CRESTLINE—Josh Cole, the owner of Josh Cole Coaching, is a life coach and pastor who, motivated by a strong set of personal values, aims to improve the community by providing life coaching to businesses and individuals in the area.
Cole, who grew up in Galion, pursued coaching during the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic and since has grown a business that uplifts and guides community organizations.
“If the clients I take are able to become better leaders, they’re going to make the lives of their teams, our economy and just our whole way of living around here better. That’s why I’m doing what I’m doing,” said Cole.
His method of coaching considers an individual’s way of thinking, then asks them to reframe it in order to overcome what’s in their way.
“As a coach, I’m constantly pushing them to challenge the narratives in their heads. I will constantly push them to confront those narratives. My belief system says that you do have solutions, strength and something to contribute,” said Cole.
Many of his clients face similar obstacles, as they are educated and qualified for their position but doubt their ability to perform well in their job.
“Lots of people think it’s a lack of training, but they’re not looking inside and asking what’s wrong with me that’s causing this problem externally. I want to help with that not because I’m critical, but because I truly believe in personal growth,” said Cole.
Through his career and his own participation in life coaching courses, Cole found that the best way to begin a journey of self-growth is to look inward.
“What I got from my coach was not so much training and knowledge as it was the challenge of looking into my inner world and asking what is out of order there that is keeping me from doing what I already know how to do,” he said.
Cole, who is also the pastor at Praise Family Church in Crestline, is able to apply values from the church into his career as a life coach.
“I want people to feel like they’re living a life where they have agency, that they are going somewhere they want to go. Whether they’re religious or not, I believe God put us on this earth to make it better and to enjoy what we’re doing,” said Cole.
Despite these values appearing in both of his careers, Cole is sure to draw a clear boundary between coaching and the church while continuing to see the positives in both.
“To coach ethically, I don’t put any pressure on my clients to think like I do. I don’t bring any of my worldview on my clients. However, as far as values, my absolute respect and love for everyone’s life comes into play,” said Cole.