We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alan Levin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alan below.
Alan, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I actually found my purpose by first pursuing what was NOT my purpose. I grew up in an upper class, suburban home and my parents had high standards for the careers they expected my siblings and I to pursue. What were acceptable choices? Doctor, lawyer, business man – that was pretty much it. As someone who was good in math, accounting became the career path they considered to be the best fit. With no vision of my own, I followed their wishes but it wouldn’t hold.
I completed an undergraduate degree in Business Administration, passed the CPA exam and went on to be a Financial Controller at a well known publishing company in New York city. After years in the field and long hours spent trying to move up to greater levels of responsibility and accomplishment, I felt like a phony. I never felt like I chose my own path. Instead of taking ownership of my career, I let my parents choose it for me. It wasn’t until I was laid off by that publishing company did I realize how unhappy I was.
I took that summer off, found a good therapist and recalibrated what was most important to me – purpose, living with integrity and being an example for others. I quickly realized that I was meant to help people – it was something I always believed – so I applied to graduate social work programs with the goal of eventually doing private practice psychotherapy. I had always had a keen curiosity about the mind and what motivated people.
This was my chance – in my mid-30’s – to change the trajectory of my life. I discovered life coaching while in grad school and completed a coaching certification soon after graduating. As a life coach, I help men through all kinds of challenges and most importantly, I teach them how to use their minds more effectively, which ultimately helps them change the trajectory of their own lives.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a Life Coach and I work with men over 40 who want to take back control of their dating life. In today’s dating world, it is extremely hard to meet someone, particularly if you’re recently divorced and new to the dating scene. My work spans the life of a relationship – from the initial contact, all the way through to a committed relationship. Along this journey are all kinds of pitfalls – a poor response to your dating profile, getting ghosted during messaging, missing cues of interest or lack there of – just to name a few. The dating experience is hard for even the most experienced bachelor but if you’re new to this world, it can be overwhelming. That’s where I come in. I help men set and execute a dating plan. I help enhance their skills – for example, I partner with an improv coach so if a client has approach anxiety, he can overcome it with the help of a coach who teaches the very skills needed for such an encounter. The most important part of my work is helping men manage their minds better. We all have thought patterns that undermine our success. Once my clients start to use their minds more effectively, the results they see in their life start to explode! My Coaching program helps men take back control of their dating life. My latest creation is a webinar titled “How to Write a Kick-ass Dating Profile” where I share my secrets to creating a profile that gets you noticed and distinguishes you from the pack.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Having a spiritual practice has been huge in my journey. I meditate daily and it helps to quiet my mind. I draw upon simple breathing skills to center myself during stressful times. Perseverance would be the quality I’d highlight to anyone on a journey. There are always setbacks and we need ways to power through them. What helps me persevere is imagining how I’m going to feel when I reach a goal. That makes it real for me. An area of knowledge that’s important is human behavior. I’ve learned how to read people and understand their motivations. If you can do that, it’s much easier to connect and collaborate with others.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My ideal client would be a man over 40 who is looking to find their “person”. This might be someone who is divorced or widowed and has not been on the dating scene for some time. This person would also be open-minded, committed to learning and willing to stretch themselves. Our work together would require self-reflection and making a commitment to one’s self to improve.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://alanlevincoaching.com/
- Instagram: @alevin9090
- Facebook: @alanlevincoaching
- Twitter: @alandatingcoach
Image Credits
Stephanie Turci
