Living Service: The Journey of a Prosperous Coach

Melissa bares it all and shares what really goes on in the world of a coach as they begin their journey and as they progress. She openly shares what struggles, mindset and thoughts a coach goes through and then she also shares stories, insights and anecdotes of how she transcended some of them.Loved the lucid and simple language of the book. I highly recommend this book to all the coaches no matter where you are in your journey. This book will definitely help you along your way of Living Service.Love,Yayati DesaiLife CoachIndia

Muito útil para quem está começando a carreira no Coaching.

J’ai lu deux fois le livre de Mélissa Ford, et sa vision du service m’a aidé à remettre ma pratique en question. C’est un livre honnête qui se livre sans chichis.

After a long career in advertising, life somehow pushed me gently into coaching. And like in my copywriting days, I am so enamored with growing in this new profession, that I’m constantly looking for high quality material about life in general, and this truly fascinating job in particular. Melissa’s concise book gave me both in generous amounts. It’s an honest, funny and totally unglossed narration about a struggling coach/human being who’s finding her way in life, getting more and more successful in the process. The book doesn’t just deal with the amazingly powerful topic of serving; it’s a vastly helpful collection of insights and tips around becoming a coach to be reckoned with. With short and snappy chapters, Living Service is rich in content, and Melissa doesn’t hold back on letting us know how often she messed up, and the transformative things she learned by going all-in. In an area of perceived perfection and unrealistic promises (‘Become a six figure coach in one week!’), this is a book that will truly and honestly help you on your journey to become a masterful, humble and life-changing coach, no matter where you think you are.

The first book I read about the business of coaching was The Prosperous Coach co-written by Melissa Ford’s coach Steve Chandler who I’ve been reading and following the last couple of years so the concept of Service was not new to me. I’ve also read Melissa’s Chapter in When All Boats Rise and heard her on a couple of podcasts. So when her book came out I eagerly started to read it and found out that my conduct with clients already changes while reading the book. I love Melissa’s honesty and sharing. It makes it so easy to relate and not feel ashamed about our own “mistakes” but rather see them as an opportunity to grow up and be a better coach and of better service and create deeper relationships. The book gives me an opportunity to see what my blind spots, traps and fears are and change my attitude naturally once I see them.Not less important is are some issues Melissa raises that are not important only for coaches, and foremost the issue of allowing ourselves to not being right, to listen to criticism without defence and how to respond to that. (chapter 16 It’s a game-changer in any aspect of our lives.Since many of the books around on this topic are by men, she spoke to me even more deeply. I was inspired reading for the first time a few weeks ago and not less the second time round now. I’ve marked about every other page, recommended it to fellow coaches, to a couple of clients and sought every podcast I could listen to her. I guess this means I highly recommend the book!

I completely enjoyed this magnificent book!At the time I read this I thought I was giving up on coaching. Until Melissa Ford brilliantly described the "3 Steps of Mastery". I realized I wasn't lazy or inept at enrolling clients! I was simply still in "Stage 2" of Mastery! Now that I had a perspective on the stages of my journey as a coach I could begin again. With much more humility and confidence.I love the way Melissa takes our hand and walks us through each stage and experience. Especially the cringy ones you thought only belonged to you! I love how she openly shares exact emails, phone convo's and conversations with her clients, colleagues, and her coach. So fabulously helpful! You get the nitty-gritty of what works and what doesnt when it comes to being a truly heart-centered prosperous coach. More things I loved: The acronym 'HOW" she gives us, as very helpful, immediately useful way how to resolve anything. I also liked the illustrations, They perfectly punctuated and illuminated Melissa's words.Not just for coaches, but for anyone on the path of service. Or anyone looking to to have great, high integrity relationships in their life and work. I highly recommend this deeply practical, warm hearted and inspiring book!