The Moment I Hired My First Coach

During a challenging season of my life, I faced a defining moment. I failed the Texas state exam for marriage and family therapy—a blow that shook my confidence. At the time, I believed my future was tied to serving others as a marriage therapist.

While I’d never been great at test-taking, my skills as a practitioner, according to my supervisor, were exceptional, even surpassing many of my peers. The failure left me at a crossroads. Unsure of my next step, I reached out to the only coach I knew and asked my elder board for permission to use that year’s professional development funds for coaching.

That single decision altered the trajectory of my life. I’m deeply grateful I hired Jon Mullican as my first mentor and coach. Recently, I had the privilege of reconnecting with him on my podcast, reflecting on the pivotal lessons from our work together.

Here are three insights that stand out:

Working with someone a season ahead turns decades into days.​
Jon’s guidance accelerated my growth in ways I couldn’t have imagined, helping me sidestep years of trial and error.

90-day plans brought clarity and focus.​
Together, we honed in on what truly mattered. Breaking down big goals into actionable steps kept me anchored and forward-moving.

1:1 coaching brings transformational depth.​
While conferences and quick-fix solutions have their place, the personalized depth of one-on-one coaching was unparalleled, helping me navigate my challenges at the core.

That season was the beginning of a shift—not only in my career but in my understanding of the power of investing in the right kind of help. Looking back, I’m grateful for the failure that led me to Jon and the transformation it sparked in my life and leadership.