I had the opportunity about a year ago to work with a fabulous business coach. Rich Largman immediately had me focusing on my thoughts and bringing my dreams into reality. As important as it is to have an accountant and an administrative assistant,  a business coach, in my opinion, is just as important.  The guidance is so essential to an entrepreneur when our hands are dabbling in all parts of the business process.  Like the old saying goes “we wear many hats”, and sometimes we need to remove those hats to get back to the essence of our business and to see the true goal again.  I recently had the opportunity to flip the switch and ask Rich Largman how he   unleash the human spirit!

Name: Rich Largman
URL: www.empireofhope.com

Email: rich@empireofhope.com

Location: Mendham, NJ

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Coming Soon! My first book filled with short inspirational, philosophical thoughts inspired to “unleash the unlimited power of the human spirit”.

CG: How did you get started as a business coach?

RL: About 12 years ago a friend from California called and told me I should look into this emerging industry as she thought I would be very good at it.  At the time I had a research and intelligence business and was focused on growing my success there.  Once I decided to leave that business I looked into coaching and enrolled in CoachU for training . . . although I believe truly great coaches call upon a large degree of natural skills and ability.  My mentor at CoachU advised me to “hang my shingle” and start coaching while I received the training.  I took her advice, opened my business and people immediately started seeking me out for coaching.  I took that as a very good sign that I was on the right path.  Given my strong entrepreneurial and creative spirit, many of my clients were entrepreneurs and business owners, which eventually developed into my niche.

CG: What are some of the most common questions you receive from clients?

RL: I don’t know if there are any “common” questions, especially since I celebrate the uniqueness of each individual I work with.  I believe we all have a gift to bring to this world and one of the tenants of my coaching is to “inspire others to achieve their greatness.”  And without exception, I have found that each of us is great.  One of the amazing things that coaching has proven to me about the human spirit is that we are indeed capable of anything and sometimes all we need is just one person to believe in us in order to have our potential be realized.  In the beginning of my coaching relationships, I often say that I will believe in my clients more than they will believe in themselves. However, once they get traction and start to see what is possible, that belief is transferred to them and they begin to accomplish miracles.  That may be they key thing for which people seek me out.  They have doubt in their abilities which is a big form of self-sabotage.  I help them get reconnected to their power and then stand back and watch amazing results get created.

CG: What advice would you give to a person looking to hire a business coach?

RL: Well . . . of course the best piece of advice I could give is that they should hire me!

There are two key questions and pieces of advice I give all my potential clients when they are looking to hire a coach.  One, does the expertise of the coach meet the client’s needs? Does the coach have the background, qualities and skills the client believes will inspire them and get them beyond their current challenges and roadblocks holding them back from succeeding?  And two, is there good chemistry between the coach and client?  I believe that the second is often more important than the first.  The relationship with your coach is one that involves trust, inspiration, belief, confidence and confidentiality.  If you and your coach do not have good chemistry there is no way you will be able to be completely free, open and truthful with them, and I believe that will be necessary in order to unleash your full potential and achieve all you desire.

With respect to that second point, I always tell my clients/potential clients that if at anytime they find that my coaching does not serve their needs, I warmly welcome that conversation and will help them find a coach that better supports them and will have them achieve the goals they desire.  My commitment is always to their needs, dreams and goals.

CG: Tell us your plans for the future and where you would like to see yourself in 10 years?

RL: Jeez! I feel like I am on my first interview after college.    Thankfully at this point in my life I know the answer to questions like that.  And perhaps the best answer to that is to cite some quotes.  “We make plans.  God laughs.”  “Life is what happens while we make plans.”   “The best laid plans . .. “ There is a reason all these quotes exist.

By now I am smart enough to know that life is an exploration that lures us down many paths we never could have imagined traveling.  It is not so much about our plans, or the destination, as it is about the direction we wish to travel.  Life is not a “connect-the-dots” design of Step 1, Step 2, Step 3.  There are many more forces at work in the Universe that present a tremendous amount of opportunities to us.  However, if we are so focused on our “plan” and following the steps to our future, we will miss those opportunities and gifts.  That is why I live my life more by intentions.  There is a subtle yet dramatic distinction between the two, which I wrote about in an article for Science of Mind magazine.  Essentially, a key difference between goals and intentions is attachment.  It is the difference between rigidly following a logical path or step by step process in life verses allowing for the power of flow to show up in your life – that mysterious energy that seems to oil all our efforts with a sense of ease as we achieve all we desire.

All that said, yes, I do hold some intentions for my life and I am wonderfully excited to see where the adventure of life takes me and how this all comes to fruition.  Since the age of 12 I have seen myself as a writer.  Writing is a significant part in my life now, as is inspiring people to their greatness with my coaching.  Writing and coaching are my two passions and calling.  In 10 years from now I would like to have 3 or 4 best-sellers and would like to bring my passion, energy and belief in others to larger audiences.  I see myself speaking in front of larger groups of people and inspiring them to their magnificent lives!

CG: Do you have advice for business owners in this economy?

RL: I am fortunate enough to work with a unique group of business owners.  They all possess an entrepreneurial spirit, which is not surprising if one considers the Law of Attraction and the energy I possess as well.  People with this spirit are not the “duck and cover” type of people.  They are not interested in “hunkering down” and hoping they make it through this downturn.  They are much more interested in seeking out opportunities and using their creativity to figure out how to move forward.  It is a very unique perspective and one I enjoy immensely.  They do not come from fear, uncertainty and doubt, but rather from a never-ending well of possibility they hold within.  A phenomenal tool used by these people are three simple words with which they approach many situations in their life – “How can I . . .”  These powerful words open up possibility and an unlimited amount of opportunity.  It shifts their thinking from defined and restrictive boundaries and options to open-ended, limitless creative thinking.  The best advice I might be able to give is to shift your thinking in order to come from that perspective.  From that viewpoint, all the answers you seek will begin to be revealed.

CG: What fabulous words of wisdom do you live by?

RL: Ahhh, the list is way too long, for there is an immense amount of wisdom that has come before me.  In fact, I have a friend that says, “There are no new thoughts in the world, just new ways of saying them.”  I believe that.  Any inspiration I pass along during my time here is simply inspiration from a time gone by.  If anything I say resonates with them it is simply because I am just saying it in a way that people can hear at this moment in time.

That said, here are a few:

All I have is my integrity and my health.  Lose either one of those and I will spend the rest of my life trying to get them back.

Say “Yes!” to Adventure

Follow the Flow of Life

Most people live their lives regretting their past or worrying about their future.  Both take them out of the present, the only place miracles can occur.

But, perhaps this question is best answered with my personal mission statement.  I took 6 months to reflect on exercises and questions Stephen Covey (Seven Habits of Highly Effective People) posed in a mission statement workshop and was amazed when the following words flowed from my pen at the end of that period of reflection.  I believe they beautifully capture my spirit and commitment to this world and all those I meet.  These are truly, and literally, words I live by.

To always think and act from love and my heart.

To always inspire others to see and achieve their internal greatness.

To act with the highest degree of integrity and self-truth.

To always be close to the balance and grounding of nature,

respecting and caring for the rhythms of the earth.

To always be present (to the magic and magnificence that occurs around me at every moment)

To always bring a child-like wonder to all I do, generating excitement and sincerity.

To create and bring laughter, humor, and happiness to the world.

To do all of this as a healing channel for the world; not from the outside, but rather the inside,

for when each person can celebrate themselves, for who they are and what they have to offer the universe –

then they will be able to celebrate and honor all people and the natural environment of which they are a part.

CG: How can you be contacted?

RL: I would love to hear from anybody who has a question or wants to discuss anything that might have been sparked by this interview.  People can reach me at rich@empireofhope.com or they can call me at 973-543-4510.  They can also find me on Facebook or Twitter.

CG: Ok we actually have one more question.. Are you a “tweeter” who is your fav to follow and. hit us up with how to follow you

RL: I am a proud “Tweeter” . . . which is much better than being called a twit!    I’m not sure I have a favorite person I follow.  I have found many people on Twitter who are full of optimism and who own their power to create their reality.  I have found the Twitter experience to be very empowering as well as an opportunity to find my own voice.  My participation in that community has led to the inspiration and completion of my first book, to be published soon.   If you are looking for daily inspiration in your life, follow me on Twitter.  My Twitter ID is http://twitter.com/richlargman.

By: Dawn Del Russo

Tags: beliefs, business, coach, energy, passion, writing