Dr. Layne McDonald is one of the coaches that we found this month and we did a little interview with him. He impressed us with his dedication and wisdom.

He is one of the most unique coaches we have ever interviewed. Driven by a passion cultivated in the cinematic realms of filmmaking and the evocative landscapes of music, he found his calling as a coach, orchestrating a crescendo in a life rich with varied chapters. Armed with dual Ph.D.s in Administration and Management, as well as Communications and Film, he defied societal labels that sought to confine him to the realm of ‘creative.’

He embarked on an uphill journey, integrating an analytical and strategic mindset into his inherently artistic nature. As he aptly puts it, “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” Every setback became a stepping stone toward a more refined version of himself.

His clients, after the symphony of his coaching, emerge not only enriched professionally but transformed personally, becoming beacons of wisdom and courage that illuminate boardrooms, communities, and the world at large. Here is what he said.

Meet Life Coach Dr. Layne McDonald:

Name: Dr. Layne McDonald

Pillar: The Spirit, The Mind

Who is this coach for: For people who want to become leaders and catalysts of societal transformation.

How they can help: Through various coaching tools and techniques like Psychometric assessments, SWOT analyses, blue ocean strategies, and asking deep questions that invoke deeper thoughts and self reflection.

First of all, how are you and your family doing after these Pandemic times?

We’re resilient and grateful, each day weaving a new narrative of hope and survival.

It’s like a harmony of melodies in a complex musical composition, each note crucial, each rhythm vital.

As Michael J. Fox profoundly said, “Family is not an important thing. It’s everything.”

We have not just survived this pandemic, we’ve thrived, gaining new perspectives on love, unity, and the irreplaceable worth of human connection.

How did the coronavirus pandemic affect your clients? Did it affect you at all?

The pandemic unearthed vulnerabilities but also presented opportunities for courage.

Many of my clients faced seismic shifts in their operational paradigms, from layoffs to a complete transition to remote work.

But every challenge is a cover story for opportunity.

“Be the change you wish to see in the world,” Gandhi advised, and that’s what I focused on… mental wellness, resilience, and leading through a prism of empathy and human first ideologies.

What are the biggest lessons that you learned in this pandemic?

This pandemic reinforced the irreplaceable value of human connection and flexibility.

I understood that “Success is not final, failure is not fatal, It is the courage to continue that counts”, as Winston Churchill astutely noted.

It’s not just about sailing through calm waters but steering the ship deftly even when the sea is rough, maintaining the cargo of hope and human connection intact.

The Origin:

Tell us about you, your career, how you started with your coaching career?

With roots deeply embedded in the cinematic landscapes of filmmaking and the soul stirring terrains of music, my journey to becoming a transformative coach was a crescendo, a climax in a life rich in varied experiences.

My dual Ph.D.s in Administration and Management, as well as Communications and Film, acted as bridges to connect my creative and analytical selves.

I started coaching to create leaders who are not merely figures of authority but harbingers of empathy and catalysts of societal transformation.

What was your biggest obstacle that you had to overcome in your life that made you who you are today?

Society often tries to pigeonhole us, and my initial label was that of a ‘creative.’

It was an uphill battle to earn my dual Ph.D.s and integrate an analytical and strategic mindset into my inherently artistic nature.

As Confucius said, “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

I’ve taken every fall, every setback, and every challenge as a stepping stone towards a better version of myself.

The Coaching Style:

How do you innovate with coaching your clients?

My coaching style is like jazz, structured improvisation.

Utilizing elements of storytelling from my filmmaking background, I blend them seamlessly with blue ocean strategies and emotional intelligence.

As Steve Jobs said, “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”

I am on a mission to transform followers into leaders who redefine norms and shatter ceilings, not just in profitability but in humanity and love.

What’s unique about your coaching approach?

My approach to coaching is akin to alchemy, transforming base metals into gold, except here, the base metals are untapped human potentials.

I instill a paradigm shift from mere problem solving to life transforming, weaving a tapestry of holistic development and empathetic leadership.

What benefits do your clients get after working with you?

My clients undergo a transformation that transcends professional enrichment, they undergo a metamorphosis in personal growth and societal impact.

They become lighthouses, their rays of wisdom, empathy, and courage illuminating not just boardrooms but also communities and, ultimately, the world.

Do you use any specific tools to be efficient with your clients?

Psychometric assessments, SWOT analyses, blue ocean strategies, these are the nuts and bolts in my toolbox.

But the most potent tool is active, empathetic listening, the key to unlocking the vast potentials that often lie dormant in the human soul.

Just as a painter needs a canvas or a filmmaker needs a screen, my ‘art’ of coaching requires a space of genuine, open dialogue.

My expertise and methodologies are merely the brushes, the true masterpiece is co created through active partnership with my clients.

I am profoundly influenced by the Socratic method, asking questions that invoke deeper thought, self examination, and ultimately self discovery.

The Impact:

If you had a super megaphone that, when you speak into, the whole world will hear your message, what would you say?

“Choose love, always.

Choose to be the ember that sparks a fire of positive change, the drop that instigates an ocean of goodwill.

Choose to be more than just another face in the crowd, be a soul, be a beacon, be the change.”

What is the greatest lesson you have learned in your life?

The Bible’s profound wisdom of “Love thy neighbor as thyself” is the cornerstone of everything I strive for.

Whether it’s filmmaking, music, or leadership coaching, every narrative I write, every chord I strike, and every strategy I devise is wrapped in this blanket of unconditional love and acceptance.

Your final thoughts?

Life is a narrative, a composite of myriad stories we tell ourselves and others.

But perhaps the most potent stories are those that invoke change, not just in us but in the world.

As Tony Robbins wisely put it, “The only limit to your impact is your imagination and commitment.”

I extend an open invitation to everyone reading this: Let’s co author a narrative that could redefine not just individual lives but the ethos of communities, industries, and perhaps, humankind.

Where Can You Find Dr. Layne McDonald?

If you liked this interview and you would love to become a heart centered leader go to https://www.laynemcdonald.com/ and see how Dr. Layne can help you.

For visual learners and those intrigued by the nuances of interpersonal connection, watch his videos where he synthesizes intellect and emotion into an art form. You can find them at the same site.

If you’d like to connect with him more personally, you can do that through LinkedIn or by sending him a message on his Email [email protected]. It was an honor having this interview with him.