Earlier today I had a private client thank me for my work with him and express his appreciation for the ways it’s helped him grow in the past several months, and as he closed his statement to me he said, “I know I’m not the easiest nut to crack.”

And I thanked him wholeheartedly for his kind words, and then I said, “By the way, I really don’t mind that you’re not the easiest nut to crack. I so admire your bravery in the way you keep showing up for the work in commitment to your growth time after time, and besides, I love solving puzzles. I get bored if I’m not challenged. I’d probably start questioning the value of my work as a coach with you if it felt like it was too easy.”

…I really hope he knew that was a compliment.