Alice Zagato - Systemic Coach - Keeponexploring

BRUTALLY HONEST POST

And a couple of POWERFUL secrets you’ll almost NEVER hear in any COACHING or THERAPY training.

And yes. Alas, it happened again today.

At least twice a month, I get enthusiastic messages from people (or friends of people) who want to “have a quick chat” because they’re thinking about opening their own business, starting a therapy or coaching career, taking the Great Leap into self-employment.

(And yes, with 20 years fully in the business, I’ve seen all the trends of the last 25 years…along with a healthy dose of ups and downs.)

The script is almost always the same: lots of enthusiasm, a bunch of questions about the profession, and a request for an “EXCHANGE”which, surprise surprise, inevitably turns into a FREE CONSULTATION disguised as a friendly chat between “peers,” always ending with:

“So, how do I get clients?”

Just so we’re clear: exchange what, exactly?
If you’re interested in my invoicing method, I’m happy to share my IBAN.

Working in this field, self-employed, means building everything: skills, experience, trust, reputation, and a client base, mostly from scratch.

I know you want to optimize away the hard work, just like anyone else.
And you want to make the world a better place, just like me.
But let me be brutally honest and tell you something you won’t be told in most coaching trainings

⭐️ NO ONE CARES ⭐️

If you want to do this for real, it’s a business, and you’ll need clients.

If you’re genuinely interested in a professional conversation, I’m always happy to share my experience and expertise. I can help you with consultations, mentoring, and support programs.

But out of respect for my work (and for everyone else in this profession! Including you future self), time spent answering professional questions is not free.

If, on the other hand, you just want a casual chat as equals, let’s talk about theatre, books, summer hikes, or the latest fashion trends. My door’s always open, and those conversations are on the house!

Thanks for your understanding.

❤️Hugs (those are still free, unless you’re about to ask for my business plan).

 Like every summer, you can book outdoor sessions and workshops for teams (up to 10 people) until October.

Yes, getting outside clears the head, increases wellbeing, and helps grow trust, agency, relational and emotional clarity, freedom, and leadership.

Or, book an “Ugly Workshop”:

Monsters & Challenges: Face the real issues that are holding you and your team back.

Loaded Questions: The art and hazard of tricky questions. Learn to spot them and use them if you dare.

Would you like to explore further?
Discover what tools developed for and by neurodivergent minds can teach everyone, practical and often enjoyable strategies that make life and work smoother, wherever you are.

Curious? Contact me to book or to get more details.
Come on! Step outside and let’s make this season interesting.

WHOSE FEELINGS ARE THESE ANYWAY ?!

If you’re curious and want to read more:

* Eisenberger, N. I., Lieberman, M. D., & Williams, K. D. (2003). Does rejection hurt? An fMRI study of social exclusion. Science, 302(5643), 290-292.
* Rotge, J.Y., et al. (2014). A meta-analysis of the anterior cingulate contribution to social pain. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 9(10), 1393–1403.
* Beaton, E. A., et al. (2022). Experiences of criticism in adults with ADHD: A qualitative study. PLOS ONE, 17(2), e0263366.
* Ginapp, C. M., et al. (2023). Emotional dysregulation, rejection sensitivity and experiences of criticism in adult women with ADHD: A qualitative study. PLOS ONE, 18(10), e0292721.
* Rubia, K. (2018). Cognitive neuroscience of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and its clinical translation. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 12, 100.
* Fan, Y., et al. (2022). Dynamic functional connectivity of insular subregions in children with ADHD. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 16, 890596. In Research and Practice

Or ask me!