Don’t feel alone. It’s okay to ask for help. There are others out there who are in the same situation. Don’t be afraid to reach out. Help is out there for those who need it.

No, this isn’t a commercial for a support group or an addiction counseling service. It’s simply a reminder that sometimes we get so caught up in the myopia of everyday work/life issues that lose sight of the big picture.

Wouldn’t it be great to have someone to go to talk about your work and life goals in a constructive, supportive environment? Resolve to find yourself a life coach in 2008.

Put simply, a life coach is an individual who can help you determine and achieve your personal and professional goals. A life coach should not to be confused with a psychologist, a therapist or a consultant, though the work they do is sometimes complementary to that of other professionals.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when deciding if a life coach is right for you.

Look for credentials — There are two major international bodies that certify coaching professionals, The International Association of Coaches (www.certifiedcoach.org) and The International Coaching Federation (www.coachfederation.org). Look on these websites to find a coaching professional in your area.

Leave your ego at the door — Many people still see coaching a negative, as an indictment of the work they are doing. Coaching is not for people who are incompetent or incapable of performing on their own.

Quite the contrary. Often it this the best and the brightest that seek out advice. They want to take their goals to the next level

Even NBA legend Michael Jordan has a coach, Phil Jackson, who helped him elevate his performance to a transcendent level.

Feedback — It’s one thing to critique yourself and assess your performance on a regular basis. It’s quite another to solicit the advice of an objective third party. Many business owners get so consumed by the work they do that they can’t see the forest for the trees. Working with life coach will provide a built-in sounding board for many of your major career and personal life choices.

Can you afford it? — Or more appropriately, can you afford not to do it? Many coaches are willing to work within your budget to get a coaching relationship up and running. Like many of their clients, they’re in business for themselves and understand the financial constraints e Do an exhaustive and honest assessment of your financial situation to uncover opportunities to free up additional dollars. If you look at it as an investment in your future, you’ll find a way to pay for it.

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