Meet Coach Kelly Burke

Kelly Burke

Tel: (508) 361-7276
kckaleidoscopecoaching@gmail.com

Tell us about your background.

I was raised, with a surplus of love, by top-notch parents and their village in Massachusetts and I’m eternally grateful for my upbringing. Family, friends and my relationships are what matter most to me. I’ve studied everything from biology to massage therapy, personal training to coaching and I continually learn how much more I need to learn! I LOVE to LAUGH and consider myself an ambassador for spreading joy and fulfillment. I think of myself as a passionate person and one of the things about which I’m most passionate is personal transformation for myself and others.

What brought you to coaching?

Fear paralyzed me for years from taking a step in a new direction from my original career in project management in the pharmaceutical industry. The sea of corporate buzzwords, recurring office problems and golden salary handcuffs had me drowning in dread each morning and self-loathing for being ungrateful for what was—for all intents and purposes—a fantastically full life of unfulfillment.

I always wanted to be a coach of some kind and figured I’d end up coaching my kids’ soccer games. I stumbled into life coaching when I started exploring my interest in human behavior, personal change and what it takes to create fulfillment and change.

Are there any particular life experience that inform your coaching?

My own and others’ personal transformations inform my coaching.

No two people are alike, which I find beautiful. I’m deeply interested in the mind-body connection.

What is your mission as a coach?

Every cell in my body craves helping others overcome obstacles that stand in the way of their dreams and goals. Fortunately, I know I can’t change anyone but myself. Through coaching I provide clients with a space and tools to uncover more about themselves. My mission is to help them gain new insight and perspective and empower them to start their journeys.

What kind of client do you most enjoy working with?

I enjoy clients who are hungry—even just a bit hungry—to learn more about themselves and love learning in general. My coaching juices start flowing when I meet clients who are feeling stuck.

Where and how often do you meet with your clients?

We start with a complimentary session to determine if the coaching relationship is a good fit for both of us. All sessions are conducted via phone and sometimes Skype (for international call alternatives). The client and I determine the appropriate frequency; we generally have two to three sessions a month.

What is the most important thing a new client should know about you as her coach?

I am driven by the infinite possibilities in life and I want to do all I can to help clients squeeze every drop out of their lives.

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Meet Coach Dave Kaiser

David Kaiser, PhD, PCC, CPCC

Please fill us in on your background.

I’m a recovering academic, unrepentant and successful entrepreneur, married and highly spiritual father to an amazing daughter/athlete/future U.S. Senator.

I was depressed and didn’t like who I was, which led me to learn how to build self-confidence, self-acceptance and self-love.

How did you come to coaching?

When I was finishing my dissertation. I knew I didn’t want to be an academic, but I wasn’t sure what to do next. I spent a lot of time on the receiving end of coaching, counseling and therapy, and I remember thinking, during one coaching session: ‘My coach has a pretty cool job, I could do this.’ A few I started my training and certification at Coaches Training Institute a few years later, and during the 2008 recession, I knew it was time to start my own business and live my dream.

Do you have any life experiences that inform your coaching?

I was unemployed and underemployed for a long time, which led me to see the value of having a clear vision and taking responsibility for turning it into reality. I also was disorganized and unreliable, which led me to systems of time management and productivity. I was depressed and didn’t like who I was, which led me to learn how to build self-confidence, self-acceptance and self-love. This pattern has helped me to see that dealing with each of my struggles is actually preparation for being able to help my clients with the same issues.

What is your mission?

My mission is to use my “magic” to serve my clients and the world. I define ‘magic’ as the ability to change reality by changing our consciousness, for example, by viewing every problem as an opportunity in disguise.

With what kind of clients do you most enjoy working?

Mid-career women executives and professionals who want to create an extraordinary life of service, in accordance with their values and desires. I have found that women are more open to doing the professional and personal growth work necessary to become amazing leaders and make a big difference in their worlds.

Do you hold workshops?

Right now I do webinars, often for alumni associations. I am in the process of rolling out my own webinars and also planning in-person workshops in the Chicago area. Here are links to some of my webinars:

I am also developing a program entitled “Confidence for Women Professionals” which should be ready shortly.

Where and how often do you coach?

Typically we do three 30-minute calls/Skype per month, usually for a six or 12 month engagement, and I offer email support in between calls. I offer a complimentary “Your Dream Life and Career” Strategy Session

What’s the most important thing to know about you?

I have been through hell enough times that I can help you find the door out when you’re stuck there, and I can help you to create an awesome career, life and relationship through it all.

Meet Coach Carolyn Hidalgo

Carolyn Hidalgo, CPCC

Tell us about your background.

As a teen, I loved reading Ann Landers’ advice column fascinated by how one person seemed to have the ‘right answer’ to solve life’s problems. I believed in a ‘right and wrong’ out there, but I was mistaken—the real answers are buried within us.

My parents, both physicians, taught me kindness, respect, and a secret to happiness: self-esteem. I became a Chartered Accountant, am happily married to a wonderful, fun-loving man, and we’re blessed with a son and twin girls. I thought I knew what love was, but something felt missing.

Until I began the self-discovery process through coaching, I wasn’t following my heart. I took a leap of faith changing careers to become a certified life coach/author. Today I absolutely love what I do (numbers didn’t excite me). Turned out being true to your self MATTERS.

What brought you to coaching?

10 years ago, a friend asked me to join a life-coaching group. I was in the exhausted, ‘no-time-for-myself’ stage of early motherhood, but was intrigued by the idea of getting together to ‘talk about life.’ I began to understand what it meant to live authentically—no more settling for the status quo. Choices suddenly became available I couldn’t see before. My sense of happiness grew to a deeper spiritual connection, purpose, and emotional fulfillment in all areas of my life.

Are there any particular life experiences that inform your coaching?

Absolutely. As I began to trust my inner voice, above anyone’s ideals of what I should do or think, I found myself in conflict and disconnecting with some of the closest people in my life. It was the most painful time learning how to let go, and the most transformational because it taught me the way I could stand up for what mattered to me without making anyone ‘wrong.’ It changed the depth of my connections as I began attracting like-minded people where I could just BE ME—a profound feeling of freedom!

My parents, both physicians, taught me kindness, respect, and the secret to happiness: Healthy self-esteem.

What is your mission as a coach?

I envision a world filled with authentic relationships, where people no longer criticize or judge anyone, including themselves. It’s a space you can create to live true to your highest well-being. You get to make mistakes without blaming yourself or others, and let go of unnecessary stress, guilt, shame, and conflict.

Criticism and judgment stem from what I call ‘the 4 Cs’:

  • Correcting others we see as broken thinking we need to ‘fix’.
  • Convincing others our ideas are ‘right’ for them.
  • Controlling others by imposing our ‘right’ way on them through forceful means.
  • Condemning others and seeing ourselves as superior.

By shifting our energy away from the 4 C’s when differences arise, and towards sharing, teaching, guiding, and modeling from a place of self-compassion, we can become the change. It requires being curious and open to ‘what is’ without a need to ‘be right, and make someone wrong’ taking full responsibility for your own choices.

What kind of client do you most enjoy working with?

I work best with “left-brain professional” types—mostly health/business field, and “career” moms juggling work/life balance. My clients are knowledgeable, seeking something more, struggling to create meaningful quality time, or want to take their relationships to new levels of intimacy. I resonate strongly with those who have faith or open to higher Universal Consciousness as I believe the most powerful transformation comes from a spiritual foundation of who we really are.

Tell us about your workshops and presentations.

I focus on living true to your self, finding forgiveness, letting go of guilt, and love without conditions (being judgment-free.) I want clients to experience more depth, and laughter in their relationships, ultimately experience the highest level of ‘soul love’ I believe we all deserve.

Where and how often do you meet with your clients?

I do an initial free call to determine if I am the right fit for what a client needs. All sessions are via phone or skype. My program is initially four months, with 8 bi-weekly sessions, and can be customized going forward. I do weekly email check-ins, provide session summaries, give ‘homework’ with accountability, and necessary access to me throughout the program. For specific issues, I offer coaching consults that are minimum 4 hours.

What is the most important thing a new client should know about you as their coach?

Trust. I am deeply committed to clients creating the life they truly desire without any judgment. I help clients awaken to their spiritually authentic nature, let go of what’s draining them, discover new possibilities, what’s holding them back, and provide tools, and resources to help them “become, and do” what is calling within.

Meet Coach Carla Beach

Carla Beach

The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.
—Pablo Picasso

Tell us about your background.

I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, but I’ve also lived on the East Coast, in Central Texas, San Diego and currently in Los Angeles. I’m a wife of 30+ years, mother of three beautiful, grown daughters and proud grandmother of two.

Prior to becoming a coach, I spent 20 years creating dynamic change in the world as a community activist. I addressed issues ranging from environmental protection and public education to teen/youth development, usually taking a leadership role in community or non-profit organizations. I was especially active in forging partnerships between non-profits, local government agencies, churches and businesses to create positive impacts for the communities in which I’ve lived.

What brought you to coaching?

It was a life-changing event that gave me the psychic push that turned me toward coaching. My husband was diagnosed with cancer in early 2008. While I had toyed with the idea of becoming a coach for a few years, this shocking news somehow gave me an imperative to pursue this course. That spring I began my training with Coaches Training Institute (CTI) and immediately continued with their Certification process. By June of the following year I completed my written and oral exams and received my CPCC Certificate.

Over the course of that year and a half my husband recovered from his bout with cancer. However, the irony of the situation was not lost on me when exactly one year after my husband’s diagnosis—as I was mid-way through my Certification training—I, too, was diagnosed with cancer. I finished my last course of chemo just days before my Certification “finals.”

So how do all of those events connect and what are the lessons learned for me? I guess I have a deep “in the bones” understanding of how impactful coaching can be in a person’s life. An essential part of training to become a coach includes being coached yourself; and I had coaching every step of the way through some very dark times. I understand that a coach cannot fix the unfixable, but can be there to witness, support, challenge, encourage, comfort, communicate and celebrate any event—from the most mundane to the terribly tragic. And there’s great value in that.

Are there any particular life experiences which inform your coaching?

Besides the health challenges that I’ve mentioned above, I would have to include all the moves I’ve made as an adult, many of them trans-continental. I’ve helped my daughters through unthinkable transitions—leaving friends behind and struggling to find their places in unfamiliar territory. I’ve learned how to “create community” in each new place that we’ve lived, and how a new perspective can have a positive impact on a place. I think I’ve also learned that no matter how dark the night, there is always a sunrise coming soon and that we gain strength by allowing ourselves to bathe in that new light. All of those lessons are reflected in the manner in which I coach.

I believe we all have had a Lady Godiva in our lives—someone who championed us when we needed it most.

What is your mission as a coach?

My mission is to help my clients:

  • Tap into their courage when they take the leap to make their dreams come true
  • Move fearlessly toward their goals
  • Create clarity around the issues and challenges they face
  • Summon their strength when they stumble
  • Celebrate the successes they achieve

What kind of client do you most enjoy working with?

I enjoy clients who are working toward a dream and willing to take on challenges.

Sometimes that dream is just out of range of their vision—they know it’s there but they just haven’t quite figured out what it is yet. The process of discovery—discerning what is really important and what can be let go of—is exciting to watch.

Sometimes people get stuck in a life situation that they know isn’t working for them, but they haven’t quite figured out how to make a change. It’s that point when they decide that they are ready to leap—but need a little help to take the first step… That’s when I love to coach.

I understand that change doesn’t really happen in one big leap. It’s a process of baby steps that moves us from one place to another. As a coach, I can offer perspective on that process. At the moment when a client thinks they’ve hit a wall and they are never going to achieve their dreams is when I can remind them of all those baby steps that they’ve already taken, and how far they’ve already come. So a moment of frustration can become one of celebration and renewal.

Tell us about your workshops and presentations.

I have developed an inspirational workshop for women entitled The REAL Lady Godiva™. It begins with the life and legend of the 11th century Saxon noblewoman.

As the story goes, the people of Coventry were suffering under the excessive taxes imposed by Lady Godiva’s husband, the Earl of Coventry. She took pity on them, and appealed again and again to her husband to lighten their burden. As with many husbands, he grew tired of her requests, and said he would grant what she asked only if she would strip naked and ride through the town. Of course, she did exactly that. She put her bare bottom on a horse and rode through the marketplace for the benefit of others. The result was that the Earl did abolish the taxes and the impact on the townspeople was profound.

I believe we all have had a Lady Godiva in our lives—someone who championed us when we needed it most. I know I have!

The workshop takes participants on a journey of remembrance and discovery where they reconnect with the powerful influences in their lives. It is an expedition of envisioning a future where they are using their natural gifts, strengths and skills to create positive change in their world. It is brainstorming and action planning to propel them from awareness into activity. And finally, it is a homecoming to the present with a deeper understanding of the legacies we all receive and pass on to others.

Another way to describe this process is The REAL Lady Godiva Principle™:

  • Recognize the person who impacted your life
  • Envision how gratitude for that gift will impact the world
  • Activate your vision
  • Leave a legacy

The workshop is appropriate for groups sized from 15 to 150 participants. It can be presented as a half-day activity (e.g. for an organizational annual meeting) or a full-day retreat—or just about anything in between. The REAL Lady Godiva™ Workshop is an unforgettable event.

Where and how often do you meet with your clients?

I coach by phone or by Skype. The exact arrangements are flexible depending on the clients’ needs and the compatibility of our schedules.

Additionally, I offer complimentary initial consultations.

What is the most important thing a new client should know about you as their coach?

I bring a wealth of life experience to the table when I coach; however, I know that I have not walked in your shoes. Your life is uniquely yours, and as your coach I focus only on what is important to you. I am willing to walk with you on your journey. I consider it an honor to share your confidences and I am humbled by the trust you place in me.

Meet Coach Sue Bock

Sue Bock

Tell us about your background.

I’ve been enjoying my nursing career for the past 20 years, sharing my knowledge, compassion and sense of humor with my patients. My passion for life motivates me to impart my gifts of empathy and courage to others and, as a breast cancer survivor. I have a unique perspective into the vulnerability of life. My experience also has made me love travel adventures, which help me appreciate the differences and similarities among us.

Are or have you been married and what’s your view on marriage?

I was married for 15 years but we parted ways when I discovered he no longer loved me. It was a huge challenge for me. My divorce left me broken emotionally, and then the experience allowed me to put myself back together in a much more authentic and full form. Married now to the love of my life, I know that my journey to get here has made me a better wife and partner. I love being married!

Being married to whom you love means you put your whole heart into the relationship. It binds you to that person in ways you never thought possible. In a healthy marriage you have a partner and friend you collaborate with on common goals. There is love, support, and laughter!

What brought you to coaching?

I had everything I ever wanted, but I felt there was something missing, so I decided to see a coach. The experience was quite different from therapy. It gave me a sense of purpose, confidence and peace. People started telling me I was “different,” but they couldn’t put their finger on it. My coach encouraged me to take a coaching course and I fell in love with it.

I help women re-group, empower themselves and breathe a sigh of relief when peace enters their lives.

What is your mission as a coach?

Life transitions are a challenge for all of us. It can be especially challenging for women, given all the changes in our lives. Kids are leaving home; ailing parents add time in doctor offices. Our kids who are home keep us busier than ever, and all the while work is requiring more and more of our time. Work-life balance disappears from the radar. I help women re-group, empower themselves and breathe a sigh of relief when peace enters their lives.

What famous women do you most admire?

To name a few: Oprah, Brene Brown, Hilary Clinton, Madelyn Albright and Kate Middleton. I admire their strength of character, vulnerability, intelligence and leadership.

How do women most sabotage themselves?

We’re excellent at over analyzing, feeling we’re not good enough, and then try to over compensate for it. I did this all the time, until I found coaching.

What kind of client do you most enjoy?

I enjoy working with clients who are ready for change, searching for change, yearning for change, and know that what they’ve been doing isn’t working anymore. They want answers and are ready to do what it takes to get them.

Where and how often do you meet with your clients?

Almost all of my coaching is done via phone or Skype with great clients around the world. We generally meet for three 40 to 50 minute sessions per month. Our typical coaching sessions are conversations about living courageously, discovering who you want to be, and learning how to use the tools available to get there.

Tell us about your workshops and presentations.

I discovered that I love to speak and conduct workshops. I currently work with two other women in what we call the “Women in Transition Team.” We conduct events that help women see who they are, use that knowledge to brand themselves, and then learn how to show up authentically with style.

What is the most important thing a new client should know about you as their coach?

A client should know that I love her. I stand by her side to support her through rough patches in her current life transition and to help her arrive at a place of peace of mind and happiness.

Being human makes us vulnerable, but also brings us community. When clients feel they share things with others, their sense of hopelessness ebbs. I have the ability to listen and hear past their pain, without trivializing it, and to offer ways for them to manage the process and remain accountable. It makes my heart soar!

Meet Dr. Phil Brown

Dr. Phil Brown

Age: 64

Tell us a bit about your background.

I live in Colorado Springs, Colorado, along the front range of the Rocky Mountains in full view of Pikes Peak. I have undergraduate and graduate degrees in history and systems management, a Doctorate of Management, and I am a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach from the Coaches Training Institute and certified as an Associate Certified Coach by the International Coaching Federation.

I was a pilot most of my career and am now retired from the Air Force. My two daughters and their families live close by so we see each other frequently. I am a travel junkie, and enjoy golf and riding my Harley through the mountains.

Are or have you been married and what’s your view on marriage?

I have been married to my one true love since 1971 and she is the most intelligent, compassionate, and interesting person I’ve ever known. It helps to be married to someone who is your friend and partner in love to get you through the joys and hard work of being a couple, partners, parents and grandparents. I think that marriage is a personal decision for two people that may work in extraordinary fashion or may not work and needs to be appraised.

As many women search for being all things to everyone and helping others all the time, they focus less on themselves as individuals.

What brought you to coaching?

My doctoral studies and dissertation led the way for me to research and deep dive into coaching. Following graduation my dissertation committee urged me to continue my studies and attain certification as an executive, leadership, and personal coach. It made sense for me to pursue coaching since I enjoy the messiness of human contact and I discovered it makes a difference in people’s lives and pursuits.

What is your mission as a coach?

I am a lighthouse that illuminates paths and possibilities in partnership with fascinating people. I enjoy seeing someone’s eyes brighten during those aha moments and assisting with the hard work it takes to get there.

Are there any particular life experiences that inform your coaching?

My marriage, my children, and my grandchildren continually open my eyes to the art of the possible. Plus, my time in the Air Force flying jets, training new pilots, and flying in combat have all shaped and inform who I am and my approach. The doctoral journey and coaching certification process were both transformational and informative.

What famous women do you most admire?

I admire women with intellect and drive, including Golda Meir, Eleanor Roosevelt, Marie Curie, Florence Nightingale, Sally Ride, Cher, and Katharine Hepburn. It would be a treat to listen to this group, sitting around a table and talking from their hearts and minds.

How do women most sabotage themselves?

Each woman approaches her day differently. As many women search for being all things to everyone and helping others all the time, they focus less on themselves as individuals. A search for individual strengths and individual interests requires individual permission to create and take personal time. It often is a challenge to give yourself permission to being in addition to doing.

What kind of client do you most enjoy?

I enjoy the client who wants more, wants to work on her strengths, capitalize on her knowledge, and work hard to get there. I have particular interest in those in transition.

Where and how often do you meet with your clients?

It depends on the client. I can meet in person in my local area, although many of my sessions are on the phone. Sessions are usually two or three times a month, each for 30 to 45 minutes.

What is the most important thing a new client should know about you as her coach?

I will be there and we will get there. I am committed to each client’s success, will act with integrity and honesty, listen without judgment, challenge the stated and unstated words in our conversations, and partner with her every step of the journey. This is a transformative and meaningful journey.

Meet Coach Susan Tolles

Susan Tolles

Age: 57

Tell us about your background.

For most of my adult life, I was a stay-at-home mom, raising my three children and volunteering in the community. I had a few part-time jobs along the way, including women’s ministry at my church and nine years as a school board trustee, serving four as president. Soon after my youngest left for college, it hit me hard: I was an over-50 empty-nester with at least 30 more good years ahead of me, and I had no idea what I was going to do. I was intelligent and energetic, with a degree in finance and experience in banking and accounting. But I was terrified of re-entering the workforce, thinking I had nothing to offer. Who on earth would hire someone like me? How would the “rich life experiences” I’d had over the past 24 years look when comparing me to someone who was younger, had more current skills, and had a better memory than mine?

After searching my soul for what I wanted to do, I realized that I wanted to be independent, to find something that used my God-given gifts and strengths, and that would be meaningful to me and for others. I knew I couldn’t find that new identity sitting at home, so I mustered up the courage to get out and start networking. The dynamic women I met energized me, and I discovered that I had an entrepreneurial spirit.

I took a giant leap out of my comfort zone to try something I had never done, following my intuition and allowing myself to be creative and take a risk. On February 1, 2010, I launched FlourishOver50.com, and it has been an exhilarating ride ever since.

The website has led me to become a Certified Dream Coach®, published author and a professional speaker, more than I had ever allowed myself to imagine. I have emerged as a woman over 50, following her passions and becoming the amazing woman God created me to be.

When I was focused on my website, I measured my success by my Google ranking. Today, I measure it by the lives I am changing on a much deeper level.

Embrace “good is good enough,” quit comparing yourself to others, and set your standards at human levels.

Wonder Woman does not exist!

Tell us about your family.

I have been married to Jim for 34 years, and we have three totally amazing adult children. I couldn’t be more proud as a mom! We have a very close-knit family and still travel together when we can.

What brought you to coaching?

The more I got to know the women in the Flourish Over 50 community, the more I began to understand that so many of them were searching for their identity in midlife as they were transitioning through the empty nest, divorce, career burnout and were just wanting to live life on their own terms for a change. I wanted to inspire and equip them to flourish, inside and out, so they could find the clarity and deep sense of purpose they were longing for. I became a Certified Dream Coach®, and soon afterwards wrote my own coaching program, based on my own transformation and what I had learned from other women. When I saw lives being changed through this process, I knew I had found my true calling. There is nothing more fulfilling for me than to be part of the “aha” moment when a woman discovers her life purpose and is truly excited about life again.

What is your mission as a coach?

My Life Purpose Statement is “To inspire and equip women to flourish, inside and out” and I do that through coaching, speaking, and writing. My heart’s desire is for each woman I work with to find clarity, direction and a renewed sense of purpose about her future, and to let her brilliance shine!

Are there any particular life experiences that inform your coaching?

I can truly say “I’ve been there, done that,” when a woman tells me she has lost her identity and is fearful about the future. I have been through the roller coaster of emotions that accompany midlife transitions, combined with menopause, and have emerged with a vision bigger than I ever thought possible. When a woman is describing her lack of confidence in herself, I can say, “I get it. Now let’s walk this road together as you learn to let your brilliance shine.”

This also has been a deeply spiritual journey for me, and I have grown tremendously in my Christian faith. Many women want that component in their coaching, and I freely share that part of myself as I lead them through a faith-based process.

Tell us about your programs.

I wrote the ”Reinvention Road Trip” based on my own midlife reinvention and what I had discovered about living with clarity, purpose and freedom to be who you really want to be. I kept hearing ‘I feel like I am stuck in a rut,’ and ‘I am just spinning my wheels, going nowhere fast,’ so I created a system that gets women unstuck and moving forward with confidence and ease. This program teaches women to:

  • Unload the heavy baggage of guilt, fear, self-doubt, perfectionism and toxic relationships
  • Vision their “dream destination,” their ideal life in the short and long term
  • Unpack their unique gifts, skills and values to make the journey fulfilling and reduce stress
  • Identify their “custom license plate,” their life purpose statement
  • Create a detailed road map for the future, aligned with their life purpose
  • Say NO without guilt! It’s easy, once you align your life with your purpose

I use this process with my VIP Clients, and it is also available as a self-study program.

For women who say ‘I just don’t have time for all this!’ I have “30 Days to Get Out of Your Rut in 10 Minutes a Day,” with inspiration and quick action steps to get them moving a little at a time.

Tell us about your speaking presentations and workshops.

I love to speak to women’s groups and lead retreats, and one of my most popular presentations is “Focused or Frazzled? 10 Keys to Finding the Balance When You’re Overwhelmed, Over-stressed and Unfulfilled.” Women walk away with tools to help them remain focused and stress-free when chaos is all around.

Two others that really resonate with women are “From Paralyzed to Productive: Conquering perfectionism and procrastination to reach your highest potential,” and “Reinvention Road Trip: Your Amazing Journey with God.” It’s hard for me to believe how much I enjoy professional speaking now, because I have always been such an introvert!

How do women most sabotage themselves?

Perfectionism is a huge obstacle for most women, causing stress, low self-esteem, exhaustion and disappointment. In their never-ending quest to be manager of the universe, women think they have to be all things to all people, looking like they have it all together on the outside when they are crumbling on the inside. It is so important to lighten up! Embrace “good is good enough,” quit comparing yourself to others, and set your standards at human levels. Wonder Woman does not exist!

Also, most women spend their lives putting themselves at the bottom of their to-do lists. They sacrifice their own dreams, and often their emotional and physical health, because they have been taught to put everyone else first. Then, when they finally want to do something nice for themselves, they feel guilty. I teach women to “fill their own cup first,” because they can’t give away what you don’t have. It is a major shift in mindset, but it will re-energize and renew anyone who commits to it.

What kind of client do you most enjoy working with?

I love working with women in their mid lives who are seeking greater purpose in life, especially those going through a major transition. Reaching the empty nest period, going through divorce, becoming a widow or experiencing career burnout all lead to the questions “Who am I, and what am I going to do with the rest of my life?” Sorting through the emotions and creating a plan for a fulfilling, joy-filled future can seem overwhelming. I provide the support, guidance, encouragement and accountability women need to make powerful, positive changes in midlife.

Where and how often do you meet with your clients?

I have had clients from Australia to Canada to Florida, so there are certainly no distance limitations. We meet via phone or Skype, for either two one-hour sessions per month, plus two 15-minute check-ins, or four 30-minute sessions. I require a 90-day commitment in the beginning, because real change takes time, and I want my clients to have a solid foundation before they leave the coaching relationship. Many choose to continue long past those initial 90 days.

What is the most important thing a new client should know about you as their coach?

I connect with each client on a deep level, and lead her gently through these major life changes. I see her as immensely valuable, with an inner radiance that is meant to shine brightly, even when she can’t see it herself. Together, we will throw off the heavy weights that are holding her back, and then we will open up the future with a vision that allows her to grow into the amazing woman she was created to be. I will be right there beside her all the way as her cheerleader, navigator, accountability partner and friend.

Susan offers complimentary 30-minute CLARITY Sessions that may be scheduled through her online calendar.