many of Oprah’s philosophies and beliefs resonate deeply with me. Not only is she at a level of success that I would love to attain one day, but the way she lives her life is a testament to the abundance of the universe. Like me, she didn’t grow up with a perfect home life, but she overcame every obstacle that was put in front of her and ultimately reached her goals. I read her daily newsletter from Oprah.com religiously, as it always gives me that needed boost of confidence in my work and life.

Seth Godin

Seth Godin Picture

I just finished Seth’s latest book, Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?, which served as a big fat reminder to me of how important it is not to forget who you really are. In everything he writes, he demonstrates his skill as an extreme encourager. His words kick you in the ass and make you jump out of bed to go, DO your life’s work and stop whining already. I really wish there were more Seth’s in my everyday world…

Beth Kanter

Beth is a model for transparency in her life and nonprofit work. She is a ruthless innovator and generously documents her learning to share with our huge network of social change agents. Her influence is felt across sectors and I strive to model much of how I work after Beth.

Do you have a virtual coach? Tell us who! And how do they help you in your leadership journey?

Gary Hubbell

Rosetta…I was just introduced to your blog and your work today. Kudos all around. I have had (and also serve as) a virtual coach and a co-located coach. Much of what you address in your post suggests sources of inspiration–which reflects your openness and interest. A dimension of coaching (virtual and/or otherwise) is its personal interaction, enabling the coach to offer insights and pose questions for self-discovery. This is a valuable element of coaching that goes beyond the inspiration I personally derive from insightful people whose ideas I seek out.
Gary Hubbell

Rosetta…I was just introduced to your blog and your work today. Kudos all around. I have had (and also serve as) a virtual coach and a co-located coach. Much of what you address in your post suggests sources of inspiration–which reflects your openness and interest. A dimension of coaching (virtual and/or otherwise) is its personal interaction, enabling the coach to offer insights and pose questions for self-discovery. This is a valuable element of coaching that goes beyond the inspiration I personally derive from insightful people whose ideas I seek out.
http://twitter.com/socialchngediva ericka hines

Pamela Slim, Michelle Woodward and Hildy Gottlieb- Entrepreneurship Oh and Alison Rapping, Seth Godin, Daniel Pink, Peter Senge ( business and nonprofit thinking)
http://www.rosettathurman.com/ Rosetta Thurman

Thanks for reading Gary! And thanks for providing clarification on the term I used in that virtual coaching can refer to working with a professional coach over the phone/web. What I'm offering here is a different way to think about who can essentially be coaching you from afar through their inspiration & insight.
http://www.rosettathurman.com/ Rosetta Thurman

Awesome list, Ericka! I need to spend more time with Pamela Slim. I've loved what I've read from her so far.