Someone to show up for

We usually think coaching gets us "access to expertise." But it also gets us someting even more important: someone to show up for.

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Big improvements usually come from consistent effort over time.

The hard part isn't knowing what to do.
It's doing it again next week.
And the week after that.

Something I've noticed in my own life:

The things I do with other people tend to stick.
The things I can do "whenever" are much easier to postpone.

My Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes happen at scheduled times, with people who expect me to be there.
My strength training plan is completely flexible. If I skip in the morning, I can pick it up in the evening. Maybe.

Guess which one I've been more consistent with,
and made the biggest improvements in.

It's made me think differently about coaching:

Sure, you're getting access to expertise.
But you're also getting accountability.

Because "see you next Tuesday at 3:00" isn't an abstract promise to our future selves.
It's an appointment with another human being.

It doesn't just improve the quality of your effort.
It improves the consistency of your effort.
And that's what matters over time.

Because the opposite of accountability isn't laziness.
It's optionality.

Your gym is always open.
Your great American novel is always waiting.
That side project can always start tomorrow.

A coach changes that.
They convert "I should work on this sometime" into "I'll see you Thursday."

That's a much more profound shift than simply receiving advice.

If you're struggling to make progress on something important,
don't just ask whether you have enough information.
Ask whether you have enough accountability.

Sometimes the missing ingredient isn't a better plan.
It's another person expecting you to show up.

All the best,
A.