What’s your vision for your life? How many have you struggled with this question? I know often times we get stuck trying to clarify our vision for our life. Melisa Alaba a well versed and talented thought leader and vision coach helps clients by reclaiming and discovering their vision and purpose. She is the author of Live Out Loud: 52 Ways to Reawaken Your Spirit & Live a Life of Purpose, illustrating eleven principles to elevate your life.

How did you get to the path of calling yourself a vision coach?

I’ve been in this field for over 15 years, working with different clients they would say, “that vision you just said is so much bigger than what I thought.” I help people pull out the vision then create a dynamic strategy so the vision comes to life. The title Vision Coach came from my clients.

Did you transition from corporate to entrepreneurship or were you always an entrepreneur?

I have always worked in this field. A couple of nonprofits and moved up the ladder to director of the agency. At the age of 25 I launched my first company in Chicago. From that I got a few people that wanted me to coach them on starting a business and therapy center.

How would you distinguish between a therapist/counselor and a coach?

A therapist is someone you are talking to about your issues. For example, if you are going through a divorce and need someone to lean on, a therapist is giving you tools to help navigate that. Your coach in the same situation is giving you tools to move on from that issue without holding your hand. A coach provides action tools to move out of that space to get rid of those blocks and move into your next storyline of life. We need both.

Why did you transition from counselor to coach?

I became a coach because I wanted to see people be action oriented and to start moving on with their life. With therapy it’s a longer process as a lot of people get stuck in process and never move to their next level of life. With coaching we’re going to move through steps I’m going to hold you accountable.

Is there a difference between a calling and finding your purpose?

I think a calling is very specific. For instance, I’m called to empower women so they don’t struggle. I’m called to make sure women are not struggling and are given the tools to live in abundance.

My purpose is multi-faceted. I have a purpose with my kids, being a good friend, with a spouse, or work in my community, that all revolves around my calling. Those talents that I have I can use them in different ways.

What advice can you give to those that are considering on seeking a professional coach?

Start off with a personal life coach and get a good vision for yourself. Next move into getting help to raise your income. Assess who you are, figure out your gifts and talents, and start consulting to earn extra income. With the new money you have coming in that can be used to fund your business.

Do you feel that meditation and visualization are leading tools to success?

Absolutely! Meditation is really good, but action is needed.

I see you run a Mastermind group. Can you speak to the importance of a Mastermind and the types of relationships that come from the group?

Get in the right group. The group that will make you comfortable and slightly uncomfortable. Comfortable meaning that you understand the principles, guidelines, and accountability. Slightly uncomfortable because you have to step up your game and you don’t know what that feels like. You want to be with people that up level where you are. You need someone to help you step out of your comfort zone to step up so you can get to that next level. Masterminds are purposeful and people should really work to be a part of them. We can do a lot on our own, but we can do so much more when we have a powerful network.

People in my last mastermind we do things together from speaking engagements to launching new products. We support each other.

What do you have coming up?

Elevate Me Global Network is a network I recently started. I solidified a great partnership with Georgia Tech with their global initiative working with women in Kenya, South Africa, and Ghana. We will launch on March 8, 2016, on International Women’s Business Day.

For more information on Melisa please visit her website http://melisaalaba.com.

To hear the entire interview, listen to the podcast Networking With Michelle available on iTunes on February 15, 2016.