Welcome to our first ‘Photography for Women’ blog interview. I’m excited to chat with my mom, Wilna Jooste, who is not only a great mother but also a recently certified life coach. She’s been guiding and positively impacting lives for as long as I can remember. Today, we dive into her coaching style and her belief in life as the ultimate teacher. Let’s begin.
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Question 1: Can you tell us how your personal journey and experiences have influenced your coaching style at Victory Coaching?
Early Life and Marriage: I was raised in a middle-class Afrikaans community, during the apartheid era, a time characterized by addiction and abuse. This challenging background presented me with unique life experiences. I married in 1981 when I was 19 and had two wonderful children during my marriage. Sadly, my marriage ended in 2001 due to infidelity, which was a tough time in my life.
Coping with Abandonment and Single Life: I’ve experienced abandonment by many male figures throughout my life, which diminished my trust in men. As a result, I decided not to remarry and have remained single for the past 22 years following my divorce.
Career and Tech Evolution: During these years, I had diverse job roles and gained experience across various fields. As part of the Baby Boomer generation, I’ve seen technology evolve from its early stages to its current advanced state.
Working in a Male-Dominated Environment: In the last 15 years of my career, I was one of the few women working in a work environment dominated by men. This experience gave me valuable insight into navigating gender dynamics and overcoming hurdles.
Transition to Life Coaching: The recent pandemic gave me an unexpected opportunity. I spent this time studying and becoming a life coach. I saw this as an opportunity to use my personal experiences to help others going through similar life transitions.
Coaching Approach at Victory Coaching: I’ve incorporated all these experiences into my coaching practice at Victory Coaching. My goal is to provide a unique perspective and understanding to my clients. I aim to support them in their personal growth and transformation.
Question 2: How do you match your personal values and principles with your coaching techniques?
In my coaching practice, it’s very important to me that my personal values and principles align with the techniques I use. These values, which include honesty, respect, responsibility, personal growth, determination, and open-mindedness, are all intertwined in my coaching style.
Honesty: I always strive to be honest, truthful, and follow moral principles. This helps create an atmosphere of trust and genuineness with my clients.
Respect: Respect is another important part of my coaching techniques. I honor each person’s unique views and experiences by treating them with dignity, empathy, and understanding.
Responsibility: In my approach, I also emphasize the importance of taking responsibility. I motivate clients to own their actions and obligations, empowering them to make positive changes in their lives.
Personal Growth: I put a strong emphasis on personal growth. I’m constantly aiming for self-improvement and inspire my clients to embark on their own personal growth and self-discovery journeys.
Determination: Persistence is a vital quality that I instill in my clients. By demonstrating determination, they can face challenges head-on and achieve their goals.
Open-mindedness: Finally, I value being open-minded. This allows me to be open to new ideas, views, and experiences, thereby creating an inclusive and non-judgmental space for exploration.
By matching these personal values and principles with my coaching techniques, I can provide a well-rounded approach that supports individuals in their development, helping them lead authentic, fulfilling lives.
Question 3: During your Coaching journey, what has been the most transformative success story you have seen?
The next one! In my coaching journey, I have consistently aimed to empower individuals to take control of their lives and actions. I strongly believe that real change comes from within, and my role as a coach is to facilitate the process of self-transformation. While I can’t pinpoint a single transformative success story, I find immense satisfaction when seeing clients improve their self-image, assertiveness, and self-awareness, enabling them to take control of their own lives. This evolution empowers them to shape their interactions and influence the behavior of others. It is through these combined experiences of personal growth and empowerment that I find great fulfillment in my coaching practice.
Question 4: How do you customize your coaching approach to meet the unique needs of different individuals?
To customize my coaching approach to the unique needs of different individuals, I use a client-focused approach. I start by actively listening and understanding their specific challenges, goals, and aspirations. This helps me gain insights into their individual circumstances and preferences. Based on this understanding, I tailor coaching plans, set specific objectives and outline a clear roadmap. I adapt my coaching techniques, tools, and communication style to suit their learning preferences and personality. By being flexible and responsive, I ensure that my coaching approach effectively addresses the unique needs of each individual client, fostering their personal growth and development.
Question 5: What role do self-understanding and self-awareness play in personal and professional growth?
Self-understanding and self-awareness play a crucial role in personal and professional growth. By understanding themselves, individuals gain insight into their strengths, weaknesses, values, and motivations. This awareness helps them make informed decisions, set meaningful goals, and navigate challenges effectively. Methods to improve self-understanding and self-awareness include reflection, journaling, mindfulness practices, seeking feedback from others, engaging in self-assessment tools, and working with a coach or therapist. These methods encourage individuals to explore their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, fostering a deeper understanding of themselves and facilitating continuous personal and professional growth.
Question 6: As a Life Coach, what are the key challenges you help your clients navigate through in their personal and professional lives?
As a Life Coach, I assist clients in overcoming various challenges in their personal and professional lives. These challenges may include goal setting and action planning, overcoming limiting beliefs, enhancing self-confidence, managing stress, improving communication and relationships, navigating career transitions, and achieving work-life balance. I provide guidance, support, and strategies to help clients overcome these obstacles and achieve their desired outcomes.
Question 7: With your unique approach, how do you support women specifically, particularly those who may be trying to navigate their way in male-dominated fields?
Supporting women, especially those navigating male-dominated fields, is an area I’m particularly passionate about, given my personal experiences. I focus on three key areas: self-confidence, communication, and boundary setting.
Self-confidence: Many women struggle with self-confidence, often doubting their capabilities and worth. I support them in recognizing their strengths, skills, and accomplishments, which helps in building their self-esteem.
Communication: Effective communication is crucial in any field. I work with women to help them articulate their thoughts, ideas, and needs assertively. This includes coaching on how to be assertive without being perceived as aggressive, a common stereotype women face.
Boundary Setting: Many women struggle with setting and maintaining boundaries, which can lead to feeling overwhelmed or exploited. I help them understand their limits and rights and coach them on how to set, communicate, and enforce boundaries effectively.
Question 8: As we all know, life can be quite challenging. What would you say to someone who feels stuck in a difficult situation and sees no way out?
Firstly, I’d acknowledge their feelings. It’s okay to feel stuck, and it’s a normal part of life’s ups and downs. Once they’re validated, I would remind them that every situation, no matter how difficult, offers opportunities for growth and learning. The key is to shift perspective from being stuck to seeking solutions.
Sometimes, the situation requires acceptance, especially if it’s beyond their control. Other times, it may involve making tough decisions to change what they can. I’d encourage them to seek support, whether from friends, family, a mentor, or a life coach, as outside perspectives can often shed light on unseen possibilities.
Question 9: How do you stay inspired and motivated to continue guiding others in their personal and professional growth?
What inspires and motivates me most is the transformation I witness in my clients. Seeing them take control of their lives, achieve their goals, and become happier, more fulfilled individuals is immensely rewarding. Their successes, no matter how small, serve as a constant reminder of why I do what I do. Additionally, I make sure to keep learning and growing myself. I continuously update my knowledge and skills, attend seminars, and engage in networking events. This constant self-improvement fuels my passion and drives me to be a better coach for my clients.
Question 10: What is your ultimate goal with Victory Coaching, and what legacy do you hope to leave behind?
The ultimate goal of Victory Coaching is to empower individuals to lead fulfilled, authentic lives. I aim to provide them with the tools, support, and guidance they need to overcome challenges, achieve their goals, and realize their full potential.
As for the legacy I hope to leave behind, it’s one of empowerment, resilience, and personal growth. I want to be remembered as someone who believed in the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity and who inspired others to believe in themselves. I hope to instill in each of my clients the understanding that they have the power to shape their destiny and create the life they desire.
Question 11: As the founder of a unique approach to life coaching, how do you see the benefits that women could gain from booking a photo session with ‘Photography for Women’ in terms of their personal growth?
As a life coach, I see numerous potential benefits for women who choose to book a photo session with ‘Photography for Women’. The process of being photographed can be a transformative experience in and of itself, providing opportunities for self-reflection, affirmation, and personal growth.
First, the act of being professionally photographed can be a form of self-acknowledgement and celebration. It allows women to see themselves in a new light and to appreciate their unique beauty, strength, and individuality. This can be a powerful boost to their self-esteem and can reinforce the progress they make in their personal development journeys.
Moreover, photography can be a tool for self-expression. Through the process of preparing for and participating in a photo session, women have the opportunity to explore and express their identity. This process of self-discovery can complement their personal growth, as understanding oneself is a key aspect of personal development.
Also, the resulting photographs can serve as reminders of their self-worth, achievements, and the personal growth they have experienced. This can motivate them to continue working on themselves, setting new goals, and celebrating their progress.
Lastly, engaging with a professional photographer who understands and respects their journey can provide a safe and supportive space for women to be seen and valued, which is empowering and contributes to their overall sense of self-worth.
So, while the clientele of ‘Photography for Women’ and Victory Coaching might be different, I believe both services can significantly contribute to a woman’s journey of self-understanding and personal growth in their unique ways.
In conclusion, our conversation with Wilna has provided profound insights into the transformative power of coaching and the potential of photography to further inspire personal growth. If you feel inspired to start your journey with Wilna, you can schedule a free introduction session at her website here or dive right into professional coaching sessions here. Photography for Women members are eligible for a 10% discount on their first eight sessions. More information about this special offer can be found here.
For those looking to further explore their self-expression through photography, you can book a photo session with Julius Jooste at Photography for Women.
We would like to extend our deepest thanks to Wilna for sharing her time, expertise, and her unique perspective on personal growth and transformation. We wish her all the best in her continued journey of inspiring change and empowering women through her work at Victory Coaching.
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