Robinson Town Center on September 22nd from 5-7 p.m. for camaraderie, community and conversation. Come and meet our diverse and supportive coaches and make some new business connections. Ask for a complimentary coaching session or just stop by to say hello, see old friends and meet new ones. Enjoy Buca's famous appetizers and soft drinks for $20 plus a cash bar.

This is an opportunity you can't afford to miss! Please register in advance and pay by credit card by visiting www.pittsburghcoaches.org.

Wed., Sept. 14, 2011

Your First, Second and Third Acts: Making Your Expert Business Work for You as the Years Roll On!
featuring Andy Birol

Your firm may be in its infancy, adolescence, golden years or rebirth. What are the lessons learned, warning signs and preventative actions to take as your business prevails throughout the years? This presentation will explore the key milestones and best practices for ensuring your business continues to work for you. Specifically, Andy Birol will cover the following areas through group exercises and participation:

1. The three eras of your practice and what to look for in each one
2. The three key activities needed to grow your business
3. How to focus on your Best and Highest UseŽ
4. Looking forward, looking ahead to manage your business, your Best and Highest Use, and your lifestyle.

Earning rave reviews and high scores at the Pittsburgh Consulting Association, this presentation is for any independent services provider, coach or consultant who makes a living by selling their own brand.

This 60 minute presentation uses a variety of hands-on learning techniques including individual exercises, and audience participation to help owners assess and evaluate their challenges, opportunities and next steps. Attendee take-aways include several relevant and practical processes as well as a call to action you can implement immediately.

About Andy Birol
Andy Birol, owner of Birol Growth Consulting (BGC), is an international business growth consultant, author, keynote speaker and business coach. Andy focuses on helping small and mid-sized businesses and their owners create profitable and sustainable growth. Known for his creativity and his candor, Andy's approach, which is based on empowering an owner's Best and Highest UseŽ, provides clients and audiences with renewed passion, new potential and profitable results. With twenty years of management experience, Andy started BGC in 1997, helping over 450 firms introduce new products, enter markets and develop new distribution channels. Andy has also designed new pricing, compensation and sales incentive plans as well as restructured and staffed marketing, sales and customer service organizations. The media has turned to Andy for his expertise in small business growth. He has been interviewed by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN's Dollar Signs, Entrepreneur, Business Week, and Inc. Magazine. He has published over 300 articles and is the author of five books, including The Five Catalysts of Seven Figure Growth (CareerPress, 2006). BCG has won four Weatherhead 100 Awards as Northeast Ohio's fastest growing single-employee business and 34th fastest growing company of any size and was also recognized by Inside Business Magazine and Team NEO which awarded him the NEO Success Award in 2005, 2007 and 2008.

All are welcome to attend this important event. Please join us by registering as soon as possible.

Sept. 14: PCA Monthly Meeting presents "Your First, Second and Third Acts: Making Your Expert Business Work for You as the Years Roll On!" at Highland Country Club; 11:15 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Sept. 22: PCA Happy Hour Event; Location Buca di Beppo at Robinson Town Center; 5 - 7 p.m.

Oct. 4 & 5: Visit our booth at the PHRA Conference at Cranberry Regional Center

Oct. 12: PCA Monthly Meeting presents Contextual Intelligence for Leadership Development at Highland Country Club; 11:15 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Nov. 9: COACHING WORKS workshop at Highland Country Club; 1 - 5 p.m.

Dec. 14: PCA Monthly Meeting and Holiday Party at Highland Country Club; 11:15 a.m. - 1 p.m.

The PCA is delighted to welcome the following new members!

Sherry Campbell
Bill Beard

The International Coach Federation (ICF) had commissioned a global survey on coaching.

We invite experienced coaches, as well as those new to the profession, to join the Pittsburgh Coaches Association (PCA).

Not a coach? Now you can join PCA as an Associate!

Duquesne University's Professional Coach Certification Program (PCCP) Now Accredited as ACTP by ICF

Duquesne's PCCP is designed for coaches seeking certification as well as those seeking to become professional coaches within their organizations or as a private practice. The program is also designed to benefit managers seeking an enhanced skill set in coaching. Elective courses are available for CCEUs toward recertification. We are now accepting applications for the session beginning on September 9. For additional details and application, please visit www.duq.edu/coaching or call 800.283.3853

By Susan English, PCC

A coach, friend, Assistant Dean and Executive Director of the Professional Coach Certification Program at Duquesne University, Dr. Michael Forlenza, recently completed a training with Jon Kabat-Zinn and Saki Santorelli on Mindfulness. I interviewed Michael about his views on how mindfulness and coaching are related.

S: Michael, how do you define mindfulness?

M: I like the definition proposed by Jon Kabat-Zinn: mindfulness means paying attention to the present moment, on purpose, and non-judgmentally. This concept comes from a meditation tradition. It is not, however, the only way the term is used in western psychology. Richard Boyatzis, Annie McKee, and Ellen Langer have all written about mindfulness without necessarily referring to meditation. While there are differences between their definitions, all refer to how we focus our attention on the experience of the present moment.

S: How does mindfulness relate to coaching?

M: If you compare the ICF core competencies with mindfulness, you will see commonalities between coaching presence (the ability to be fully conscious, intuitive, and open to not knowing), active listening (focusing on what the client is saying), and creating awareness (integrating multiple sources of information). These coaching skills are enhanced with mindfulness.

S: Do coaches have to meditate to enhance these skills?

M: Coaches can develop these skills without a meditative practice. It is important to distinguish between being mindful (being fully present, open, curious and attentive to moment by moment experience) and mindfulness practices, which increase your capacity to be mindful. Meditation is just one method for developing mindfulness.

S: How does a mindfulness practice benefit the coach and client?

M: Mindfulness practice changes the brain to enhance the capacity for connection, compassion and balance. The coach brings those qualities into the coaching session. The client feels the connection. This connection reflects the core competency of trust and intimacy.

S: How can a coach develop these skills?

M: There are hundreds of methods for developing mindfulness. I find mindfulness of breathing is the simplest. There are other ways as well. For example, the Institute for Coaching just posted an article by Russ Harris titled Mindfulness without Meditation.

For more information on the connection between Mindfulness and Coaching, contact Sr. Susan English, PCC, at smenglishedd@yahoo.com or Michael Forlenza, PC, at forlenzam@duq.edu