Becoming a Professional Certified Coach and Letting My Life Speak
I’m happy—and relieved—to share that I’ve passed the International Coaching Federation (ICF) Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credentialing exam. It’s a significant milestone in my journey as an executive coach, one level beyond the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential and a meaningful complement to my Integral Coaching Certification earned in 2022.
This credential wasn’t handed to me—it required dedication: 125 hours of coach-specific training, 10 hours of mentor coaching, 500 hours of client coaching experience, and a demanding exam focused on core competencies. And yet, while preparing for this test, something deeper was happening. I found myself immersed in Parker Palmer’s Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation, which helped me reflect on how my own path to coaching has been shaped—not by chance, but by choice. Palmer writes, “Before you tell your life what you intend to do with it, listen for what it intends to do with you.” That line landed hard. It made me pause and ask: Have I truly let my life speak? After 40 years of working in education, business, and now coaching, the answer came with clarity—yes.
Over the decades, I’ve had the privilege of teaching, leading, learning, and now coaching others. Through that time, I’ve watched countless professionals wrestle with questions about purpose, authentic leadership, and what it really means to thrive. Many arrive at coaching in search of their voice—their vocation. Partnering with them in that exploration has been deeply humbling, and the rigorous preparation for the PCC exam has only deepened my capacity to support others. The ICF’s coaching competencies—ethics, mindset, presence, active listening, and more—aren’t just a framework. They’re a way of being that fosters leadership excellence and personal transformation.
Palmer’s writing reminds us that our earliest gifts are often pushed aside by external expectations. He writes, “We arrive in this world with birthright gifts—then we spend the first half of our lives abandoning them...driven by fear, too often betraying our true self to gain the approval of others.” His advice? Return to your roots. Ask the people who knew you best as a child, “What was I like back then?” These memories, often buried, hold essential clues to who we really are.
Looking back, I see how my own path unfolded. I grew up in a family that, on the surface, expected me to follow a traditional business path—just like everyone else. My father encouraged strategy, leadership, and discipline. But it was my mother who sparked my curiosity and nurtured my creativity. She pushed me toward higher education and encouraged me to imagine possibilities beyond the expected. That blend of structure and imagination still defines how I approach coaching today.
Of course, passing the PCC exam wasn’t just philosophical—it was also highly practical. Thanks to Lyssa De Hart’s prep courses, stacks of flashcards, and countless practice tests, I got through the 78 nuanced scenario questions. Each one required choosing the “best” and “worst” coaching response. The questions tested everything from ethics to intuition: Does the coach move the client too quickly? Dwell on the negative? Miss a mental health red flag? Preparing for this test wasn’t just about passing—it was a reminder of the immense responsibility we hold as coaches, creating safe spaces for people to grow and imagine new futures.
While I didn’t exactly enjoy studying for the test, I loved the clarity it gave me: I am living in alignment with my purpose. I am letting my life speak. Whether I’m working with clients, hiking in the redwoods, swimming laps, or writing, I’m continuing to grow as a coach and as a person. Authentic leadership starts with knowing yourself—and trusting that your path is worth following.
At Blue Glass Company, we help leaders develop executive presence, resilience, and the confidence to lead with purpose. If you’re exploring your own journey toward leadership excellence or finding your vocation, we’re here to help. Reach out for a complimentary consultation—let’s start the conversation.
Renée Patton – renee@blueglasscompany.com – (877) BGLASS1