Wondering what is ‘life coaching’? Then look no further and read below interview with Binais Begovic, an influent life coach based in the US. Background, methodology, success… All you need to know!
Question: What inspired you to become a life coach, and how has your background influenced your coaching style?
Answer: I’ve always been someone people feel comfortable with. I put them at ease, and they open up. There’s something innate about me that people trust, making them willing to be vulnerable. I serve as a mirror for self-reflection. It’s like they know what to do and what choices to make after they speak to me. A few years ago, I started sharing personal reflections on various aspects of life. People began asking me for advice. This led me to take a step further, and that’s how I decided to become a life coach.
My background is rich in experiences. I grew up during the turbulent Balkan Wars in Montenegro. We then moved to Sweden when I was 15 and later to Los Angeles at 24, where I currently live. My life was filled with challenges and struggles, and I learned early on how to survive using emotional intelligence and a deeper understanding of myself, other people, and how this impacts my choices and my future. I’m grateful for these experiences because they allow me to extract wisdom and life essence from them. This is one of the reasons I’m able to connect with people on such a deep level. I’m not afraid of emotions and do a deep dive with people, dwelling with them wherever they need me to be. This makes people feel heard and seen like never before.
Q: Can you describe your coaching methodology and how you tailor it to meet individual client needs?
A: I see my role as a mirror for self-reflection, helping clients to see themselves more clearly and make their own choices. Unlike some other life coaches or motivational speakers who may foster dependency, my core motivation is to help individuals uncover and utilize their own inherent power—a journey of self-discovery I’ve navigated myself. I’ve noticed that some coaches create a dynamic where their clients become reliant on the coach’s energy and inspiration.
I avoid imposing control or domination, as I believe deeply in empowering people to guide their own lives. This philosophy marks a significant departure from other approaches. I am fully committed to my clients, accompanying them every step of the way until they reach where they need to be.
Q: How do you measure progress and success in your coaching sessions, and what tools or techniques do you use to track these?
A: I don’t impose my own metrics of success; my clients set their own goals and parameters. My role is to support them in reaching these goals, fostering a sense of ownership over their personal growth and achievements.
Q: Can you share a success story where you helped a client overcome a significant challenge?
A: One of my recent success stories involves Max (his real name has been edited), an executive who thought he had everything figured out. He had a prestigious degree, a high-paying job, a happy marriage, and two kids. His life was linear and predictable. However, everything changed suddenly—his wife filed for divorce, his company was acquired, altering his career path drastically, and his health tests returned concerning results. His life was turned upside down. When he reached out to me, he was utterly defeated, questioning why these things were happening to him despite his efforts to be a good person.
This period, though heartbreakingly difficult, became a turning point. Through our sessions, Max discovered humility and realized life isn’t always linear or logical. After six months of working together, there were remarkable changes: his wife cancelled the divorce and they reconciled; he left his job and found new work that aligned better with his newfound purpose and evolved values; his health improved significantly as he started exercising daily, eating well, and meditating. Max’s journey from despair to renewal was profound, and he feels like he’s been reborn.
Q: How do you handle situations where a client is not making the desired progress, and how do you keep them motivated?
A: My clients generally come to me with a high level of self-motivation and commitment, so I don’t often need to take on the role of a motivational coach. However, on the rare occasions when progress stalls, I suggest stepping back from our structured sessions to allow life’s natural course to introduce new experiences. This approach often helps open new perspectives and sparks those ‘aha’ moments. My coaching method is rooted in real-life experiences—it’s pragmatic rather than theoretical or ideological. We focus on navigating through experiences that my clients are either currently facing or are about to encounter, which keeps the coaching relevant and directly applicable to their lives.
