After being a Mechanical Engineer for over 10 years, Daniel realised it was time to take action and live the life that he truly desires. He started his journey at The Coaching Institute to re-discover and fill the gaping hole in his career he’s felt for so long.
“Joining The Coaching Institute completely changed my life” said Daniel as he embarks on the journey of being a Financial Coach helping millennial couples create financial freedom as he finally finds a path that he enjoys and suits his skills.
Interviewed by Matt Lavars, Head Trainer at The Coaching Institute Daniel shares his story with us.
"I always felt like it was a big hole, a gaping hole in my life and in my career especially. Things were going well, but I did not feel fulfilled and felt like I was in the wrong place. Being a mechanical engineer was never my end goal."
Where were you and what has shifted, what was going on before you joined the course here and started learning how to become a coach, and how is life?
I always felt like it was a big hole, a gaping hole in my life and in my career especially. Things were going well, but I did not feel fulfilled and felt like I was in the wrong place. Being a mechanical engineer was never my end goal. I discovered coaching through an acquaintance, which sparked my curiosity to explore this pathway. As we all do, I started my research and found The Coaching Institute and since then, my life has completely changed. I can’t believe that I started as a mechanical engineer (a very logistical career) to where I am now!
What made you make the decision to say yes?
I was always waiting for the perfect moment, the perfect time. I was just avoiding change so much, where it got through to the point where the pain was just unbearable. I had reached a point where I knew something had to change and if it didn’t, everything was just going to stop. And what was my moment of realisation. That was the moment to stop the pain and say yes to myself.
What was it like starting your coaching education coming from someone who's an engineer?
I loved it from the get-go. I was already into interpersonal development and like learning about myself. It just was such a match for me straightaway. And the weekend where I was at the coaching shoot in Melbourne, it was like for the first time I felt like I belonged somewhere, and it was just amazing.
Everything that Joe was speaking at the Foundations of Coaching Success, just hit home for me, I loved the conversation. It was just easy for me because with the engineer and it never felt like me. And something that Joe shared, people are into things or they're into people, as an engineer, you're generally to things, but I wasn't. So, for me, I discovered that I'm actually into people and coaching was just such a good fit. It was like, finally I found something which suits my skills and what I enjoy.
"I loved it from the get-go. I was already into interpersonal development and like learning about myself. It just was such a match for me straightaway"
Over the last 18 months of being a coach of coaching others, how have you grown personally, as a man?
It is so important for men. For me, I don't see many guys on this type of journey, and I saw so many of my mates just living week to week and just wasting their weekends away drinking and things. I wanted something different for me. So, my growth in these 18 months has been astronomical. It's honestly been huge. Like just looking back to where I was 18 months ago to where I am now so much has changed.
I have so much more confidence and so much more emotional intelligence. I know so much more about myself, so much more about others. My relationships improved. I've taken so many more risks. My growth has been phenomenal, and I love that it's still so early in my journey and it's still so far to go.
Did you have any official coach training or start learning from ground zero?
I've had experiences earlier on like coaching under 18 football clubs and I've always been someone who people would come to for help. I like indirectly, I was trying to coach in a little bit. But all of these techniques, which I learned, was nothing like that. So it was, to be honest, totally foreign territory in that sense.
What do you love about learning and your ability to learn this skill?
I remember early on, there was no confidence at all. I look at some of these people, like yourself (Matt) and Joe like, ‘are these wizards, how do they do it?’ and I felt like I couldn’t do it. And so early on, it was really tough. It was like, ‘how am I going to do this?’
But over time, I've learnt more and more. I just leaned into it. And the more experienced more hours I'd do and the more trainings I go to, the more it becomes natural. And now I find when I'm hanging out with new people or meeting new people, I can pick up so many things about them, even about myself. And it just makes building relationships with new people and all your current relationships so much better because you understand why people do, what they do and why you do what you do.
How are you using your coaching in your coaching business?
I'm a financial coach and I've kind of mixed my love of personal finance and money with my love of helping people and personal development to become a financial coach.
I'm working with couples mainly, to help them with their money, but at the same time, they come for me for the money but then they realize there's so much more than that. That's where I have a real holistic approach to life, to money, and to relationships. So, it starts with the money then it goes a lot deeper with all the techniques and things I've learnt through the school.
Did you know that you would go into financial coaching?
It kind of evolved. It was always a big passion of mine. But it wasn't until I got my first business coach and he kind of helps me get clear on that and I discovered that it is the direction I should head.
What would you say to someone who is inspired by your message and is considering joining the coaching Institute and starting their journey to become a coach?
Just do it, feel the fear and do it anyway. You won't regret.
"Just do it, feel the fear and do it anyway. You won't regret."
Daniel Marshal is a qualified financial coach, lifelong student, and is on a mission to inspire everyday people to create financial freedom and live their dream!
If I Can Do It, You Can Too