STP 138 | How to Move Forward When You Don’t Have a Perfect Plan

How to Move Forward When You Don’t Have a Perfect Plan

Guest: Christi Engle | Enneagram Teacher & Personal Development Coach

Brief Description (in James’s voice)

If you’ve ever felt stuck waiting for the right time or the perfect plan before taking a next step, this episode is for you.

I talk with personal development coach Christi Engle about starting small, rethinking success, and what to do when your brain wants you to stay safe and stuck. Christi shares how she went from uncertainty to clarity in her coaching path, and how you can do the same, even if the road ahead feels foggy.

We cover the messy middle of building a coaching life, why mistakes are part of the process, and how to shift from autopilot to aligned action.

Listen to for insights on:

• Hear how to build a coaching career without a clinical license
• Learn how to stop letting fear and overthinking stall your progress
• Discover the mindset shift that helps you measure success without perfection
• Get simple practices to stay grounded and move forward—without burning out

Timestamped Highlights (Search-aware & benefit-first)

• [00:03:00] Christi’s story — From stay-at-home mom to coach without a license: how she took one step at a time
• [00:06:00] Coaching vs. Counseling — Why Christi chose coaching and what made the difference
• [00:10:47] Redefining Success — How to stop ruminating and start measuring what really matters: Prepared, Present, Authentic
• [00:14:49] Stopping the Spiral — A mindset tool to interrupt overthinking and impostor thoughts
• [00:16:24] Byron Katie’s method — “Is it true?” and other powerful questions to challenge old beliefs
• [00:18:00] Living with Intention — How to spot autopilot patterns and shift into aligned choices
• [00:23:26] Daily Tools that Help — Breathwork and basic rhythms to get grounded before big decisions
• [00:25:59] Authentic Coaching — Why your story is your strength and how to coach from your full self
  [00:28:13] Final encouragement — Don’t fear the messy middle—it’s where the growth happens

Mentioned in the Episode

• Christi Engle’s website: https://perennialcoaching.com
• $27 Boundaries Blueprint
• Perennial Growth Path coaching program
• The Work by Byron Katie → https://thework.com