The Great Eight – Question-by-Question Breakdown:

1. Best Coaching Advice Ever Received
    
   • Let go of the “pure coaching” textbook ideal. 
   • Trust your gut—bring more of yourself into the session. 
   • Coaching isn’t about doing it “right”; it’s about making connection relevant. 
2. What He’s Still Improving
    
   • Balancing being the expert with staying in inquiry. 
   • Constantly evaluates post-session notes to spot assumptions and adjust. 
   • Always working to honor what the client needs over what he thinks they need. 
3. Most Outrageous Thing in a Session
    
   • Called out a highly respected (but feared) surgeon directly: “You are not succeeding.” 
   • Blunt honesty is his superpower—used only after trust is firmly established. 
4. What Still Makes Him Uncomfortable
    
   • Sitting in the discomfort with the client and knowing change takes time. 
   • Coming from a profession (anesthesiology) designed to eliminate pain, this is a big shift. 
5. Advice to Doctors Considering Coaching
    
   • Coaching skills make you a better clinician, parent, friend, human. 
   • But the mindset shift—from answer-giver to space-holder—is massive. 
   • Recommends shadowing a coach or having a coach before training. 
6. What He’s Had to Conquer
    
   • His deep experience and diagnostic mindset often push him to “solve.” 
   • Coaching demands restraint, presence, and ongoing self-awareness. 
   • Journaling after sessions helps him stay grounded and reflective. 
7. How He Uses AI
    
   • Early days. Uses it to analyze patterns in notes or brainstorm. 
   • No direct client interaction with AI yet. Still values the human connection. 
8. What He’s Learned About Himself Through Coaching
    
   • Coaching made him a better teacher, dad, spouse, and friend. 
   • Self-awareness led to values-driven change. 
   • His coaching benefits him as much as his clients—a quiet reminder that reflection is a two-way gift. 

☕ Fun Stuff

• Dream Job Origin Story?
  He wanted to be Hawkeye Pierce from MASH*—not a joke. He secretly watched the show at night and fell in love with the idea of being the revered, wisecracking, skillful doctor.

Spoiler: He never dated a nurse.