I’ll never forget this time I picked up a book in Barnes & Noble and flipped to read about the author. This woman had a string of letters behind her name that would humble even the most degreed physician. So, I got curious.
In total, this woman — a career coach — had 13 certifications… all represented by a different combination of letters behind her name. Sort of like,
b. michelle pippin, tHc, mml, Tn, mdr, LtR, ssP, etc.
You get the idea, right?
Okay, so I go to the computer and begin looking up these certifications. NINE of the 13 she had created herself… and was selling to “certify” other career coaches.
My first thought? BRILLIANT! What a grand little scheme she’d created for herself. Other career coaches buy the study materials, pay to take the training course and test…. all to have these newly created letter combinations behind THEIR name. A capitalist’s dream, indeed… lol…
But how much of this “certification” mentality is good for you? How much GOOD does it do? And what certifies YOU? These are all questions worth asking… and answering.
First, how much good does it do? For the record, I HAPPEN to be a certified coach. Do you know how many potential clients have asked about my certification? ONE. And, I’m convinced that one was another coach secret shopping me. =) So, about my certification… has the fact that I’ve been certified brought in droves of clients? No. Now, don’t get me wrong. I do believe there is immense value in education, constant lifelong learning and always trying to better yourself. No question. But the certification itself? MANY certifications are money makers for that business — not necessarily yours. Just a thought to keep in mind.
The better question to ask is this: What certifies YOU? OR — What do YOU depend on for “certification” or “relevance” in the minds of your market? If you’re a coach, can you say that you’re certified by your RESULTS and that of your clients? If you’re a dentist, are you certified by the X-number of frowns you’ve turned upside down? If you’re a car salesman, are you certified by the number of return clients you serve each year?
What certifies YOU? It’s a question worth answering today… =)
Cheers to being completely CERTIFIABLE! (I’ll admit I am if you admit you are!)
