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  • Mentor vs. Coach: 5 Key Differences to Tell Which One’s Best for You

    Mentor vs. Coach: 5 Key Differences to Tell Which One’s Best for You

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    Imagine you just had coffee with one of your colleagues. It was one of the most wonderful conversations you ever had—you were able to help them overcome a problem they had been struggling with for the past two years.

    Your colleague thanks you for the help and says, “You should be doing this for a living!

    You leave feeling like a million bucks and go straight home to Google everything there is about coaching. But the more you go down the rabbit hole, the more confusing it gets. You think, “Is it coaching that I’m really after? Or is it mentoring?

    Mentor vs. coach—what sets it apart? Understanding the differences can help you decide which path you want to pursue.

    What Are Coaching and Mentoring?

    Coaching is a purpose-driven journey that empowers individuals to tap into their potential and reach specific goals. As a coach, your role is to guide clients to discover their own solutions to challenges and foster personal growth in the process.

    On the other hand, mentoring is about drawing from personal or professional experience and guiding a mentee who’s interested in the same field you specialize in. Usually, mentors are experts in the fields they’re offering advice on.

    These famous quotes clearly define each approach:

    Coaching is unlocking people’s potential to maximize their own performance. It is helping them to learn rather than teaching them.” — Tim Gallwey

    Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.” — John Crosby 

    Now let’s dive deeper into understanding the key similarities and differences between coaching and mentoring.

    Coach vs. Mentor: Key Similarities

    Coaching and mentoring have a lot of similar elements, such as:

    • Building rapport and connection with clients
    • Supporting the client’s growth and development
    • Exploring growth opportunities in their careers or business
    • Being committed to the client’s success but not attached to it

    They both aim to give the client direction through goal-oriented conversations. Yet, they know that it is the client’s responsibility to take the actions necessary to achieve the desired results.

    So, what sets them apart?

    What is The Difference Between a Mentor and a Coach?

    Even though coaching and mentoring may sound similar in many ways, there are several aspects in which they differ.

    Approach

    The most significant difference between the two roles is the way information is given. 

    A mentor’s primary approach is to give advice, while a coach rarely does so. A mentor gives direction and information, while a coach guides the client to discover that information.

    A coach doesn’t need to have previous knowledge, skills, or experience on the subject of the session. On the other hand, a mentor is usually an expert in the field the client is interested in.

    Training

    Coaches are more likely to have previous training on coaching skills and methodology to guide clients through a clear process.

    Mentors are less likely to be trained and more likely to rely on their professional background and experience.

    Role

    A coach asks powerful questions to elicit insights.

    Coaches know that everyone has everything they need within themselves to create the life they really want. And they look for ways to elicit insights in their clients so they can see this as well.

    On the other hand, a mentor’s focus is to share their own experience and give direct advice.

    Mentors bring their knowledge, skills, and experience to the table to guide others. They have a more direct role in the conversation, and they’re able to bring specific case studies of issues they’ve worked on before.

    Tools

    Coaching facilitates awareness and self-directed learning, while mentors share their wisdom to provide insight and guidance.

    This is why you might see a mentor speak most of the time during the session, while in a coaching session, the coach will be quiet for the most part, listening to what their client has to say.

    Objectives

    A mentor starts the relationship with a client who already knows what they want before starting the conversation.

    A coach helps the person identify what they want and how to create it for themselves.

    Comparison chart of coaching vs mentoring

    Which Approach Fits You Best?

    Now that you have more clarity on the similarities and differences between a life coach vs. mentor, let’s go deeper into which of these two approaches is best for you.

    Mark each statement in the list that resonates with you in terms of how you prefer to work with clients.

    A coach…

    1. Enjoys being curious about the way the other person sees their world.
    2. Uses their client’s experience as a way for them to create the results that they want.
    3. Encourages their client to be self-accountable for their actions.
    4. Focuses on helping their clients get clear on what they want, reflect on different perspectives, and explore new possibilities.
    5. Has a formal relationship with their clients, where there is a cadence of structured sessions to work toward their goals.

    A mentor…

    1. Enjoys sharing their knowledge and directing their clients to the best possible outcome for them.
    2. Uses their personal experience to help their clients achieve their results.
    3. Leads a more hand-holding process with their clients.
    4. Works with their clients to give them detailed guidance to reach the goal that they have already identified.
    5. Creates a relationship with clients that’s more informal and, depending on the mentor’s availability.

    See whether you’ve marked more statements in the coach vs. mentor category. This can inform which methodology you prefer to follow when helping clients.

    How Do I Find a Mentor or Coach?

    As you navigate these career paths, you can benefit from working with a coach or a mentor yourself. Here’s how you can find the right one for you:

    Finding the right mentor

    1. You have to be clear on what you want to achieve professionally, both in the short and long term. The clearer you are on your goals, the easier it will be to find the right mentor for you, as you’ll know what background and experience you are looking for.
    1. Think about someone you admire or look up to. Think about the person that you want to become in the next 5–10 years. That will describe what kind of mentor you are looking for. Once you define that, start looking around in your network.
    1. Look for a person who has the time and disposition to help you in the process. This will offer consistency in your relationship with them.
    1. Find someone who is a couple of steps ahead of you, so they understand the best ways to help you.

    Finding the right coach

    1. Get clear on the area of your life that you need support in. It may be related to your health, relationships, or career. You don’t need to have specific goals. You just need to know that you are ready for a shift and for growth in that specific area.
    1. Look for a coach who specializes in the area that you want to work on. Decide whether credentials are important for you and see if you can find some client testimonials about them.
    1. Find someone who resonates with you. Someone who allows you to be heard and seen without judgment. Someone who creates a safe space for you to explore new opportunities and perspectives.
    1. Have a discovery session with your coach first to get familiar with their coaching process. This will set clear expectations for what it’s like to work with them.

    Having someone to support you in this journey will not only help you grow but also allow you to experience first-hand what you can give to your own clients.

    Two men in a coaching conversationTwo men in a coaching conversation

    From Insights to Action

    Knowing when to put on your coaching or mentoring hat can help you give your clients what they most need for their growth. And just like any committed professional, sometimes you need to put on your coachee hat as well.

    In 2022, I decided to be coached by one of the Mindvalley coaches, and I loved it!” says Patrizia Tammaro Silva, a CEO from Milan, Italy, who went through the Mindvalley Certified Coach program. My life has improved, and that year has been my most profitable year ever. I decided then to take a step further and enroll in the program.”

    Unlock the key to maximizing your impact, abundance, and freedom by joining us in the Become a Mindvalley Certified Life Coach free masterclass.

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    Francesca Facio

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  • The 12 Best CRM for Coaches to Manage Their Business Effectively

    The 12 Best CRM for Coaches to Manage Their Business Effectively

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    Coaches need to juggle endless responsibilities while fostering positive client connections. That’s where Client Relationship Management (CRM) software comes in handy.

    It’s the unsung hero of coaches who handles their admin tasks so they can focus on what matters most—guiding clients toward optimal performance.

    Discover the best CRM for coaches and how you can navigate it to run your business like a well-oiled machine.

    What Is A CRM?

    CRM is software that stores all the key information about your client communications. It collects insights into a centralized system so you can better understand your prospects and coaching clients and improve their experience working with you. 

    It’s a business solution that’s proven to bring tangible benefits for small companies; businesses adopting CRM witness a staggering 29% surge in sales revenue.

    Think of CRM as your coaching brain, capturing the progress, preferences, and pivotal moments of your clients in one central hub. No more drowning in scattered notes; your CRM ensures that every coaching session that you deliver counts.

    It remembers your client’s:

    • Contact information,
    • Communication history,
    • Purchase details,
    • Preferences,
    • And interactions with you.

    You can use it to nurture leads, track your client acquisition goals, or fine-tune your marketing strategies.

    How to choose a CRM for coaches

    1. Opt for an intuitive interface to save you time and simplify your daily tasks
    2. Choose a platform that allows personalization to align with your coaching style and specific business requirements
    3. If HIPAA compliance is important for your business, choose CRMs with security features to safeguard sensitive client information
    4. If you use other business tools, pick one that integrates with them to simplify your workflow
    5. Consider other features, such as creating personalized meal plans or streaming your workout sessions
    Young male coach working on his laptop

    12 Best CRMs for Coaches

    Here are 12 of the best CRMs for life coaches, consultants, and health professionals for client acquisition and management.

    1. Profi

    Profi is a strategic asset for coaches who want to methodically scale their businesses. It has great payment and communication features that let you manage clients and sessions seamlessly.

    Coaches, consultants, trainers, and therapists find Profi invaluable for crafting customized packages and connecting easily with clients. It has diverse communication tools, including chats, calls, and video sessions, plus a community discussion area for some meaningful interaction.

    Profi can also produce professional-looking landing pages and deliver courses. It’s a great tool if you want a streamlined approach to client management and business optimization.

    Notable features include:

    • SMS notifications for clients
    • Easier communication with solutions like video conferencing
    • Online coaching sessions in groups or one-on-one
    • Co-authoring coaching programs with other professionals
    • Simple, secure, and automated payments

    2. HoneyBook

    Another expandable and top-notch CRM software for coaching services is HoneyBook, an all-in-one system for customized training solutions. Health coaches, business coaches, and life coaches will all find this program versatile and useful.

    With HoneyBook’s feature-packed suite, you can customize your brand and craft client-specific plans. It also has automated communication features to enhance your connection with clients without the need for manual work. Plus, it lets you schedule your meetings and flesh out your marketing strategies with contact forms and brochure templates.

    The online payment software of HoneyBook makes it easier to manage revenue and boost sales. For example, by setting up recurring payments for clients.

    Notable features include:

    • Simple and secure invoicing and online payment options
    • Built-in client proposals to support scalability
    • Integrations with other systems like Zapier, Gmail, and QuickBooks
    • Easy task management and program scheduling
    • Automated features like customized emails, reminders, and questionnaires for improved client relationships

    3. Coach Logix

    Coach Logix is a free CRM for coaches, making it a rare gem for small-scale coaching businesses. It has a diverse array of features, like session scheduling, progress tracking, and an invoicing system.

    While the free version is decent for solopreneurs, the paid versions unlock some pretty neat advanced benefits for scaling your coaching business.

    Notable features include:

    • Great analytics features
    • Organized billing and invoice management
    • Session scheduling
    • An intuitive performance breakdown

    4. Bitrix 24

    Bitrix24 is an all-in-one business app for collaboration and customer management. It’s particularly handy if you have a bigger team running your coaching business. You can use it to add contacts, set up a sales pipeline, and generate reports. It’s a highly customizable app, allowing you to rearrange fields on the contacts page for a personalized experience.

    It has some solid goal-setting features to help you work towards your objectives, and you can set up notifications to keep you on track with them. It also stands out in reporting, even on the free plan, offering great analytics options.

    Beyond CRM, it’s a team collaboration hub with features like an activity stream, chat, calls, project management, file drive, and a website builder. With hundreds of integrations and Zapier compatibility, Bitrix24 lets you and your team automate many of your complex business processes.

    Notable features include:

    • Multi-account access
    • Tracking progress on tasks
    • Managing meetings
    • Communication tools for customer relationship management
    • Password-protected file sharing

    5. Satori

    Satori includes features like scheduling, client engagement, and business growth tools. It’s easy to use and won’t break the bank—perfect for coaches just starting out.

    With a range of features, including CRM, automation, group coaching, and billing, it covers the essentials. It also integrates with all major business apps like Google Calendar, MailChimp, and PayPal.

    Satori’s Discovery Questionnaires help you qualify clients and set the stage for meaningful discussions. You can set up multi-session packages for clients and keep track of their progress through easily accessible session notes. Satori is ideal for coaches looking for a simple, effective, and budget-friendly CRM solution.

    Notable features include:

    • Easy-to-use interface
    • Sign agreements and onboard client management
    • Manage all client accounts safely
    • Simple meeting scheduling options
    •  Create and send customized and detailed questionnaires

    6. Nudge Coach

    Nudge Coach, as the name says, is tailored for coaches specifically. You can use it to track the habits and action steps of your clients between sessions. You can also create customized plans for the people you work with based on their specific objectives. It’s perfect for health coaches and other professionals focusing on establishing better habits in their clients’ lives. 

    Besides habit tracking, you can use Nudge Coach to send real-time messages and schedule notifications to clients. Detailed insights about their progress help you understand which one of them needs more attention and guidance.

    Notable features include:

    • Daily habit tracking
    • Customized coaching journeys
    • Individual client data and analytics
    • Community forums 
    • Challenges to boosting engagement in group coaching programs

    7. Practice Better

    Practice Better is an accountability tool mixed with a simple CRM system made for health coaches. It handles bookkeeping, recommendations, and payments in one neat system. Plus, it’s HIPAA compliant, making it an ideal choice for health professionals too.

    Practice Better syncs with other systems in your client management workflow, like Dropbox or Google Drive. It’s a versatile business app that lets you develop coaching programs and scale your practice.

    Notable features include:

    • Video calls for sessions
    • Client forms
    • Easy schedule management
    • Automated payment features and invoicing

    8. MBody360

    MBody360 is a go-to toolkit for health and wellness coaches that helps you streamline your practice effortlessly. It handles client data, health plans, and communication in one user-friendly interface.

    You can create personalized lifestyle plans with supplementation, diet, sleep schedule, and other activities. This way, you can tailor each client’s journey to their personal objectives and track their progress as they go along. You can even sync their health data with apps like Google Fit and Apple Health.

    Notable features include:

    • Customized meal plans
    • Easy session scheduling
    • Sleep and exercise monitoring
    • Easy-to-navigate interface with real-time data 
    • Recipes for different diets

    9. Quenza

    This particular CRM software is a particularly great fit for mental health coaches. You can set up activities for better well-being, track your client’s progress, and send them additional resources tailored to their individual objectives.

    Quenza is built in mind with the importance of keeping up the momentum during your coaching process. You can send motivational videos to your clients or schedule messages in advance to give them a little boost in motivation. You can also design their coaching exercises, reflection prompts, and meditations in advance and keep them engaged between sessions.

    Notable features include:

    • Proposal templates and quotes
    • Sales reporting
    • Automated workflow management
    • Video, audio, and text scheduling

    10. TrueCoach

    TrueCoach is a great choice for fitness professionals, especially personal trainers. You use it to hold online training sessions, connect with your clients remotely, and share workout videos or guides with them.

    What sets TrueCoach apart is its focus on accountability and engagement. Its features revolve around improving the coaching experience rather than managing your coaching business. 

    If you’re in the fitness industry and want a platform that puts coaching first, TrueCoach has got your back.

    Notable features include:

    • Online training sessions
    • Workout session management
    • Tracking the nutrition intake of your clients
    • Real-time messaging

    11. CoachesConsole

    CoachesConsole is a go-to CRM for business coaches and consultants. It handles contracts, payments, and invoices. 

    You can also use it for scheduling both your discovery sessions with prospects and your coaching appointments.

    Notable features include:

    • Calendar and scheduling
    • Payment processing
    • Client information management
    • Website templates

    12. My Coach Office

    My Coach Office simplifies your coaching business by handling all your client management tasks. You can use it for appointment scheduling, invoicing, and goal tracking.

    Besides regular admin features, My Coach Office lets you create shared journals for pre- and post-session notes. You can also build online courses with it, allocate homework to your clients, and manage your group coaching cohorts.

    Notable features include:

    • Client management
    • Goal tracking
    • Appointment scheduling

    Build a Thriving Coaching Business

    CRM tools help you manage the admin tasks in your coaching business, turn prospects into paying clients, and customize their coaching journeys. Hopefully, this guide has given you the answer to what the best CRM is for coaches in your niche.

    Master the most vital business skills to elevate your coaching business. Join us in the Become a Mindvalley Certified Business Coach free masterclass.

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    Elizabeth Luther

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  • Boost Your Client’s Breakthroughs With the 16 Personalities Test

    Boost Your Client’s Breakthroughs With the 16 Personalities Test

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    The foundation for helping people transform is to understand that we are all different. And in order to help other people know more about themselves, we have to understand more about different personality types.

    This is where the Myers-Briggs Personality Assessment (MBTI), better known as the 16 personalities test, comes in.

    Francesca Facio, the human optimization coach and head of certifications at Mindvalley Coach, breaks down this powerful coaching tool. And here’s all you should know about it.

    How Does the 16 Personalities Test Work?

    The 16 personalities test is a free assessment that categorizes individuals into one of 16 distinct personality types based on the Myers-Briggs® Type Indicator (MBTI®). Developed by Isabel Briggs Myers and Katharine Cook Briggs, this widely-used psychological tool evaluates various aspects of a person’s preferences, including:

    • Extroversion and introversion,
    • Sensing and intuition,
    • Thinking and feeling,
    • Judging and perceiving, and
    • Assertivity and turbulence.

    The test provides insight into behavioral patterns, communication styles, and decision-making processes. It tells you how someone interacts with the world and makes choices.

    How Can I Use the 16 Personalities Test in My Coaching Practice?

    Our personality is one of the many factors that drive our behavior. That’s why the 16 personalities test is so relevant in coaching.

    As a coach, when you build that trust, it allows your coachee to get really honest with you. — @ajitna Click To Tweet

    Your clients are going to have different personalities, which means they want to be motivated, influenced, and learn in different ways.

    By understanding people’s personalities, you will understand them better and communicate with them more easily. As a result, they will get better insights and shift how they approach their lives.

    Personality Aspects

    The 16 personalities test talks about five different personality aspects: Mind, Energy, Nature, Tactics, and Identity.

    1. Mind: How we interact with our surroundings

    You will have Introverts who prefer solitary activities because they are sensitive to external stimulation. 

    And you will have Extroverts, who get energized by social interactions. They also tend to be more enthusiastic and are easily excited.

    2. Energy: How we see the world and process information

    There are Sensing individuals, who are very practical and down-to-earth. They have strong habits and rely on data to predict future events. 

    And there are Intuitives, who are very imaginative, open-minded, and curious. They prefer novelty over stability.

    3. Nature: How we make decisions and manage our emotions

    You’ll meet Thinking individuals in your practice who focus on objectivity and rationality, prioritizing logic over emotions. 

    On the other hand, you’ll meet Feelers, who are very sensitive and open about expressing their emotions. They are more empathic and less competitive than Thinking types. They focus on social harmony and cooperation.

    4. Tactics: Reflects our approach to work, planning and decision-making

    You will have Judging individuals, who are decisive, thorough, and highly organized. They value clarity, predictability, and closure. They also prefer structure and planning to spontaneity.

    Then you have Perceiving personalities, who are very good at improvising and spotting opportunities. They tend to be flexible, relaxed nonconformists who prefer keeping their options open.

    5. Identity: How confident we are in our abilities and decisions

    These are variants that apply to all the other personality aspects.

    On one side, you have the Assertive ones, who are self-assured, even-tempered, and resistant to stress. They refuse to worry too much and do not push themselves too hard to achieve their goals. 

    And then there are the Turbulent ones, who are self-conscious and sensitive to stress. They are likely to experience a wide range of emotions. They are success-driven, perfectionistic, and eager to improve.

    Roles

    Another important layer of the 16 personalities test is the role we fulfill in society based on how we’re wired internally. It’s the combination of our personality aspects that reveals our goals, interests, and preferred activities.

    1. Analysts: Intuitive and Thinking [NT] type

    They embrace rationality and impartiality, and they excel in the scientific or technological fields. 

    Extremely independent, open-minded, and strong-willed, they question everything and never settle for what other people say is right.

    They are also amazing strategic thinkers but often struggle with social and romantic relationships.

    2. Diplomats: Intuitive and Feeling [NF] type

    They focus on empathy and cooperation. Additionally, they’re great in diplomatic or counseling roles. 

    They bring harmony, warmth, and empathy into all their relationships.

    What’s more, they may face trouble when having to make a difficult decision, especially if it affects someone else.  

    3. Sentinels: Sensing and Judging [SJ] type

    Sentinels are highly cooperative and practical.

    They embrace and create order, security, and stability in everything they do.

    Meticulous, hard-working, and excelling in logistical or administrative fields, they always stick to their plan and don’t shy away from difficult tasks.

    The challenge they face is that they tend to be inflexible and have a hard time accepting different opinions.

    4. Explorers: Sensing and Perceiving [SP] type

    The most spontaneous role of all, explorers easily connect with their surroundings.

    They are practical and great at responding to situations that require a quick reaction. They excel at using tools and techniques in different ways to resolve any challenge.

    They are also prone to taking risks. 

    Strategies

    Strategies show our preferred ways of doing things and achieving goals. There are four strategies talked about in the 16 personalities test.

    1. Confident individualism: Introverted and Assertive [I-A] type

    They prefer doing things alone without asking for help. They have high self-confidence and trust in themselves.

    One of their biggest values is personal responsibility. They don’t pay much attention to what other people think or say.

    2. People mastery: Extroverted and Assertive [E-A] type

    They love social contact and tend to have very good communication skills. They easily rely on others for help and thrive in social settings.

    They are self-confident and don’t hesitate to share their worldview. They actively seek roles to assist in their communities.

    3. Constant improvement: Introverted and Turbulent [I-T] type

    These are the quiet, individualistic people who tend to be perfectionist and success-driven. They often spend a lot of time and effort making sure that the result of their work is the best it can be. 

    Known as high achievers in their field, they tend to worry too much about their performance.

    4. Social engagement: Extraverted and Turbulent [E-T] type

    The last strategy is adopted by sociable, energetic, and success-driven types.

    They tend to be restless, perfectionistic individuals, prone to experiencing both very positive and very negative emotions. 

    They’re usually high achievers, even if they’re quiet and sensitive. They tend to place a lot of importance on other people’s opinions. They value social status and are eager to succeed in everything they do.

    A male coach in an online coaching call

    Create More Powerful Breakthroughs for Your Clients

    The 16 personalities assessment is a powerful coaching tool that helps you understand your clients more deeply. By identifying their characteristics, you gain more insights into how they think and why they do the things they do. 

    Take the free personality test now, or share it with your clients.

    If you want to dive deeper into the art of masterful coaching, join us in the free Become a Mindvalley Certified Life Coach masterclass.

    Here’s what Mindvalley-certified coaches say about the program.

    As I near the end of this four-month program, I can confidently say that I am more in touch with who I am. I have learned to let go of things that were holding me back from becoming the best version of myself. That’s why I now consider myself an ‘Un-Coach,’ someone who unlearns, unleashes, and untames the expectations others impose on me.”
    Daphney Bossicot, transformation coach; Fall River, U.S.A.

    After this course, I have a clearer understanding of how to help myself and others with effective tools. They provide many methods and tools you can use in addition to your already existing expertise.”
    Daina Migliore, entrepreneur; Los Angeles, U.S.A.

    Don’t just transform lives; become a catalyst for personal revolutions. And it all starts with the Become a Mindvalley Certified Life Coach masterclass.

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    Francesca Facio

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  • How to Become a Coach and Build a Thriving Business in 2024

    How to Become a Coach and Build a Thriving Business in 2024

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    Coaches help their clients find answers to their most burning questions in life and guide them to solve complex challenges. Becoming one gives you the chance to create a positive impact on people’s lives and help them reach their full potential.

    Plus, you can earn a decent living doing it.

    The coaching industry is estimated to reach $6.25 billion in 2024 in the U.S. alone. However, that money is made by approximately 145,500 active coaches.

    You may wonder how to become a coach in this booming but fairly competitive industry. Discover what qualities set the best coaching professionals apart from the rest and how you can start your practice in three steps.

    What Does It Take to Be a Good Coach?

    The best coaches share the same core competencies and demonstrate certain attitudes towards their clients. If you’re wondering how to become a business coach or life coach, mastering these qualities will set you up for a great start.

    1. Active listening

    Using active listening as a coaching tool requires being present for your client and tuning in to both what they’re saying and their hidden body language cues.

    It also means asking follow-up questions and digging deeper into the conversation to understand your client’s perspective.

    2. Empathy

    Effective coaching goes beyond words; it requires empathetic communication. Being attuned to your client’s emotions and personal experience fosters a supportive coaching environment. 

    Expressing empathy means validating your client’s feelings, demonstrating your understanding, and creating a safe space for open dialogue.

    3. Genuine concern

    Do you care about your client’s problems, or are you more driven by the next paycheck hitting your account? Powerful coaches are genuinely concerned about their clients, and their coachees can feel this.

    Showing concern isn’t about a lack of boundaries; it’s about going the extra mile for your clients. And when you do, their progress will show it.

    4. A knack for goal-setting

    Goal-setting skills are a fundamental trait of a good coach. You’ll need them to establish clear and achievable objectives for your clients in a variety of real-life situations.

    Much of your progress with clients will stem from finding goals worth working towards and breaking them down into manageable action steps.

    5. Creativity

    Outdated perspectives and solutions that your clients have heard a dozen times are not going to help them get ahead in their lives and careers. To stand out in the coaching field, you need to constantly seek out out-of-the-box ideas and apply them to your client’s unique situation.

    Staying creative also takes life-long learning as well as staying open to new trends and methodologies emerging in the industry.

    6. Constructive feedback skills

    Without constructive feedback, your clients will stagnate. You need to have the courage to challenge them and call them out on their limiting beliefs to inspire growth in them.

    To deliver feedback effectively, you need to address areas for improvement, all while maintaining a positive and empowering tone. Being able to strike a balance in this will tell whether you’re made for a coaching career path.

    How Much Can I Earn as a Coach?

    In the U.S., life coaches make $67,800 a year on average. However, this number doesn’t necessarily determine how much you’ll make as a coach.

    It depends on factors such as:

    • Your individual qualifications and skills
    • Your business location
    • The number of people you reach with your marketing campaigns
    • Your ability to retain clients
    • The overall success of your coaching programs
    • Your hourly and package rates
    • The level of competition within your coaching niche
    • The number of active clients you work with within a given year

    Some coaching niches, like executive coaching, are more profitable on average than others. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be an outstanding coach with a different specialty. Many coaches set their hourly rate to a few hundred dollars and earn six figures outside of the business world.

    If you feel this is your calling, concerns about your income should not stop you from building the coaching business of your dreams.

    Female coach working on her online coaching business

    How to Become a Coach in 3 Steps

    Here’s how to become a life coach in 2024 and start serving clients:

    1. Get trained

    Coaching is one of the least regulated professions. You don’t have to earn a coaching license or get a permit to start practicing. However, that doesn’t mean you don’t need any qualifications to coach clients.

    Let’s look at how to become a certified life coach and start practicing.

    There are several coaching certifications and training programs that can arm you with the necessary skills and methodology for a career in this field.

    • Mindvalley’s certification programs in six different coaching specialties
    • Coach certifications at The Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC)
    • Programs at the International Coaching Federation (ICF)
    • Training Programs at the CoActive Training Institute

    A few ways you can expand your toolbox and horizons as a coach are:

    • Joining mastermind groups
    • Taking specialized courses
    • Visiting coaching events
    • Following free educational resources, such as the Mindvalley Coach YouTube channel

    2. Get in some practice

    Just like in any other field, practice makes perfect. Some certifications require hundreds of hours of coaching to be completed. Even if your training doesn’t, coaching clients is what builds your expertise.

    In the beginning, it’s worth throwing yourself into as many different coaching situations as you can. Try taking sessions both in-person and online. Seek out clients with distinct challenges and backgrounds so you can try out a variety of coaching tools.

    When you’re starting out, it’s perfectly okay to offer a few free sessions to clients as a part of your practice. Be transparent about where you are in your coaching journey, but treat these sessions the exact same as you would paid ones.

    3. Start a coaching business

    Before you start coaching clients and earning an income doing it, there are a few things you need to set up first.

    1. Register a business (if you’re a solopreneur without employees, a sole proprietorship will do)
    2. Define your coaching niche
    3. Design a coaching package
    4. Set up a website with your coaching services
    5. Consider getting on LinkedIn and other social media channels to grow your reach

    At the dawn of your business, you can reach out to your personal and professional network (previous coworkers and friends) to find your first few clients. Providing a great experience to your first coachees can earn you referrals down the line to keep those clients coming.

    Turn Your Passion for Coaching Into a Business

    The road to becoming a coach is neither short nor easy, but it’s absolutely rewarding.

    If you want to dive deeper into the art of masterful coaching, join us in the Become a Mindvalley Certified Life Coach free masterclass to learn how to transform your passion into a purposeful profession.

    Here’s what students of Mindvalley’s Certified Life program say:

    Before this program, I was still looking to clarify the direction that I wanted to take my coaching practice. With the training that I have received, the robust curriculum, and the 6 Phase Meditation Trainer Certification that was part of this course, I believe that I will be able to add more value to my clients’ lives and help them realize incredible results.
    Marvin Rucker, coach; Bridgeport, U.S.A.

    Within three weeks, I had my first $10,000 week. Ajit is fantastic, and I would recommend this certification course to any new or experienced coach. I would also recommend it to all leaders.
    Sandy L. Smith, executive coach; Calgary, Canada

    A coaching training program is a great start to your career, but your education doesn’t stop there. Continuous learning about new coaching tools and methodologies is a lifetime endeavor that can help you deliver more results for your clients.

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  • 20 Essential Coaching Attributes to Elevate Your Coaching Practice

    20 Essential Coaching Attributes to Elevate Your Coaching Practice

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    Coaching is a multi-billion dollar industry.

    And it seems everyone wants to be a coach these days. It’s lucrative. It’s fulfilling. But can anyone have the right coaching attributes to make an impact in this business? 

    The answer is yes and no.

    It’s a “yes” if you’re willing to learn how to become a great coach and apply what you learn through hundreds of hours of sessions with clients. It’s a “no” if you happen to think that coaching is just about asking a bunch of questions and hoping your clients come up with the solution themselves. (It’s also a no if you think that coaching is about telling your client what to do.)

    The truth is, becoming a great coach requires developing a range of coaching skills and qualities. Combined with a proven methodology, these abilities can create powerful results and a lasting impact on your coaching clients.

    Can Anyone Become a Great Coach?

    Some may think individuals who are “born to coach” are literally born with these qualities. But that’s not the case. These qualities can be developed, honed, and nurtured, whether you believe you were “born with them” or not. 

    Any aspiring coach can be a great coach if they are willing to do the work on themselves first, so they can then help their clients grow. What will ultimately differentiate a good coach from a great one is the consistent and never-ending development of these qualities and skills. Perpetual growth will keep making you better and better on your journey to mastering the art of coaching.

    Some of these coaching attributes include:

    • Trustworthiness
    • Active listening
    • Courage
    • Honesty
    • Compassion
    • Curiosity

    Let’s look into what the 20 top attributes of a good coach and mentor are and how you can develop them in yourself.

    Coach in a coaching conversation with a client

    20 Coaching Attributes to Develop for Your Professional Growth

    To narrow down the list to the 20 most essential qualities, we’ve asked Ajit Nawalkha, the co-founder of Mindvalley Coach, to name the top attributes outstanding coaches possess.

    As coaches, we like to make learning actionable. While you read through this list, rate yourself between 1 and 10 on each quality, (1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest). This will help you set specific goals for advancing your coaching career and highlight the coaching attributes you should focus on first.

    1. Compassion

    Your coaching clients can only grow if they feel that you’re compassionate towards their issues. They need to feel that they’re in a space free of judgment and full of empathy where their challenges are respected and their failures are safe to express.

    Studies show that compassion from others can contribute to greater resilience, lower stress levels, and a sense of meaning in life.

    As a coach, you often have to put yourself in your client’s shoes to truly understand their struggles. You can do this by taking a moment to empathize with their situation and expressing your compassion before jumping into problem-solving.

    Once your client feels safe, held, and accepted, they will be more likely to have agency to resolve their issues.

    2. Supportive nature

    Great coaches take their clients’ struggles seriously, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem. It doesn’t matter if a client is trying to complete a small project or trying to win a battle against cancer; they need a coach who can be supportive in the process.

    Besides expressing compassion in a difficult situation, coaches ultimately focus on guiding their clients out of it. They offer actionable insights and help them see the big picture so they can break their patterns and ace their goals.

    3. Growth-oriented mindset

    To help your clients grow, you need to have an insatiable thirst for knowledge and improving yourself. In other words, coaching yourself first. If there’s a book, course, or program that can help you develop yourself and your coaching practice, you’re on it like white on rice.

    When you have a growth-oriented mindset, you never get tired of learning new tools and methodologies. Instead of sticking to old ways, you continuously seek out new ways you can step up to the next level.

    4. Innovation

    Just like everything in life, things will eventually start to fatigue over time and slowly get old. You should have the latest coaching tools in your toolbelt to help clients face the emerging issues of today. In other words, what worked yesterday might not work tomorrow.

    Bringing innovation into your coaching practice takes experimenting, switching, upgrading, or changing your coaching styles and format. In the day and age of TikTok coaches, the only way to stand out in this industry is to keep testing different coaching techniques and eventually develop your own coaching methodology.

    5. Humility

    Sometimes, our coaching clients are our biggest teachers. Successful coaches love to learn from the people they work with and never assume they have all the answers. They’re willing to admit their mistakes and, likewise, give second chances to their clients.

    Master coaches are at the top of this industry, and yet, they’re the first ones to tell their clients when there’s someone better they could learn from. They remain students forever.

    6. Active listening skills

    The best coaches listen more than they talk. They’re not about trying to impress their clients, and they definitely know the difference between coaching and consulting. They know that client sessions are about the client and not about the coach. They don’t love to hear themselves speak.

    A truly remarkable coach often gets completely lost in what the client has to say and holds no thought about themselves. They are present in the moment, judgment-free, at all times. 

    7. Curiosity

    Possibly, one of the most important qualities of a great coach is staying curious. Being genuinely interested in why the client feels a certain way.

    They want to know what inspires their client, what makes them tick, what puts them off, and what keeps them going. They want to know everything there is to know about their clients, so they can find the perfect way to help them get to know themselves better.

    8. Gratitude

    Gratitude is probably one of the best human qualities, but it’s especially important for coaches. High-level coaches are grateful for their clients, their careers, and the fact that they’re able to help others.

    They tap into this deep feeling of gratitude when helping clients. They reconnect with it when they have challenges to face themselves and give their best to their clients, no matter what else is going on in their personal lives.

    Extraordinary coaches do not take their work or their clients for granted. Ever.

    9. Assertive communication

    The best coaches are able to communicate their message, advice, and feedback in a way that gets through to their clients. They know how to use the right words at the right moment, adjust their language and tone to connect deeply, and when to remain silent.

    They also have an incredible ability to adapt to each client individually and say the right words that leave a lasting impression.

    10. Visionary qualities

    Another important coaching attribute is rising above the situation and seeing a lateral as well as a future vision.

    Lateral vision is about accurately seeing the immediate circumstances around a client’s challenge or problem and identifying what needs to be changed. A future vision helps your client see their future self and the goals they want to strive for.

    As a coach, you have to make sure you’re not imposing your own vision on your client, even if you’re convinced it’s what’s best for them. Instead, you must help them create their own version of the future and uncover their intrinsic motivation to get there.

    11. Positive attitude

    Having a positive attitude is not about hiding the ugly truth or always smiling. It’s about showing your client a more positive, uplifting viewpoint that they might not be able to see for themselves.

    If a client isn’t pulling their weight or if they’re constantly making excuses, you should call them out. There’s a thin line between encouragement and coddling, and as a coach, you have to know the difference.

    12. Courage

    There are many situations in a coaching session that require you to be brave. Coaches who are at the top of their game have the courage to…

    • Try new ways of connecting with a client,
    • Set healthy boundaries with them (like no calls at night and on weekends), and
    • Pull the plug on coaching contracts with an unresponsive or disengaged client.

    Being courageous is also about asking hard questions, even though it might make a client uncomfortable, because they know that’s what is needed to create shifts and make progress towards their goals.

    13. Being observant

    Noticing the subtle details is a coach’s superpower. You need to be highly observant to read between the lines and hear what’s not being said.

    You should pick up and interpret the tiniest change in a client’s body language and energy. A shift in the tone of voice, a raised eyebrow, a clearing of the throat, and long pauses between sentences can all tell a lot.

    14. Focused (on the right things)

    Great coaches are focused on their clients throughout a session. They aren’t easily distracted, and they can stay present no matter what else is going on in the background.

    Whether it’s a barking dog next door or a client’s child looking for attention from mom or dad, you need to always bring the conversation back to where it needs to be.

    15. Dedication to your coaching practice

    It takes time (and patience) to experience transformation and to see the work reflected in internal changes and mindset shifts. You have to commit to riding alongside your clients through the ups and downs and not leaving them hanging when they hit a rough patch. 

    Even if it takes longer than expected for clients to reach their goals, you should stick around as long as the client is willing to do the work.

    16. Radical candor

    Honesty is one thing. Radical candor is a whole other thing.

    If you’re hesitant about being fully honest with your client about the hard truth, consider this. A study showed that radical candor can reduce the influence of psychological attachment, harsh emotions, and low self-esteem.

    Masterful coaches don’t lie to their clients just to make them feel better about themselves. 

    If a client needs to know they’re not trying hard enough, a professional coach will tell them the truth—even when no one else does. If a client needs to know that their goals are too big, their coach will tell them that too. 

    A great coach is always kind, but they don’t shy away from the truth.

    17. Professionalism

    Probably one of the most underestimated attributes of a coach is professionalism. You can be the most charismatic speaker or the most attentive listener, but if you lack this quality, you’re going to hinder the growth of your clients.

    Professionalism in coaching might mean…

    • Being on time (or rather early) for sessions
    • Keeping your promises, such as sending coaching materials to your client
    • Arriving fully present for a session and leaving your personal problems at the door
    • Keeping yourself to your own contract terms at all times
    • Respecting your client’s boundaries
    • Keeping your phone and every other distraction away during sessions

    It also means going the extra mile for your clients. By the time they arrive to your session, you’ve looked through their notes from the previous sessions and prepared any research necessary to make your time together count.

    18. Trustworthiness

    Clients need to know that their secrets are safe with you. They need to trust that you’ll never share their personal information and history, no matter what. Everything that’s discussed during the session stays between you and the client.

    According to the Code of Ethics shared by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), confidentiality is:

    Protection of any information obtained around the coaching engagement unless consent to release is given.”

    The key here is consent. If you want to share case studies of your clients in your promotional materials with pseudonyms, you should still ask for their permission, especially if they’re a highly recognizable public figure.

    19. Modeling

    Part of your growth journey as a coach is emulating others who are ahead of you in their careers. 

    In the same way, you need to show up as a role model for your clients so they can look up to you and emulate your journey. Your clients might not pursue the same goals that you do, but seeing your dedication to your growth and career will give them the boost to go after their own.

    20. Sincerity

    The best coaches are heart-centered. They’re sincere, and they truly care about their clients. 

    They have a genuine desire to be of service, and they’re willing to go above and beyond a client’s expectations. For them, coaching isn’t just a job; it’s a calling.

    Man and woman in a casual coaching conversationMan and woman in a casual coaching conversation

    4 Top Skills of Impactful Coaches

    Successful coaches don’t just share the same attributes but also the same coaching skills. Let’s explore some of the skills you can master to have a greater impact on your coaching clients.

    According to Ajit Nawalkha, the co-founder of Mindvalley Coach (formerly known as Evercoach by Mindvalley), these are the skills you have to hone to be outstanding in the coaching field.

    1. Deep listening

    Deep listening is about giving your clients your undivided attention and listening to what’s being (or not being) said. Listening actively also means asking follow-up questions to understand your client better.

    2. Reading body language

    Pay attention to the smallest shifts in your client’s body language.

    Are they comfortable in the conversation? Do they “wiggle” when they try to commit to their goals?

    Before you rush into asking the next question, stop and observe how your client is really feeling.

    3. Eliciting new ideas

    When your client is facing a problem, they might be stuck in the same problems and convinced there’s no way out. If you can help your clients see the bigger picture from a new perspective, you can lead them to a new story.

    4. Intuition

    Intuition is your innate intelligence connecting all the dots, and yes, it can be trained. The more you lean into your intuitive abilities, the more you can leverage them to open up new doors for your clients.

    You need to start trusting that force is coming through you wanting you to ask that question or lean into that topic.

    — Ajit Nawalkha

    Watch this 12-minute video and learn about the top coaching skills from Ajit himself:

    How Can I Become a Better Coach? 

    These coaching attributes are a great place to start to see what qualities come naturally to you and which ones you need to enhance and cultivate in yourself.

    If you want to dive deeper into the art of masterful coaching, join us in the Become a Mindvalley Certified Life Coach free masterclass to learn how to transform your passion into a purposeful profession.

    Remember, great coaches are made, not born.


    Images generated on Midjourney.

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    Annamaria Nagy

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  • Cerberus heatwave fans out to Balkans

    Cerberus heatwave fans out to Balkans

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    BELGRADE, July 13 (Reuters) – Swathes of the Balkans sweltered in temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) on Thursday in a heatwave named “Cerberus”, after the three-headed dog of the underworld in Greek mythology, that has fanned across Europe.

    In Croatia, 56 firefighters with 20 vehicles and three aircraft, struggled to contain a bushfire that was spreading rapidly due to strong southerly winds near the Adriatic town of Sibenik.

    In the country’s Adriatic resort of Nin, dozens of beachgoers covered themselves in thick black mud believed to have medicinal properties and an effective sunscreen.

    “It (mud) is definitely better than sun screen, I think protection factor is much better,” said a tourist from Slovakia who only gave his name as Josef.

    Meteorologists and doctors in Montenegro, Bosnia and Serbia, warned people to stay indoors or drink plenty of liquids if venturing outside.

    Temperatures were expected to stay around 40 degrees Celsius across the region into next week.

    Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic in Belgrade and Antonio Bronic in Nin; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise

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  • US ‘under no circumstances’ will pay climate reparations, Kerry says

    US ‘under no circumstances’ will pay climate reparations, Kerry says

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    WASHINGTON, July 13 (Reuters) – The United States will not pay reparations to developing countries hit by climate-fueled disasters, John Kerry, the U.S. special envoy on climate change, told a congressional hearing on Thursday.

    Kerry, a former U.S. secretary of state, was asked during a hearing before a House of Representatives foreign affairs oversight subcommittee whether the U.S. would contribute to a fund that would pay countries that have been damaged by floods, storms and other climate-driven disasters.

    “No, under no circumstances,’ Kerry said in response to a query from U.S. Representative Brian Mast, the Republican chair of the subcommittee.

    Kerry was testifying at a hearing on the State Department’s climate agenda just days before he was scheduled to travel to Beijing for renewed bilateral talks with China on climate change.

    The United States has backed the creation of a funding mechanism to address the “loss and damage” incurred by vulnerable countries as result of major or recurring disasters that was secured at the COP27 conference in Egypt last November, but the deal did not spell out who would pay into the fund or how money would be disbursed.

    However, the U.S. and other developed nations had pushed for the inclusion of a footnote to exclude the idea of liability for historic emitters or compensation for countries harmed by disasters.

    Reporting by Valerie Volcovici; Editing by Paul Simao

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  • Europe presses tough Taiwan stance after backlash against Macron comments

    Europe presses tough Taiwan stance after backlash against Macron comments

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    April 14 (Reuters) – European foreign policy officials on Friday urged China not to use force over Taiwan, taking a tough stance against Beijing’s threats over the democratically governed island, after comments by French President Emmanuel Macron were perceived as weak.

    China in recent days has held intense military drills around Taiwan, which it claims as its own, and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.

    German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, addressing the issue at a press conference in Beijing alongside her Chinese counterpart Qin Gang, said any attempt by China to control Taiwan would be unacceptable and would have serious repercussions for Europe.

    EU foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell echoed her remarks in a statement prepared for a speech due to be delivered in Beijing at the Center for China and Globalization think tank on Friday that had to be cancelled after he caught COVID-19.

    “A military escalation in the Taiwan Strait, through which … 50% of world trade goes every day, would be a horror scenario for the entire world,” said Baerbock, adding it would have “inevitable repercussions” for European interests.

    In interviews published after his trip to China last week, which was meant to showcase European unity on China policy, Macron cautioned against being drawn into a crisis over Taiwan driven by an “American rhythm and a Chinese overreaction”.

    While many of the remarks were not new, the timing of their publication, and their bluntness, annoyed many Western officials.

    “The European Union’s position (on Taiwan) is consistent and clear,” Borrell said in his remarks. “Any attempt to change the status quo by force would be unacceptable.”

    UKRAINE ISSUE

    Borrell also said Europe’s future relationship with China depended on it trying to use its influence to find a political solution to the Ukraine crisis.

    “It will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the European Union to maintain a relationship of trust with China, which I would like to see, if China does not contribute to the search for a political solution based on Russia’s withdrawal from the Ukrainian territory,” Borrell said.

    “Neutrality in the face of the violation of international law is not credible,” Borrell said, adding an appeal for Chinese President Xi Jinping to speak to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and for China to provide more humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

    Xi has met Russian President Vladimir Putin twice but not spoken with Zelenskiy since Russia invaded Ukraine in what Moscow calls a “special military operation” in February 2022.

    China stated its opposition to attacks on civilians and on nuclear facilities in a position paper on Ukraine published in February, but it has refrained from openly criticising Russia.

    “President Xi’s visit to Moscow has demonstrated that no other country has a bigger influence on Russia than China,” said Baerbock.

    “It is good that China has signalled to get engaged in finding a solution. But I have to say clearly that I wonder why China so far has not asked the aggressor Russia to stop the war. We all know President Putin has the opportunity to do so any time he wants to.”

    Poland’s prime minister warned earlier this week that Ukraine’s defeat may embolden China to invade Taiwan.

    Baerbock and Borrell also spoke about the risks of being too dependent economically on China, in line with comments made by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a speech last month on the eve of her China visit.

    “We just paid a high price for our energy dependency on Russia, and it is well-known that one should not make the same mistake twice,” said Baerbock, adding that economic security is core to Germany’s strategy for China.

    Borrell said that the EU needs to diversify its value chains to reduce its dependency on China for raw materials.

    He also said that the increasing trade imbalances between the EU and China are “unsustainable” and called on China to remove market access barriers.

    Reporting by Yew Lun Tian in Beijing; Editing by Clarence Fernandez

    Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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  • UK police charge two women after soup thrown at van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’

    UK police charge two women after soup thrown at van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’

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    LONDON, Oct 15 (Reuters) – Two women have been charged with criminal damage after climate change protesters threw soup over Vincent van Gogh’s painting “Sunflowers” at London’s National Gallery, British police said on Saturday.

    A video posted by the Just Stop Oil campaign group, which has been holding protests for the last two weeks in the British capital, showed two of its activists on Friday throwing tins of Heinz tomato soup over the painting, one of five versions on display in museums and galleries around the world.

    The gallery said the incident had caused minor damage to the frame but the painting was unharmed. It later went back on display.

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    Police said two women, aged 21 and 20, would appear later at Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with “criminal damage to the frame of van Gogh’s Sunflowers painting”.

    Another activist will also appear in court accused of damaging the sign outside the New Scotland Yard police headquarters in central London.

    Police said in total 28 people had been arrested during protests on Friday.

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    Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise

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  • Biden, Florida’s DeSantis work ‘hand-in-glove’ on Hurricane Ian recovery

    Biden, Florida’s DeSantis work ‘hand-in-glove’ on Hurricane Ian recovery

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    FORT MYERS, Fla., Oct 5 (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden met with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday to assess the devastation from Hurricane Ian, and stressed the need for a united federal and state effort for the lengthy recovery ahead.

    Biden, a Democrat, and DeSantis, his potential 2024 Republican presidential rival, have clashed over multiple issues including COVID-19 vaccines, abortion and LGBT rights.

    They largely set those differences aside during the visit to hard-hit Fort Myers as Biden pledged federal support for a cleanup and rebuilding effort that could cost taxpayers billions of dollars and take years to complete.

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    Biden and DeSantis greeted each other warmly and stood shoulder to shoulder as they met with victims of the hurricane.

    “Mr. President, welcome to Florida. We appreciate working together across various levels of government,” DeSantis, often a blistering critic of the president, told Biden during remarks after the tour.

    “We’re in this together,” said Biden, who referred to DeSantis as ‘Guv,’ and complimented the “good job” the governor had done. “We’ve worked hand-in-glove. We have very different political philosophies.”

    More than 100 people died and nearly 400,000 homes and businesses remained without power in Florida on Tuesday, five days after Hurricane Ian crashed across the state.

    Biden opened his remarks by saying the storm showed climate change was real and needed to be addressed, something some in DeSantis’s Republican party have denied. “I think the one thing this has finally ended is a discussion about whether or not there’s climate change and we should do something about it,” he said.

    Climate change is making hurricanes wetter, windier and altogether more intense, experts say.

    The president also stressed the amount of federal help Florida receive for storm aid and as part of Democrat-backed spending, including $13 billion over the next five years for highways and bridges.

    “The key here is building back better and stronger to withstand the next storm. We can’t build back to what it was before. You got to build back better, because we know more is coming,” he said.

    Biden and his wife, Jill, arrived in Fort Meyers early Wednesday afternoon, two days after visiting Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory battered by Hurricane Fiona last month.

    Biden got an aerial view of the destruction during a helicopter flight and called the destruction “horrific.”

    BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, INSURANCE QUESTIONS

    Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell said it would cost the federal government billions of dollars to repair the damage from the storm.

    “We are still very much in the lifesaving and stabilization mode. They are just beginning the assessments of what the actual extent of damages to the infrastructure. It’s going to be in the billions,” Criswell told reporters on Air Force One.

    Biden and Criswell also suggested Wednesday that Florida’s insurance industry, which faces tens of billions of dollars in losses for the storm, could come under increasing scrutiny.

    “The fact of the matter is, states like Florida, where they’ve had a lot of natural disasters because of flooding and hurricanes and the like – the insurance industry is being very stretched,” Biden said. “We’re going to have to have a hard look at whether or not the insurance industry can be sustained.”

    Fort Myers Mayor Ray Murphy, who also manages commercial real estate, told Reuters he and Biden were having a friendly chat and “trying to encourage each other” in a colorful exchange picked up by a microphone.

    “No one fucks with a Biden,” the president told Murphy, to which the mayor replied: “You’re goddamn right … That’s exactly right.”

    Murphy, elected on a nonpartisan basis, said there was no mention of DeSantis in the brief conversation.

    Biden visited Florida in July after a condominium complex collapsed and killed nearly 100 people, and stressed cooperation with DeSantis at the time.

    But before Hurricane Ian hit, Biden had planned a rally in the political battleground state where Democratic officials expected the president to attack the governor.

    On climate change, Biden has made reducing carbon emissions a focus of his presidency, while DeSantis backed funding to harden Florida’s defenses against flooding but also opposed some previous disaster-relief aid and pushed pension funds not to consider environmental impact when they invest.

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    Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu and Andrea Shalal; Writing by Jeff Mason and Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Heather Timmons, Aurora Ellis and Lincoln Feast

    Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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