Meet Coach Sherry Matheson

Sherry Matheson

Age: 46

Tell us about your background.

I am 46 years young, married with a blended family of five girls and one boy, and two dogs. I worked for 17 years as a corporate paralegal at various mid size law firms and then in the legal department at a large corporation. Before becoming a corporate paralegal I worked in the oil and gas industry for 6 years.

Why did you decide to leave your profession and become a coach?

I was working until 11:30 at night and weekends at the big corporation and I burned myself out after three years. I didn’t have the right skills and tools to be in that environment and developed shingles on the backs of my knees to the point where I was sitting in my doctor’s office and she was handing me a prescription for anti-depressants and wanting me to take a leave of absence. I decided I needed to quit my job in order to heal and get better. We are a blended family with six kids and it wasn’t an easy decision.

I accidentally discovered coaching after I quit working as a paralegal and started my training five months later with the Coaches Training Institute at the University of Calgary.

We often put everyone else first. It’s the ‘nice girl syndrome.’

My coaching style has a big focus on positive psychology, so if beating yourself up isn’t working for you and you’re not feeling empowered, I can help.

Explain your approach to health and wellness coaching.

I take a comprehensive approach to health and wellness by looking at how all the areas of your life are connected to your wellbeing. I like to open up the realm of positive possibilities for others. I feel my journey prepared me well to understand and emphasize with my clients and makes me a better coach.

I create action plans to help my clients make the sustainable changes necessary to improve their health and live better quality lives. We tackle issues such as managing stress, increasing energy, achieving more balance, sleeping better, eating healthier, getting into more movement, achieving and maintaining an ideal weight, reducing food cravings, improving self perception, improving relationships, increasing productivity, and enhancing decision making.

Health and wellness coaching combines psychology, behavioral change theory and life coaching. The field is on a swift positive trajectory due to the evidence demonstrating its role in improved client/patient outcomes, medical compliance, employee health and productivity, and lower health care costs. Health and wellness coaching effectively bridges the gap between traditional, organized healthcare and behavioral change.

How do women most sabotage themselves?

We often put everyone else first. It’s the ‘nice girl syndrome.’ My coaching style has a big focus on positive psychology, so if beating yourself up isn’t working for you and you’re not feeling empowered, I can help.

I’d like to share a testimonial from one client, who wrote: ‘I’m never usually at a loss for words, but I find myself hesitating to express my gratitude because words alone can’t convey my emotions. What I originally thought was going to be a simple plan for weight loss and exercise, to my surprise and delight turned into a journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance, of which you were the catalyst. From our first coaching session you had the wisdom and listening skills to pinpoint my needs. The information you forwarded to assist me in working on my goals was invaluable. You will forever hold a place in my heart as the person who helped introduce me to a better version of myself.” —Sharon, Ontario

Why is your company called “Ingredients For A Healthy Lifestyle?”

Each client is unique and so are her ingredients to create a healthy lifestyle. What roles do eating, exercise, work, family, etc. play in her life and how can she balance them to achieve her goals?

Where and how often do you meet with clients?

I coach the majority of my clients over the phone so they can be located anywhere. Our calls are 50 minutes long, twice a month, and we have unlimited email contact.

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Meet Coach Cindy Hooker

Cindy Hooker

Tell us about your background.

I’m 53 and I’ve had many jobs, including waitress, travel agent, Nordstrom sales associate, Navy Petty Officer, college English instructor and now, Coach. I have an MA in English and I’m a sucker for a good story. My master’s portfolio focused on the Renaissance, and I love the arts. I was stationed in Wales and Guam in the Navy, which secured my love of travel. Some of favorite places are Sukhothai, Thailand; Madrid, Spain, and anywhere in Ireland. I practice yoga two to three times a week and boot camp three times a week.

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

I married, nine years ago, for the first time. He’s a wonderful man. We don’t have children, but we do have three golden retrievers. It’s great being married and having a partner for life, and I want to be the best partner I can be. We enjoy doing many things together, such as traveling, yet we also have our individual interests. I like that I can have my own hobbies and activities and that he can have his.

While it works for me, I realize marriage isn’t for everyone. There are all forms of relationships and each of us has to decide what kind of relationship we want and who we want to be in the relationship. That’s the most important decision.

I am helping women become the jewels they were meant to be.

What brought you to coaching?

After a long career in human resources, coaching managers and employees, I decided to become a certified coach and start my own business. There’s a moment when clients achieve clarity that gives me great satisfaction. That feeling also comes when I teach. I always wanted to help people become their best selves, and knew that work didn’t have to be a chore. That doesn’t mean I have always chosen the best direction in my career. The reason I resonate with women and their transitions is because I’ve reinvented myself multiple times. At sixteen I was a high school dropout working as a waitress at a truck stop. I always intuited there was something more that I should be doing. It took many years and a Master’s degree to figure it out, but here I am helping women become the jewels they were meant to be.

What is your mission as a coach?

I want to compassionately provide feedback and accountability to women who wish to change their lives in extraordinary ways.

Are there any particular life experiences that inform your coaching?

I draw on the whole package, good and not so good. The jobs that challenged me to the core have created the most growth for me and make me a better coach, including my four-plus years in the Navy, being a college instructor and a vice president of human resources. I had success and failures in every position and experienced issues of confidence, work-life balance and fear of change. All this guides my coaching.

What famous women do you most admire?

I adore Katherine Hepburn for her authenticity and femininity in pants; Isabelle Allende, because she writes such passionate, heart-wrenching stories and Susan Butcher for her strength of will and love of nature and dogs.

How do women most sabotage themselves?

We lack confidence, don’t trust our intuition, allow situations or people to step on our values. We stay in situations, jobs or relationships because we care what others think of us.

What kind of client do you most enjoy working with?

Women who truly want to make change. If you are committed to show up and do the work, I want to speak to you!

Where and how often do you meet with your clients?

I consult with nearly all of my clients via telephone or Skype. My appointments vary widely. I meet some clients twice a month for one hour each time, others four times a month for 30 to 40 minute sessions, still others for less time. I usually recommend starting with two hours a month and going from there.

I always am available via text or email for communication between sessions.

Tell us about your workshops and presentations.

I provide workshops on finding happiness at work and at home, discovering and using your strengths, 360 degree feedback for leaders, and I’m available by request for other topics.

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

I have your back and I am truly in awe of your strengths as well as your vulnerability. I will compassionately provide you with honest feedback. I will hold you to your goals as if they were mine.

Your transition is safe with me as your co-pilot.

Meet Coach Mandasmita Singh

Mandasmita Singh

Age: 39

Tell us about your background.

My family and I live in Vancouver, Canada. I am a graduate in Humanities from Calcutta University, India, and have been a learning and development professional for the last 17 years, as well as a coach for a little over a decade. I love people and diversity. I love reading, traveling, music, laughing, a good cup of coffee and spending time with my family and friends.

Are you or have you been married? What is your view on marriage?

I have been married to an extraordinary man for the last 8 years and together we have two kids.

I believe that marriage is a partnership, and as in every relationship, you get back what you put in. Marriage may not be the answer for all problems and may not be suitable for all.

We have a saying that goes: “Never advise a man to go to war or get married!!”

What brought you to coaching?

I have always loved working with different types of people and I’ve had many opportunities to connect with people, at many levels, as a learning and development professional and management trainer. I have always been curious about who we are and what we’re doing.

A corporation where I once worked gave me an opportunity to train as a business coach. After the training, I began coaching internally. Years later I enrolled in another intensive coaching program and earned certification. Since then I have continued internal business coaching and expanded externally into life coaching.

Coaching gives me the opportunity to connect with people at a level that is most authentic and pure. It is a deep and beautiful connection between my core and my client’s core. Each coaching interaction not only benefits my client and takes her closer to where she wants to be in her life at that moment; it also fulfills me like no other interaction, humbles me and enriches me as a human being.

Coaching resonates with my life purpose to connect with people to discover who we truly are.

What is your mission as a coach?

I believe that we’re all here for a reason. I work together with my clients to discover their life purpose and live the life of their dreams. It is a beautiful journey and immensely rewarding to see others find their precious “aha” moments!

Coaching gives me the opportunity to connect with people at a level that is most authentic and pure.

It is a deep and beautiful connection between my core and my client’s core.

Are there any particular life experiences that inform your coaching?

My parents were not suited to one other and their bitter divorce at first created self- limiting beliefs in me and made me feel socially stigmatized. However, I soon realized that it was I, not society, who was responsible for my own fears and limitations.

Secondly, when I moved to the United Arab Emirates after marrying I was introduced to a culture and society that were far different than what I knew. This change initially made me uncomfortable and grumpy, but I slowly learned to appreciate diversity and the richness it represents.

My clients do not have preconceived notions of who they are, which helps me to embrace them wholeheartedly so we can work together to eradicate their self- limiting beliefs and help them find the magnificent selves they truly are.

The biggest lessons I’ve learned are never to over analyze situations and never to regret, but to make the most out of what life has to offer and move on.

What famous women do you admire?

Every woman is admirable as she juggles her daily life. I admire women who love and respect themselves.

How do women sabotage themselves?

Women try to please everyone and do the right thing by others’ standards. They also try to be superwomen. I think we need to hug ourselves and be kind to ourselves.

What kind of client do you most enjoy working with?

I love clients who are in transitions, whether big or small, such as career or lifestyle changes. My recent work with women leaders has been an enriching experience.

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

I am authentic with them and I love them.

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.

Meet Coach Clare Lee

Clare Lee

Age: 66

Tell us about your background.

I live in York, England, UK. I have a BSc in Biology from Bristol University, a Postgraduate Certificate in Education and a Masters in Education from York University. I am a Certified Professional Coactive Coach (2006) with the Coaches Training Institute and a graduate of CTI’s Leadership program. I’ve been a biology teacher, a personal assistant to a corporate executive and have worked in national government organizations. I launched my own small company in 2010, and among other work have provided leadership and team working and coaching to over 800 doctors in the UK.

I love travel, visits with family and friends, cooking, reading, and Pilates. I sing with a wonderful women’s harmony group called ‘Track 29’ based in York UK. I’m interested in art and fabric, including lace-making and collecting lace bobbins.

People are amazing, and however tough
the challenges are that face us at different times of life, it is clear that we can each find what suits us and come through changes and challenges in ways that are positive and contribute to the world brilliantly.

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

I am very fortunate in being happily married for 39 years. We were both school teachers for many years so even though miscarriage meant that we didn’t become parents ourselves we each have good understanding of the joys and challenges involved in parenting, and love to be a ‘great’ aunt and uncle to our delightful nieces, nephews and their wonderful children.

In my extended family and friendships and from coaching over the years, many people I care about have been through relationship and partnership break-up, are single parents, or have lost a child or partner, and then have found satisfying new paths through new partnerships, remarriage, adoption, or choosing to remain single.

People are amazing, and however tough the challenges are that face us at different times of life, it is clear that we can each find what suits us and come through changes and challenges in ways that are positive and contribute to the world brilliantly. I love to coach people at times of transition and change as they explore possibilities for themselves and make newly enlightened choices to achieve what’s next for them, what will support them in thriving!

What brought you to coaching?

While consulting for one national government organization, I had the opportunity to be coached for three months. The coaching helped me make some difficult life choices I faced at that time.

The experiential and action learning resonated with me because I already knew how effective those approaches could be for young people’s and adult learning, so the first chance I got I enrolled with CTI, gained my professional coach qualification and later on completed CTI’s wonderful leadership program. In 2008 I also became a team development coach with Team Coaching International.

What is your mission as a coach?

My business and coaching mission is to invite one million people to engage in delightfully creative conversations in the clear direction of THRIVING!

We need well being! I want all of us to learn more about how we can ‘revive’, by which I mean ‘come alive – wake up, bring light’ and how we can ‘thrive’ in our lives – and to practice what we learn. There is a grand aspect of that, too, in that if each of us can make and celebrate some progress, however small, as individuals and in our relationship with each other and the environment, then that has a positive impact worldwide and for all life. Wow!

Are there any particular life experiences that inform your coaching?

Yes, a recent example is how our father, now 100, looked after our mother, who had Alzheimer’s, until he was 97. My two married brothers and I helped support them. This time of illness and bereavement, as well as competing demands of life and work, was a period of immense learning.

Coaching helps us develop positive ways to move forward, so I look at the example I give here and I remember my father talking about his ‘stalwart’ children. Dad was always resilient and I practiced being resilient through this experience of emotional upheaval. I gained new wisdom from it that I wanted to share, so I developed my new ‘Revive and Thrive’ program.

Who are some famous women you most admire?

Hilary Clinton, who could become President of the United States in her sixties; Tina Turner for how she turned her life around and just goes for it on stage with such aliveness, sensuality and immense energy and Wendy Cope, the poet, for her ironic sense of humour and unusual poetry.

How do women most sabotage themselves?

We sabotage ourselves by limiting our thinking and beliefs—which may not always be entirely conscious—and preventing ourselves from either seeing possibilities or making changes. Coaching helps us shed habits that don’t serve us. It helps us move on and to feel good about ourselves as we make changes and create new contributions.

What kind of client do you most enjoy working with?

Anyone who is experiencing transition or change in her life, is facing major change or challenge, or who is overwhelmed. I unravel tangled threads. I enjoy supporting my clients as they choose and weave what’s next. This could include helping a working woman decide whether to go back to work after having a child; a woman who feels sad or lost because her children are about to leave home or she’s about to retire, or a woman coping with elderly parent care. I love women who want to dare something different.

Where and how often do you meet with your clients?

Most of my coaching is by phone or Skype. The first introductory meeting, a ‘discovery session’, is designed to explore and answer questions and to find out more about the person, what she requires and what pattern and frequency of coaching will best work.

Tell us about your workshops and presentation.

My new 8-week “Revive and Thrive” course will be offered online starting January 2014. We all know we can learn great things, yet we don’t always know how to put what we learned into practice in our own lives. “Revive and Thrive” is a chance to alter that!

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

I want you to gain the benefits of coaching in a gently enjoyable way. Great coaching can take us where we want to be faster, as well as help us practice and sustain what we’ve learned. It’s all about growth. The coaching relationship is vitally important so I provide free introductory 30-60 minute conversations by phone or Skype so that you can make a no-obligation choice.

Clare currently provides 30 minute free no obligation online consultations.
Please email clare@reviveandthriveuk.com to set a mutually convenient date and time,
checking the international time differences in advance.

Meet Coach Rosanne Leslie

Rosanne Leslie

Age: 52

Are you married?

I’ve been divorced for 12 years. I was married for 13 years and have three children. My marriage taught me what love is and, most importantly, what love is not. Raising my three children alone showed me how our society views single women and mothers and gave me the freedom to stand autonomously outside of that paradigm. Recognizing the dysfunctional dynamics of my marriage I was able to (slowly) extricate myself from it.

What did your parents do?

My father was an engineer for an international company and my mother was a stay-at-home mom.

Why did you become a coach?

I became a life-coach as a result of coaching myself through several years of single parenting. I discovered some of the perennial answers to questions I believe we all have when faced with life challenges and changes. Who Am I? What is love? Why am I here? What is my purpose? How can I be happy?

Happiness is found at our core and so long as we have hope and dreams we can find joy in any day.

What kind of Fab over Fifty women can most benefit from your coaching?

Any woman can benefit from coaching if she is ready to make a change and is earnest. However, the woman who will most benefit from my style of coaching is one who would like to redefine herself and still believes that she has dreams left in her and that she possesses the power to make them come true. I work a great deal with women who have teen-aged children and parenting challenges. One of my greatest strengths is guiding women through the process of divorce, especially those involving domestic violence issues. These women have special needs and because I lived this kind of marriage, I understand them. My empathy and compassion runs very deep for them.

What is your mission?

My mission is manifold. We all suffer and complain too much. There is a certain camaraderie and “acceptance” in the conversations between women in their complaining and suffering and I would like to show them that they can be happy now, in this very moment. Happiness is not contingent upon anyone’s external world or life circumstances. Happiness is found at our core and so long as we have hope and dreams we can find joy in any day. My mission is to guide individuals to autonomy in a society that does not readily embrace that. My greatest mission is to show women how to love and be loved and to celebrate their femininity as a gift and not a weapon against men or themselves.

Tell us about your typical client.

I don’t have a typical client. Everyone is different and comes to me when they are either excited about changing their lives and careers or they are devastated and traumatized and don’t know where or how to begin their day.

What is the greatest piece of advice you can give women?

To recognize that they are alive and what alive really means. The pulse of our society and the world is extremely fast and prevents many from understanding and feeling that they are “here” and that being “here” is precious and a gift.

What woman do you admire most?

I don’t have a particular woman I admire. Perhaps it is she, the silent and nameless one, unrecognizable in the crowd and the world, that I admire most. She is not famous or rich by society’s standard, but she knows how to give and love selflessly. She silently struggles every day to get by and has boundless compassion, integrity and humility. I think she is in every woman. She is my hero and I look for her, every day.

What is your favorite quote?

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.”–Albert Einstein.

Meet Coach Mike Halsey

Mike Halsey

Age: 46

Tell us about your background

I’m 46 and live in New York City. I have a B.A. in Economics from UCLA, was in the U.S. Navy for 10 years, and have been a pilot for a major US airline for 14 years. I love travel, visits with family and friends, surfing, reading, guitar, and live music.

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

I was married for over 18 years to an extraordinary woman. I did and always will love her from the core of my soul. It was the most harrowing challenge of my life to finally accept that our best selves simply were not well-suited to flourishing together as husband and wife. Divorce tore me to pieces emotionally, and then allowed me to put myself back together in a much more authentic and full form.

I believe committed partnership can be a uniquely life-enriching gift, or a crutch for our saddest insecurities, depending on how we design and live into it each moment. Marriage is one possible structure in that design. I feel we should champion devoted love in all forms, but never burden couples with an expectation that marriage is some kind of cure-all, end game or societal “stamp of approval” in and of itself.

What brought you to coaching?

The end of my marriage shook up many stuck habits and latent dreams, and also a ton of pain and fear. Sitting on the couch one gorgeous spring day in my cool new Georgetown bachelor pad, I was shocked to suddenly realize I had no absolutely no idea what mattered to me! I knew that I loved my family and friends dearly, but that was about all I was clear on. What was my purpose? My contribution to the world? Did it matter at all what I did, or even what I thought? My lack of answers scared the heck out of me.

Airline flying was what I did, but had never been who I was. People, relationships and creative possibility captivated my imagination. In spite of the “doing” stuff I had filled my life with, my heart always ached for richer experience, more meaningful happiness, and deeper understanding of why we’re all here. My brain recognized this calling–fulfillment–as the ultimate end goal of everything we humans do, but I had only the foggiest dreams of what it could look like in my real life.

As I know now, a foggy dream is a good enough place to start.

I was told I needed to write, I needed to speak before groups–those were my clearest gifts. Lovingly worn and notated books on psychology, spirit and self-development filled my home, fueling my dreams while silently chiding my stagnation. But it wasn’t until I worked with a skilled and perceptive career coach that these inklings crystallized into a clear vision and a concrete conduit for my gifts and values. I soon found myself enrolled in over a year of intensive coach training and certification. Since then, Mike Halsey Coaching has grown into the centerpiece of my inward and outward life purpose.

I best serve those who feel a deep sense of some important calling–even if they can’t yet name it–and who hunger to answer it.

What is your mission as a coach?

My mission is helping people to live the really cool lives of their dreams. I believe this is important in the grandest sense imaginable.

I believe happiness is more than a selfish indulgence with transient rewards. To the contrary, it seems that if we have any purpose at all in this universe, it is naturally steered and motivated by the spark which shapes our deepest wants and curiosities. In my estimation, the clearest sign that we are “doing what we are supposed to” is when life feels thrilling, juicy and deeply satisfying. Why else would Nature wire us this way?

The path to fulfillment looks different to each of us, of course, but its rewards are shared by all. Joyful and purposeful living is contagious, and I would like to see it become epidemic. My commitment–what thrills and motivates me–is to help others access the vision and energy already inside them, to blow past or straight through useless fears, and then transform life into an experience even greater than they could have imagined.

Are there any particular life experiences which inform your coaching?

My childhood spent “in the middle” between two wonderful sisters, divorced parents and step parents, gave me an appreciation of how good people can vary so widely in their perspectives and struggles. This shakes up any tendency (in myself or with my clients) to buy into any reflexive judgement or rigid world view, thus opening up a playground of possibility in which to experiment.

Flying Navy jets from aircraft carriers and then instructing the next generation of tactical aviators taught me a ton about shattering self-limiting beliefs, and what amazing stuff lies on the other side of fear. The incredible sailors and Marines I led and followed opened my eyes to the unique capacities we each have, and how a spark of motivation can be nurtured into miracles of performance. I’ve learned this to be true of individuals and teams of any size or complexity.

My richest lessons of all, though, have come from a goldmine of personal and family relationships which continuously point me toward life’s highest meaning.

What famous women do you most admire?

Rock stars come to mind: Janis Joplin, Joan Jett, Madonna, Lady Gaga. These ladies hung their inspiration, sexuality and wild creativity way out there, with no guarantee at all of approval or acceptance, and virtual certainty that many would judge and chastise them. Fearless, genuine and vividly alive!

How do women most sabotage themselves?

My gut answer is easy: Women sabotage their greatness by looking outside themselves for the rules of how to be, for validation, and for love. Strong, brilliant women commonly waste valuable energy looking to society, romantic partners, mothers–anyone but themselves–to let them know they are getting it right, that they are simply OK.

As a coach, the most important thing I can do is help my clients move away from such pointless habits as wholly and rapidly as possible. They resist, of course. (There is a certain comfort in hiding from choice, right?) Fortunately, the thrill of finding and following one’s own internal compass is irresistible once tasted, so my prodding role usually morph’s quickly into one of smiling support and applause.

What kind of client do you most enjoy working with?

I best serve those who feel a deep sense of some important calling–even if they can’t yet name it–and who hunger to answer it. Whether in career, relationships or self/spiritual development, this usually appears as a nagging little voice which whispers (or screams) something like, “There is untapped richness here. Life could be so much better. Make it happen!” Eagerness to explore non-linear solutions and powerful, creative shifts in perspective is a major plus, too.

While I’ve chosen not to limit my practice to a specific topical or demographic niche, the vast majority of my clients are women who are either contemplating or in the middle of major life transitions. They are often torn between a knowing heart thrilled by life’s potential, and a mix of fear, guilt and obligations to others.

I simply love helping these wonderful ladies to transform what may have seemed like selfish, unrealistic or downright crazy dreams into wholesome and utterly fulfilling new realities.

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, but I am also available for in-person sessions in New York City. We generally meet for three 40-50 minute sessions per month, or two longer sessions of 60-75 minutes each, depending upon your situation and preferences.

Tell us about your workshops and presentations.

This is a great new adventure for me, a natural extension of both my personal journey and professional mission. Unlike individual coaching, which requires that I constantly clean my slate of personal opinions, priorities or expectations, keynotes and workshops allow me to create fun and valuable learning from all that this rich life has provided — bloopers, heartaches and “greatest hits” included.

Whether in a high-impact talk of 15 to 60 minutes or an interactive workshop of a few hours or days, my goal in group work is to jumpstart big, positive and lasting change. I tailor my message to the unique makeup and priorities of each new audience, leveraging the most powerful themes which have shown up time and time again in my own life and through my clients’ shared journeys.

I’m not big on scripts, lectures or one-way preaching; but I do have great fun smashing false mental barriers. So if you invite me to work with your group, expect to be shaken (with a smile, promise), awakened, and challenged to play well outside of any comfy confines or boxed paradigms.

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

That I love them. Seriously. We may never meet in person, but when you invite me to partner with you in the most important venture of all–your life–I consider it a great honor and responsibility. You enter the fabric of my thoughts 24/7. During and between sessions, I challenge myself to abandon comfort zones and constantly reevaluate what is possible in the service of your.

Since I may often hold you in higher regard than you do yourself, I will ask you to try ideas and actions you might never ask of yourself. When you stumble, I will champion your courage and effort. When you succeed, we will celebrate. I will support your vision of what your best life, and I will never judge.

It thrills me to witness a life transformed, and I’m well aware that such a shift sends positive ripples far out into the world we all share.