David is trained in the Co-Active model of Life Coaching from the Coaches Training Institute in California, the global leader in transformative Life & Business Coaching, and for the past twenty-five years has been part of one of the great wisdom traditions and has studied contemplation and practiced advanced techniques of meditation.
David guides & supports entrepreneurs and business leaders to build balanced lives so they can create enough energy, time and wealth to power a truly meaningful life, on their own terms, in their own way.
His process infuses ancient wisdom with contemporary strategies of insight, action and accountability. He delivers sustainable growth for clients and guides them to the discovery of deeper levels of authentic happiness in daily life.
What are you working on right now?
Growing my coaching / creativity consulting and mentoring organization.
Where did the idea for Life Compass Coaching come from?
I rolled my life experience as a hairdresser + my experience as a storyteller/ filmmaker + my 25 year practice in one of the great wisdom traditions + my training as a professional CTI Co-Active Personal Coach which = ‘s a new ”life calling” for myself as a personal Coach and Spiritual Mentor & Creativity Consultant. The name came from the idea of combining ancient wisdom with contemporary strategies to create a compass for transformation.
How do you make money?
The old fashioned way. I charge for my time and expertise and provide an invaluable service to the folks I work with.
What does your typical day look like?
Relaxed and vibrant. I do most of my work on the phone or by skype , so I work from home, although I do meet some clients in person and also travel to meet clients as well if they require it. Everyday usually includes a walk on the beach with my dog Biscuit (worlds greatest poodle), and time for meditation and contemplation.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I always separate creative thinking from critical thinking to generate as many possibilities as I can. Intuition is the wellspring where ideas are born for me, and linking things that appear not to go together is my gift, and I also just build on what my clients bring to the table. Two heads are better than one. I am known as a possibility generator.
What’s one trend that really excites you?
Simplicity. How to make ones life as simple as possible but not simpler. Sustainable happiness is the name of the game.
What was the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it?
Woolco Paint department when I was 16. The assistant manager who was genuinely excited about paint was very disappointed when I quit on day 5, which was the day I spilled a couple of gallons of paint on the floor. I learned that life is too short not to do what you love at every moment, and if you can’t, then hire me and we’ll figure out why.
If you were to start again, what would you do differently?
I would have become a coach 20 years ago.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Enjoy the journey. Enjoy the process…. and stop believing in the finish line… there isn’t one, and while we are at it, I have abolished the word goal from my vocabulary and replaced it with vision.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
Could not get the financing for my feature film so financed it myself.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Lamps that automatically dim in the evening and change their color hue so they don’t interfere with our circadian rhythms’ ..the light at night syndrome .
If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be and how would you go about it?
I would implement a mindfulness practice and teach meditation that would start in our education system in kindergarten.. do they still have kindergarten?
Teach every child about becoming mindful and aware, and teach them how to still the mind. I have a few other critical components I’d change in our culture, but I’ll follow the rules here.
Tell us something about you that very few people know?
I had plastic surgery on my nose when I was bitten by a small dog as a little boy.
What are your three favorite online tools or resources and what do you love about them?
Coach Accountable – The online portal I use in my coaching practice.
Vcita – for my online scheduling.
Blog Talk Radio – for my radio show
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
“The Soul of Money” by Lynne Twist, because it teaches a great truth; that giving and receiving are equal.
Three people we should follow on Twitter and why?
I can no longer answer this question. I divested of all things twitter and have been living very happily with out it for a year or two.
When was the last time you laughed out loud? What caused it?
It’s a daily occurrence, my dog biscuit makes me laugh out loud all day long, he’s pretty amusing when he’s not growling at me.
Who is your hero?
My spiritual teacher is my hero. He is unconditional love in action.
Why would anyone pay for a life coach?
How you spend the energy we call money depends on what you value, so I might ask the same question about why anyone would spend money on a TV, as I don’t see the value in having one and have lived without one for almost a decade.
If you value exploring your own life and your own mind, if you value understanding how you work and where you get stuck, if you want to clarify what’s important to you and gain fresh perspective, and if you want a champion in your life, then you would want to pay for a life coach, the same as you might pay for a personal trainer if you wanted to take your fitness to the next level or pay for a holiday if you wanted relaxation. For me coaching isn’t just about fixing problems, it’s a idea, a type of conversation one has with ones self and with the world, and your coach facilitates that conversation.
The coaching relationship can last a lifetime, and it only gets richer and deeper with time. I don’t need my coach, but I desire to have that unique relationship in my life and it makes my life richer and very rewarding on so many levels. It is also helpful to keep me accountable in my daily life to the things I say are important to me. Steve Jobs had a coach for many years . Eric Schmidt, the executive Chairman of Google for 10 years has a coach. Bill Campbell coached them both. WHY NOT YOU? The great thing about coaching is you can try it our for free. Almost all coaches offer free sample sessions.
What is the purpose of life?
To find happiness within oneself, independent of anything on the outside, and to discover the true nature of your mind, and leave this world more beautiful than when you arrived.
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Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.