About Opening Pathways
The purpose of Opening Pathways Life Coaching is to provide guidance, objectivity, wisdom, and encouragement to those who have found it difficult to grow in competency as individuals, as leaders, and as spouses, parents, employees, or in any important role in life. Our clients have seen growth in each of these areas and we are confident that our services will produce the same results for you.
Introduction and Invitation to Life Coaching
Martin L. Crawford
Certified Life Coach, Founder
Email: mlcrawford@openingpathways.com
Phone: (256) 384-5241
I have a Life Coach certification from Certified Life Coach Institute.
8 Core Competencies
As Written By International Coaching Federation (ICF)
A. Foundation
1. DEMONSTRATES ETHICAL PRACTICE
2. EMBODIES A COACHING MINDSET
B. Co-Creating the Relationship
3. TRUST & INTIMACY WITH THE CLIENT
4. COACHING PRESENCE
5. ACTIVE LISTENING
C. Communicating Effectively
6. POWERFUL QUESTIONING
7. DIRECT COMMUNICATION
D. Cultivating Learning and Growth
8. CREATING AWARENESS
Life Coaching Pathways
Learn virtues and values that will refine and cultivate your character and help grow you up into your full potential.
Identify and eliminate the personal issues and traumas that could be sabotaging important connections and become an agent of peace and harmony in your relationships.
Obtain the characteristics and mindsets to improve your ability to guide and develop your teams and subordinates for optimum productivity and success.
Now a little about me:
I am married and have been married for going on 34 years to my wonderful wife. We have 4 grown children, 3 girls and 1 boy, and 6 grandchildren (4 boys and 2 girls who were just born this past Dec and Jan).
I must say grandchildren are a joy, you get to enjoy seeing them grow up without the responsibility of raising them 😊
I am an Army brat and have lived in many places to include 2 stints in Germany and 2 in El Paso Texas. I love sports and played both football and basketball in High School, here in Huntsville, at Butler. I excelled in Football but failing to get a athletic scholarship, I decided to focus on my academics and started to pursue a degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), after being told that Computer Science was not a good field to go in because I wouldn’t get a job. Little did they know 😊. After a year at UTC my parents asked me to move back home to complete my degree which wasn’t a good idea for me as when I came home I got more caught up in hanging with friends and working and college became a lower priority along with my grades. It didn’t help that I was pursuing a degree in which I had no interest.
I tried to go into business, but when it was time for me to start my franchise there weren’t a lot of good city choices left, so back to college I went and completed my degree in Computer Science at UAH. I got married in college and started having children and after trying one more business venture and failing I entered into my degree field as a software engineer where I’ve been working over 30 years. Not 6 months into my career I was made a lead on the program and have been in a lead position for most if not all of my career to include leading software teams as the software manager, leading a development program as a Program Manager, leading SILs and a position as an Executive Manager in the company I work for, for over 15 years.
I remember when planning to go back to college I was looking at going back to school as a counselor or computer scientist and though I really was interested in how people behaved and liked the idea of helping them I believe the money in computer science won out. As my career is coming to an end, I’ve decided I want to turn my attention more to helping people with life. So, I’m excited about this new venture and what can come out of it. If it’s anything like seeing the value of helping the ones that provided a testimony it will be very rewarding, for me and I believe for anyone who signs up!