COACH EM

Some people inspire you.
Others change the direction of your life.

Jim Loehr did both for me.

After first hearing Jim speak at an ITF conference in Turkey many years ago, I wasn’t just inspired - I was moved. So much so, that after hearing him a second time, I hired a car, drove more than six hours to Orlando, and knocked on his door just to ask questions and learn.

That decision changed my life.

At one point, I asked Jim about my career. He didn’t give me advice. He gave me a standard:

“Next time I see you… you’ll have written your book.”

How’s that for accountability?

Jim didn’t just teach performance psychology. He taught purpose, character, energy management, and what it truly means to live a meaningful life.

“It’s not about making a living. It’s about making a life.”

That line will stay with me forever.

The last email correspondence we shared was about him coming onto The Coaching Podcast. Jim said he wanted to do the interview once things settled down after promoting his latest book, Wise Decisions - another brilliant read and contribution to the world.

Sadly, that conversation never happened.

But in many ways, it already had.

Through every presentation, conversation, lesson, and challenge he shared over the years.

A heartfelt thank you to Professional Tennis Registry for the many times Jim spoke at PTR conferences and for creating spaces where coaches like me could learn from one of the greats. I feel incredibly grateful that I was able to capture and carry so many of his words and lessons over the years.

The final line from Jim’s last email to me said:
“Can definitely do a podcast when things settle down a bit… after promoting my latest book Wise Decisions.”

Another one of his books now sitting on my shelf with pages marked full of wisdom.

Rest easy, Jim. Your legacy lives on through the people you helped shape.

You can listen to this special legacy episode here:

Apple/iTunes: https://apple.co/3Co9ddg
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1PEkQ4bJ9Fk0GNVCAo8LgT

Shout-out to a few people mentioned in this episode:
Jack Groppel - co-founder of HPI
Kyle LaCroix - performance coach and double guest on The Coaching Podcast
Beti Sekulovski - data analyst and recent guest coach on The Coaching Podcast

What do balloons have to do with Corporate Leadership Coach Training?

Everything 🎈

What a way to finish off my Aussie Coaching Leadership Academy workshops with Worrells – one of Australia’s leading insolvency and restructuring firms – at the stunning Lancemore Lindenderry Red Hill during their Principal-Manager Conference.

The topic was:
Leader as Coach – Building Leaders from Within.

Throughout the day, we weaved their company values into practical coaching frameworks and leadership conversations:

🎯 Take Ownership
Why “Leader as Coach” is the next evolution of leadership.

🗣️ Be Transparent
Practical coaching tools to improve communication, clarity, and accountability.

🚀 Make a Difference
Unpacking career coaching in a way that unlocks the potential already living within your workforce.

🤝 Play as ONE Team
Finishing with a balloon challenge where success only came through collaboration, communication, and trust.

Thank you to the fabulous Georgie Harrison and her team for setting the day up for success, and to Paul Burness – a humble servant coaching leader.

And thank you to Andrew Dick and the Vistage world for the opportunity to make a difference.

Coach EM Turbo Tip:
Feedback is the breakfast of champions. Clarity is kindness.

The #1 driver of enhanced performance?
Fair. Frequent. Factual.

Start here:
Who is the person in front of you?

Then choose your conversation framework.

For a Socializer Behavioural style, try Start / Stop / Steer:

What will you start doing?
What will you stop doing?
Where do you need to steer your energy this week or month?

Simple. Clear. Actionable.

Big shoutout to Rranee Foster & Alyssa Rains - Emerging Leaders Semi-Coaching Crew from Iowa Wisdom Teeth - for living and breathing this in real time!

Featured partner:
Today’s Turbo Tip with Coach EM is brought to you by trysam.ai - connecting great coaches with the right people - thanks to Michael Newborn.

Inspired by two great conversations on The Coaching Podcast:
1) Dr Eve Meceda (Fail with Honor & update your mindset software)
2) Maggie Key (Clarity is kindness)

Listen now to The Coaching Podcast - Coach for Success in Sport and Business
Apple/iTunes: https://apple.co/3Co9ddg
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1PEkQ4bJ9Fk0GNVCAo8LgT

I once drove 6+ hours… just to knock on Jim Loehr, EdD’s door.

No meeting. Just curiosity.

He changed how I coach – and how I live.

With a heavy heart, I’ve written a short piece to honour his legacy.
Link: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/day-i-knocked-dr-jim-loehrs-door-emma-doyle-7nvcc/?trackingId=0J5mIF9fRYi3Xo3Qh3mQBw%3D%3D

Thank you, Jim – I’m forever grateful I knocked on your door.

If you have a favourite Jim quote or story, please share it – let’s keep his legacy alive.

This week’s theme, inspired by Damien Pimpini and Leonard Cohen:

“There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.”

We’re all human.
We’re all flawed.
And that’s the point.

Self-awareness of your gaps = your growth.

The future belongs to the Leader as an EPIC Coach.
Curious what EPIC stands for? DM me. I’ll send you my 2026 philosophy.

Back in QLD with Vistage Chair Tony Watt, a true Culture Doctor who lives it every day, with his CE group. Then two brilliant days with Vistage Chair Guy Mycroft, hosted by:

QLD Day 1: Lea-Anne Pickford, Auger Torque (Manufacturing)
VIC Day 2: Chris Hill, Knight Frank Australia
VIC Day 3: Stefano Toffanello, Polyaire (HVAC)

Next stops: Minneapolis, North Carolina and California ✈️

Love sharing the power of coaching, everywhere I go.

In this episode of The Coaching Podcast, I sit down with Carrie Sackett – America’s Loneliness Coach – to explore why moving from me to we is one of the most powerful shifts a leader can make.

We dive into:
• Group coaching and why “we > me”
• Radical presence – what great coaches actually do
• Trust as the foundation of performance
• And how real growth lives between support and stretch

This one’s a reminder:
Performance improves when people feel seen, safe, and connected.

Listen now:🎙️ Loneliness Coach #215: Carrie Sackett – From Me to We
Apple: https://apple.co/3Co9ddg
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1PEkQ4bJ9Fk0GNVCAo8LgT

If you’re anything like me… ever had a 3am overactive mind? Not very useful!
Especially when sleep is one of your #1 recovery tools.

I’ve been testing a simple sleep hack after a reset in Tassie - and it works.
🎙️ Tune into this Coach EM Turbo Tip on The Coaching Podcast for the full technique.

Apple/iTunes: https://apple.co/3Co9ddg
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1PEkQ4bJ9Fk0GNVCAo8LgT

Featured partner: trysam.ai

This week’s leadership challenge:
When “Me” becomes greater than “We.”

Quick coaching question for leaders:
Where are we accidentally rewarding “me” over “we” right now?

And at an individual level:
How are we helping people build self-awareness?

Coaching Tip:
Feedback isn’t just a skill - it’s a responsibility.
This week, my Triple “F” formula became:
✔️ Fair
✔️ Frequent
✔️ Factual
✔️ Fearless

The Coaching Leadership Academy had the privilege of working with two outstanding Vistage groups in Melbourne:

• Thank you for hosting, James Sanders from Formero (https://formero.com.au/), and very grateful to Vistage Chair Steve Gallagher for his authentic leadership.
• And, to Barnaby Chivers from Bevmarks (https://bevmarks.com.au/) for hosting on Day 2 alongside Vistage Chair Alan Rees. Congratulations, Alan, on creating this unique group and launching CE413 - exciting times ahead.

Rich discussions. Tangents. Bonus content.
And a whole lot of self-awareness was unlocked in becoming a coaching leader.

Grateful to spread the JOY and LOVE of coaching back in my original hometown.

Great coaching isn’t about having all the answers.

It’s about knowing how your athlete will respond when things go sideways.

Same in business — it’s not about the plan, it’s about how your people respond when the pressure hits.

Loved this conversation with WTA Tour coach Jared Jacobs on The Coaching Podcast — real insights on pressure, preparation, and what shows up when it matters most.

A great listen for anyone leading people — and for those curious about what really drives high-performance athletes.

🎙️ Apple: https://apple.co/3Co9ddg
🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1PEkQ4bJ9Fk0GNVCAo8LgT