“Existence system” is not a phrase commonly known or used in English.  A Google search for it in quotes yields a paltry 7,470 results and none of the first few pages of results contain the meaning I intend to share here, so let’s look at the phrase newly.

Said another way, I mean: systems for keeping things in existence*.  We all know the phrase, “out of sight, out of mind”, right?  Keeping something in existence means keeping it present over time: it is the antithesis of letting something fall through the cracks. Many people don’t need an existence system: it is easy to remember the big things like going to work on Monday morning and brushing the teeth at night.  If those are your only responsibilities in a typical week, you really don’t need to check in with a day planner first thing in the morning.  And if you should happen to forget Aunt Pam’s birthday, well, she’ll probably understand.

But if you’re Up To Something, something that demands more of you than getting through a regular work schedule and maintaining basic hygiene, then an existence system is quickly relevant.  When you are Up To Something there are actions to take, promises to keep, appointments to attend and so on, and each thing has its place in time.  Letting one of these things slip through the cracks is counterproductive, and so staying present to all of them is very useful.

Coaches are almost invariably coaching people who are Up To Something.  Thus, coaches themselves are almost invariably Up To Something.  Existence systems become doubly relevant in the coaching profession.  What is your existence system?  How about your clients’?  Do they ever intersect?

Next: What makes an existence system great?

*You probably know of many existence systems, even if you’ve never called them by that name.  PDA’s, MS Outlook, day planners, Google Calendars, a cell phone that beeps at you 2 minutes before you’re supposed to hop onto that conference call… these are all examples of systems to keep you present to what’s going on and when.

It must be said: the CoachAccountable team loves the frank self-assessment. Because we started this from nothing and fuel ourselves almost exclusively on excitement and possibility, we find it helpful every 6 months or so to take a good hard look at the central reasons why we are doing this. Now that we’ve launched and we have some big new feature releases only a few days away, we wanted to make sure that all of our next actions are aligned and focused on the right path. We soul searched. We revisited dusty old versions of business plans, USPs (unique selling propositions), tag lines and group emails harking back to the lonely era of B.B. (Before Beta.) Against the dramatic backdrop of Midwest summer thunderstorms, we reflected deeply on lessons learned.

Then we threw all that out the window and took a good look at where we are now, what is important to us, what feels right in our guts and what drives us to show up and work hard every day. Here’s the mini-manifesto that we came up with, illustrating the mindset we want to come from as we work to make CoachAccountable a truly great resource for coaches and their clients:

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Why We Exist:

At CoachAccountable, we are an ally to the coaching community.

We strive for the constant improvement of the coaching experience for both coaches and their clients.

We are committed to making coaching and coaches more accepted, accessible and enticing to the general public.

What We Do:

We are creating versatile web-based resources for both coaches and clients that empower their relationships.

We add value by providing an interactive and tangible framework that facilitates growth and tracks progress.

How We Do It:

First and foremost, we are building this system for people.

By prioritizing the coachee experience [meaning that we can stand in the shoes of a coaching client and authentically see things from their perspective], we build tools that most effectively help people realize their goals.

By collaborating with our coach customers, we support and grow their businesses.

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So, what do you think? Does it strike any chords? Raise any concerns? Are we missing the mark or right on target? You are the person that we are trying to serve. Please let us know your thoughts.

P.S. There is some really good stuff launching very soon in CoachAccountable. Sneak peek: importing Outlook, iCal and Google calendars, online scheduling, and our Affiliate program. I, personally, am so excited that I can’t stop doing classic 1980’s dance moves such as the Roger Rabbit, the Lawn Mower and the Cabbage Patch.

P.P.S. Since we are laying ourselves bare in this post, full team disclosure: Rob has mastered the Moonwalk and is passable at the Running Man. John has always been something of a savant at Dance Dance Revolution.