(audio version available at the end of this blog)

The fall 2014 Success U cohort has completed the course!  And they are and were a terrific bunch.

Saying goodbye is never easy for me . . . well that is not true.  It is never easy when I am saying it to people who impress me.  And this group of smarty-pants impressed me from the first day I met them.

I have been teaching for the past 19 years, courses on the social sciences, courses on leadership, and courses of personal and professional growth.  I have a lot of experience from which to draw and compare.

Believe me, this cohort was exceptional.

Here are three lessons I hope we all take away from the Success U experience.

Growth is a Choice

Regardless of age, growth never ends, if that is a choice we make.  This cohort had several members in their late 50s and early 60s.  Their courage, wit, sagacity, and charm provided the entire group with a perspective we never would have experienced otherwise.

Several members were also in their 20s.  Their enthusiasm and experimental ethic enhanced all of our lives as we shared experiences with the course material.

And for those of us in between (including me), I hope we now understand the importance of drawing lessons from our past and how these lessons, when properly applied, can forge a future worth exploring  . . . now.

Growth Happens Between Sessions

Let me be frank.  I loath weekend seminars that promise “fundamental change”.  They are usually filled with smoke and mirror tactics that appeal to the fragile emotional states of many of the participants.  A breakthrough without follow through will just make you pay for another “change your life” weekend event the next time you surf the web when depressed.

Success U works because it teaches students how to fruitfully engage with the hard work in between each module.  These students formulated goals they cared about.  They took small steps to achieve each one.  They reevaluated these goals throughout the course, sometimes shocking themselves along the way.   They certainly struggled and they experienced frustration from time to time.  In the end though, they showed a level of tenacity and thoughtfulness that only time can teach us.

And most importantly they now understand the complexity of success, success defined as goal achievement that enhances our emotional and physical well-being without suffering from the crippling cycle of burnout.

Growth is Enhanced When Shared

I am a lucky guy.  I get to coach over 50 1 to 1 clients on a regular basis.  These individual sessions provide opportunities for mutual growth, both for client and coach.  However, a Success U cohort creates an exponential growth effect, on teacher and student.  I cannot quantify it (and that is frustrating to my mathematical brain), but by the last session we know that the whole is far greater than the sum of the parts.

The teamwork, the camaraderie, and mutual respect are forged throughout.  In short, this cohort has become compatriots.

Thank you Success U Fall 2014 Cohort.  Each of you has changed my life for the better.  I fell in love with you all.  And I wish you all the best in your next adventure and if you are part of mine, well I cannot wait to see you soon!

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If you have any questions about coaching please feel free to contact me at scott@kineticcoaching.co, and remember I always offer a complimentary 30-45 minute session to prospective clients to determine if we want to work together.