Here at Transformation Academy we are excited to announce our September’s Transformation Academy Rising Star – Larry Moore!
Our goal with this initiative is to recognize and celebrate group membership who demonstrate the heart and service of a coach. Each monthly recipient of this recognition will be selected for a unique reason. Some will be seasoned coaches who serve as valuable mentors within the group. Others may be just starting their coach-training journey and exude a contagious attitude or passion. Others may be actively supporting other group members, whether by providing resources, answering common questions, or providing moral support. Regardless of each of our wonderful group members’ background or experience, we all benefit from the mutual support and varied perspectives offered within this diverse group!
The Rising Star initiative is a way to give a special THANK YOU to those who go above and beyond to share of themselves within this community.
This month we would like to recognize Larry “Komorebi” Moore for being a positive force for inspiration in the group, on Facebook and as a coach!
Larry has been an active and supportive group member for 3 years! He is uplifting in his posts and comments and has been an active member. He is INSPIRING because of his contagious, optimistic and light-hearted attitude AND his powerful personal story, which you can read more about in Transformation Coaching Magazine’s August issue here: www.transformationmag.com/2021/08/its-never-too-late/.
About LARRY:
Larry “Komorebi” Moore is a Relationship and Healthy Communication coach. He has a B.A. in Social Work and spent several years helping individuals to overcome difficulties in their lives. He has been a teacher and support group leader as a volunteer for the Alzheimer’s Association. Having been born with Cerebral Palsy, Larry has been a life-long advocate for the rights of the disabled community. He is a published writer and poet. Larry enjoys classic Science-Fiction books and movies, as well as RPG-style games. He lives in Toledo, Ohio with his wife, Lydia, and their cat, Mimsy. Visit him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LearningLightLarry
Below is an interview we conducted with Larry.
What is your niche (coaching focus) and how did you choose it?
My current “job title” is Certified Relationship and Healthy Communication Skills Coach. I first began by taking an online course on Udemy, mostly because the topic interested me. I think it was a class on Mindfulness. It wasn’t until I took a course on the Business of Coaching that I caught “the bug” as they say. Over the following two years, I completed almost twenty more courses covering a wide range of subjects, and after every one my idea of what my ideal client (Avatar) would look like changed. It wasn’t until fairly recently that I finally narrowed my niche down to where it is today. I still consider it a continuing process, though, and who knows where I’ll be in a year from now.
Who is your ideal client?
My ideal client is any adult who finds themselves in a relationship-related conflict. The exact nature of the relationship is not of primary importance to me. I work with couples (either married or domestic partnership), parent/child, estranged siblings, workplace conflicts – I’m pretty much open to anything, as long as my client is ready to accept their fair share of responsibility and are ready to do “the work” that needs to be done to reach their best possible outcome.
What inspired you to become a life coach?
I suppose it was the same as my motivation to become a social worker (my previous profession). I want to help people who have lost their way to becoming the best possible version of themselves. I’ve been given a lot over the course of my lifetime. Now it’s my turn to give something back.
How long have you been coaching?
This is a good question. I suppose that I’ve been helping my friends and working colleagues to “solve problems” for many decades – my natural instinct is to “fix” things – but my business (LLC) certificate was finalized with the state in September of 2020, so that’s what I tell people when they ask.
How did you get your first client?
My story isn’t at all unusual, or so I’ve been told. My first client was a good friend of mine. She was very deeply entrenched in a self-destructive spiral of “poor choices” where men were concerned. She was also seeing a therapist during much of the time we were working together, with the therapist’s approval, of course. There was a lot to unpack, where my friend was concerned. I welcomed the help, and I was informed by way of my friend that her therapist appreciated my input as well. To cut the story short, my friend is in a pretty stable relationship now. Very gratifying.
How has your coaching journey changed your life?
In more ways than I can count. I think the biggest change has been in my freedom to control when I work and who I work with. I recently took a “mental health day” purely for myself, and it felt wonderful. Now I have time to meditate, eat mindfully instead of according to a clock and a ton of other things. I have space to grow – something I’ve never had with most of my previous jobs.
What is the Most Challenging Part of Being a Life Coach?
Convincing almost total strangers that I can (probably) help them for one, and building rapport and trust for another. This becomes easier once you’ve built up a reputation as a coach, but even then it can be a struggle. For new coaches reading this, I have the following advice. Develop a clear understanding of what you can do, and what you can’t. Your reputation is one of your most valuable assets. Plant those seeds early, and tend to their growth. Your confidence is contagious. People will be drawn to it.
What is the most fulfilling part of being a life coach?
That moment when you realize that you’ve helped someone to make a major shift toward the kind of life they really want and deserve. The money is great, if we’re honest with ourselves, but at the end of a day, a simple “thank you” from a client is worth a million bucks. If you don’t feel that rush, then maybe coaching isn’t for you.
What has been your most inspirational coaching moment, with a client?
There was this one client that I will never forget. We only worked together for maybe six months. Within that short span of time, her transformation was phenomenal. She regained control of her life. She learned to trust her own mind and heart. She left her abuser and dumped every toxic person in her life. I heard from her again about two months ago. She’s a volunteer now at a local women’s shelter. She is paying it forward, and I think she gave me as much as I hopefully gave to her. Gratifying, to say the least.
What is your favorite coaching activity or exercise to do with clients?
Reestablishing Communication exercises. In many relationships, it seems as if healthy communication is one of the first things to go. It’s a symptom of something deeper, and I’ve found that it’s also a gateway to reconciliation and healing. In one exercise, I ask the couple to stand six feet apart, and then tell each other something like, “I admire you because [___].” Then I tell them to take a step forward, and tell each other something else that’s positive (or sometimes fill in another blank like, “What could I help you with to make your life easier?”) Step forward again. Next, “Your best quality is [___].” It sounds simple, but it’s a rare couple who isn’t hugging/crying by the time they are nose-to-nose.
What has been the most effective strategy for finding clients and/or growing your business?
Social media interaction and word-of-mouth. It’s inexpensive and can give you plenty of professional credibility if you do it right. It’s a slow process in the beginning, but it’s also totally organic, and growth can be exponential if you have patience and don’t give up on the process. The other benefit is that it’s almost free, a big plus for me because I was totally broke when I started out.
What advice would you give YOURSELF back when you first dreamed of becoming a coach?
Develop a “life routine” and stick with it. I credit Mel Robbins’ book, “The 5-Second Rule” as my inspiration for this practice. Every day is a new opportunity. Set your alarm clock. Take care of any personal needs, then get to work. Make a list of “Five things I need to do today” (I call it a “TA-DA!” list) the night before, and start on those items first thing the next day. There’s a lot more to it, but doing something every single day builds momentum! Ride that wave all the way to that place you want to be.
What is the impact you want to make in this world?
I try to not think of the big picture. Results are slower and we need that constant feedback (no matter how small) in order to keep going forward. I do believe in the “Butterfly Effect” but I don’t get hung up on it. Any day that ends with a smile and the knowledge that I’ve done my best is a “good day” for me. I’ve done my part to “change the world.”
Is there anything else you would like to share with Transformation Coaching Magazine readers?
Start each day with gratitude. Today you may meet someone who is having the worst day of their life. Speak to them with empathy and compassion. Remember why you chose the coaching path, and help if you can, according to your skills and gifts. When you speak, communicate with honesty and integrity. Then listen, with all of your heart, and remember that you both have as much to learn as you do to teach.
Finally, remember that you are here to serve, and not to save. You can give them the tools, but they must do the work that will lead them to their own Best Self.
