Practitioner, Teacher, Consultant, Coach, or …?

I have been struggling with how to label myself. Nine months of the year, I am a professor of physics. So, that is easy. What about my non-academic pursuits, however?

When I started working with clients, I called myself a JSJ practitioner. But then, my penchant for teaching proved too strong, and I ended up offering classes and consultations rather than sessions. When people started asking for astrology readings, I thought I should call myself an astrologer. Only, I did not care much for mainstream astrology. I never wanted to dump an enormous amount of arbitrary information onto the poor unsuspecting client and leave them to their own devices. On the contrary, I wanted to show them that there was a pattern to life, to give them the means to cope, and to boost their confidence in decision-making. And that made me a coach.

What can I say? I love coaching. There is magic in the air when two people meet in an earnest attempt to solve a problem. I am a big fan of the “where two or three are gathered together in my name….” Do you know what I am talking about? Have you experienced this effect? I love it when clients come with specific issues, we end up unexpectedly exploring something completely different, and they love it.

So, I took some formal coach training, joined an organization and a couple of local groups, and started hanging out with other coaches. I did not fit there, either! I was the only one combining JSJ, astrology, the knowledge of spiritual and physical laws, and coaching into a coherent practice. I was back to my unique square without a proper label for myself or my practice. 

As I was listening to a webinar presenter on self-publishing last week, I was struck with a realization, He, too, had his own unique combination of consultations, classes, writings, etc. And he wasn’t disturbed by his multi-faceted approach to business. Instead, he owned it and called himself an entrepreneur!?!

Really? Is that what an entrepreneur is? I always pictured entrepreneurs the likes of Elon Musk or Mark Zuckerberg. Have I been wrong all along?

What do you think? Shall I call myself an entrepreneur and stop fretting about labeling and fitting in? Help me out and vote here.

This Post Has One Comment

  1. James David Myers

    You really don’t need a label you do what you do to help people. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

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