Welcoming “Ridiculous” Goals | Executive Coaching While Powder Skiing

I have benefited tremendously from executive coaching. However, I have found it challenging to predict when to schedule that coaching, especially during ski season. Every scheduled coaching session would inevitably fall on a powder day. I found myself constantly having to choose between two things that I genuinely wanted to do and that had the propensity to propel me forward both professionally and personally. (Yes, powder skiing does in fact yield professional benefits; you can read more about that here.)

As I mentioned in my last post, I allowed myself to include all of my “ridiculous” wants and aspirations on my 2023 list of goals, one of which was “finding a coach and co-collaborator who would agree to hold meetings from the chairlift.” I had kind of forgotten about this goal until I skied with Sharon Cavanaugh at the tail end of the 2023 ski season. On our second run together, it dawned on me: she is an extraordinary coach AND an avid skier - the exact combination I was looking for. I pitched the idea. Not only did Sharon agree to do this but she was elated at the prospect.

The funny thing is, I had known Sharon for quite a while and had never seen this possibility. On reflection, I realized that I held two limiting beliefs that had prevented me from seeing this win-win opportunity.

The first is I judge the goal of finding someone to coach me from a chairlift as frivolous and elitist. The voice in my head says things like, “that’s such a spoiled-rich-girl thing to want,” and “real work should be done in the office without distractions.”

I’ve learned time and again that finding ways to fuel my passion while accomplishing my professional goals often propels me further, yet I still have a hard time overcoming my limiting belief that this “shouldn’t” be true.

The second mental hurdle I had to overcome relates to the fact that my two MergeLane colleagues, Sue Heilbronner and Leah Pearlman, are extraordinary executive coaches in their own right. Sue and Leah have both offered to support me through coaching many times, and when I take them up on their offer I receive incredible value. Yet our schedules never quite seem to mesh, while Sharon and I sync effortlessly. I grew nervous that by choosing to work with Sharon, I would give Sue and Leah the impression that I value their coaching less than I actually do. I held the limiting belief that I was incapable of sharing this fear of hurt openly and honestly with them. Sue and Leah are both proponents of candor, and I know they want me to pursue what’s best for me, but, however silly, I think that fear of talking to them about it was preventing me from fully seeing the opportunity with Sharon.

So, in the spirit of honesty, I’m going to share this post with Sue and Leah.

And, I’m going to try to embrace my belief that fueling my passion while accomplishing my professional goals will propel me further.

If any of you could benefit from extraordinary leadership coaches, check out Sue Heilbronner, Leah Pearlman, AND Sharon Cavanaugh.

Onward.