Coaching online - one on one
69Online Mentoring.... does it work?
My main passion for life is personal growth. Both for myself and for others. Here is a true story of a relationship I developed online that brought me to a new-found understanding that mentoring online, on a deep personal level, works.
I wont share the real name of the person I have grown to love and appreciate beyond words, but I will tell you that she has become like baby sister to me. So I will call her Sis in this story.
I met Sis one day when I was chatting to a friend overseas using Yahoo Chat. A knock came to my online door and "Sis" introduced herself to me. She had done a random search and found my name because I had something common to her in my Yahoo Profile.
We chatted often and shared many deep and "touchy" parts of ourselves. There were fears Sis revealed that she hungered to overcome. Also, I quickly found many talents in her character that were unused and unexplored.
When we first met, she was unemployed and scared to reach for her dreams. One of which was to see some of United States, as her mother was born and raised in the Eastern side of the US.
Sis was obviously highly intelligent and well educated.
Over time, I encouraged her to step more out of her comfort zone. First I knew she must find employment and due to some of her fears, it would be best if she had a job dealing face to face with public. Even though her education could have landed her a high paying executive assistant job, she needed more contact face to face and less with files, typing and administrative work.
She landed a job serving people in a very low paying job that, in a way, compares to a waitress in a greasy spoon diner. "Perfect I thought to myself."
Next I encouraged her to start researching what she would need to make a trip to the US possible. Maybe a work Visa, as she wanted to stay longer than she could afford. A 2 week vacation would never come close to fulfilling her dream.
She amazed me with her "growing enthusiasm" and it was evident quickly that she was becoming self confident. About this time we spoke on the phone a couple times.... me in Canada Sis in Europe.
She came across a wonderful opportunity as her hunger to explore grew and her fears of stepping out of her comfort zone diminished. She found (online) an advertisement for a live in counselor in a group home. The pay was next to Nil, but living expenses were included along with specialized training in a unique holistic method of working with the handicapped. This fit one of her passions of the heart. Although educated for executive assistant type positions, she had a passion to help others.
Not long after, she got the position, then borrowed the money from her parents for flights and BANG, she found herself in a California. A scared stranger in a strange land, but she was there!
We continued many chats and emails as she settled into her new home. Slowly she become less fearful and our chats decreased, but when we did chat - I was no longer "just her mentor." Now she was sharing great stories of exploring and meeting new people and doing new things. She even took drivers training and received her license.
Her year ended all too soon, but there was an extra treat in it for me.... my Sis made a stop to see me in Canada before she went back to Europe.
She has grown from a scared little girl to a beautiful young lady. Recently she found a man and they married. I now have a Brother In-law...LOL
All this happened in just over three to four years.
Personal Growth and mentoring is a very rewarding and deeply personal thing. I am blessed to have many in my life who have come to me offline and my mentoring has made a difference.
Young men I have mentored, coached and "partied with as one of the boys," (even though I am the age of their parents) have got married and found great careers. Their girlfriends/wives have shared with me how much I have meant to them. It is a great feeling.
Offline this type of experience is common, yet my experience with Sis proves to me that online can bring the same rewards.
Online mentoring works.
Neil Sperling
PrintShare it! — Rate it: up down flag this hub
Comments
Neil, this is just the typical 'you' I grew to love dearly, and while a beautiful story it's not at all surprising to me. I remember a certain 'young' man in his forties who was still searching for his right path also, and it's evident he's found it. The old saying 'good things come to those who wait' is Ok and the right thing to do sometimes, but most other times you have to make things happen or the world passes you by while you're waiting. It takes courage and strength to break our comfortable patterns and we all need a helping hand and guidance now and then while always reading the 'Signs Along the Way'. It's nearly birthday time again - keep safe. :)
Thanks Ms Kim. Yes I am blessed. Hope.... is the answer. Where there is hope there is energy and love to make the changes needed in this world. Inspire hope, and you have made a difference far greater than you can imagine! Love light and laughter to you and yours!
One Aussie - where would I be without you? Thank you for being a huge part of my life. My love for you "Just is." Thanks for being there..... and I will always be here for you too!
What a great experience this was for both of you. I feel that by helping others I learn a lot about myself and that is always valuable.What an asset you are Neil.
Thanks Jen - see you on Adlandpro!
Offering oneself as a mentor comes with large emotional risk. Risk to the mentee and probably even greater risk to the mentor. You and Sis both overcame. One huge victory for mankind. Thank you for being there.
I am your fan and trust I will be able to read more from you.
Mon.
Thank You Monotor - Yes it is a risk..... however as helen keller said "life is a daring adventure... or it is nothing"
Neil, I have been strongly considering offering mentoring in my weight loss field for some time now. I, too, am a big fan of personal growth and work daily on my biggest client--myself. After reading this, I am going to start working on it right away. Thanks.
Matt - I'm cheering you on!
Interesting tip. Do you have any new updates coming?
Decrescendo - LOL - give me time - I've only been here 5 days..... yes there will be more hubs on this topic.....
Wished i knew someone like you when i was younger. Could've avoided a lot of mistakes.
An article that is dear to my heart. I am going through personal coaching right now and am surprising myself daily at the strength that has been dormant in me (well, not dormant, but certainly underutilized when it comes to making things happen for ME.)
Trista - thanks for dropping in - feel free to pm me any time.... never an end to learnging - only new beginnings.... Love Light and Laughter
Neil
Neil,
I am very familiar with life coaching and mentoring. Great hub and a wonderful story that you shared. I believe that, as a person, one should always strive to better oneself through self growth. Life is dynamic, and as a part of nature, we are bound to respond to changes in our lives, surroundings and environment.
I don't have problems with being a person you come to for advice. I think people should have more than one that they can go to for advice. Mentoring implies that one is a student of life and one is a teacher of life. I am not really sure that anyone is qualified to be a teacher of life.Life is much too complicated for that.
How fortunate the people you interact with are. Thank you for sharing your experience!
Oh yes! There are lots of things that can possibly happen online. Apart from coaching and mentoring, frequent communication and exchange of correspondences may even develop certain types of relationships online. A stranger online may eventually be your friend, coach, consultant, your date, partner or spouse....LOL! Anyway, you've done a good job to a person who at that time needs uplifting and guidance. She was lucky to have found a real friend like you online. Keep it up! Interesting story, Neil :-)
Thanks for sharing this story. It is always uplifting to know of people helping others for no other reason than the reward of helping! Seems as if you and she did a great job together. :D
Very inspiring story, Neil. Though I have no professional training in coaching, I too enjoy mentoring others, as I have appreciated being mentored and encouraged over the years -- Paying it forward, as they say today. I agree that it is very rewarding and deeply enriching to one's own life to see others succeed.
Beth100 - Life is dynamic, and as a part of nature, we are bound to respond to changes in our lives -- wow so true! Thanks for sharing
bgamall - having many mentors as we pass through life is the best advise I ever received. Wisdom shared is wisdom gained then multiplied. Thanks for the comment.
Lady Rogue - Thanks my fan - actually I feel blessed for having others in my life - both those who mentor me as well as those I mentor - again - wisdom shared is wisdom gained then multiplied.
prettysmartjean08 - I see by your comment you live up to your name - Pretty Smart! - Thanks for commenting.
k@ri - you are so correct - we did a great job "together"
Connie - Paying it forward is a great way to live - thanks for paying it forward and commenting.
Sorry I missed commenting on this hubs comments - for some reason I do not think I got any notice of comments. LOL probably too busy to notice.
Love - Light - Laughter
Neil
Awe,..What a wonderful story. It amazes me how one stranger online can make a world of difference to someone. When my son first deployed to Afghanistan, I posted a comment on myspace that I was going to fall apart, within the hour I had a wonderful lady named Candi, who reached out to me. She talked to me online for hours, telling me to stay strong, come to find out her son was killed in Action in Iraq and her other son was deployed to the same area her first was killed in. I was amazed how she reached out to me,..when people should have been reaching out to her. Her son will be home soon God willing and she taught me the real definition of endurance and strength. She is a online friend I will have forever.
what a very special man you must be. i am privilaged to be able to read your hubs and now i feel even more honored that you joined my fan club.
Great Hub .. I am very curious about life coaching and mentoring myself.But have never seen a real story about it
INSPIRING!
Army Infantry Mom - Cool to hear another story of onlline connections and personal growth. Thanks for sharing!
TheRope - likewise my friend - I truly appreciate your comments.
wendi_w - I hope you get to participate in one - sounds like you can coach your own way to. Reach out and touch someone... you touched me just by taking time to comment!
izettl - Why thank you my friend! Thanks for taking time to comment and let me know you were here. You Are Appreciated!
ms kim says:
2 years ago
Thank you for sharing this. How lucky for you that you could help someone out like that. Sometimes I watch the news and it seems as if we aren't moving forward but slipping back. What you've done is prove that with a little bit of kindness and compassion we can move forward You truely are blessed