Some Paths Find You, No Matter What

There are moments in life that light a spark—subtle at first, easily brushed aside. But some sparks refuse to disappear. Instead, they linger, waiting for us to pay attention.

For me, that little spark occurred in a workshop during my first job. I was sitting in a room at GFA Consulting Group in Hamburg, listening to a coach guide us through exercises meant to improve teamwork and self-awareness. It was different from anything I had experienced before. I felt an unexpected pull toward the process—toward the way questions opened doors, toward the space to reflect and shift perspectives.

And yet, when the workshop ended, I went back to my routine. I had a plan, a clear career path. Coaching? That wasn’t part of it.

Years Later, the Spark Was Still There

As time went on, that moment in the workshop didn’t fade. Instead, it kept reappearing in my thoughts—like a song lyric you can’t quite shake.

Looking back, maybe it shouldn’t have been a surprise. When I was choosing my studies, psychology was high on my list. I loved trying to understand what drives people, why they act the way they do. But in the end, I chose economics—thinking it was the more “sensible” path.

Even then, behavioral economics fascinated me—why people make the decisions they do, how they are influenced by their surroundings. But coaching felt like too much of a stretch.

And so, I kept moving forward, taking opportunities that made sense, pushing the idea of coaching aside. Until, at some point, I had to admit: the spark wasn’t gonna go anywhere.

The path of my journey along the Camino de Santiago - the initial spark: a long distance hike

Taking the Leap

I finally signed up for a coaching certification at the INeKO Institute at the University of Cologne, diving headfirst into a world that, in hindsight, had been calling me for years.

I loved every moment of it. The learning, the deep conversations, the realization that I could support people throughout their change processes.

But here’s the funny thing: I almost would not have taken the leap.

The Beliefs That Held Me Back

I had convinced myself that:

• It was too late to start. (It wasn’t.)

• I’d have to go back to university. (I didn’t.)

Those beliefs were invisible walls I had built for myself, and it wasn’t until I worked with a coach myself that I started to question them and lean into where curiosity, joy and meaning where guiding my way.

Lessons Learnt

This journey taught me something valuable: the ideas we keep coming back to aren’t random. They’re nudging us toward something—even if we don’t fully understand it yet.

And now? I’m here to support others follow their own sparks—whether in career transitions, personal growth, or simply finding clarity in the chaos.

So, if you have a little hunch that keeps showing up, maybe it’s time to listen.