Meet Coach Kelly Burke

LEAVE A COMMENT 2014 August 4

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 Catharine Ecton

LEAVE A COMMENT 2014 April 3

Catharine Ecton, ACC, CPCC

Tell us about your background.

I help clients in transition to create a plan to help them to lead the life they want because I know first-hand the challenges of change. I moved over 15 times in the US and around the world. During those years I raised a family, started and ended jobs, went to graduate school in a foreign country, learned new languages, and created and re-created plans for a fulfilling life wherever we lived. Sometimes those plans were difficult to make and often they were difficult to execute. These changes forced me to grow and stretch beyond my comfort zone into areas that proved exciting and stimulating. The unexpected results gave me insights into my personal values and life goals. As a coach I use this experience and learning to encourage others who want to do things differently, who may feel stuck or who are relocating.

What brought you to coaching?

As a FabOverFifty woman I have the opportunity to use my education and life experiences to show others that change is possible at any point in life. It is never too late to go in a new direction. I am the person who inspires and stimulates such action.

Are there any particular life experiences that inform your coaching?

Everything informs my coaching. I have had a rich and exciting life that continues to evolve in unexpected ways. Learning and challenge are important values for me and I have had my share of both over the years. In my coach training and busy practice I have discovered that self-enlightenment is the greatest contribution an individual can give to the universe.

What is your mission as a coach?

I want to help clients focus on individual goals for a fulfilling life. Together, we discover personal values and develop insights that will take clients on their transition journeys. My mission is their mission. My step-by-step approach includes the exploration of documented stages in transition: exhilaration, alienation, re-organization, adaptation.

What kind of client do you most enjoy working with?

I love the clients who find themselves in a transition, either by personal choice or imposed by circumstances, and want to create a purposeful and balanced life as they enter another stage. I also enjoy people who are dedicated to making changes because of personal circumstances or who are stretching into new areas of learning. I have expertise working with clients from other cultures who are experiencing culture shock in a new environment. That builds on my experience as a cross-cultural trainer with the Department of State in Washington, D.C.

Self-enlightenment is the greatest contribution an individual can give to the universe.

Tell us about your workshops and presentations.

I have given several teleseminars on Thrive in a New Culture and Your Transition. I am an experienced trainer and have assisted in coaching workshops sponsored by the Coaches Training Institute.

Where and how often do you meet with your clients?

I coach most of my clients by phone for an average of two hours per month for three to six months. I also meet one-on-one with clients who live in the Washington, D.C. area.

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

I am energetic, I have a great sense of humor and a lot of wisdom. I bring warmth and empathy to the coaching relationship while being demanding and non-judgmental about client choices. I am passionate about this work.

Meet Coach Linda Ratcliff

LEAVE A COMMENT 2014 March 28

Linda Ratcliff

Tell us about your background and what brought you to coaching.

I was born in Washington, DC, and have lived there or in its suburbs all my life. Looking back, it was a great place to grow up. I was surrounded by all types of people, from our nanny, who took wonderful care of me and whom I loved deeply, to my parents who were both mathematicians, to the scientists and professors from all over the world who visited our family and sometimes lived with us for months.

After college, I taught for 30 years, fully enjoying primary age children and then, later, teaching learning-disabled children. Their parents often dropped by for a conversation, and I learned to listen to their problems. I loved that part of the day and took courses in counseling to improve my ability to help them. After some years of retirement and feeling unsettled, I looked into counseling again and discovered life coaching, a way to help people who are capable of learning, recovering, and taking action. I love that life coaching is about the coach and the client working together, rather than the therapeutic model where the client needs help and the therapist gives it.

I love to help people who are in pain and need to find their direction and who begin to feel empowered as we work together.

I’ve had lots of life experience. I’ve been single, married, divorced, and remarried. I’ve experienced family with dementia, cancer, mental illness, and death. I’ve experienced being a grandmother, a sister, and a wife. I’ve gone through hard times; I’ve had amazingly joyful times.

What is your definition of coaching?

Life coaching is a chance to plan your future rather then to just be washed along as things happen. It is a way of focusing on a future that you really want. It allows you to evaluate your goals and direction with a fine-tooth comb! It allows the client a chance to be held accountable. Life coaching is about continued growth, regardless of age. As a life coach I am there to raise the bar, to love and to support you.

Who most benefits from your style of coaching?

Men and women begin to rethink their lives around 35 and often make major changes. They get married, they may get divorced, and they may change jobs, when they start feeling that the job their parents pushed them toward isn’t what they enjoy. This is where I come in and why I called my business Life Stages Coaching.

My clients are serious about improving, even transforming, their lives. Most of them have not yet discovered their life purpose and are floundering, wondering why they are not content with their life or work. Once we begin the process of discovering their purpose, their life becomes easier, more productive, and more fulfilling. I love clients who are enthusiastic about our work together and who work collaboratively with me to achieve their goals. I love to help people who are in pain and need to find their direction and who begin to feel empowered as we work together.

I offer free consultations to see if we can work well together. Together, we design our alliance, our plan of action. I charge by the session (currently $115) and my clients do not sign agreements that force them into plans they must pay off. Most alliances last six months to a year, with check-ins as needed and desired.

Meet Coach Carla Beach

LEAVE A COMMENT 2014 January 20

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

LEAVE A COMMENT 2014 January 20

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 Coach Gabriella Rattner

LEAVE A COMMENT 2014 January 17

Gabriella Rattner

What brought you to life coaching?

I’ve been married for 42 years and have two amazing adult daughters, one a teacher and the other a social worker. Being in a long-term relationship has taught me many things about behavior, responses, reactions and what drives us and if that driver is in our best interest.

I’ve worked in healthcare administration for over 30 years. Throughout my career I’ve had the opportunity to be a ‘safe space’ for people to share their thoughts and become more aware of their habits and what motivates them. My dream was to find a way to take these special sessions and create a coaching opportunity.

I will celebrate your courage and strength. I will never judge you and we will work together towards you not judging you either.

Dreaming, however, wasn’t going to get me to act and live my best life. It wasn’t until I started working with my own life coach, in 2009, that I discovered I really could create the life I always wanted.

My coach offered me a safe, honest and encouraging space in which to have unchartered conversations and to go deep and work with my fears about change and possibilities. Having someone really listen to me and hear the things I could not myself distinguish fueled me ahead. The fulfillment, balance and empowerment most of us crave are attainable. As a Certified Life Coach I can offer this same safe, honest and encouraging space for you to design the life you want to live and to enjoy it.

Live the life you love. I welcome you to www.lifecoachingwithgabriella.com.

Where and how often do you meet with your clients?

Almost all of my coaching is done via phone. My clients and I generally speak for two to three 45-50 minute sessions each month. Within that relationship I also send questions to ponder and am available via email to respond to any questions a client may have. I offer a complimentary, 30-minute introductory session to explore whether we can have a successful partnership.

What is the most important thing a client should know about you?

That I am totally invested in and honor you and your journey. I may never meet you in person, but when you invite me to work with you I take that very seriously and will support and guide you with all that I know and all that I am. I will always remind you of your amazingness and our work will include opportunities to try new approaches, behavior and actions. I will celebrate your courage and strength. I will never judge you and we will work together towards you not judging you either. I am really excited and looking forward to connecting with you and working together.

Meet Coach Cindy Hooker

LEAVE A COMMENT 2014 January 6

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

LEAVE A COMMENT 2013 December 6

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

LEAVE A COMMENT 2013 November 22

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

LEAVE A COMMENT 2013 November 22

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.