hire a life coach Archives - Tara Sage Coaching

Money & Dreaming: a resource list

by Tara Sage | May 29, 2023 | Coaching, Dream Acceleration, Tara Sage Coaching

While here in Italy, in between museum-ing, eating, networking, and learning… I have put together a special resource list for you, each with a brief synopsis and handy link to the wealth of topics explored during my April ‘Money & Dreaming’ series.

Whether you have plenty of money and really don’t worry about it…

Or you feel like you’re barely scraping by and need to budget every dime…

Or you find yourself somewhere in between…

The way we each $pend money is a form of expression: an investment in our values, priorities, freedoms – and hopefully your dreams too!

So, here it is! Your ‘Money & Dreaming’ resource list, in no particular order. Enjoy!

“But what do I get for my coaching investment?”
At one of my book signing events, a woman came up to me and asked, “I really want to work with a coach. But what do I GET for my coaching investment, you know?” In one breath, she expressed interest in coaching and skepticism in coaching. A valid question! My answer might surprise you. To read “But what do I get for my coaching investment?”, click here.

That time I lost $18,000
Determined to get SOME value out of a bad financial decision I made a few years back (an experience that felt not only like a financial failure but also a painful and costly loss of time), there were two really valuable lessons learned. Get the full scoop here.

I’m not a magician, but I do spark some magic
As responsible grown-up humans who get to decide such things, the exchange my clients and I agree on, is one of value. This piece explores client experiences and their results. A power punch of inspiration, it’s available to you here.

How to recession-proof your dreams
When rumors of recession fester and some decide that danger is lurking around the next corner and that they therefore need to put their dreams on hold, stay put, don’t do anything new or uncertain …my clients decide something very different. Read what it is that sets them apart, here.

Another way to pay yourself
Financial advisers recommend: “pay yourself first.” In other words, put money into some version of a savings account; good practical advice. There is another way to Pay Yourself First, one that you won’t have to wait years to reap the benefits of. Learn what it is, here.

Policy, with personality
Someone asked me recently WHY I make a point to share my company policies and WHY they have so much “personality.” 😀 While I could simply state “payment before services” and let that be it, that’s not how I do it. So, why DO I share my policies? And why are they the way they ARE? I pull back the curtain and share my reasons here.

I hope you find value in each one!

Love and biscotti,

This is jet fuel for your dreams (and mine)

by Tara Sage | May 22, 2023 | Brules of Life, Coaching, Create Your Life!, Dream Acceleration, Dream Accelerator, Tara Sage Coaching

Ciao! I’m writing to you from the land of gelato, cannolis, pizza, espresso, the David statue, ancient architecture, cathedrals, museums, beauty, art, and deliciousness at every turn…

I am here in Italy to attend a book publishing training, learning about how to best pursue a traditional publishing contract and fulfill my dream of writing a series of books that reach hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of readers around the world. (If you missed it, read my “who the frig do I think I am?” announcement.)

Since jet fuel got me here – literally and figuratively – today I’m going to share some dream-propelling jet fuel that you can put in YOUR tank!

First, a riddle:

If I’m in Italy, and you’re wherever you are, how could it be that we are both creating from the same place?

… 🤔

Answer: The “place” that we always create from, is: the present moment.

We can’t create from the past…

And we can’t create from the future…

The only moment accessible to us is RIGHT NOW.

It is from the present moment that we each set our desired futures into motion.

Your future is being created now, from exactly where you ARE.

What future are YOU creating for yourself in this right-now moment?

Getting clear and defining WHAT you want is the critical first step in The Dream Acceleration Process.

From exactly where you are, notice:

What are you doing to embody your dream, NOW?
What aren’t you doing?
What actions are you taking or not taking, right now, to create real momentum towards what you WANT?

Honesty can only serve you here.

Clarity of vision is critical, but it’s NOT enough.

When a client comes to me with their dreams – be it a dream business, dream relationship, dream home, travel dreams, creative dreams, dream body, dream job… whatever it is… the difference between their desired future and their current reality generally feels glaring, even massive! Like, “how will I ever…?”

This is when thoughts like “who the frig do I think I am?” tend to take hold – as they did for me with my book dreams.

This is where many coaches say “stay in the vision.”

I say, “Stay in the vision AND let’s do an energy inventory.”

Step 2 of my signature Dream Acceleration Process is: Manage Your Precious Energy.

Managing your energy is a strategy that is core to ANY dream coming to life.

It is the basis for how you choose to spend your time, manage your thoughts and fears, actions and inactions.

Without it, fear and doubt take over, old patterns run the show and undermine progress, again and again and again…

By taking a step back and doing my guided in-depth Energy Inventory – assessing the totality of where your precious energy is currently being spent – this provides you with eye-opening information and the opportunity to make new, empowered, course-correcting choices.

I’ve seen it hundreds of times. THIS STEP is a turning point on the journey to dream acceleration (which, if you’ve been following me for a while, you know, is really about self-actualization).

WITHOUT this step…

…you’ll continue to do what you know how to do in the ways you know how to do them

…you’ll seek comfort in the familiar, instead of taking action that stretches you and creates your desired future

…all while hoping and wishing for a breakthrough, getting more and more discouraged and energetically depleted.

👆This is where dreams die.

The alternative is SOOO much better!

Taking stock and doing a comprehensive inventory of your energy, how and where you spend it, forever shifts your perspective and your choices going forward.

You gain clear answers to questions like:

Where are you giving more energy to what you DON’T want than what you DO want? ***This picture will become strikingly clear.
Where is your energy being spent in ways that are circling the drain? ***Reclaiming this energy will have you feeling refueled, sustained, abundant, renewed.
Where are you spending energy in a way that fuels, sustains, and inspires you? ***Hint: Do more of this.

Questions like these are a powerful place to start, but they are just the beginning.

The awareness gained from Step 2 of The Dream Acceleration Process becomes JET FUEL that’ll have you immediately re-prioritizing where, and how, you invest your time, energy, and attention going forward.

🔥 Instead of constantly over-giving in ways that keep you busy staying still, you’ll be able to take action to bring your dreams into your life NOW.

🔥 Instead of spending energy worrying and wondering where the people and resources you need are, you’ll shift to being able to find, see, and attract meaningful connections and resources.

🔥 Instead of your precious energy continuing to circle or going straight down the drain, you’ll reclaim it and then powerfully reinvest it in choices that support and align with your desired results.

🔥 Instead of “hating on” what irritates you, you’ll start appreciating and gaining insight and awareness that’ll have you organically choosing what is kind to your system and brings more ease and flow and results into your life.

Small shifts add up to significant rewards and new approaches that stick!

In The Dream Acceleration Program, together, we clarify and remove the obstacles.

We strategically plan and create a road map for exactly how to go from your current circumstances, to a far bigger version of who you are and how you get to live.

Blind spots vanish, new possibilities emerge, and the life you thought you couldn’t have quickly becomes REAL.

Powerful, life-changing stuff.

If you’ve put your own dreams in a box for later or “someday,” all while spending energy on what irritates you, what you DON’T want, and just getting through the day … I want to help.

Ready for another way? Let’s talk.

Ciao for now!

Who the frig do I think I AM?!

by Tara Sage | May 15, 2023 | Brules of Life, Coaching, Dream Acceleration, Dream Accelerator, Tara Sage Coaching

I have a dream that makes my insides shake.

It’s visceral. Just the thought has me squealing… and a bit nauseous, like the urgent need to find a chair in the shade is all there is.

When I coach someone, anyone, on dream acceleration, the first step is always clarifying and declaring WHAT you want – in this case, what I want.

Sounds simple enough. But, given the noise of the world, societal norms, “shoulds,” the expectations of others, and your own sense of limitation… defining what you want can often be very confusing, even confronting!

I’ve achieved many of my own dreams over the years, and they all started out that way.

Things like: a travel-filled lifestyle, a location-independent business doing work I love, the joy of knowing I help people realize their dreams and rediscover themselves, time freedom, love and partnership, tacos whenever I want… 😉

Naming your dreams, acknowledging your dreams, giving voice to what is in your heart, and imagining what might be possible, is such a powerful and critical step.

Even if:

you have no idea how in the world to make it happen…
people tell you your dreams are impossible…
you YOURSELF doubt that they are possible!

Your dreams, like mine, are fuel on your path to self-actualization.

At this stage, you do NOT need to know HOW to get what you want.

Owning the clarity of WHAT you want is not – I repeat! – is NOT, not even the tiniest bit, about also knowing HOW to get it. That comes later.

This can be freeing, if you allow it to be. Even if your stomach is turning inside out, which might just be an unavoidable part of the experience. 🤢

In this case, it is for me.

My dream is to author an entire Book of Brules series, that reaches MILLIONS of people around the world. (Eeek!)

Millions, is no joke. Hundreds of thousands even, is no joke.

And it isn’t likely to happen by accident.

Sooooo… when I learned of a training, happening in ITALY, about how to write a killer book proposal, to pitch to a literary agent, in an effort to get representation, to secure a traditional publishing deal contract for you, a 6-figure advance to write your book, positioning you to reach millions of readers … I felt like I got struck by lightning.

“Ohmygod,” I thought, “I need to be there.”

Then,

“Imma gonna go!” 🇮🇹

That’s when all hell broke loose.

“HOW am I going to be there??”

It felt like what it would take to actually GET myself there, would break my brain.

There was the investment of time, money, and logistics, of course. But even more than all that, EVERY self-doubting inner saboteur was on fire, like they had just been waiting for this very moment to 🔥blaze🔥and give me a whopping smoke-filled plume of “who do you think you are?”

My thoughts went haywire.

I called friends.

I cried big scared horse tears.

Who am I to think I could actually DO this?!

Seriously. Who am I to think little ol’ me could get a traditional book deal?!

Who am I to think I could walk into that room and think that I am a contender for a 6-figure advance to write my next book?!

My first book in the series, The Brules of Life, was a beast of a project, a labor of love that I have ZERO regrets about investing in. But – to be clear, I paid a book coach, and an editor, and a cover designer. I was published under a small independent publishing house and had a very successful launch on Amazon, but after that, I was on my own. My highest “payment” from sales isn’t the $5 per book commission I earn, it’s the deep gratification of knowing the impact the book has on the lives of those who read it.

Back to that blazing inner saboteur…

Who am I to walk into that room, alongside 8-figure business owners with hundreds of thousands of followers, and think that my little biz, with my 5,000 or so followers, could be eligible for such a thing?

Like, on what planet does that make sense? Who am I to walk into a room of powerhouse people with more success, more notoriety, more backing, and more influence than me … and think that I belong?

Who am I to think my books could reach MILLIONS?

I mean, really, Tara. Put down the coffee, and get a grip.

A few days went by.

My brain and body processed.

I ate too much.
I exercised a lot.
There were lots of deep breaths.
I asked for guidance.

Eventually, my nervous system began to settle.

I like to think that maybe it was the spirit of my sweet Italian grandmother (Margherita Angelina Lena Cominelli Giannoni, we called her Rita 😉 ) giving me a loving nudge, when, a counter-thought to all that fear and doubt and who-the-frig-did-I-think-I-was surfaced in the form of a new question:

**“Why not me?”**

Hmmm….. yeh…. why the frig NOT me?????

I immediately noticed how much better that question felt to be asking.

From THAT space, I decided to apply for the training. I filled out the application. I gave thoughtful answers to their thoughtful questions. I hit send.

The narrative behind my self-talk had shifted: “Why not me? Why NOT me?…”

As I tell my clients… you get to dream big, bold, beautiful, exciting, exhilarating, I-have-no-idea-how-to-make-it-happen dreams!

And so do I. I get to dream big, bold, beautiful, exciting, exhilarating, I-have-no-idea-how-to-make-it-happen dreams!

I also get to decide to show up, as the Big Me, and trust and believe that my dreams can be made real. That there IS a way. Even if I can’t see how yet.

I can choose to put faith in the truth of my desires, trusting that my dreams are in my heart for a reason.

That showing up for them, believing they are possible, despite all seeming evidence to the contrary, IS the powermove.

Over these next few weeks, I’ll be sharing more as it all unfolds. I hope you’ll join me on this journey. I want it to be helpful – not just to me and my dreams, but to you and yours.

What I know is this:

“How” shows up when you do.

Shrinking your dreams down, because you think that’s more practical, isn’t. All that does is water down your dreams, diminish their energy and their spark, and make yourself smaller in the process.

Let’s NOT do that.

Dream the dream that has ENERGY in it, the one that saying it out loud makes you quiver.

The one that, in order for you to REALIZE it, requires you to grow and become a next level version of yourself.

Decide to BE the person who grows into your belief that it’s possible.

Make quantum leap decisions that align with the person who would REALIZE that dream.

Activate that “why not me?” confidence and “I’m doing it” ~~terror~~ er, I mean, excitement.

Show up in the room.

Stay tuned…

❤️

PS – If you’re ready to go after your dreams, I know how scary it can be, and I’m doing this right along with you. I’ve gone through my own Dream Acceleration Process countless times and here I am embarking on it yet again, with this dream. Let’s do it together! I will support you through it, every step of the way. Book a session now so we can determine your best plan of action.

5 quirky confessions & unconventional résumé builders

by Tara Sage | May 8, 2023 | Brules of Life, Coaching, Dream Acceleration, Manifestation, Nomadic Living, Tara Sage Coaching

Every time I sit down to write to you, my goal is threefold: (1) to provide thoughtful ways for you to feel more free and get to know yourself better, (2) inspire you to trust your dreams more than your fears/more than you did yesterday, and (3) offer some ideas for how to develop the personal habits and actions that make those dreams REAL.

Here are 5 quirky confessions, things that’ll help you understand why this drives me, week after week. A unique résumé, of sorts.

1. I cut my own hair

For many years now, I’ve been cutting my own hair. It’s not perfect – but it’s good enough. (It grows back.) And, like most things, the more I do it, the better I get at it. Regular hair appointments never felt like something I wanted to do. I wanted the result, but not the experience of making the appointment, having to devote a good chunk of an afternoon to drive to the appointment, find parking, sit in the chair, endure small talk, hear small talk from others nearby, wash, rinse, dry, more small talk, pay, leave, repeat … all for a haircut! No thanks. For a while, in an effort to extend the time between haircuts, I asked for a cut that was shorter than what I actually wanted. “I’ll like it in three weeks,” I told myself. Until I finally said, screw that and started cutting my own hair. Now, I keep my hair the length I want, all the time. And – I save time, money, energy, and small talk. Things to gleam from this: There are no “have tos”. You get to choose which “norms” you subscribe to. Don’t let the beauty industry (or any industry) tell you how to think or what to do. You can do brave big little things that add up, and save you time, energy, money, and frustration. Why settle or tolerate? There are many ways to get the results that you want.

2. I am location-independent

An RV nomad for more than 5 years, I call an Airstream home. In other words, ‘make life an adventure’ isn’t a trite sentiment, it’s a way of life! You of course don’t have to live in an Airstream or travel if that’s not your thing. But, whatever horizons are calling YOU, you can be darn sure that I hold them as valid, important, and inspired (even if it makes about as much rational sense as the shoe-lover that I am, calling a 27’ condo-on-wheels with far too little closet space, home). 😀 As your coach, I support you every step of the way, ensuring that you have a full tank of fuel and the guidance needed to skillfully navigate and accelerate your way to the life YOU dream of for yourself.

3. I ran away as a kid

If you feel a bit like a caged bird, trapped in any way – be it in a job, home, body, relationship, or [fill in the blank with your own] – constrained by the belief you can’t actually have the life you really want… I empathic-ly and viscerally FEEL that. As your coach, I help you climb out of that metaphorical window and create the freedom you want. I will be running down that street with you, there for the gleeful moments, the sob-it-out moments, and the “what now?” moments. AND – because we’re grown ups and know that true freedom isn’t about what you run from, we’ll get you crystal clear on the life you want to be running toward and set you up with a proven process to get there, full steam ahead! Because creating a life you love is a ridiculous thing to put off, amiright?

4. I believe life is art

Your life is an original work. You are here to create something as unique as you are. Something I have said many times is, “I don’t know what I think until I write it down.” For me, writing is central to my own artful creative life. It’s a place where I find myself, express myself, reveal myself, and clarify what I feel, think, want, and know. Creativity is life force and MUST be expressed for life to be truly satisfying and gratifying. While writing is a primary way that I find my own full expression, it need not be your way – obviously. Your way is your way, and I respect and hold in the highest regard YOUR bubbling creativity and the importance of you finding your unique way to full expression. I am well-versed in the realm of creativity, both as a creator and a connoisseur, and will always respect, encourage, and support your unique process.

5. I’m a life coach who salsa dances

What this means for you is that when you hire me and I do a happy dance to celebrate your successes (of which there will be many!) … my booty shakes, my shoulders shimmy, and I happily dance loooong after my feet hurt.

There you have it. Five rather unconventional credentials, but “cred” nonetheless. In some ways perhaps even more important than my formal education, certifications, Bachelors and Masters degrees!

What do you think?

Comment below and let’s have some fun with this. Share a quirky unconventional example of your own credibility!

Policy, with personality

by Tara Sage | Apr 25, 2023 | Brules of Life, Coaching, Create Your Life!, Dream Acceleration, Tara Sage Coaching

Someone asked me recently WHY I make a point to share my company policies and WHY my company policy statement has so much “personality.”

I sense that a lot of us are accustomed to dry, corporate-sounding company policy statements, void of any personality, creativity, or expression beyond the basics. That’s generally considered ‘professional.’

I could simply state “payment before services” and let that be it, but that’s not how I do it.

So, why DO I share my policies? And why are they the way they ARE?

In case you too are curious, here are my reasons:

First and foremost, making the decision to hire me and bring my coaching support into your life is an empowering step, in what will be a series of empowering steps and decisions made throughout our work together.

For this reason, sharing my company policies is integral to your process, and mine. When booking a free Assessment Call to explore the possibility of us working together, you’ll be asked to acknowledge having read and understood my company policies in advance of scheduling your call.

This is to honor both of our time, and to prevent any misunderstandings later.

Private coaching is a relationship and like any good relationship, open and honest communication is key. Sharing my company policies is just one way that I show up for the relationship – transparent about how I work, what I believe, value, prioritize, and expect.

Of course, such policies also support the sustainability of my business.

Some coaches accommodate and come up with payment plans in an effort to make things easier for a client, and that’s great. I respect that completely, and I used to do that too, offering a variety of custom payment plans for clients.

That said, here’s my retrospective reframe on having done that: As I see it now, what I did then was not just coach my clients, I also financed my client’s decision to hire me.

There are two really important reasons I don’t do it that way anymore:

(1) When I finance your decision, it creates a level of relational enmeshment that I don’t think supports either one of us very well. When I am not only your coach, but in essence, also your banker, it blurs the lines and the focus of our connection. I want you to be able to come to our coaching, fully focused on our work together. I want you to be able to choose this engagement and investment, independent of me. The last thing I want is for us to be in our coaching sessions, and for you to be worrying about how you’re going to make your next payment to me. I want you to feel totally safe to relax, show up, focus only on what will make the biggest difference for you, and simply enjoy the process of coaching.

(2) It was an administrative burden. Sometimes payment plan agreements went smoothly. Most did. But sometimes, they didn’t. When people didn’t pay on time, per our contract, late fees were applied. This, along with resetting their account in order for the overdue payment to process required manual updates and screen-time each time a scheduled payment didn’t go through, as well as several back and forth emails to ensure clear communication.

As a small business owner, it is difficult to budget outgoing expenses and investments when you’re not sure if or when you’ll receive client payments due.

In a few instances, I ended up sending unpaid accounts to a collection agency. This involved paperwork and several phone calls with the agency representative. And even in the event that payment was successfully collected, a large portion of that money went to the collection agency’s commission. A well-meaning business advisor told me that collections was “just part of having a business.” I defy that! It was a hassle and a loss in many ways, costing me and my team time, money, and energy. The administrative management details were draining, and that was further compounded by the emotional toll of there being a breach in a client relationship.

Ultimately, I came to realize that I was doing the very thing I coach people NOT to do. Accommodating others at your own expense is unsustainable.

So I stopped.

And I updated my company policies accordingly.

My company, my style, my rules.

As far as I’m concerned, there is no rule that states that your company policies can’t have personality. In fact, that’s what I call a brule.

Especially for a personal brand, personality in communications is important!

At Tara Sage Inc, I am the “person” in the personal, in the brand. 😉 And the work I do with clients is obviously personal. I learn my client’s personal psychology as I coach them. As I get to know you, you also get to know me. That’s how relationships work.

This begins immediately, with everything that I share, be it my website, newsletters, blog, or social media – personality and all.

My company policies are no exception. Wanna read my full policy statement? Click here.

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