Our main objective here at the National Coach Academy is to enable aspiring coaches to reach their full professional potential. One of the most effective ways to educate students about the world of coaching is by offering them a window into the world of real, practicing coaches and showing them all the different ways coaches make a difference in the lives of their clients.
We hope today’s interview adds another insightful glimpse into the dynamic world of coaching.
Today we are interviewing Harris Kern. Harris is a Life Coach with focus on Discipline and EQ development in the areas of finances, health, business (strategy, performance and accountability), career and relationships. He is also a Speaker, full-time real estate investor and Author of more than 40 books. He has offices in Frisco, Texas and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
NCA: Can you describe your coaching practice and the kinds of clients you typically work with?
Harris: The clients are anyone — whether it’s teenagers, business executives, moms, Uber drivers, male or female of all practices, all careers — whoever. Anyone that wants to be productive, requires a strategy (life plan) and to be held accountable to their goals.
NCA: What initially got you interested in this career path and what kind of degree or certifications did you need to complete, if any?
Harris: What got me interested was that I had accomplished all of my minor and major goals in my career, health, relationships and with my finances. I learned how to be very disciplined at a very early age and I wanted to teach other people how to be disciplined, how to be efficient and live life with urgency. I also wanted my clients to excel in EQ. Managing your emotions is crucial for success and happiness. It’s basically those two things — discipline and EQ. I’ve been a practitioner for several decades so now I want to help others.
My life coaching program is a two-phase approach. The first phase is an evaluation where I understand their strengths and weaknesses, which helps me design a strategy based on their goals. Where the rubber meets the road is how I hold them accountable to their goals (Phase two), their tasks, milestones and daily obligations. The only way to improve their odds for success is to hold them accountable 7 days a week.
NCA: In working with your clients, what would you say is the most rewarding part of that process and on the flip side, what is the most challenging aspect of the work that you do?
Harris: The most rewarding is to help them accomplish their goals. It is extremely rewarding especially when I can help them stop their procrastination and execute. Everybody procrastinates, right? Every minute of every day is precious so I help them wake up with a purpose and execute with urgency. But the only way to hold someone accountable every day and with urgency is to stay engaged with them multiple times a day until I can train their mind so they can hold themselves accountable. It’s not like I interact with them once or twice a day — I talk to them as many times as required.
The drawback is that when you can’t help someone achieve their goals. Going from being undisciplined to self-mastery requires a drastic lifestyle change. It begins with instituting structure; having a to-do list, a routine and being organized. Being structured is only one aspect of the mentoring program. Sometimes it’s just too much for them and there is a small percentage who are not cut out for that much change.
Here’s the thing: there is no next session. I’m engaged with them every day of the year. That’s why my style is unique. With coaches, you go and maybe you’ll meet with them once a week or whatever. With me, I will not take anyone on unless I stay engaged to hold them accountable every day of the year.
NCA: For the clients that do make that change and are able to go over the hurdle, is the first sign something in their behavior? For example, they come back to you in the next session and they’re like, “Hey, I did this.” Or do you normally see it there in the session that something has changed, even though they haven’t actually put that into practice yet?
Harris: Here’s the thing: there is no next session. I’m engaged with them every day of the year. That’s why my style is unique. With coaches, you go and maybe you’ll meet with them once a week or whatever. With me, I will not take anyone on unless I stay engaged to hold them accountable every day of the year (via text, voice, Skype, Email., etc.).
And I’ll tell you why: if someone has been living by the seat of their pants all of their life and have been unmotivated, do you honestly think that a weekly 1-hour session with a life coach will break those horrific habits? There’s no way, it’s like going to a success seminar or reading an uplifting article, these are all temporary highs. Reality and your ineffectiveness kicks back in after 1-2 weeks. Besides everyone is busy, everyone is trying to do so much every day I have to adapt to their schedules. I can do that because I only sleep four hours a night. I’ve done that all my life. I don’t mind adapting to their schedules because I have no choice, really, at the end of the day – if I want to help them succeed.
It’s a unique approach but here’s the thing: you’re not going to make permanent changes unless someone is there with you to guide you and to hold you accountable every day. There’s no other way. That’s why my approach is so different. This is based on their requirements and goals. I’m a realist. If you want to accomplish, accomplish and accomplish more, this is what it’s going to take. If you are undisciplined and you waste time, you’re telling me that a call to someone for an hour a week can help you?
I love what I do. I love helping people. I’m a maniac when it comes to life. I live it to the fullest. They see it in me. They see the passion. They see that I also walk the talk. I live life to the fullest every day of the year!
I set a monthly fee for the ongoing mentoring (Phase two – accountability and planning) and that fee is based on their current financial situation, which is highlighted during the evaluation phase, so I know what they can afford and what they can’t. I do not want to introduce additional stress into their life. Regardless of the price, I’ll still call them seven days a week – multiple times a day. It’s not about the money it’s about helping them.
NCA: In your journey to becoming a coach, can you think of a mentor who was the most vital to your success and how?
Harris: There were two people. One was Jim Jarman. He was my neighbor when I was 13 years old. He taught me how to be disciplined. I was 6’2 and 135 lbs. He taught me about working out, about how to train my mind to be disciplined about your regimen every day. He was very structured. This guy took me to another level.
The second person was definitely Mike Graves. He took my career to new heights and helped me with the people issues and developing my EQ to communicate effectively and manage my emotions. He says if you can communicate, manage your emotions then you’ve got it made — and he was right. These two mentors helped me become successful.
I love what I do. I love helping people. I’m a maniac when it comes to life. I live it to the fullest. They see it in me. They see the passion. They see that I also walk the talk.
NCA: What is one piece of advice that you would give to somebody who is kind of in your shoes when you first started out?
Harris: If you’re going to interact with someone every day of the year on how to master your life— you better be practicing what you preach. You’ve got to be a practitioner of Discipline and EQ. If you’re not walking the talk, they’re going to know it.
