Maurice F. Martin is a bestselling author and a spiritual life coach. Facing a crossroads, Maurice chose a path less traveled, the life-changing journey of healing, growth and purpose. His second book, Your But is Too Big: 7 Principles That Empower You To Heal Past Hurts and Get Motivated to Find Purpose was written to help you heal your past wounds, discover who you really are, and live a peaceful, purpose-driven life. Maurice has been through his fair share of trauma—from masking the private pain of his childhood to battling depression in his 20s. After becoming an award-winning vocalist and songwriter, Maurice hit rock bottom and it became clear that there was only one way out: he had to let go of what had been holding him back. Now that he’s healed, Maurice is on a mission to equip and empower you to release your limiting beliefs and become the person you were born to be.
What is your niche (coaching focus) and how did you choose it?
My coaching focus and niche is that I am a spiritual life coach who helps individuals find the motivation to heal past hurts and get fully moving in their life purpose. I chose this path because I love to see people living their lives with hope, fulfillment and spiritual alignment. I remember what it is like to be successful in the world but empty on the inside. I love to see people as more successful in their hearts than they are in the boardroom or the bank account. In other words, I love to help people reach the kind of success money can’t buy.
Who is your ideal client?
Oftentimes, I work with entrepreneurs, educators and spiritual leaders who the world considers “successful.” Despite the achievements they’ve had, a lot of people feel like there is still a sense of emptiness or a feeling that something is missing. I would say my ideal client is someone who is open to exploring their mindsets, story and identity, and someone who is willing to do the inner work necessary to create lasting change in their thoughts, emotions and actions. There is nothing more important to me than to see results that last. I want you to be able to look yourself in the mirror and feel that your life feels authentic, meaningful and whole despite the fact that there will always be pressures and challenges to overcome.
What inspired you to become a life coach?
I used to feel overwhelmed by the story my resume didn’t tell. My resume looked impressive. Working with Grammy winners and Emmy winners. National TV licensing deals. Life was amazing on paper but felt empty in many ways. I didn’t know how to talk about it, how to face it, or if it was even possible to overcome it. I eventually hit rock bottom and if I’m being honest, I didn’t feel like I wanted to live. That is a scary thing to feel. It was a moment of “change or die” for me. I began a tough but life-altering process of doing the work to heal old wounds, change my mindset, and seek spiritual clarity. As I walked through the process, it connected me to what I call my God-given purpose. I began to feel like the greatest thing I could do is to help other people walk the type of path I walked. Facing what is holding you back, redefining what is possible in your life, and seeing it begin to come to fruition in your life.
How long have you been coaching?
Haha, I guess that depends who you ask! Some people would tell you I’ve been unofficially coaching people since I was a little kid. Officially, I was certified to begin coaching in 2018 and have coached people in multiple formats. It has been an honor and a privilege watching people’s lives change one courageous choice at a time.
How did you get your first client?
I wish I could say that the first one came to me through great marketing but, honestly, my first client came to me and told me that she had been thinking about dealing with some major issues and she “felt like” I was the one to help. She said she had been praying about it and was ready to change. I remember being scared and feeling “not ready”, but her process was a real inspiration for me. It was a catalyst to keep growing myself, keep learning, and to keep making a difference like I was able to with her.
How has your coaching journey changed your life?
I can’t begin to tell you how thankful I am for coaching. I don’t just coach it, I am constantly reminded that I need to live the change and transformation in my own life. I am not a finished product. I can thank coaching for that in many ways. I often say that life has a way of putting “you in front of you.” In other words, years or even months after I work through an issue, someone seems to always end up as a client who is working through the same thing. It blows me away. I always remind myself that someone in my household or on my roster needs the more healed version of me, and that gives me the courage to keep evolving in my own life.
What is the most challenging part of being a life coach?
The most challenging part of life coaching for me has been learning to embrace the process of getting specific about whom I serve, what they need, and how I can best provide that service. When I started coaching, people would ask me who I was meant to serve and I would say “everyone!” If I am being honest, I think something in my brain still feels I am called to serve everyone on Earth, but my heart is learning that there are clients that I am specifically tailor-made to help support and serve. They are the most receptive to how I coach, and my skill set is the best suited for their life transformation in this season.
What is the most fulfilling part of being a life coach?
The most fulfilling part of spiritual life coaching for me is seeing a person’s eyes change. I’ll try to explain this in a way that is clear. Sometimes, people look so lifeless and broken at the beginning of their time with me. They begin the first session looking confident on the surface, but, as they speak, there is something else you can see in their face. Pain. Hopelessness. Confusion. Being lost. With time and healing, you can actually see hope enter their eyes eventually. It is hard to put that into words, but many coaches will understand what I am describing. You see joy where there was emptiness. Belief where there was doubt. Light where there was darkness. A person has a new fire that is lit within them, and you know that that fire will spread to their loved ones, employees, or whoever is called to them. That is a feeling that is indescribable for me.
What has been your most inspirational coaching moment with a client?
My most inspirational coaching moment may have been my most recent one. I am not trying to avoid the question, but I try to cherish each of them and let them be special to me. In my last session, I worked with someone for the first time who is a leader who is respected, beloved, and admired by people who know him. I watched him cry tears that have been locked inside of him for years. He felt empowered to give voice to some feelings that had been hidden for almost his entire life. That moment was truly special. It was not the first time I have experienced that, but because it was the most recent, I would say it is my current inspiration. I haven’t watched his life change yet, but watching him face something so major in only his first session gave me hope for how far he can go in this journey. I believe his story will inspire many. One person gets a flame lit and that flame of hope spreads.
What is your favorite coaching activity or exercise to do with clients?
I love to talk to clients about their stories of origin. The story that you believe about yourself matters! It is impossible to rewrite an internal code that you’ve never read. Tasking a client with the process of discovering the story that they believe, and the limiting beliefs within that story often leads to powerful revelation and insight for their life.
What has been the most effective strategy for finding clients and/or growing your business?
The most effective strategy for finding clients has been finding opportunities to get potential clients in front of me. Workshops, free sessions, or whatever gives them chance to experience what you bring to the table. Coaching is not theoretical; it is relational and experiential. To me, life change is not “one size fits all.” If you sit in a space with me, you will know if I am the right fit for you and vice versa. I find that many people don’t really know what the role of a life coach even is. If they can sit with you, hear from you, and experience you, they can get a sense of how you fit into their overall structure of support.
What advice would you give YOURSELF back when you first dreamed of becoming a coach?
I would tell him to first serve the client in the mirror, then be the greatest support and service to the people in his household. When you keep your life in proper alignment, you are healthier, happier, and more whole to serve the people in your life outside of your home. I would let him know that the man in the mirror and the people in his home are the people he is called to serve first. They are his purpose first. When that is solid, you increase your strength and level of effectiveness in what you bring to the world.
What is the impact you want to make in this world?
I want to be an instrument of change and transformation in the hands of my Higher Power. I want to be used to bring true hope and healing to people. I want people to grow through past pain and step into the purpose they were born to walk in. I want to touch as many people as possible, but to always remember that my ultimate impact is one person at a time.
Is there anything else you would like to share with Transformation Coaching Magazine readers?
To all of my fellow coaches, keep going. Don’t let your clients outwork you. If they are finding inspiration, motivation, and leveling up their life, make sure you keep doing the same. To everyone else who is reading, know that your life CAN change for the better. Your business can grow, your heart can heal, your relationship can improve, and your focus can become clear. Know that you can be a better version of you. Believe that and then take action steps to prove it, one decision at a time.