Get To Know Steve Mitten

Hello. I'm Coach Steve Mitten CPCC, MCC. I'm an experienced Master Certified, (Life and Business) Coach & Mentor. I have been coaching for a long time. It's my calling. And I've had the honor of working with over a thousand great people all over the world, helping them move forward in their lives and careers and achieve some amazing things.

To my life coaching practice, I bring compassion, optimism, integrity, creativity, intuition, practicality, all my coaching and business skills, and a lifetime of experience. Over the years I've been; an entrepreneur (5 start-ups, 2 IPOs), President, Managing Director, V-P Marketing, volunteer life-skills trainer, engineer, tree farmer, angel investor, dad, husband, writer, yogi, health and fitness enthusiast, and student of life. Looking back now, it seems all my life experiences were important, and in some way led me to coaching. They also allow me to better support and assist my clients.

I'm very grateful for the opportunities and experiences I've had. It hasn't always been easy, but in my years in business I ended up achieving far more than I thought was possible when I started out.

In life and business coaching, I now do what I truly love. And I really enjoy seeing clients get inspired to do more than they thought possible. I have a very busy practice, usually working with over 30 clients, who come to coaching with a diversity of personal and professional interests.

I actively support the growth and raising of standards in the young profession of coaching. Over the years I have worked hard to establish higher standards of training, credentialing and ethics within the coaching community. I spent 3 years on the Board of the International Coach Federation, serving as the 2005 ICF President.

Personally, I've been married to my high-school sweetie, Laurie, for 30 years, and she is still the person I most want to share my life with. Together we are the proud parents of three delightful young women. And I am lucky enough to live in a beautiful part of the world with family, friends and a community that are very important to me.

(Visit my personal picture gallery)

Life Coach Background Summary

Steve Mitten, B.ApSc., Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC), Master Certified Coach (MCC), 2005 President - International Coach Federation, 2007 Coach Of The Year (Coaches Canada).

Memberships: ICF, BBB, Coachville, CFIB, World Wide Fund For Nature.

Training: Coach Training Institute, Thomas Leonard, Newfield Network, Innerworks, Justice Institute, Banff Centre, EQI, Co-Active Leadership, Positive Psychology, Somatic Coaching, Yoga.

Background: 30 years in business, President, Managing Director, Entrepreneur (2 IPOs, 5 start-ups)

Specialty: I work one-to-one with individuals, business owners, new coaches, executives, leaders and entrepreneurs helping them; gain clarity, align their passions and strengths, create a plan to get the results they want, and live happy, inspired and balanced lives.

Top Values: Family, integrity, making a difference, health and fitness, growth and learning, nature and creativity.

Favorite Place: The beach at Roberts Creek. (See Pictures)

Favorite Activity: Mmmm.... perhaps going for a solitary swim in the ocean on a mid-summer's day.

Favorite Book: Can't choose. A Path With Heart (and a few hundred other titles on the wisdom traditions, spirituality, history, myth, business, health and personal development). BOOKS

Favorite Meal: Italian (So hard to choose!)

What I Do

What I do for a living, is to help people find their strengths and passions, become inspired, believe in themselves, stay focused, and really go after their biggest dreams.

Over 30 years of business, and through my volunteer work, coaching and workshops, I've had the pleasure of helping many hundreds of people overcome challenges and live happier, more abundant lives. It is the most rewarding work I've ever done. If you are interested, here's how I came to do what I do.

My Story

Master Coach Steve MittenIt's often said that a good life is the enemy of a great life. Fourteen years ago I had a pretty good life. A wife and family I loved. Good health. Good friends. And a career that a lot of people would have died for.

After 15 years of starting and building businesses I had begun to understand how the game was played. I was managing a public company I had created with some friends, was working with some great people, and doing business all over the globe. I loved the adventure, the camaraderie, the learning and teaching, and the prospect of having a big positive impact. At the time, I thought I would be doing what I was doing for the rest of my life.

The downside was that I was traveling a lot; and I don't remember where I was flying home from, but to pass the time I started to count all the date stamps in my passport. To my surprise I realized that I had been away from home close to 50 weeks out of the previous 5 years. At that moment I had a deep realization that as much as I loved my job, I loved my family more, and I had to find something I enjoyed doing closer to home.

Shortly after my epiphany in the airplane, I joined some good friends in a personal growth seminar where I first encountered coaching.

Years later, I can still remember how strongly affected I was from my first exposure to life coaching. The idea of helping others connect to what they really cared about, walk past their limitations, and create fulfilling lives and careers aligned to their gifts and passions - well I simply knew that this is what I was meant to do.

I love business. I love being an entrepreneur. But at heart I am a coach and my greatest love is helping others learn, grow and live their dreams. I am an avid student of the wisdom traditions, developmental psychology, positive psychology and emotional intelligence. I love helping others grow and live rich and meaningful lives full of peace, joy and freedom. By working to be really good at what I do, I get to live my dream, and help others to move their lives from good to great.

My Outlook on Life Coaching

I love coaching. It allows me to use my gifts and all my business and life-skills training and experience, and make a difference in people's lives. I really enjoy working with my Clients, and admire their determination to make the changes required to get the results they want.

I also believe that we all have unique skills and talents. And it is deeply rewarding to coach Clients to discover what they can really get excited about, and then help them apply their own special gifts - in their businesses and personal lives. I greatly appreciate the trust my Clients put in me.

Ilove to help people grow, re-discover their dreams, and create more value, wholeness, abundance and peace in their lives. I think we all have a purpose, here on earth, and I love to help people find theirs.

I consider myself very fortunate to have had the personal and business experiences I've had. In business I am proud of the many ventures I've been a part of. Personally, I really enjoy my family life, and along the way I have had some great adventures including; hiking in the Panamanian jungle and the mountains of Europe, New Zealand and South America. I have also ridden elephants in India, canoed in Thailand, scuba-dived in the Caribbean, gone on safari in the serengeti, sailed in the Gulf Islands and ridden around Tierra-del-Fuego on horseback. To me it all forms part of who I am, and what I have to offer to you.

My Outlook on Life

I view life as a journey, rather than a destination. And it's a journey that changes us all. To the extent that we get in touch with, and honor, our deepest values, that journey will be fulfilling. In my practice I often tell the story of the young Russian Soldier manning a lonely guard post at a country crossroad. When the soldier is startled out of his night vigil by someone approaching his checkpoint, he leaps forth and shouts: "Halt". "Who are you?" "Where are you going?" and "How are you getting there?"

The stranger turns out to be the village priest, who is quickly recognized. Yet rather than accepting the soldier's apologies, the priest offers to pay the young man 30 rubles to ask those same questions every day.

The point of the story is that if you have answers to these questions, you are attending well to your life. At its deepest level, "Who are you?" inquires as to why you are here on this earth? "Where are you going?" inquires into the vision you have for your life, or how you are going to use the gifts of time and talent you have. "How are you getting there?" inquires into your calling, the next step, or the best path forward.

Answering these questions for your life can provide a great deal of clarity, inspiration and a much greater sense that you are living the life you are meant to live.

For me, as relates to the "Who" question - I believe I am here to learn, love, laugh and be of service. As to the "Where Are You Going" question - I am committed to help make a healthier, happier and more inspired world through coaching. As to the "How" - I coach, teach and lead people to find their inspiration.

I don't claim to have all the answers. That's not what coaching is about. But if you are ready to make some positive changes in your life -- and you choose to work with me -- I will be dedicated to help you get the results you want and find the answers that add the most value to your life.

Free Life Coaching Consultation

If you are seriously considering working with a coach, please feel free to contact me. I would love to talk with you, get a feel for what you want to achieve through coaching, give you a feel for how it works, and answer any questions you might have. Then you can decide if there is value for you in coaching.

You can best reach me by email at steve@acoach4u.com

ICF Life and Business Coach Master Certified Coach ICF Life and Business Coach past president Certified Professional Coach Better Business Bureau recommended Business Coach