My story

A long, long time ago…

I worked for a Fortune 100 Best Places to Work software company. The pay and perks were terrific, but I didn't want to be there. I wanted something different: to help people know and believe in themselves and make their dreams come true.

To help me clarify my goals, a friend gave me a copy of Finding Your Own North Star by Dr. Martha Beck. Beck is Harvard-educated and Oprah Winfrey's life coach, and she started the phenomenon of life coaching.

When I learned she was beginning to certify coaches, I put my last $4000 on a credit card to pay for the training. Within two weeks, I was sitting at Dr. Martha Beck's feet, devouring everything she had to say about this "new" profession. Over twenty years ago, I became one of the first coaches to receive a certification from her.

When I returned, I pitched the idea of executive coaching to my VP of HR, and he was enthusiastic about it! But again, it didn't sit right with me. After all, if I was going to help people realize their dreams, I had to learn to listen to my own.

Then, through a series of unexpected and frankly unpleasant personal experiences …

(those pesky "tower" moments when everything crumbles to get your attention correctly), I began working with others who had undergone mental health crises and diagnoses. I felt at home working with people who had undergone enormous challenges and events that knocked off their rough edges and made them magical. All they needed was a little support.

I always combined my love for helping people with fixing broken things and solving problems, so because "telehealth" was not yet invented, I pioneered teaching people skills and supporting them remotely.

Since then, my experience, toolbox, and learning have taken me to many places. I have become a richer, more rounded master coach and trainer in business and with individuals from all walks of life.

Problems are opportunities. But it's not always easy to see how. That's why I wrote an entire book on getting from the problem to an individual's or company's bright future. You can find it here.