A life in� the day of a life coach

By CNN's Colleen McEdwards

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(CNN) -- When we set off for the suburbs of Toronto to meet life coach Robin Sharma, I wasexpecting something quite different. Sort of a hard sell, you know? A "my-way-or-the-highway" kindof guy. Sharma is nothing of the sort. Actually, he was oddly earnest, and began our meeting byasking me all sorts of questions about myself?statements really?he'd done his homework.

He knew where I'd gone to school in Canada, what I'd done in Canadian broadcasting and at CNN,all kinds of stuff anyone can find out on Google, but the point is, he knew it.

He said he always checks people out, not to be defensive, but because he's genuinely interested inpeople: where they've been and what their back-story is. And I believed him.

Sharma's the kind of guy who could win over a snake-oil salesman.

His clients are mainly top executives who've found they have it all but aren't happy. It's usuallybecause their personal lives suffered at the hands of hard work.

He teaches people how to put it back in balance again. He starts with something small.

"If you show me your schedule," he quips, "I can show you a solution."

In other words, he teaches you how to find time for thethings you claim to be missing out on.

"If you fight for your excuses, Colleen, you'll own them forthe rest of your life," he says.

And yes, he has a straight face when he's saying it!

His first major success was a book he self-published. "TheMonk Who Sold His Ferrari" is now available in dozens ofcountries in dozens of languages.

At a meeting with his publisher, Harper Collins, Editor-i--chief Iris Tupholme remarked at how Sharma has asomewhat mysterious, universal appeal.

In Turkey, people see him as one of them, same thing inIsrael or even Pakistan. He has a look and way about him that makes him almost any country'snative son.

And his message is universal too. He doesn'tgo down the thorny road of faith or valuejudgments about money or material things."The Monk" is told as a fable. One of hisother great sellers is "The Greatness Guide."

In that book, his ideas seem morecrystallized. It's more of a business book---the one you'd refer to right away like anindex guide to finding your feet again.

There's an entire chapter on making otherpeople feel good, spending time with your kids, and remembering how to play.

He's a single dad who struggles to keep his own life in balance. But what strikes me is that he really"walks the walk."

He lives his life the way he coaches others to live. He makes a big deal about his own failures andimperfections.

His children are lovely. They're at a tough age--- that pre-teen/early teen stage. Our crew watchedSharma driving them to school, having conversations with them, and filmed at their house oneevening during dinner hour.

When I asked them what their dad does for a living they said, he's a writer who helps people have agood life. When I asked them what his number one priority is, they both answered, without missing abeat, "Us!"

Robin Sharma stood beaming in the kitchen.