Sky Diving is like the Best Personal Coaching

Have you ever jumped out of a plane? There’s a lot that goes into planning a sky diving trip. First, you have to get the guts to do it and decide that it will happen. You rationalize, should I do this? Why the hell do I want to do this? Am I capable of doing this? Then there’s a period when you make up your mind, for whatever reason, you are determined to jump out of an airplane.

The Planning Stage

Next, there’s planning involved. There are logistics of jumping out of a plane. Researching the jump school and deciding who you trust with your life. Then you have to schedule the jump after choosing. You look over your schedule and pick the day and time that you want to jump. Driving to the school and getting there on time is imperative. You get to watch the video about how this jump could kill you, and then you sign the papers that you’re cool with that if it came down to it.

You Get your a Coach

For your first jump, you are tandem. You are with a skilled professional who has jumped hundreds of times in the past. They bask in your excitement and remember why they got into the business in the first place. They explain your gear and help you get dressed. They essentially become your “jumping out of a plane best friend” because they don’t leave your side once you get geared up. You are literally connected at the hip until your sky diving trip is over!

Observation & Research

You get to watch other people jump before you do unless, of course, you’re lucky number one! I look at this as the observation and research phase because you can still turn tail at any point if you change your mind. One benefit of your new best friend is improving your confidence and getting you pumped about doing this thing that many people will say you are crazy for and give you peace of mind about pursuing this experience.

It’s Your Turn

Walking to the airplane can feel like running a marathon; it’s so close but feels like you are walking on a treadmill, and it isn’t getting any closer. When you finally place your hands on the plane, you realize how tiny it is. This big experience is packaged in such a tiny carriage. You climb in, and there are only seats for the pilots. Your ride will be much faster, no need to get comfy. When the plane takes off, you have one choice to make, land with the pilot or make the jump.

The Jump

Feeling the changes in your belly each foot the aircraft climbs is the equivalent of being a child on your birthday, knowing you are about to open your gifts. The moments pass quickly, and then the co-captain opens the door- it is time. You and your new best friend stand at the door, waiting for the countdown. In one second, literally one second, you realize there is no going back because you are now flying freely towards the earth. You feel everything, the sun, the wind, the curvature of the sky, your best buddy, but mostly you feel joy! You did it! You jumped! After what feels like a lifetime of falling, the parachute opens.

Now it’s time for you to bask in the glory of your jump. It takes what feels like forever to reach the ground. You can recognize the highway that brought you to this point or see your home and favorite restaurant from this perspective. You know what has got you to this accomplishment.

What Coaching Can Do for You

When I went sky diving years ago, I didn’t realize how it would metaphorically connect with what coaching has done for me in my personal and business life. The truth is, the first steps always begin with us. We have to make up our minds about what we want, and we have to do what it takes to get us there, but when you team with the right people, the game changes.

Wishing you the Gift of jumping,

Tiffany