The Chronicle notes that executive coaching is increasingly popular among nonprofit leaders. I wonder what role it might play with philanthropists? Professional advisors generally are not good at eliciting the client's "highest and best self," or giving birth to the leader's latent self. (Socrates spoke of himself as being "the midwife of the citizen's soul.") In addition, advisors are not generally project managers and have a hard time keeping the client and the work on track. So, perhaps, there is a role for executive coaching for high potential people as they transition to philanthropy, or as they move from reactive giving to transformational or inspired civic leadership. I don't know too many people who play this role of coaching philanthropists of vision and follow through. I guess, I am trying out for the job, in my capacity as pro bono Morals Tutor to America's Wealthiest Families. Ah, if only like Socrates I could wander about "coaching" those who fled me. Didn't he cage a living mooching on his rich friends? Refused to charge a fee, unlike the Sophists. Never had a job as far as I know. "Pay it forward," as Tracy Gary says.
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