I do enjoy my coaching side hustle, and also certainly appreciate the income if brings in to fund my fiction writing startup. Since most of my coaching revolves around reviewing research proposals for graduate degrees, one of the things I enjoy the most about it is that it exposes me to many new ideas and ways of thinking. I get to learn about fields I wouldn’t otherwise ever think about and still have a positive contribution to my clients by leveraging my expertise in formatting and presentation to make their point.
On the other hand, sometimes it can be a struggle. Like when I have to come up with a kind way to suggest that the plan I’ve been given is a mess and would benefit from the nuclear option (blow it all up and start over). OK, well, none of them are quite that bad, but still when I have to suggest major revisions, it can be a challenge to say so in a way that doesn’t discourage the client but also makes the firm point that changes are necessary.
I want to be positive, encouraging, and helpful. When I can be, this job is a lot of fun. But just like every other aspect of my life, I really struggle to offer effective critical feedback.