James Novello, Life and Resilience Coach

James Novello is skilled life and resilience coach, and a former paramedic firefighter with the San Francisco Hearth Division (SFFD).

He served for a few years with the SFFD, responding to greater than 25,000 emergency incidents, and earned a myriad of specialised certifications throughout the course of his duties. Whereas working with the SFFD, James by no means had a doubt in his thoughts that being a paramedic firefighter was his true calling, and can be his profession till retirement age.

Nonetheless, after struggling a collection of serious, on-the-job accidents, James got here to the conclusion that he wouldn’t be capable of end his profession as a full-time first responder—his accidents had been just too in depth and debilitating. He couldn’t transfer round as swiftly and simply as he as soon as did. And the ache was changing into more and more alarming.

Whereas assigned to gentle obligation and filling a peer assist function throughout the division, James Novello had an epiphany relating to his profession path: He had all of the requisite abilities and expertise to change into a life and resilience coach, and he cherished serving to these in want. After contemplating it for a while and discussing the matter with buddies and family members, he made the choice to pursue it as a vocation, and he hasn’t appeared again since. James Novello lives in San Francisco, California together with his household within the Excelsior District.

What do you at present do at your organization?

I’m a life and resilience coach. I counsel purchasers on how greatest to handle no matter maladies, accidents, or psychological and emotional issues they might be grappling with. This could take the type of bodily coaching, food plan planning, profession recommendation, or just serving to them discuss via private points.

What was the inspiration behind your small business?

I had sustained quite a lot of on-the-job accidents, and as a consequence, was assigned to gentle obligation at my job with the San Francisco Hearth Division. One of many features I served in gentle obligation was appearing as a peer assist counselor. In that function, I not solely attended some very illuminating and informative workshops and seminars, however I additionally acted as a mentor and counselor for a few of my fellow paramedic first responders. It was that have that set me down the trail to life and resilience teaching.

What defines your approach of doing enterprise?

Mindfulness is an enormous a part of my approach of doing enterprise. At its core, mindfulness is the follow of accepting ideas and emotions as they happen relatively than making an attempt to vary the way in which the thoughts is responding. I discover it to be an extremely useful gizmo, each for myself and for my purchasers.

What keys to being productive are you able to share?

I believe staying centered on each short-term and long-term targets is the only greatest key to productiveness. It’s a tough factor in as we speak’s world to not be distracted by information, gossip, video games, or different diversions—there are actually whole billion greenback industries set as much as distract as many individuals as attainable for as a lot time as attainable (web algorithms for instance). Except for that, it’s straightforward for individuals to get caught up inside their very own head overanalyzing private conditions, as properly. Brushing all that away and sustaining give attention to what is really vital is a good problem, however I consider it’s the solely technique to truly accomplish something of price.

Inform us one long-term aim in your profession.

That’s easy. I simply need to use my abilities and expertise to assist as many individuals get via tough patches of their lives as I can.

What would you inform your youthful self?

I’d inform my youthful self to take pleasure in your physique whereas it’s limber and in prime situation. You by no means know when some accidents would possibly crop up that compromise your capacity to maneuver freely and with out ache. I’d additionally say to stay grateful and worth household over cash. Selecting a profession straightforward on the physique however intellectually difficult can also be a factor I’ve discovered to cherish and would go on to anybody.

What’s essentially the most precious lesson you’ve discovered via the course of your profession?

Don’t procrastinate on bettering your life. When you’ve discovered what you need, begin working to implement it immediately. I’m talking primarily about profession targets, however this recommendation additionally applies to private achievements and optimistic adjustments of all types. I’ve seen this mode of considering work wonders for a lot of of my purchasers, particularly those affected by trauma and hardships. It actually helps them to work via no matter issues they might be dealing with. In actual fact, I’ll add my very own testimonial. Through the roughest interval of my life, it was taking the bull by the horns and truly taking the steps to implement my targets that helped to drag me out of my very own issues. Anyhow, no matter you’re feeling strongly about, begin working towards it instantly—even when it simply takes the type of small steps. Over time, the accomplishment of these small steps will add as much as actual and significant progress towards your final aim.

What recommendation would you give to others aspiring to achieve your subject?

Within the subject of life and resilience teaching, listening to your purchasers is paramount. They are going to inform you every thing it’s essential to know with the intention to assist them, whether or not or not it’s via dialog, subtext, or typically even physique language—however you must decide up on it. I can’t underscore how vital each listening and logical reasoning are with the intention to succeed on this career.

What are a few of your favourite issues to do outdoors of labor?

Primarily, I like hanging out and spending high quality time with my household. I make certain to schedule common journeys with them, as I consider it is a wonderful technique to keep happiness in your life. Low influence endurance sports activities are additionally key actions I take advantage of to take care of my well being.

What are a number of influential books that you just’ve learn that you just’d advocate?

I’ll offer you two titles. First, The Energy of a Optimistic Workforce by Jon Gordon. That e-book outlines the significance of getting a optimistic mindset within the office, and reveals how groups with optimistic attitudes improve charges of success. Second, I like to recommend Dopamine Nation by Dr. Anna Lembke. That one is extra of a technically-skewed e-book, because it breaks down a number of research and clearly explains the connection our actions have on the physique’s dopamine reward pathways. Dr. Lembke particulars scientific research in neuroscience that conclusively show why sure actions truly lead to happiness whereas sure different unhealthy actions don’t.