Naomi Richards, also known as The Kids Coach, is a life coach for children starting at age 6 and provides behavioral and emotional coaching. She provides a space for children to talk confidentially about why they are unhappy and helps them resolve their problems in an interactive, creative and supportive way. Naomi works with children on self-esteem, confidence, friendship, bullying, anxiety, parent separation, communication or any other home or school related problem. She works face-to-face with children and runs workshops for them. Naomi is part of the 3 Counties Radio parenting and families show and writes for parenting, teenage and women’s magazines. She speaks at conferences and her first book, The Parent’s Toolkit, was published in February, 2012. She speaks at conferences and her first book, The Parent’s Toolkit, shares the key life tools she uses and teaches in her practice so that parents can help their children successfully navigate childhood problems and grow up into happy, confident and resilient young adults. As coaching is a collaborative process, her tools include teaching children positive self-talk, simple problem-solving techniques to encourage them to arrive at the right solutions to issues and specific advice for parents to hone their own listening and coaching skills.
What are you working on right now?
I am working on writing material for several speaking gigs I am doing in the coming months. I am also writing lots of articles for various websites and media. I am mainly planning for events around my book.
Where did the idea for The Kids Coach come from?
I wanted to work around my children so that I could take them to school and pick them up. I also wanted to work for myself. When I looked at what I liked doing and what I was good at: solving problems, being creative and working with kids, life coaching seemed like the perfect vocation.
What does your typical day look like?
I take my children to school then I go through my emails and respond to them. I make calls if necessary and generally catch up with my virtual assistant at some stage during the day. I may have clients or I may have some writing to do, but generally every day I am working toward a deadline of some sort. Tomorrow I am speaking at a networking group and doing radio, but the day after I am running a workshop from home. No two days are the same.
How do you bring ideas to life?
With ease. I do this through discussing them with people around me and by scoping the idea out on paper.
What’s one trend that really excites you?
I get excited about the fact that coaching children is catching on in the world.
What was the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it?
I think working in a women’s clothing store was the worst. I spent most of the time folding clothes, as it was so quiet. I learned how to be more tidy, though.
If you were to start again, what would you do differently?
Nothing, everything I have done has been an experience that has brought me to where I am now.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Stick with it and believe it will happen. When several doors shut, remember other doors will open.
What is one problem you encountered as an entrepreneur and how did you overcome it?
The place where I was working initially was impersonal and the children were not responding to coaching very well. I had to move my practice into my home.
If you could change on thing in the world, what would it be and how would you go about it?
The way people treat each other and the amount of violence/war/atrocities there are in the world. Gosh, where do I start? Better parenting, schooling, respect and communication.
Tell us a secret.
It would not be a secret if I told you.
What are your three favorite online tools or resources and what do you love about them?
- I love TweetDeck, as I can put people in lists.
- I love blogs because people can share their views and their experiences with others.
- I like the fact that I can search for anything and get an answer on the Internet.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho because it’s very philosophical and makes you think about life.
Three people we should follow on Twitter and why?
- @Time2shineprods: Rachel is writing some amazing material for theatre productions.
- @GiftedHand: She is kind, generous and is just starting out on her business making acrylic paintings. She will be exhibiting later this year.
- @YvetteVignando: A great parenting expert who lives in Australia and does an amazing job helping parents.
When was the last time you laughed out loud? What caused it?
With my children, probably during a tickling fight.
Who is your hero?
Richard Branson
What would you do if you were not a kids coach?
I’d be a personal shopper.
What is your favorite food?
Chocolate
Connect:
The Kids Coach Website: http://www.thekidscoach.org.uk/
The Kids Coach on Facebook: Thekidscoach
The Kids Coach on Twitter: @thekidscoach
Naomi Richards on LinkedIn: Naomi Richards
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.