We were lucky to catch up with Rhonda Baughman recently and have shared our conversation below.

Rhonda, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

Without children, I understand that most of us will only be remembered by fans, loved ones, and those we’ve touched for a few years after we’re gone — before we’re lost to time completely, that is. I find this notion beautiful — I can live for myself and those I love without focusing on the mundane trivialities that so often stress us out to the point of no longer enjoying our time in the present. At the stage of my life, I prefer to focus on the present — and by doing so, build a legacy of teaching, coaching, and writing that inspire people to not merely remember me or my words fondly, but to move forward with energy and purpose, with focus and intention. I would like for others to be inspired to do the same as I have — teach others, coach others, and write with an audience in mind: with the understanding that YOU are also an integral part of that audience. I would prefer to be remembered as a creative force, a ball of energy, that passed through lives sharing as much joy, optimism, and encouragement as possible and suggesting others do the same. Barring this: I am hoping someone finds issues of my ‘Medium Chill’ series and thinks: “Well, if this strange writer can put together an independent magazine, pfft – well, so can I!”

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

On teaching; Becoming a college instructor was an accident. I was studying to “be something else when I grew up” – but my alma mater needed help filling some classes immediately the same month I received my undergraduate degree from their Honors College. I was nervous, scared even since I was so green, but that’s precisely why I did it — I didn’t want to fear something I had the opportunity to experience. As is the usual way when confronting fears head on — I have no regrets. I have taught and designed curriculum in several states, for numerous writing and humanities classes, for classes of 1 to 150 participants – and for over 20 years! I am most proud of the students and clients I have helped over the last 20 years and this portfolio I keep just for me — to review kudos and accolades on those less zippy days when I need a reminder of why I chose this path.

On coaching: Sometimes (but not always) teaching and coaching go hand in hand; however, there are numerous ways to coach others and oneself, just as there are many ways to teach others and oneself. My degrees and experience lend themselves to coaching and teaching to an individual, at their level, and listening actively, empathetically, without judgment and my own interests in mind. I am a big supporter of the works of Dr. Robert McDee and NLP but I have no illusions I will ever be as talented as he, but I would like to think as that, specifically as a writing coach, I am worth the amount of time, energy, and money my clients spend to reach their goals, that working with me one-on-one is a singularly memorable and worthwhile experience. I am most proud of the fact I am creative and open-minded enough to be a lifelong learner within many subjects.

On writing: I have been an avid reader for most of life – and a writer since I was 8 – I scribbled my first poem into my first journal and from that point on there was no stopping the flow, for better or worse, for good times and bad, for the publishing enjoyment for all or secretly hidden for posthumous discovery. Writing and publishing are not the same thing and I wish that would have been the first advice I’d received, repeatedly: in every class, on every syllabus, and within every lecture. So, my coaching and teaching techniques are based on the industry elements I need students to know and those elements I wish I had known sooner. Chief among those elements, one becomes a writer because they make the conscious choice to do so, to become; there’s no such thing as a born writer — and everyone can learn to become the writer they dream of being, but they must consciously decide to do so and work toward that goal no matter what. I am most proud of all my writing, within many genres, and ecstatic over every past issue of the Medum Chill ‘zine series (on Amazon) and over every issue still to come.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Three lessons to unlearn, and as cliche as they may be now to many: 1. You must be grateful for any job if it pays the bills, even if it’s run by toxic bullies; 2. At some point, you become too old to follow a dream or try new things; and 3. Avoid failure.

All of these are blatantly false. It’s never a good idea to sacrifice your own mental, physical, and emotional well-being simply to appease terrible leaders; THE BEST leaders teach others, inspire others, and take an interest in the individuals who work for them. Secondly, the game isn’t over until you say it’s over — and there’s no such thing as an expiration date for “following dreams and taking risks”. Finally, and simply, failure is how we learn – it shows we tried, placing energy and focus into attempts, and now have some experience, knowing better than to give up after facing an obstacle or setback.

These three lessons were recognized and unlearned, and then replaced with more appropriate and fulfilling lessons — and all from personal experience over time, but especially coming to light in 2017.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

As a writer, a coach, and a teacher — it’s be nimble, be quick, and be ready for a whole bunch of out-of-control and fiery candle sticks. Flexibility, open-mindedness, and being able to pivot are inherently built into the rules for the game(s) for most fields, but most certainly for writers, teachers, and coaches. I have found that as a writer, coach, and teacher, if I cannot listen more than I speak, and if I do not know my own value, my own worth, then it may be time to re-evaluate my approach(es) and commitments to both the client’s goal(s) and my own.

A recent example of a pivot:
I’ve begun charging for all aspects of my time as a private, one-on-one and small group (no more than 8) writing coach. As a professional, I must protect my own energy, time, and boundaries — I have found I can only work successfully with clients who are willing to invest a pre-determined amount of their own time and energy into their desired goals and creative growth — and this includes a financial commitment as well for my own attention, focus, and assistance — from the initial hour consult all the way through to the end of our arrangement.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.clippings.me/rhondabaughman
• Instagram: rhonda.baughman.3
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rhonda.baughman.3
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-rhonda-baughman-8263a745/
• Twitter: @Dr_Baughman
• Other: Tripadvisor: @RhondaB144

Image Credits
All photo credit belong to me