FAQ

Happy Spectacular coaching is about getting the best out of your life, whatever that means to you. In a nutshell, spectacular coaches help you figure out what you want (and why it matters, because that’s actually really important), how to make it happen and how to follow through on what you’ve realized matters. Looking for more details? You can find an in-depth description of How This Coaching Thing Works (what coaching is, how we do it, how you’re involved and what all that means for you) here.
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Why Happy Spectacular?

We have a proven way of helping you make work a happy part of your spectacular life (you win), and we’re so passionate and rabid about helping people that we can’t not do this as our mission (which means we win, and you win again too). If you want to know more about What Makes Happy Spectacular So Very Special + Different, please click here.
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What can I expect in terms of results?

Your results are what we’re all in this for. All the fancy forms and surveys and tools in the world don’t matter if they don’t motivate and equip you to actually live the life you want. While each client’s Happy Spectacular experience and end results are unique, we most commonly help folks work towards and realize these kinds of results:

Changing what you do and/or where you do it
Making your current job better
Making yourself better
Figuring out what matters (to you) & why
A resume that reflects the real you and and presents the best you
Interview and presentation skills/negotiation tools
Getting unstuck
All of the above
More details here, through our case studies

Like anything in life, the more effort you put towards this self development project we’ll embark on together, the more you’ll get out of it. (Read more about the Characteristics of Our Most Successful Clients, if that tempts you.)
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How long does it take to get my spectacular life?

Boy, that doesn’t seem like a loaded question at all. And we’ve got everyone’s favorite answer: it depends.
What does it depend on? How significant of a transformation you’re looking to make. If you want to make size large changes in your life– like becoming an orthodontist after years spent as an ornithologist, or searching your soul to discover that you’d rather be grooming dogs in New Haven instead of auditing corporations in New York– that might take a little longer to get clarity and build a plan and execute the heck out of it. If you’re looking for less then it may not take as long (usually three months). It’s possible you may discover that we’re so fantastic that you want to work with us forever, which is all right by us (especially since we help people transition into retirement, too, so we’ve really got you covered).
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How are Happy Spectacular programs set up, timing wise?

Most Happy Spectacular programs range from three to six months in length. (Some programs last longer for those looking for a more significant life and career overhaul.)
Sessions with our team members are usually about an hour (with the exception of the initial 90-minute discovery session, which allows for additional time for you and your coach to get to know one another). You’ll typically have two phone or video meetings per month with your coach in between your own personal homework.
Customization within the framework of our Happy Spectacular programs is what makes it so great for so many different people. We can always extend our programs to work with you as your goals evolve. Our door is always open to help you.
(Check out our case studies here, if it helps you to read about how others’ programs have been set up.)
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What kind of advisor/coach can I expect to work with?

We can’t begin to tell you how amazing we think our hand-selected team is. Our team is a bunch of professional coaches who live and breathe our values, are better than us, and pass the “would you want to be stuck at the gate with him/her if your plane was delayed for three hours” test.
In short, our coaches are:

Credentialed and experienced
Spectacularly good at what they do
Lovely and happy people

It’s our job to match you with the coach we believe is best suited to help get you where you want to go. We take the matching process seriously, so that’s why we ask you more questions than you might expect.
Take our goofy but helpful What Kind of Coach is Best For You quiz to learn more about what kind of coach you’re looking for.
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How do you decide who my coach is?

It’s a process that’s both an art and a science. We learn a relatively enormous amount about you before we even get started, and then match you with the best coach for you– based on what you’re looking to accomplish and what makes you unique. We use our Happy Spectacular survey and good old fashioned conversation to figure out what you need and who on our team can really help you. Don’t worry, this isn’t assigned to an intern; we know how important it is to like and trust and feel comfortable with your coach, so we work very hard to have the right person (one of our coach specialists) set you up for success with the right coach. (Not that an intern would be incapable of doing that. No disrespect to interns, whom we are always interested in working with.)
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How do I connect with my coach? Do we have to be in the same city?

Good news- you can be in Tahiti (that’s really good news) and your coach can be in Tulsa.
Our Happy Spectacular experiences are specifically designed for you to be wherever you are and your coach to work with you by phone or video. You and your coach can determine whether you prefer the phone or virtual face to face. Welcome to the modern world.
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What is the difference between coaching and therapy?

Coaching is about optimizing your life. Therapy is about healing in your life. We can refer you to a professional therapist if need be. Some clients work with both a therapist and coach, depending on their needs.
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Is there a code of conduct or ethics for coaches?

Happy Spectacular coaches all abide by the International Coaching Federation’s code of ethics, which can be found here. We might come across as tongue and cheek about a lot of things, but the level of professionalism and ethical behavior of every Happy Spectacular team member is never compromised.
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If I’m not paying for my own program, are my conversations with my coach still confidential?

Yes, absolutely. Everything you say and do in the coaching process stays between you and your coach. No exceptions. (Except for exceptions which revolve around industry ethics, like if you say you’re going to hurt someone.)
Sometimes corporations that sponsor Happy Spectacular programs for their employees look for a high-level Development Plan, to make sure everyone is on the same page. Other that that agreed-upon review of goals, conversation content is confidential.
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Do you do payment plans or do I have to pay all at once?

You do not have to pay all at once, unless it makes you happier to do so. We have multiple payment plan options where we can set up automatic payments or you can go into your online account and pay when each invoice is due. The payment plan is spread out across the duration of your Happy Spectacular program.
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What happens if I need to cancel/reschedule/miss a session?

We understand that sometimes life gets in the way and the unexpected can throw you off the rails. If possible, cancel or reschedule your session 24 hours before it is scheduled to avoid a notice fee.
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How do I tell the world (and the big cheeses at Happy Spectacular) I love my coach?

Oh, the love! We never get tired of hearing about the positive differences our program and coaches have made in people’s lives. Email us at hello@happyspectacular.com to tell us about your experience and we just might send you a brownie or something. (Peruse a few testimonials here if you’d like to see what others have had to say.)
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How do I become a Happy Spectacular coach/ advisor?

We’re so excited you share our philosophy enough to want to work with us. Check out how to connect with us about joining the team.
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How do I write/draw/illustrate/photograph for your magazine?

We are always looking to grow our editorial and artistic teams, and we love working with interesting and creative people! Send us an email here.
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How do I give Happy Spectacular as a gift to someone I love/like/respect/think needs some serious help/has serious potential?

We love gifts! And we love gift-givers! We make it easy for you to bestow the lifelong gift of work and life fulfillment to the recipient(s) of your choice. Click here to get in touch about the gift that keeps on giving.
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How do I partner with Happy Spectacular so that our businesses can do amazing business together?

If your company makes or does or believes in very cool things that seem compatible with our raison d’etre, then by all means, let’s get to know one another here. If your company has a business plan that could ever be described like a pyramid or Ponzi scheme, or if you have ever used the expression ‘get rich quick’ (and not as a joke), then let’s agree to not get to know one another.
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How do I solve the quadratic equation?

ax² + bx + c = 0
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How do I make the brownies that were mailed to me in my welcome package?

We’re so flattered you liked them. Here you go.
And if you (like us) have a thing for bacon, you might like this version.
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FAQ

The Official List of Answers

What is coaching?