Sunsetting My ICF Coaching Career

Last week, after completing 2500+ hours of executive coaching over the last 3 years, I let my ‘final option to renew’ International Coaching Federation (ICF) certification expire, owlficially closing a chapter on being recognized as an ICF coach. Before making this decision, I reached out to my colleagues to seek out their thoughts, opinions, best coaching questions, and through that post I connected with some incredible people whoo’s only agenda was to listen to mine! What a treat that was, and an interesting experiment for me to see how my mind shifted back and forth after each conversation. If you can picture logic and intuition dancing the tango, each taking turns leading, it is a lot like what my energy felt like as each day was a different leader. Logic took the lead and said, “Just check the box, it’s what society wants to see,” as my intuition whispered, “You’re here to influence society, not follow it.” And so I danced until the path of least resistance was revealed…

What stood out to me most during this dance was a phrase I’ve heard before, but as the kids say, ‘it hit different’ this time: 

Katie, you’re so much bigger than just coaching. 

I’m humble enough to recognize I certainly have much to learn within the ICF coaching model, and I’m also humble enough to listen when more than 3 people have confirmed what my inner conviction owlready knows…and it’s true, my way with words and ability to bring invention and inspiration to a mind stuck in the same repetitive thinking, well that is a far greater gift to the world than a psychological model that doesn’t account for the science of differentiation. The ICF model doesn’t even recognize the science of differentiation, nor does psychology, which is why it is great for predicting group behavior, but becomes a ‘crap shoot’ when dealing with the individual. It’s why the Google’s Cloud study couldn’t predict high-performing teams, and it’s why the ICF model never sat well with me; it isn’t based on real science if it doesn’t include your birth information and breathwork. Without it, the best a coach can do is use a model based on observational science to which the outliers in the studies were dismissed at best, and at worst placed in the DSM where you will find me, labeled as a Neurodivergent and whatever else they label stubborn, full of convictions women whoo refuse to fall in line with the program.   

To be perfectly honest, it’s also why the ICF model didn’t ‘work’ for me, as in I am not a good candidate for the ICF coaching model (it’s in my birth chart) or any other model designed to ‘guide behavior.’ I use the term guide loosely here, manipulate feels more appropriate, but the humans feel a particular way about that term. And yet, that is what coaching/therapy/advising/mentoring/development retreats are designed to do, manipulate you, for better or for worse. 

The power of birth charts and breathwork is that it speaks the language of your body and mind. More importantly, it gives you the tools to manipulate your own energy in real-time, in real scenarios, and it really, really works! If you’re reading this and feeling skeptical, good, you should be skeptical! My favorite part about a true skeptic like myself, is we are even skeptical of our own skepticism! That is how I bumped into birth charts and breathwork after all, skeptical that it could work and a true scientist whooo experiments to see for themselves. After pulling 500+ charts and conducting 4+ years of research, using HeartMath breathwork to heal my own nervous system and taking two certifications with the HeartMath Institute to help others heal their own, it led me to the scientific conclusion that there are far better ways to give humans agency of their own energy, which is what I would argue is what Professional Coaching was designed to do. 

It’s funny the way the universe gives us exactly what we need, even when we think we need something else, and in my case, it owlways shows up in synchronicity and Katie just being Katie…in my quest to determine whether I was sitting for an exam for the ICF, I signed up for a refresher course on the core competencies and ethics believing it would give me the final credits I needed to renew. After a coaching session with a co-active coach, I decided to sit down and finish the course and just apply for the renewal and coveted PCC initials, only to discover upon completion that there were no approved ICF credits, only knowledge to help you prepare for the test. I laughed out loud when I received that email and thought, well there is your answer Katie, signed, sealed, and delivered with the irony that only the universe can provide. I’ve taken several courses over the last 3 years, all recognized by SHRM, (even the birth information is a SHRM certified course), but none of them were recognized by the ICF. 

Recognition. My energy requires it in order to be effective; it’s written in the stars, I don’t make the rules. Not a single client I’ve supported ever recognized me as their “ICF Coach.” I’ve been recognized and introduced as “my career coach,” “my life coach,” “my executive leadership coach,” and my personal favorite, “my therapist.” Relax, I don’t masquerade as a therapist, it turns out my energy and ability to listen and reframe feels like therapy to the mind and soul. Even my clients that have had previous ICF coaching recognized the Katie L. Eades Experience (coaching) is radically different and powerful, so whoo am I to disagree?!

If I had not owlready transitioned careers 4 times, perhaps I would be a bit nervous about what is next for me. Past versions of Katie would have worried about whoo would recognize me and how I would be recognized. It definitely feels easier this time around knowing my husband SOARed into a new corporate job last week, becoming the breadwinner once again…but I didn’t know that was the plan when I made the fateful decision to sunset my ICF coaching career. There’s a book on my shelf called, Bet on Talent, and although I haven’t got around to reading it, the title is enough of a reminder that I am the talent, and I’ve got a history that says I’m a sure thing. So I’m placing my bets on the talents I enjoy being recognized for: wit, wisdom, and energy designed to provoke abundance and shake up the status quo! 

I have one corporate contract right now as a direct results of those ICF letters, and so the sunset on that contract begins, and my soul-searching for what is next comes to an end, not that I know what is next per se, owl leave that to my intuition and the universe. At least those were the thoughts I had when I packed up my bag and headed to celebrate my ‘retirement’ at my favorite ‘people museum' (that’s what I call bars and restaurants) on a quest to let the universe do its thing and for me to finally start writing that book my clients keep asking to read… 

The Kennedy seemed like an appro name for the place I chose for my solo retirement party considering my first retirement was from college, after I wrote my senior thesis on the Kennedy assassination. While everyone else went back for their MBA or law degree, I went on to earn mine in the school of life (built and sold a business and learned a hard lesson on intellectual property and setting up LLCs with an exit strategy) but I digress… 

When I arrived at The Kennedy, my favorite corner spot at the bar was available, but my body went the opposite direction and said, “let’s sit in the thick of it,” which I have to say I immediately regretted after sitting down. But alas, what good is a retirement party if I’m not letting my spontaneous intuition decide my fate? There’s a chair to the left of me, and a couple that was just sitting down to my right, (insert song here) I felt like the joker about to be stuck in the middle of a crowded room…my mind debated moving seats, but my body resisted the urge and settled in to accept its fate.

And as fate would have it, a lovely woman sat down to the left of me and ordered a martini, which is exactly why I enjoy the Kennedy, great dirty martinis, more importantly, great dirty martinis in a fabulous glass! Stemware brings out the magic of the drink, trust me, it’s science. My body responded with a spontaneous thought, “You two are going to be friends.” I could hear it as if someone had whispered it in my ear, and I literally laughed to myself and thought, well that’s fun, I look forward to the invitation... 

Yadda, yadda, yadda, we have two forms of communication established, and I do look forward to cultivating our friendship. Funny how easily my mind could have steered me in the wrong direction if I let it, and at the same time, I’m not so sure it could have as my body was pretty glued to that seat once I sat down. When you allow your intuition (the body) to serve your intellect (the mind) magic happens! And it turns out that conversation was the serendipitous, synchronistic energy I needed to remember why I’m sunsetting my ICF career, more importantly, how you and every one else that gets access to my brilliant mind benefits from this decision. 

I’m a trained educator and historian whoo is a polymath at heart and a humorist mostly in her head (my return to stand up comedy is long over-due). I love learning. I enjoy being successful. More importantly, I’m a hoot! And once my purpose has been served and success achieved, I enjoy celebrating owl the hoots had, and moving on to whatever destiny has in store next for me. My energy isn’t designed for victory laps and maintenance mode, and my resume has a solid history of 3+ years of success before moving on; leaving things better than I found it and not over-staying my welcome is what my energy is designed to do best. 

In every single career and role there was a common thread of coaching in some modality; high school tennis, CrossFit, CrossFit Kids, staff, volunteer staff, non-profit boards, individual contributors, front line managers, people leaders, c-suite, and entrepreneurs. 

It’s proven I put the PRO in professional coaching, and I like to think people would agree I put the Outstanding in the Outstanding Women Leaders podcast. What’s next for me remains to be seen, but I imagine it will look ‘same same, but different’ as they say in Thailand. I’m still available for hire as a professional coach, comedian, and workshop facilitator–more importantly, I’m available for in-person retreats and forest therapy (my latest certification that ICF doesn’t recognize). 

At the end of the day, your life is both personal and professional, your strategic partner and coach should be too! Letting go of ICF credentials doesn’t mean I can’t be professional, it just opens up more room for that personal life to enter the room. Magic happens when two souls sit down together to break bread and share their favorite beverage. That wouldn’t be professional in an ICF coaching model, but at OWL Professional Coaching, it is a signature service I call Sips & SOULutions. 

As a high school teacher, I was told I have a magic way of making students feel in-charge without actually being in-charge; I respected them as the authority of their own lives, while also serving as a guide/sound board/coach/therapist/insert whatever you want to call the feeling here. 

As a coach, that same magic shows up and creates a professional container in traditionally unprofessional settings. Like a saleswoman landing a deal over dinner, only I’m not selling you anything other than how to be more yourself, before you were conditioned to be someone else. The moment a client loses sight of professionalism is where the real magic happens anyway, just ask anyone who has ever withheld information from their therapist/friend/trusted advisor. I create a space where clients stop performing and start having a witty and wise conversation designed entirely from the client’s energetic profile; a space where secrets are spilled and artfully reframed.

OWL that to be said, I’ve got room on my roster for the first time in 3 years, no waitlist required! And don’t worry, I’m still available for corporate contracts! I can’t earn the nickname, Corporate Reorg Whisperer and not keep supporting y’all in this avalanche of layoffs and reorgs headed your way. If you are looking for a fresh perspective and wisdom and wit only Katie L. Eades can provide, give a hoot and holler at me! One conversation is owl it takes to SPARK something new!