That is no longer the case. Former players are becoming the popular choice for teams, considering the success of Udoka and Kidd this season.

Commissioner Adam Silver is now pleased to field questions and address the leagues diversity surge, because its been an issue for years.

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One of the things weve done, and this isnt unique to the NBA and Ive learned this from other businesses, is that you have to talk about these issues all the time, he said Thursday prior to Game 1 of the Finals between the Celtics and Warriors. If you care about diversity and inclusion in your workplace, youve got to look at the data. Youve got to constantly present it to your colleagues, to your department heads, to your teams, and it has to become a focus. Its my job in part to say thats a priority for this organization.

Its not that those coaches who took an unconventional route college, through the analytics circles or low-level organization jobs have been dissuaded from applying for jobs, its that younger NBA players, including Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, have said they prefer to be coached by someone who has played the game. There is generally a bond there.

While Im particularly proud of those numbers, and roughly 50 percent of our head coaches are Black now, the goal is that thats not newsworthy, and that when people are hired, their first reaction isnt the color of their skin, Silver said. I dont want to be nave, either, though, because I know that what we do in this league is important symbolically, not just for sports but for other industries, and people watch us all around the world.

Im also putting aside the color of the skin of those coaches. What were also seeing, and this is something we very much focused on, is the emergence of a whole new class of former players who have moved into head coaching positions.

Silver said the league was made more aware of some coaching prospects who accused general managers and team presidents of hiring candidates they were already familiar with. The league had to revamp its coaching networks, develop better training programs for aspiring coaches, and increase the communication networks between candidates and teams.

I remember Rick Carlisle came to us as head of the Coaches Association in the league a few years ago, said we all collectively need to do a better job, Silver said. One of the ways we decided is again, technology helps, having a better database, so that head coaches who are looking for assistants or team governors who are looking for coaches have a database, which they could quickly see who is available, who is interested in coaching, how much experience they have. These changes come only incrementally. It doesnt help just to bang the pulpit and say, go do this. You have to work with people and you have to understand what the obstacles are.

Silver promised the improvement will funnel into more front office positions.

Im proud of the job we have done in the league office, he said. We are making a lot of progress in terms of general managers, team presidents, both on the basketball side and the business side, but more work to be done.

There had been speculation that the NBA had decided to expand to 32 teams with new clubs in Seattle and Las Vegas. Officials in Seattle, which has a new arena that hosts the NHLs Kraken and WNBAs Storm, are apparently getting positive feedback about a team in the next decade.

But Silver again dispelled rumors about an NBA return to Seattle, at least in the next few years. The league is going to eventually expand, but there are no immediate plans.

That talk is not true. At least maybe there are people talking who are not at the league office about us potentially expanding after the 2024 season, Silver said. We are not discussing that at this time. At some point this league invariably will expand, but its not at this moment that we are discussing it. But one of the factors in expanding is the potential dilution of talent.

Silver questioned whether adding 30 more jobs would dilute a talent base that may already be thinned because of early-entry mistakes, lack of player development, and overseas leagues that pay more for lower-level players.

I find it remarkable that when you have the second-most-played sport in the world after soccer, tens of millions now just talking on the NBA side of young men playing in this game, and then you have the 450 best in the world in this league, that theres a few of them who separate themselves even among those 450 as the very best of the best, but there is then a drop-off in talent, Silver said. So expansion does create a certain amount of dilution. And even sort of adding another 30 players or so that are roughly comparable, there still are only so many of the truly top-tier super talents to go around. That is something on the mind of the other teams as we think about expansion.

But those are wonderful markets. We were in Seattle. Im sorry we are no longer there. Well be looking at it at some point, but theres no specific timeline

And Silver dashed any hopes for those pining for the return of the 2-3-2 Finals format after the league returned to 2-2-1-1-1 in 2014. The 2-2-1-1-1 format is going to stay, even though it potentially adds an additional cross-country trip for each team.

Thats one of the first things I changed when I became commissioner, was moving back to this 2-2-1-1-1 model, Silver said. It just feels, as long as the flight is, we just feel its better from a competitive standpoint. It always felt to me in all my years in the league before we switched back to this format that, first of all, the players are used to, on their bodies, the 2-2-1-1-1 format from the earlier rounds. And it just always felt that three in that second city felt long and arduous.

CHILDHOOD MEMORIES

Thompson knows the Celtics well

Warriors guard Klay Thompson is the son of longtime NBA player Mychal Thompson and has cherished memories of attending games as a child. One of the more notable games he attended was when Klay was a sophomore at Washington State, and he and his father went to Game 7 of the 2010 Finals between the Celtics and Lakers.

I would say my rookie year, just playing that team of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and [Kevin Garnett]. That was like a welcome to the NBA moment for me because just a couple years before I was watching them battle Kobe [Bryant] and Pau [Gasol] in the Finals, and I was just mesmerized by how great those teams were, both the Lakers and the Celtics, Thompson said. So life comes full circle, now being able to play [the Celtics] in the Finals. I was watching them in college, Game 7, at Staples, with my dad, and now its 12 years later, and I get to play the team that I was rooting against. Its amazing.

Being a lifelong Lakers fan, Thompson said he did not know much about the Warriors when he was drafted 11th overall in 2011. The Warriors had won a combined 62 games in the two seasons before he arrived.

I remember watching the We Believe team [of 2006-07]. They were a gritty team of guys who might have been outcasts to other organizations but created such a fun brand of basketball, upsetting a 1 seed.

The Bay Area has always been considered an exceptional basketball market because of its local talent and support for the Warriors, even in difficult times.

I remember how crazy the fans were during that run and how great Bay Area basketball fans were. I grew up in a Laker household, so we didnt have many Warriors games on. But I always knew that basketball was just a beloved sport in the Bay. Thats obvious, just the amount of talent that has come out of this area. They have had so many players out of Oakland that for such a small city, you knew they live and breathe basketball.

ETC.

Heat have work in the offseason

The Heat had every intention of reaching the Finals with their offseason decisions. They executed a sign-and-trade for Kyle Lowry, added rugged forward P.J. Tucker, and allowed Victor Oladipo to get healthy during the season with the hopes of a deep playoff run.

That run ended in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Celtics. The Heat were never truly healthy. Sixth Man of the Year Tyler Herro suffered a groin injury. Butler and Tucker battled knee issues and Lowry a hamstring injury. The Heat struggled to score and relied heavily on undrafted players such as Max Strus and Gabe Vincent.

The Heat have some issues to address in the offseason. Oladipo is a free agent, and Duncan Robinson has four years left on his contract and barely played in the postseason.

Its probably tough for me to answer that right now because of all of the emotions, coach Erik Spoelstra said of the teams needs. When it ends like this, it ends with a thud. Youre not ever contemplating that I would be speaking in front of you guys talking about the offseason. It just was not even a thought with anybody in the locker room. Thats part of the makeup that I love about this group.

So I say, exceeded expectations, how do I say that without being disrespectful? No, it feels heartbreaking. We just wanted a crack at it. A crack at Golden State, and just find out, you know, as competitors.

The Heat have some weaknesses. Jimmy Butler has a lot of miles on him after 11 seasons. Center Bam Adebayo is special defensively, but as he showed in the Celtics series, he is hesitant on offense. Lowry and Tucker are 36 and 37, respectively. The teams window is closing and injuries played a major role this season.

I love this group, Spoelstra said. This team was here to compete for a title. In that regard, I think we lived up to those expectations. But we fell short. Well never know, and thats the part that well have to live with.

These last two series, it was a daily meeting with the training staff to get an inventory of where guys were. But these guys were so committed to the challenge that they are willing to do whatever it took to get themselves out there and really compete at a high level physically. It just shows you the mental toughness of the guys in the locker room.

Lowry signed with the hopes of winning another championship. His previous team, the Raptors, moved him because they were retooling. Lowry has two years left on his contract totaling $59 million, meaning hell be difficult to move because of his age.

Its been a wild season for me, he said. But Im given an opportunity to play basketball, and any time I get a chance to play, Im really happy to do it. I will never make an excuse about injuries, never. I was out there. Jimmy was hurt. Tyler was hurt. Tuck was hurt. They had guys hurt. I wish I would have been able to play a little bit better, at a higher level, but I didnt. It just adds fuel. You dont know how many more opportunities you will have to get back to this, so for me, honestly, it was a waste of a year. I only play to win championships.

The Heat are not likely to be favored to win the East next season barring major offseason moves. More likely, Miami is going to have to stick with its veteran crew and hope it works. Robinson could be a trade chip to get a more impactful player.

It was fun, and I appreciate the guys, my teammates, and I appreciate the opportunity, but for me its a waste of a year, Lowry said. Youre not playing for a championship, youre not winning a championship.

I think [a second year] helps. I think everything helps, having some continuity with the team and understanding who youre going to be there with and tendencies and understand the offense, terminologies, defensive schemes, offensive schemes, emotions, personalities. It definitely helps. We look forward to the opportunity of getting better over the summer and getting back to this opportunity next year.

Layups

College players are beginning to embrace staying in school and are using the draft evaluation for honest advice. Players such as Gonzagas Drew Timme, Miamis Isaiah Wong, and LSUs Shareef ONeal (son of Shaquille ONeal) were among 112 candidates who decided to bypass the draft and return to school. The NLI (name, image, likeness) opportunities are having an impact, but it appears college prospects are also making sounder decisions and would rather have another year in school than being undrafted and going the G-League route. Its good for the NBA and for college basketball The Lakers Darvin Ham took a similar road to an NBA head coaching job as Ime Udoka, a veteran player and then a longtime assistant who didnt carry the allure or big name but was considered a rising star in coaching circles. The Lakers took a chance on Ham over retreads Kenny Atkinson and Terry Stotts, and drew raves around the league for their decision. Ham, because of his pristine reputation around the league, especially as the backbone for the Bucks 2021 championship, had negotiating power. Ham was assured that former Laker Kurt Rambis, who has become notorious for meddling in organization affairs and helping making roster and personnel decisions, would not have further influence on those calls. Former coach Frank Vogel had to deal with Rambis and others in the organization during his tenure, all of whom had an opinion on how the Lakers should be run. Ham was assured he wont have to deal with so many voices The Hornets are the last team without a head coach and the job appears down to Atkinson and longtime coach Mike DAntoni. The question for owner Michael Jordan comes down to which coach can bring the best out of All-Star LaMelo Ball, who struggled at times with former coach James Borrego, who hesitated to discipline or bench Ball for his lackadaisical stretches because of organization and fan backlash. The one thing a new coach needs in Charlotte is the authority to make strong decisions without concern of repercussions. Borrego did a solid job but never carried the big name or the high level of respect. DAntoni, especially, would carry that respect if he gets the job.

Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GwashburnGlobe.

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NBA can be proud of its diversity in coaching ranks - The Boston Globe

Juventus completed a thrilling comeback away in Rome, coming from two goals down and losing Federico Chiesa to score three rapid second half goals to beat Jose Mourinhos AS Roma 4-3.

Coach Massimiliano Allegri was in the stands for this one after being suspended for a game by a sporting judge following some choice comments he made the previous game about the refereeing.

His assistant Marco Landucci manned the dugout instead and must have been ruing the day when first Chiesa went off with what looked like a serious knee injury and then the Giallorossi scored two quick goals early in the second half to lead 3-1.

When you win everything is much more amazing. Manuel Locatellis goal gave us back our enthusiasm and we managed to turn it around.

Happy with Mattia De Sciglios goal, we showed character. Approaches are of little use, you have to show it on the pitch. Today I lost 5-6 years of my life, if it always ends like this its amusing.

Roma started the game hot and scored early on, and could have had more too. However, Paulo Dybala equalized soon after and stabilized things.

We started with fear, we wanted to play an offensive game but we conceded goals from set pieces. We changed something in the second half because we were struggling to score.

Too bad about the second goal, we threw the ball away, it happens often, its not a coincidence. Then we did well to believe in it, the second goal helped us and gave us confidence.

When asked who made the substitutions for the game, Landucci laughed -

A secret, we cant say! We were all staff working together.

Wojciech Szczesny had a couple of huge saves, but none bigger than the late penalty that preserved the lead.

I hoped Tek would save it like he did in the first leg.

Alvaro Morata made a difference immediately after coming on with his hold-up play.

A strong player, he has always shown affection for this team.

What did he think of Paulo Dybalas showing?

A good game, a good goal, he showed his quality.

Landucci ended with an update on the injury sustained by Federico Chiesa.

The only negative note, a sprained knee, he will be assessed tomorrow.

Szczesny meanwhile did not want to take too much credit for the penalty save.

Yes, I was lucky rather than good. Pellegrini shoots two kinds of penalties, I did the feint on the run-up and I was out of time, I was a bit off balance.

The goalkeeper also talked a little bit about how the Juve side are evolving with Allegri back.

Were getting there but we still lack a bit of personality, the Juve DNA. We have players who have important qualities, but we need to give them time to get used to playing under pressure.

[We need] To be more consistent. This year weve played some good games, then others weve played badly. Its not like Juventus, we must try to be the best team in Italy but today we are not. But our ambitions are there, well get there little by little.

When asked if he thought if the Bianconeri could still get a Champions League berth this season, Szczesny sounded confident.

If one of us doesnt believe in it, they can stay at home and not play matches. You cant accept not going to the Champions League, even in this difficult year. We are Juventus. But first we have to improve, but we have the ambition to reach the top of Italy.

Read more from the original source:
Landucci: Coaching Juventus today I lost 5-6 years of my life! - Black & White & Read All Over

When Lupe Prado graduated from college with a degree in accounting, she landed a job in one of the "Big Four" accounting networks (Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG and PwC). For accounting majors, this was the pinnacle of success, and Prado was living the dream. That was until she began to have chronic headaches.

I learned so much, and I worked with brilliant people, but I was working really long hours and just really stressed out and not feeling like the work was in alignment with my strengths, Prado says. I was not feeling that sense of fulfillment, and I had really bad headaches that wouldn't go away. I had an MRI done and they couldn't figure out what it was.

At the time, Prados family and friends urged her to scale back on her workload, citing a possible correlation between her physical pain and her stress. While she didn't follow most of the unsolicited advice, Prado did look into one suggestion: getting a life coach.

I was so desperate, I was really unhappy that I was, like, I'm just gonna try it, whatever. Let's see if it will work,'"Prado says."I had no expectations."

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The decision led to a transformative experience, Prado says, when she hired Dallas career and life coach Kristin Taliaferro. In her first session, Prado remembers she had an "aha moment" and pinpointed feeling stuck in her career. What followed was a three-year coaching relationship between Prado and Taliaferro in which Prado had breakthroughs in her career and health. Prado says her headaches disappeared within two weeks of her transitioning out of her stressful role at work.

Delighted by her results, in 2017 Prado enrolled at the Coaches Training Institute. In 2018, she opened her own business as a career and life coach.

Life coaching is a partnership between the client and the coach, where I ask questions, as a coach, to help them get clarity and take action, Prado says. It's different from therapy in that therapy can focus on the past and coaching focuses on the present and the future. And it's different from consulting and mentoring, in that I won't give you insight as a coach because research shows that giving advice doesn't necessarily help with long-term change.

"People tend to stick more to things that they really figured out for themselves, so the coaching process is just helping. It's like Im holding up a mirror for the client to see themselves more clearly.

Life coaching is a future-focused relationship in which the client is expected to act on their own to achieve a goal or milestone with the guidance of the coach. Life coaches vary in specialties from career coaching (Prados specialty) to relationships, self-image, finances and wellness. The coaches act as unbiased accountability partners who highlight the details, patterns and mindsets that clients have overlooked and challenge them to analyze and make changes.

For Prado, the approach to this relationship is gentle. She prides herself on being a deep listener. She asks questions and allows for her clients to arrive at their own conclusions.

Most people walk around feeling like they are not really listened to, and in coaching we listen more than we talk, and that process can really unveil mindset patterns, thought patterns, and that can be really helpful, Prado says. Sometimes we don't realize that we are worrying about being stuck without really doing anything to change.

For some, the coaching relationship may sound like a glorified friendship. Friends and family rarely shy away from giving unsolicited advice. But despite their best intentions, loved ones can't remove their on biases and at times self-serving motivations.

I don't tell people what to do, and that's the difference, Prado says. When we go to our friends and family, they tell us what to do and why you should do this, and that doesn't take everything into account. And so when I'm listening, I'm just pointing out things like connections and values like, It sounds like connection is really important to you. Oh, when you mentioned this other thing, and what's important for you? And so through that process, the client gets a lot of clarity. And then I'll say something like ... 'What are the next steps for you?

The average life coach takes on about 12 clients at a time, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Life coach clients can expect to meet with their coaches on a weekly or biweekly basis. In these sessions, which nowadays are typically virtual or via telephone, clients discuss a particular goal they want to achieve or a habit they want to break or obstacle they're facing. Sessions last about 45-60 minutes on average.

During these sessions, coaches outline plans and tasksfor clients such as quitting a job, setting boundaries, initiating conversations, joining a dating site, expressing and identifying emotions and any other tasks that will help the client. Having to report back to their coaches in subsequent sessions motivates clients to act on prescribed tasks.

Like most industries, coaching was affect by the pandemic, and Prado says the demand for life coacheshas increased. With more people working from home, the lines between work and personal time have become blurred and clients expressed discontentment due to isolation, burnout and toxic work cultures.

People want to feel like they're making a positive impact through their work. They want to feel a sense of purpose in their work. They want to be challenged, Prado says. People have different values, and they want to be able to have those values at work such as a value of connecting with people, and connections are really important. But if they're stuck behind a computer, on the spreadsheet, and they never had interaction with people, that would leave someone feeling really drained and burned out.

Victoria Foster of Dallas E & R Life Coaching LLC defines a life coach on her website as someone who listens to what you are going through, asks questions, helps you to formulate a plan and will hold you accountable along the way. Foster assigns her clients homework that varies by client depending on their desired outcomes.

I had a client who wanted to network, but didn't feel like she would be able to carry on those conversations when she got into those networking arenas, so we did homework, Foster says. One of the homework experiences was that person stepping out into a networking event and then coming back and speaking to me about how that event went and how it would look the next time she went to an event. Its not just the coaching experience. It's what happens after and how you use the tools that I give you outside of the coaching experience.

Foster calls herself The Restorer. She specializes in personal growth, confidence, relationships and marriage. She has coached individuals in building confidence to achieve career and personal goals, to resume dating, to develop intimacy and find a shared vision with a partner.

Whatever you don't think you can do, I promise you by the end of the amount of sessions that you have selected that I will have you there, but it also takes a commitment from the client to be an active participant and take it seriously, Foster says. I call myself The Restorer because I take you where you didn't think it was possible to be.

"People tend to stick more to things that they really figured out for themselves so the coaching process is just helping, it's like Im holding up a mirror for the client to see themselves more clearly. life coach Lupe Prado

Alexis Cavo, owner of life coaching firm Paragon Consulting, initially pursued a career as a therapist.

Therapy is going to be a lot different. As far as coaching, we focus on the present, and we're more of a future-focused practice and therapy, says Cavo, who used to work at a behavioral health hospital in Dallas. Therapy is a lot of touching on the past, and you use a lot of different types of theories and philosophies. As far as coaching, we're very much, 'Where are you at right now? What's the circumstances right now?' And we focus on the future. It's a lot of goal setting, accountability, coaching, and it's a holistic approach versus therapy.

For clients who lack motivation, feel stagnant or lack control of their emotional reactions, Cavo encourages them to analyze their behaviors. Cavo says clients are able to imagine, create, dream and develop goals and desires resulting in an increase in motivation.

Because the field is subjective, that looks different for every client.

A positive mental breakthrough is whenever you have an epiphany, or I call them 'Aha moments,' where you realize something that you have been doing in your life has been creating a habit that you don't necessarily love, and you're able to recognize why you were doing that, Cavo says. You're able to make a change from a positive thought that's going to bring positive results.

Kari Jorgensen had her epiphany in January 2021 with Paragon Consulting life coach Giana Garcia.

I tend to get in my head and overthink things a lot, Jorgensen says. Even if I achieve the goal, there's a lot of mental duress in the process, and I think this really helped me unpack that, and understand why it was happening and how to get past it.

Garcia led Jorgensen through what Paragon Consulting coined The Life Model, in which clients work through their personal circumstance with their coach by analyzing the thoughts and feelings it provokes. The coach then guides them through developing a plan to generate positive results.

Within four coaching sessions, Jorgensen was able to work through insecurities preventing her from making the progress she wanted.Jorgensen successfully continued blogging after self-doubt caused her to stop, a goal she set with her first couple of coaching sessions. Jorgensen says she still uses the principles from The Life Model.

Life coaches stress the importance of a consultation before entering a coaching relationship. Jorgensen says there it's important to gauge chemistry.

The first step is to have a consultation or reach out to learn more, Jorgensen says. During that conversation you're going to learn if things seem like they're aligning and if you think you're going to have a good relationship with the coach. Giana and I ended up having an amazing relationship, and I felt like she was really able to understand where I was, and I feel like that dynamic is very important.

Foster advises those seeking life coaching to do their research online, find coaches who resonate with them and set up consultations until they find the right fit. Cavo agrees.

If you're looking for a coach, definitely interview. You're interviewing each other, Cavo says. But go and interview different types of coaches before you settle for one unless you feel super connected to that first coach that you meet with.

However, not everyone is an ideal candidate for life coaching. The ideal candidate for life coaching should be ready for a change. They should be looking for clarity or purpose and be motivated to take the necessary steps to reach a short-term goal.

The initial consultations serve as a method for coaches to see if the match is a fit for them as well. With her experience in mental health advocacy, Foster has been able to recognize when a client is showing signs of depression or anxiety. In those instances, Foster urges her clients to seek therapy or consult with a licensed medical professional before going forward with the coaching relationship.

Another key distinction between coaching and therapy is regulation.

Life coaching is not a regulated industry, Prado says. "Really anyone can call themselves a coach."

Life coaching is not regulated by the government and does not require licensing, but there are certifications available that serve as credentials for life coaches. Both Foster and Prado are certified coaches.

The certification helps by telling people that you take your job and your role with them seriously and that you're not just out here throwing out anything to try to help them or to bring them on as a client, Foster says. I think that certifications do help people take the field more seriously.

Prado is certified through the International Coaches Federation (ICF), a global membership-based coaching organization. The ICF offers three tiers of credentials: associate, professional and master certified coach certifications. The certifications require up to 200 hours of training, 10 hours of mentor coaching, 2,500 hours of coaching experience, performance evaluations and assessments.

Because life coaching is customized to the coaches' and clients' preferences, the longevity of the relationship, session frequency and costs vary greatly. Despite the popularized Oprah Winfrey Networks depiction of Lindsay Lohans life coaching experience, life coaches don't integrate themselves into a clients physical life like a sober coach to keep them on track.

According to Choosing Therapy, a medically reviewed publication website, a short-term coaching relationship lasts about six months and a long-term coaching relationship lasts about a year to two. The average cost of a life coach is $120 per hour, which most health insurance does not cover.

Prado says her three-year relationship with her life coach was longer than average.

For most people it can range from a few months to a year,"Prado says. "Three years was probably above average, just because I loved it so much, but it really depends on what the goal is. So if it's like a longer goal, like a career pivot, that takes a little bit longer, and it's not a couple of sessions, because there's a lot that has to be worked through.

Foster says her average client relationship lasts about four months with biweekly sessions.

Considering the lack of regulation, in the event that a client relationship begins to go astray,the most likely consequence will be the termination of the relationship.

Life coaching is not a regulated industry. Really anyone can call themselves a coach." Lupe Prado

It's an instant investment, but it's one that has a ripple effect, really, for the rest of your life, Prado says. It is still a positive ripple in my life having worked with my coach years ago. I tell everyone she changed my life; it's definitely worth it.

Life coach Vernica Cordonnier was introduced to life coaching through the UnF*ck Your Brain podcast right before the pandemic led to Cordonnier's being laid off from her job as a corporate project manager.

With time to reflect, she focused her energy on self-coaching with the guidance of UnF*ck Your Brain podcast host and master certified life coach Kara Loewentheil.

Im a fun, feminist, non-judgmental combo of life coach, feminist mentor, and hilarious best friend ... except I give way better advice than your friends do," Loewentheil says on her website. "And I actually teach you how to act on it.

Loewentheils feminist approach appealed to Cordonnier, and soon Cordonnier realized that she, too, had been coaching in her prior job. Through her work as a project manager, Cordonnier led fundraising efforts for public media where she coached individuals on how to develop the confidence to approach others and successfully generate funds for the cause. Cordonnier realized she could take these tools and apply them to coaching others.

In December 2020, Cordonnier opened her own business, BiConscious Coaching Co. She used her life experience as an immigrant, bisexual, polyamorous, feminist, activist and Latina to bring life coaching into new spaces.

I noticed that the majority of coaches were white women, and I saw what a great benefit and value they had, and all these tools and learning hacks for people, but they were really servicing a lot of other white women, Cordonnier says. I knew I could help people and train people on their mindset, and it's important to me to do it as a marginalized person myself, because if I could have somewhat of a struggle as a light-skinned fluently English-speaking Latina, if I can have the experience of still feeling kind of outside of coaching, then people who are even more marginalized than me, or darker than me, or came over more recently than I did to North America, then how are they going to be able to reap the benefits of coaching if they don't see anybody that looks like them?

Cordonnier also hosts The BiConscious Badass podcast, which offers free access to life coach advice and tips from other coaches and community leaders. Her Facebook group, Instagram and Patreon also allow people to explore the benefits of life coaching.

See original here:
Life Coaches Say Their Business Increased With the Pandemic. So What Do Life Coaches Do? - Dallas Observer

One of the biggest differences between a coach and a therapist is how they're accredited.

"Therapists are governed by a licensing board, and to legally provide psychotherapy, one requires a master's degree with a state license to practice," Melendres explains.

In the U.S., licensing requirements vary from state to state, but in general, only practitioners who have at least a master's degree in fields like social work, counseling, or marriage and family therapy and who have passed their state's licensing board exams can legally be called therapists. You'll see acronyms after a licensed therapist's name, such as LCSW (licensed clinical social worker), LPCC (licensed professional clinical counselor), or LMFT (licensed marriage and family therapist).

There are many paths to becoming a therapist, but all therapists undergo years of school and training, including obtaining a minimum of a master's degree, acquiring clinical experience under the supervision of a licensed mental health professional, and passing a state-mandated board exam for licensure. Psychologists who hold doctorate-level degrees such as Ph.D. or Psy.D. can also choose to work with clients as therapists as well, though state licensing requirements may still apply. Psychiatrists, who are medical doctors holding an M.D. and who prescribe medications as part of a client's treatment plan, may also be called therapists.

For coaches, there is currently no centralized governing body that regulates or oversees the coaching industry, and there is no specific training or minimum requirements to become a coach. "I firmly believe that's on the precipice of changing," Gozo notes, though, "so it is strongly encouraged that anyone serious about becoming a life coach gets appropriately trained and certified to do so."

As a client, here are a few ways you can verify whether your potential coach has the proper training, certifications, and credentials:

Read this article:
So, What's The Real Difference Between A Therapist & A Coach? - mindbodygreen.com

A person can download the TaskHuman app and run a search for what they are interested in doing or ... [+] learning. You can search for individual practitioners or the terms, "how can I improve my mindset? or what are the best ways to deal with anxiety and stress? The app will lead you to the appropriate coaches. The choices include personal training, yoga, pilates, meditation, life transitions, financial wellness, mindfulness, leadership, coaching, diversity and inclusion and more. It's meant to help with the overall mental, physical and spiritual health of the workers.

We are in a new, exciting era that places the focus of attention on workers. Companies have realized that they need to roll out the red carpet to job seekers and show empathy and appreciation to their current employees. With millions of open jobs each month, and 4 million quitting on a regular monthly basis, executives nervously noticed the sea change. In response, they are offering an array of benefits to attract, recruit and retain people.

It used to be that bosses would throw some more money at a person to make them shut up, put in the long hours and keep working hard. The power dynamic has now dramatically shifted from management to workers. It takes more than a few bucks to entice job hunters to select their company and keep current employees happy and engaged.

Smart entrepreneurs are creating products and services for businesses to offer unique experiences that express appreciation and gratitude to their workforce. Ravi Swaminathan, CEO of TaskHuman, is a progressive, forward-thinking startup founder. He built a unique platform that helps companies combat the current Great Resignation culture and win the war for talent. His app offers comprehensive and holistic employee wellness and coaching solutions that improve the quality of lives of workers.

Swaminathan believes employees are the most valuable assets of a company. He is a champion of the concept come as you are, which means that business leaders should offer deep personalized support for each employee based upon their individual needs and desires.

When employees are appreciated and offered meaningful ways to enhance and improve their lives, theyll be more apt to stick with the company. Theyll also be more motivated and productive. To best future-proof their organization and retain talent, business leaders must create an environment where employees feel valued and are offered resources that help them build healthy behaviors and help the employee feel good about both their personal and work life, said the TaskHuman chief executive. Swaminathan added, Employees will see their workplace as an invaluable resource that supports their unique individual lifestyle.

In an effort to better the lives of workers, the TaskHuman app easily connects workers with an expert in a specific field with a personalized one-on-one experience. The company has over 1,000 coaches for over 1,000 topics, which can be accessed anytime. Companies use the platform as a great benefit to employees to improve and enhance their lives. People can also subscribe on their own, too.

A person can download the app and run a search for what they are interested in doing or learning. You can search for individual practitioners or the terms, "how can I improve my mindset? or what are the best ways to deal with anxiety and stress? The app will lead you to the appropriate coaches. The choices include personal training, yoga, Pilates, meditation, life transitions, financial wellness, mindfulness, leadership, coaching, diversity and inclusion and more. It's meant to help with the overall mental, physical and spiritual health of the workers.

Some of TaskHumans corporate clients include Zoom, RingCentral and Purdue University. The companies use the app to help support employees by enhancing morale, improving health, well-being and productivity via personal and professional help with the video calls.

Swaminathan says that personalized guidance that caters to each employees unique needs creates transformative experiences for employees. Additionally, in remote and hybrid workplaces where people start to feel alone and isolated, group sessions build morale and improve employee satisfaction.

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Company-Sponsored, On-Demand, Personalized Live Coaching Is The Latest Trend To Help Improve The Lives Of Workers - Forbes

Mike Zimmer stood at the goal line 30 minutes before kickoff on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium, his arms crossed across his chest as he surveyed his kingdom for potentially the final time.

His lifes work as a coach had been reduced to a meaningless Week 18 game with the Bears, neither team capable of doing anything with their respective seasons beyond the 60 minutes left on the field.

Here comes Mike Zimmer! the public-address announcer bellowed over the loudspeaker ahead of player introductions. And your Minnesota Vikings!

It was an awkward moment that got even more awkward as Zimmer animatedly stalked the sidelines throughout a game that, at times, felt more like a funeral. Hes not stupid. He had to know deep down that it was likely his last game with the Vikings.

His actions after the 31-17 win spoke to that, too, as he snapped a picture with his son, Adam, on the field. As he slowly made his way toward the Vikings locker room, Zimmer took a fleeting moment to look around the Vikings home once more.

It sure looked like a man coming to grips with what was about it happen. No official word regarding Zimmers future had surfaced on Sunday night.

If this is indeed the end of the Mike Zimmer era, though, its about time.

Asked postgame what he will remember most about his time with the Vikings since taking over in 2014, Zimmer pleaded, Lets not go there today. You want to talk about it tomorrow, then lets talk about it tomorrow. This isnt time to reflect for eight years.

He gave that answer knowing that if he is fired, he wont talk to reporters again.

As unpleasant as Zimmer could be throughout his tenure especially when things werent going well history will more than likely be kind to him. He was a very good coach with only the legendary Bud Grant and Dennis Green having more successful coaching careers with the Vikings.

This move has to happen, though, and it probably should have happened a couple of years ago.

Theres a good chance Zimmer would have been fired in January 2020 had veteran tight end Kyle Rudolph not hauled in a walk-off touchdown pass in the first-round playoff game against the Saints in New Orleans. Instead, Zimmer got another chance to prove himself, and the Vikings missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.

Would the Vikings be in a better position now if they just ripped off the Band-Aid? It might have saved them from a couple more seasons of mediocrity. The only thing worse than being very bad in the NFL is being kind of bad.

Looking back on Zimmers time in Minnesota is difficult. He skillfully toed the line between successful and stubborn for nearly a decade.

Did he mismanage his players at times? Certainly. The way he handled the Daniel Carlson situation was a masterclass in what not to do to a rookie kicker.

Did he struggle to adapt to the modern-day NFL? No doubt. He was obsessed with running Dalvin Cook into the ground despite having incredible pass-catching threats like Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen.

Did he lack consistency as the man in charge? Absolutely. He never once led the Vikings to back-to-back winning seasons.

Still, the Vikings were always relevant under Zimmer, and they were one win away from playing in Super Bowl LI on their home field. The loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2017 NFC Championship Game was as close as the Vikings got to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy with Zimmer at the helm.

In hindsight, that was the beginning of the end for Zimmer, as he never got the Vikings close to that level ever again.

Now its time to move on.

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Dane Mizutani: Vikings Mike Zimmer was a very good coach. Now its time to move on - TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press

Andy Page always looked like he was up to something, and it always looked like it was something good. He was a man with a distinctive spark in his eye, a witty original aphorism to fix most troubles, and a mischievous spirit that emanated from a boundless supply of plain old personable good will.

In short, Coach Page, as most locals call him, was a character in every sense of the wordbut he wasnt a caricature of one. He was a coach, an educator, about the most genuine politician youll ever come across, and for just about everyone who ever knew him a good friend.

Page passed away on Jan. 5 after a brief illness. He was 81 years old. Retired from a 30-year teaching and coaching career that culminated with a lengthy stint at Cullman Middle School (as a math teacher) and Cullman High School (as a football coach), Page was early in his fourth term in the Place 1 seat on the Cullman City Council.

To say that the councils loss is the least among the many that the Cullman community will suffer with Pages passing is no hyperbole. Even the mayors office confessed as much, issuing a heartfelt statement Thursday that focused on the legacy he leaves behind.

The Council and myself know that Coachs spot will have to be filled, but now is not the time to focus on that, said Cullman mayor Woody Jacobs. Now is the time to reflect back on the life of a great man and leader, to thank God for the impact He allowed Coach to make in everyones life, and to grieve with the family.

Coach spoke in a language uniquely his, and had a natural gift for cutting up that disarmed students, strangers, and longtime friends alike. Back in the days when fewer people complained about having thin skin, Coach would pause in the middle of an intense Algebra lesson, get a playful glint in his eye, and ask one of the seated 8th graders: Whore you sparkin? which was Page-speak for going steady with a school crushor at least aspiring to, in that bashful teenaged sort of way.

In math class and on the football field, he had this thing that hed always say, and it always made sense coming from him, recalls former student and longtime friend David Hutchens. Hed say, Its simple; its just not easy. He was happiest when he was trying to teach you something.

Whether in local politics, at church, in the classroom or even in the sweatiest dog days of summer practice, Coach knew how to build trust by balancing the stern with the silly. You always feel a little better when youre around him, said longtime friend Randall Key.

He was such a well-rounded individual. He was kind of a renaissance man. He could talk about having to defend against the option, or he could sit there and talk music. He was like a Siren: He was just fun to be around, and hed just draw you in.

Page could be intense after all, coaching football was in his blood. But it was his lighter side that always shone through to students, and his gregarious spirit served him well after he retired from teaching and embarked on his first venture into local politics.

The guy never met a stranger, says former coaching colleague Danny Miller. Hed make a friend out of anybody he didnt even have to know them. In football coaching circles, everybody just knew Coach Page, even if they didnt yet really know him. I guess thats what helped him become a politician. I told someone, when he first talked about running for city council: That guys never gonna have to introduce himself to anybody. He was just a natural in the way he could relate to people.

Hutchens tells an anecdote that pretty much captures Coachs instinctive knack for making lasting connections with a dose of comedy.

You can talk to 100 different people, and youll get 100 different Coach Page stories, said Hutchens. Mine is from when I was playing football in high school. We were doing a walkthrough at the stadium, and he walked up to me and said, Hey Cotton Top! which is what he always called me.

Page pulled a well-chewed plug of tobacco out of his mouth, made sure Hutchens saw it, and went on.

Hey Cotton Top! If I leave this chew somewhere out on the field, will you help me remember where I put it? Hutchens suggested the visiting teams hash mark on the 25 yard line, so Coach walked over (He did that little quick Coach Page shuffle, he recalls) and left the mangled chew on the spot.

I thought nothing else about it until the next day, when we were out there again, probably 20 yards from where we were the day before, Hutchens continues.

Well, here he came again: Hey Cotton Top! Where did we put that chew yesterday?! and he had that real big grin. He walked over there, picked it up off the ground, and put it right back in his mouth and he looked at me, still with that big Coach Page grin, and just got a sort of satisfied look and started chewing and he just said, Awww, yeah. He was doing it to be entertaining, and it was entertaining. He enjoyed doing things like that, because he knew it was something youd remember and man, I did.

Coach was intelligent with his pranks. The funny stuff came naturally, but it also came from a sharp mind that understood human nature. Page knew that people appreciate seeing the stuffy social barriers that often surround them broken; that they give their confidence to someone whos willing to first share a little bit of their own.

Current Cullman football coach Oscar Glasscock, a former student of Pages, took that lesson to heart early. It was Pages contentment with life; a happiness that he and the late coach Dale Cook, a longtime family friend and another of Glasscocks early mentors, both exhibited that helped Glasscock decide on a direction for his own life.

I had not fully considered coaching and teaching as a profession very much before I got to know Andy well. I wasnt certain about going into it, but I was certain I wanted to live life like he did; like he and coach Cook both did, says Glasscock. Because he was alway laughing; he was always in good humor. He always welcomed you and acted like he was glad to see you and he genuinely was.

Page was born and raised on a farm near Aynor, South Carolina, a small town not far from Myrtle Beach. Ive been fortunate to travel through there a few times, and of course because I knew Andy, Id stop and drive around, says Glasscock. I saw where he played high school football; I saw the fields hed mention in his stories when he used to tell us about chopping tobacco and helping with the harvests. Its coastal and a very different kind of Deep South from here, and its instructive to visit the place where he grew up before he came to Alabama and brought his personality; really his happiness, with him.

Andy took time to talk and listen to anybody; to tell a funny story; to make you laugh and generally feel at ease and seeing that as a student, thats the way I wanted to be, too. I would see that and think, What a great way to live. Im super grateful to have known him and how lucky is this community that he ever showed up here in the first place? How lucky weve all been, to have him come to Cullman; to put down roots in this community; to call this place home.

Graveside services for Andrew Jackson Page will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Cullman City Cemetery. Page was married to his wife, Liz, for 57 years. He was a longtime member of St. Johns Evangelical Protestant Church (I knew him from St. Johns as one of the greeters, and who could they have picked whod be better? recalls Key, wholl be singing at Coachs funeral today.) The couple had two children, Jay Page and Suzy Drasheff, and two grandchildren, Mary Claire and Anna Page.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to Cullman Caring for Kids, or to St. Johns.

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(Video) I wanted to live life like he did - Cullman Times Online

University of Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is drawing interest from several NFL teams, and while some close to him maintain he will not leave Ann Arbor, he will not have difficulty getting an audience with owners should the right opportunity arise.

Harbaugh took the 49ers to the Super Bowl prior to returning to the college game, he has deep experience in the NFL as a player and a coach, and he just led the Wolverines to the College Football Playoff. While leaving his alma mater would be difficult, some in coaching circles believe that if he were to leave, now would be the time after finally beating Ohio State and reaching new heights with a program that had not soared previously under him.

Harbaugh is very well liked by Raiders owner Mark Davis, league sources said, beginning his coaching career as a quarterback coach there for the Raiders in 2002. Harbaugh also did great work in the Bay Area while the Raiders were located in Oakland at both Stanford and as coach of the 49ers from 2011-2014, where he went 44-19 and did not have a losing season. Davis has been very impressed by the work of interim head coach Rich Bisaccia since taking over for Jon Gruden following his resignation -- the team could reach the playoffs on "Sunday Night Football" against the Chargers -- but the opportunity to land Harbaugh would be attractive as well, according to some who know Davis well.

Harbaugh also has a huge fan in Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, who is also a Michigan alumnus and one of the school's biggest boosters. His belief in Harbaugh is well known, he has wanted to hire him in the past, and if Harbaugh did leave Ann Arbor, league sources indicated he would be tempted to lure the former quarterback as well. Numerous league sources said Harbaugh's name came up within the Dolphins organization midseason when the team was enduring a seven-game losing streak, and although it rallied to win seven in a row, the team was pummeled by the Titans last week to end any playoff hope.

Ross has long coveted Harbaugh and, at this stage of his life with a succession plan for ownership already in place, passing on Harbaugh might be difficult. Harbaugh also played for the Bears and is well known at Halas Hall, with that franchise pondering sweeping changes and considering a multitude of former players for a multitude of roles.

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Michigan's Jim Harbaugh drawing attention from several NFL teams, held in high regard by Raiders, Dolphins - CBS Sports

In a move that has been anticipated for the past several months, NFL Networks Ian Rapoport is reporting that the Detroit Lions and offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn are expected to part ways following todays game.

After being fired from his head coaching duties with the Los Angeles Chargers following the 2020 season, Lynn contemplated taking a year away from football. But when Lions' new head coach Dan Campbell came calling, Lynn jumped at the opportunity. Lynn, Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenns relationships date back to their days with the Dallas Cowboys where Lynn was a position coach, and Campbell and Glenn were players.

The working relationship between the trio seemed like a perfect blend of coaching styles, but the offensive struggles in training camp carried over into the regular season, leaving the Lions desperate for answers.

Following the Lions' bye, the Lions made a decision to remove play-calling duties from Lynn and Campbell took over, despite not having any previous experience calling plays. The struggles remained for a game or two, but eventually, Campbell settled in, added some other minds to the mixnotably tight ends coach Ben Johnsonand the offense found life in December.

While Lynn remained an important part of the game-planning process, it was clear his future in Detroit was coming to a close as his role was not as impactful as was originally hoped.

As the coaching carousel is about to be set in motion on Monday, the Lions will be on the lookout for a new offensive coordinator.

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Detroit Lions, OC Anthony Lynn expected to part ways after season - prideofdetroit.com

Wednesday, Jan. 5 Canvas & Silkand Image and Identityat Meadows Museum Theres long been a relationship between fine art and fashion. For Canvas & Silk: Historic Fashion from Madrids Museo del Traje, the Meadows Museum (5900 Bishop Ave.) presents pieces of historic dress including items like shoes and jewelry and full ensembles to show artistic connections and just how reality is translated by the artists eye. Tickets are $4-$12 for non-members and entry is timed, so reserve yours through Eventbrite. At the same time, a free exhibition Image and Identity: Mexican Fashion in the Modern Period in the first-floor galleries showcases Mexican fashion through photographs, prints, books and more from the collections of the Meadows Museum and the DeGolyer Library. See both in one visit; they both close on Jan. 9. Thursday, Jan. 6 click to enlarge

Color is on Chef Margaret Alvis' menu Thursday night

courtesy Chef Margaret Alvis

Anila Quayyum Agha: A Beautiful Despair at Amon Carter Museum There are a few dont miss it before its gone events this week and Anila Quayyum Aghas A Beautiful Despair at the Amon Carter Museum (3501 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth) is one of them. Plenty of exhibitions were overshadowed by the holiday hustle and mistletoed attractions, so we are passionate about getting people to these few before they close. A Beautiful Despair is immersive and gorgeous and impactful. It centers a Pakistani-American womans experience inside a barrier-breaking presentation that draws anyone in. It's site specific for the Amon Carter, and Agha created cut-steel sculptures that come to life via a single light. The play of light and shadow weaves the materials, messages and modern contemporary with the traditional in a captivating way. Become a part of the art before it closes Jan. 9. Admission is free, details are online.

Violinist Elena Urioste performs Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Friday, Saturday and Sunday

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Artist Jeremy Biggers brings Presence to Pencil on Paper this Saturday.

Courtesy of Pencil on Paper Gallery

Cambodian Street Food 37th Anniversary Fundraiser at Cambodian Buddhist Temple of Dallas This isnt just a Cambodian street food fest which would be worthy enough for some excitement but also the 37th anniversary celebration for the Cambodian Buddhist Temple of Dallas (5701 Crystal Lake Blvd.). Proceeds and donations from the market/fundraiser will benefit Selepak Khmer Angkor, the temples cultural program and performing arts troupe. Enjoy a variety of traditional Cambodian food and drink, live music from Samaun Band, social dancing and a ribbon cutting for the temples new dance school building. Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Food vendors accept cash only. Find out more on Facebook.

Robert Rauschenberg, Autobiography: three works, 1968, offset lithographs on paper, Dallas Museum of Art, bequest of William B. Jordan and Robert Dean Brownlee, 2019.

Robert Rauschenberg Foundation. Image courtesy of the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation

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Best Things To Do in Dallas Jan. 5-Jan. 12 | Dallas Observer - Dallas Observer