I recently had to fire someone for a very good reason.

The person was a business coach I’d hired back in September. I was in an incredibly busy season juggling a full speaking calendar and a looming book deadline while trying to maintain a healthy family and home life.

Up to that point, I’d been getting by without much structure. Important stuff made the calendar, but everything else got squeezed in wherever there was space.

It worked for awhile, but as I got busier, the cracks began to show.

So I hired a coach.

She helped me turn that chaos into a version of order that worked for me. We built a productivity system that was flexible enough to adjust to my ever-changing schedule, but solid enough to make sure that things didn’t fall through the cracks.

I was able to get more done with less stress. It was truly life-changing.

So why did I fire her?

Because that was always the goal. I hired a coach to help me fix a specific problem. While we were working together, she would say things like “Let’s set this up so it works in the future when you don’t have me to catch you.”

She was intentionally working herself out of a job.
That’s what good coaches do.

A few weeks ago, I realized we’d done it. My calendar was no longer a mess. My inbox was under control. The systems we’d built were working the way we’d designed them to.

So I sent her an email.

I expressed my gratitude for everything she’d done, told her what a difference she’d made, and then let her know I was ready to go out on my own.

Emails like that are hard to send. I really liked this person. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings or let her down. But I knew it was the right choice, so I summoned the courage to hit send.

She responded in less than an hour.

That’s a class act. It’s also incredibly smart.

Years ago, another speaker told me something that has served me well:
​“Always remember this is a long term relationship business. When a deal falls through, you’ve got to act like it doesn’t bother you.”

He told me if someone sends you bad news and you react negatively (even if that reaction is warranted!) it makes that person feel bad. People who feel bad create distance. So what are the odds that person is going to reach out when they’re planning their next event?

Because here’s the thing: bad news is inevitable in life.

You don’t get the job.
You don’t make the team.
A client goes another direction.
A deal runs its course.

This stuff is going to happen.
So the question is: who do you become when it does?

Do you lead with gratitude and excitement, even when it costs you?
Or do you let your negative feelings rob you of what could still be possible in the future?

I’ll tell you this: my coach’s email made a world of difference. Not only did I feel relieved, I thought “What a mature way to respond.”

Next time I have a thorny business problem, guess who will be the first person I’ll call?

This week, remember: The way you handle an ending determines whether it’s actually an ending at all.

Happy Friday, friends. Make it a good one.

Kyle Scheele
Helping Organizations Build and Launch Better Ideas, Faster
​www.KyleScheele.com​

P.S. Because a few of you will ask about the coach: I worked with DoneDaily. 5 stars.