You offer career, small business and life strategies coaching. Why these three specialties?

Most of us need to work; that's a financial reality. We also want to feel as if we matter, and a fulfilling career certainly contributes to a sense of purpose. While some people thrive as employees, others are disinclined to stay in one line of work indefinitely. Fewer still will have the option to remain with one employer throughout their career. Some people will want to have more control over their professional destiny. For these reasons, many people are more likely than ever at some point to go into business for themselves.

As our society sometimes seems to reward professional achievements above everything else, countless people focus too much time and energy on their job or their business, and not enough on other aspects of their life. This is shortsighted because if you don't pay attention to your life beyond your work, you will inevitably flounder professionally, as well as personally.

So it’s in our best interest to figure out what else matters to us. The old saying, "Nobody ever said on his deathbed that he wished he'd worked more," may not hold true for everyone, but it will for most of us. The ideal goal is to create a life that includes both a satisfying career, whether as an employee or self-employed, and a rewarding personal life. This is why these are my specialties.

What changes have you seen happen in the lives of your clients?

Some of the changes my clients have made are very dramatic: going from jobs they despise to work they truly enjoy; significantly increasing their income; finding a long-term partner after much romantic dissatisfaction; spending time doing something they never dreamed they'd be able to do. It's a huge shift to go from being depressed over or displeased with some aspect of your life, to feeling happy and fulfilled.

I've also seen changes that are far more subtle, but equally impressive. For example, some people have worried for ages over a major decision, like "Should I leave my job?" Finally figuring out that they want to stick to the professional course they're on (and perhaps instead tweak some other aspect of their life) may not seem like a real change, but it is. When you realize how much time, and it can be years, someone is wondering and worrying about finding an answer to that type of question, resolving the issue and being able to move past it is a big deal.

There are also internal changes: I would say the most meaningful one for my clients is an increase in their sense of self, a deeper understanding of who they are and what they want their life to be. I believe that knowledge is power and if you don't figure out who you are and what you want, good luck getting it. Once my clients determine what matters most to them and start building a life that supports those values, they are able to make all kinds of amazing transformations.

Is there a philosophy that guides your career and small business coaching?

Within these coaching niches, there is a popular notion that people have one true passion or calling, and the goal of coaching is to help them uncover it. The underlying message seems to be that if you don't find your calling, it's a tragedy that will leave you unfulfilled. I'm not sure this reflects what's true for everyone.

I do believe that some people have a calling, and that's great. But for those who don't, I would love it if they could embrace not knowing, and see that having different professional experiences and a more varied path can be really worthwhile. They should never feel that they've failed or something's wrong with them if they don't fall in love with one career or one business venture. And if they choose to pull back from their work for any reason — to raise a family, follow a creative impulse, or offer support to someone else — they can still feel fulfilled.

My intention with clients is to find the best solution to match both their circumstances and their personalities.

What philosophy guides your life strategies coaching?

I am convinced that you can't change your life until you understand and respect yourself for who you are right now. This may seem to go against the basic premise of coaching, which is all about making changes, including internal ones. But you can't transform yourself until you are able to appreciate who you are at this moment. Over and over, I've seen that when clients make the transition from fighting against their nature to embracing their values, they are able to achieve their goals with much less stress and struggle.

Why is coaching significant?

We live only once, so it's important to make the most of the time we're given. Coaches help individuals create their best (as in happiest and most satisfying) life. But the impact of coaching goes way beyond the individual. We are all interconnected, in that what we do on an individual level affects those around us. When we make a conscious effort to design the life we want, both personally and professionally, we're more satisfied. As satisfied people, we are kinder and more generous to those around us, and so we naturally contribute to making the world a better place.