I read that Jayson Blair — a disgraced journalist & recovering cocaine addict with bipolar disorder — is now working as a life coach. I’m not kidding.
Blair, who’s Wikipedia entry states that he has an ongoing interest in Human Resources, is supervised by a psychologist at a clinic in Virginia. He offers advice to other lost and tormented souls. From what I’ve read, he provides guidance on life, happiness, and overcoming obstacles.
America loves a comeback story, and I don’t begrudge a man from making a buck, but this story is just nonsense. While it’s totally appropriate for you to learn lessons from the behaviors of addicts & thieves & plagiarists, it’s another thing to take advice from a man with a sketchy past and no background in psychology.
Honestly, you are better off taking advice from Scrubby. Here’s his first pearl of wisdom.
Don’t pay a former coke addict for advice on your life or your career.
Even the worst psychologists have a masters degree and are licensed by the state. The best life coach might be no more than just a chump off the street with a point of view. Kind of like Scrubby. There you go. You owe my cat $120 for his advice. See you next week, suckers.
{ 35 comments… read them below or add one }
Does Mr. Scubby work on an ITIN or an I-9? Let me know, I am going to put @thedogsamson to work offering stress relief seminars. (You know, a dog’s life and that stuff).
Seriously tho, who pays this guy? Jeez.
My position on life coaches is this: If I ever hire a life coach, the first thing he/’she had better do is punch me directly in the face.
One of your best articles ever, Laurie. (And that’s saying a lot.) I am so with you on life coaches. Someone had better be the Dalai Lama or Eleanor Roosevelt (or Mr. Scrubby) before he or she can be my life coach.
Oh, you are baiting me into the discussion, Laurie, with the quasi-psychology topic and then throwing Scrubby into the mix…
There are excellent psychologists, counselors and social workers out there who are the unsung heroes of the health care debate. Most work for practically nothing in their efforts to help folks with severe emotional problems. The myth of the therapist with a Maserati is just that, a myth.
Therapists protect the community (we have no way of knowing how many Columbine’s were prevented, but as counselor I suspect that I have prevented at least 2). They protect hurt persons from hurting themselves and others.
Then there are life coaches, who could not get the credentials to be true professionals, or who lost their credentials because of bad behavior. There maybe a few good honest life coaches out there, but they are few and far between.
But if you ask me, Scrubby and his far off twin Brew, have much better credentials than any of us to provide emotional healing. To be feline is to KNOW ALL, and to purr. There is no greater advice than that given by a cat.
Rehabilitation and second chances? Michael Vick – Role Model? The Eagles may have taken a chance on him but not me!
BZTAT is so right about the emotional healing of a pet. I lost my trusted, life coach, Taylor Edward (a flat-coated retriever) in June. I’ll be following Mr. Scrubby for guidance. The check is in the mail.
Yes, but I’m sure his interest in HR is due to the fact that he’s a PEOPLE PERSON! So he really must know everything there is to know about HR.
Frankly, when I hear life coach, I think of the same kind of people who spent 6 or 7 years getting their bachelor’s degree. Flit to this, flit to that. Really, isn’t a life coach what we used to call FRIENDS? I mean, if someone really needs talk therapy or true psych help, then absolutely, but go to licensed therapist/doc.
But life coach? I do that all day with my friends and vice versa.
I’ve always thought that if I had no morals I could make A LOT of money as a life coach. I have a psychology degree, I’m empathetic, likable, and judgmental. Perfect, right? If only I could tell people what they wanted to hear and do it with a straight face while not feeling guilty…
Althought the thought of hiring a Life Coach is tempting… I would rather hire my dachsunds Augie Doggie and Buddy Bud to solve ppl’s real world issues, dilemas and problems. The scary thing is anyone can put this title at the end of their name! My dogs could specialize in Doga AND Stress management
I think that the concept of “life coaches” is silly at best and fraud at worst. This guy, who may or may not be recovered from his addiction(s) and/or mental illness, *charging* other people for his advice without being a qualified mental health professional is not ok with me.
At the same time, I do believe that people with addictions that are successful in recovery, as well as people who suffer from mental illness that are successful in recovery, are an excellent (free!) peer resource to others who have similar suffering. For example: Sponsors in AA programs. Or, in my opinion, who better to help someone experiencing bipolar disorder (or depression, or schizophrenia, etc) get through the initial stages of mental illness recovery than someone who has been there and done that?
Once a con always a con . . . he simply seems to be using his most successful skill.
Life coaching is just indistinct enough to attract practioners with sketchy backgrounds.
I’m a life coach too. My friends have a different name for it though. They call it “bossy.”
Do we know he’s actually WORKING as a life coach? Or is this like those unemployed people who say, “I’m a consultant,” when really you know that the only consulting they do is texting their votes in during American Idol?
Life coaches are for suckers. I found this article – can you imagine if an employee showed up in your office with his/her life coach? I would seriously have to summon all of my keep-my-HR-face-on powers and try not to fall over laughing.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/jayson-blair-returns-as-a-life-coach-1775233.html
“In some cases where my clients are falling apart on the job, I will go with them to their employer, saying I am their life coach and, by the way, I’m Jayson Blair. That’s always an interesting conversation. Usually it ends in a good chuckle.”
@deirdre He’s a 1099 and sole proprietor. So easy to set up shop in North Carolina.
@Steve Exactly.
@Frank Thank you. I wonder what the Dalai Lama charges?
@BZ Tat You know, I’m laughing because this post is absolutely geared towards you. How could you NOT comment? Maybe Brew and Scrub need to write an advice book?
@Sue Your check will go to Dr. Elsey’s litter. The best stuff evah. Also $16 a bag. Not cheap.
@HAria It’s like anyone with an opinion and a big ego is a coach. It’s such a stupid word. If you’re not Phil Jackson or Lou Holtz, you’re not a coach.
@Minion Holy crap, you *are* the perfect life coach. Dude, we must brainstorm. You could do this and make a mint.
@Shennee Thanks!
@Jenn I support peer mentoring and learning from friends. I’m not going to pay someone who’s a failure, though, so I can learn from their mistakes. How about I just google your criminal record, read it, and vow to do the opposite of what you’ve done?
@Sam Amen.
@Kerry No, he’s working. It’s disgusting. Some people can’t get a job at Target and this guy gets a job helping unemployed and lost souls.
@Megan If you show up at the office with your life coach, you deserve to be fired.
@Sue–So sorry for your loss of Taylor. The best life coaches truly leave paw prints on our souls.
@Laurie–Everything I know I learned from my cat.
BZ
I’ve seen too many people set themselves up in this way, usually with some “certification” they paid a lot of money for. It’s all bollocks. Personally I find I get all I need from this man. Check out the Succeeder if you don’t know him. He taught Sir Richard Branson everything he knows – lol. http://thesucceeder.com/
My best friend is my life coach, and our therapy sessions usually go like this:
I’m blue. Wanna go to DSW?
Oh boy! And let’s get lunch.
Can we stop at the Desert Factory, too? I require Lemon Creme Cake.
Oh, hell yeah.
Seriously, I’m with Sam. Once a con, always a con, and lucky for him, there’s a sucker born every minute.
I couldn’t make my living fleecing people, because unfortunately, I have a conscience, but there’s a big part of me that thinks if Blair can find people willing to fork over the dough, well, more power to him.
There’s a price for being a gullible moron.
Here’s the best commentary on life coaching I’ve read.
bit.ly/3GWUsR
I’m trying this again because I know how shorten urls can irritate.
Best commentary on life coaching I’ve read
http://twitter.com/nictate/status/3420850030
If I’m a current coke addict whose life is in an even sorrier shape would it make sense then to get Jayson Blair as a life coach?
@BZ Oh you think the book would be derivative? I bet Brew and Scrub could make a good run at the NYT’s best seller list.
@NZ Good lord.
@Elise I’m with you. The price for being gullible is being poor, usually.
@Nelking That’s awesome and I’m okay with shortened URLs.
@Nick How does it not make sense? Let’s do another line, shall we?
Not at all derivative, Laurie. Was just making a statement of fact. Brew has a title in mind already, and he has an artist lined up for illustrations. How could NYT’s best seller list NOT reward the most BREW-tiful, Scrubbilicious writing duo around???
BZ
all so true. a dear friend just spent thousands of dollars and dozens of hours getting a life coach certification from NYU. i think it’s bullocks. BUT, she happens to be a grounded, intelligent, positive-minded individual who may be able to help chumps who don’t have the wherewithal to seek REAL professional help from a licensed therapist. some people attach a stigma to “real” therapy … i liken a good life coach to a “gateway drug.” they are the weed of the mental health community!
@Col I wish we had a medical system that encouraged more people to seek help, was affordable, and used all drugs in the treatment of illnesses.
@BZ I smell money and tuna.
@cols2 Maybe we need to take this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx2c6m6iNSw
I spoke with a former drug addict once that had a few pieces of advice for me. I’ll tell you what, I definently walked away from him feeling like I had my life together after all, and it was not because of the loony advice he was dishing up either. Anyone who takes advice from this guy is as crazy as he is. I smell a reality TV show in the works.
The lesson here is that I should aquire an expensive coke habit and make an absolute mess of m life. After I kick the habit (assuming it doesn’t kill me), only then will I have something of value to offer as advice. Until then, I’m a schmuck.
By the way, as I am broke these days, I can’t afford scrubby’s bill. However, I can arrange a date with Cookie. She’s a gold digger, but so pretty she’s worth it!
By the way, your RSS feeds come with a few ads. Guess what showed up on this one?
1. business coaches needed.
2. The life coach institute
4. Train as a life coach.
I know you don’t have control over these, but I thought you might get a chuckle.
@George Scrubby is neutered so that date will be boring. Also that’s so funny about my RSS feed.
@Christago We waste so much money on talentless schmucks. I say, let’s pay homeless drug addicts and get REAL reality TV.
Homeless drug addicts can make more money holding places in line for lobbiests for congressional hearings. Just sayin’…
@BZTAT true!
Laurie you are on to something! I’ll start recruiting in Chicago~
I have never been to, nor would I ever go to a life coach. I understand they charge fees similar to a psychologist who holds a PhD. This fact in itself speaks volumes! If these so called people were truly genuine, they’d go back to school and become educated with the relevant study/practicums and earned post graduate degree at the doctorate level. Often people who lack motivation can be suffering from deeper psychological issues such as clinical depression or other neurophysiological issues.
I do not feel a life coach can provide the minimum safe standard of care to anyone. Clearly then, where does the life coach’s value system and sense of ethical responsibility originate from?
I have never ever met a, so called, life coach. I don’t know if most are has-beens, drug-addicts, mental-cases, idiots, or frauds. I only know that I am transitioning into life/career coaching/counseling. I have my Bachelors in Psychology, a Masters Degree in Counselor Education, and a Clinical hypno-therapy Certificate (CHT)-studied that for a year-not a two week course by mail! I certainly can understand why people think so little of life coaching, as it is an unregulated profession. And many of you are correct, you can be helped out of the blues by a good friend as often as a counselor, but not always!
I think when searching for someone in the helping professions it is wise to be very careful. I wouldn’t be considered a very good life coach, as I use both coaching and counseling techniques, which is considered unorthodox, but whatever will help right? That is what I was taught, use anything that will help and forget about this orthodoxy bullshit. I’m not in it for the money, but, of course, everyone wants to make a decent living right? I mostly want to work with groups, that way the client’s costs are lower, and you have the added benefit of people really helping each other, and building each other up in the group. Sometimes people become good friends out of these groups. I think that a good life coach like a good drug alcohol, or mental health counselor should have lived a good deal of life, and have the wisdom, which can come with age (but not always), and not just have a head full of knowledge.
Well, I have written enough. I guess some of you will want to flame me, that is part of putting your opinion out there. However, if any of you have any honest questions, I will do my best to try and answer them when I get back to this site. Until then, I wish you a good night.
Bob
@Bob–So refreshing to hear an alternate perspective from someone actually in the practice of life coaching. As a professional clinical counselor myself, I know that the practice of counseling is basically a lot of life coaching. Someone with clinical skill and credentialing, I think, is much more likely to be effective as a life coach, as it appears that you are.
As you say, the biggest concern that I have with the likes of Jason Blair being a life coach is the lack of regulation and protocols in place for the profession. Although very wise and principled people may enter the practice, so can people who could easily take advantage of vulnerable others.
I too, have developed a number of methods that diverge from the so-called “orthodoxy” in my practice as a counselor. I think that the notion of “evidence based practices” is more about marketing than it is about well-researched methods. But at least when I diverge from the mainstream, I am aware of the basic concepts of human behavior, and my creativity is extending from commonly accepted precepts in the profession.
Almost everyone who goes through alcohol/drug recovery comes out wanting to help others do the same. 12-step self-help programs are driven by these folks. It seems to me that Jason Blair and others like him have grabbed onto the idea of life coaching as a way to be a paid AA sponsor. That is a slippery slope, I think.
There are also people who failed as counselors who get into the business of life coaching. I once worked with a social worker who had very poor boundaries, and she was very manipulative and hurtful to others. She was fired from one job because of criminal behavior. No one in professional social services will hire her because of her poor reputation. So guess what she is doing now? You got it–Life coaching. I have heard that she is now being investigated for insurance fraud because she allegedly billed her services to someone’s insurance without their consent!
I wish you well, Bob, but beware of your colleagues in similar practice. You would be wise to push for some kind of standards in the profession.
BZ
Well, I snickered at a few of the above comments on life coaches. There are a few sides to it, however. When I first started to hear about life coaches in the early 00′s, I was skeptical. Like, WTF is a life coach? Where’s the degree? Over the last decade, life coaches have become more popular. Is that because there are more morons out there? lol No. It’s probably because many, not all, do provide a decent alternative and good service to help people get unstuck, as it were.
Are all councilors with degrees good at what they do? I’m sure not 100% of them. I also lived in NYC for many years and knew a fair amount of people who were seeing ‘analysts’ and many of them were doing that for years. Is that really necessary? Let’s keep up the revenue stream…
I hear you but it seems like all budding philosophies like this get scrutiny like this. The ones who truly give value for money will survive the test of time. I’m with BZ though, I can see some standardization coming down the pike.
TN