Meet Adam Mock | Leadership Coaching Specialist & Dream Rescuer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Adam Mock and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Adam, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?

That understanding doesn’t equal agreement.

Too many of us are afraid to take a posture of curiosity when we find ourselves in opposition to someone else’s views or opinions. Instead, we dig in our heels and talk louder, talk more, and try to over power the conversation with logic in a futile attempt to win someone to our side.

The truth that understanding doesn’t equal agreement is incredibly powerful. And magnifying that even more is knowing that by becoming curious about the other person’s position, you uncover valuable information about why they may have a certain perspective and what underlying values may be driving it.

By being able to understand someone else, you’re able to activate empathy, which leads to being able to acknowledge another person’s feelings all while still being able to hold your own views.

And by seeking to understand someone else, you’ll have a better idea of why something may be so important to someone else, even though it may not be right for you.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

I’m in the dream rescuing business.

I take proven leadership best practices and help anyone raise their self-awareness so they can live their lives at full choice. Because many people have forgotten the life they want to live.

What sets me apart is that although I have my designation as a Leadership Coaching Specialist (LCS), I don’t work exclusively with people who are employed. I’ll use professional assessments such as DiSC and EQi, as well as leadership insights to help individuals, couples, and teams raise their self-awareness and get a deeper understanding of why they do, what they do.

I’m incredibly proud to be a part of helping others feel whole and unbroken. Too many of us wake up dreading the day with our to-do list weighing heavy on us and feeling as if we can’t keep up with how we compare ourselves to our friends, our family, and co-workers. So, we end up drowning in this ocean of insecurity and wishing we didn’t lack in so many areas of who we are.

The beauty of coaching and development is that I see people as complete, with everything they need to get some momentum going in the areas their life they want the most. The challenge is that most of those qualities get buried under what we believe others expect of us, and how we compare ourselves to everyone around us.

My journey of wanting to help others started when I met Doug McKinley Psy. D. a clinical psychologist and Master Coach who hosts the Leadership Currency podcast.

We met through the organization Triple Threat where Doug was leading a group development program for teens, and I was one of the mentors along with my friend Caleb Luper who founded Triple Threat.

I became so fascinated with the wisdom, care, and tools that Doug shared with the students. And I wondered why I was 40 years old and only now hearing many of the insights he was sharing. Knowing this information was gold to the soul, so I told Doug that I wanted to know everything he knew. And he said, “Okay. If you’re serious, I’ll teach you everything I know.”

And he kept his word.

Because of his generosity in sharing his knowledge I would go on to get my designation as an LCS and have the privilege to work with individuals, couples, schools, professional athletes, gold-medalists, and even hall of famers.

And beyond having my own coaching practice, I serve as the Executive Director of Leadership Development with Triple Threat, where we get to work with organizations like Nike and the Jordan Brand.

It hasn’t always been easy. Coaching and development were so new to me and I was so hungry to not just learn, but to apply what I was learning with others, that I just jumped right into the deep end without fully knowing how to swim yet.

I cringe when I think back on some of my first 1-on-1 client meetings and group trainings. As passionate as I was about the work, I felt awkward and limited in my knowledge. And rightfully so as I was just beginning, and we all have to start somewhere. But I realized quickly that good intentions in coaching can only get you so far, and you really need to keep up with best practices and tools that can actually help people become empowered. Too many well-meaning coaches make the mistake of thinking inspiration is enough to create meaningful change. But I learned pretty fast that you need more.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in becoming a coach is that it’s so important to start with clients who will be patient with your growth as a coach. Family and friends is a great place to start, without charging them, so you can sharpen your tools and get the experience needed to begin to work with paying clients and facilitating group trainings.

And it was so eye opening to learn that you can’t motivate anyone. Motivation is intrinsic, and people can only motivate themselves. You can help them uncover what might drive them to make the changes they desire, but it’s so vital that you aren’t their source of motivation.

Because when things get really tough for people, you want them to be able to tap into something within themselves that motivates them to rise when knocked down. If they view you as their source of motivation, then when storms come their way and you’re not there, you’ve disempowered them to help themselves.

My greatest hope is to help others find their authentic self, no matter how deeply buried it might be, so they can live the life they want. A life full of color and experiences fueled by a renaissance spirit that allows everyone to continue to evolve and grow.

I’m done with the narrative that we need to decide “the ONE THING we want to be when we grow up”. Living at full choice means you can be many things. And when you have that freedom, your dreams come into focus.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

There are so many great places to hang in SoCal that tough to choose! I remember when we first moved here from Illinois we were told “You’ll never run out of things to do here.” and they’re right!

I love the outdoors and SoCal offers so many great outdoor adventures. I love mountain biking, kayaking, and hiking, and our area offers many places to explore for all of those.

One of my favorite places to mountain bike is at SkyPark at Santa’s Village in Lake Arrowhead. This family attraction has a Christmas themed village open all year round with great food and activities like a rock wall, zip lines, axe throwing, and roller skating.

As fun as all of that is, it’s their MTB trails that keep me coming back. The trails are always a blast and will have you smiling for days. And if you don’t have a bike, you can rent one for the day!

If you want to hop on the water and see some sea lions and ocean life then head over to the La Jolla Sea Caves. This tour allows you to get on a tandem kayak and paddle with a group over to the beautiful sea caves. Gorgeous views and a great activity to do with your partner or a friend.

For people who prefer to keep their feet on the ground I’d recommend a beautiful hike in Aliso and Wood Canyons Park. Tons of trails and wildlife to enjoy while you traverse up dirt paths and over rocks. Be sure to bring a water bottle or a hydration pack!

When it comes to food one of my favorites is Nick’s in downtown Laguna Beach. Great atmosphere, delicious dishes, and the ability to walk it off on Laguna Beach’s boardwalk or the quaint downtown area.

If you’re in the mood for Mexican food, Javier’s at the Irvine Spectrum is spendy, but worth it. Not only is the staff attentive, but the food is incredible. And afterward, you can catch a movie at the theater, walk the mall, or see a comedy show at the improv.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

There are three people who have been integral to my success and deserve their flowers . . .

The first is Doug McKinley Psy. D. who gave freely of his knowledge and skill and taught me that I all I need to be, is me. My ability to help develop others is because of his commitment to help develop me.

The second is Caleb Luper, the founder and CEO of Triple Threat. He knows it’s easy to be brave from a distance, and showed me the courage it takes to live a life of passion and purpose.

And the foundation of it all, my wife Sara. Who has always believed that I can illuminate a dark room. Whenever I have doubts and start to dim, she helps me shine a little brighter.

Website: https://www.adammock.com

Instagram: adamcmock.lcs

Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/adammock-lcs

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/adammock