I had the pleasure of working with Sarah through one of the most difficult journeys of my career thus far. I began working with Sarah in December of 2018, about a month after receiving formal notice that my position (along with many others) was being eliminated at the end of the first quarter of 2019. Being a change adverse introvert, I was extremely overwhelmed with the thought that I was going to have to change a huge part of my life in the very near future. Sarah was always there to offer resources, advise and honest feedback.
While my focus was finding my next opportunity, Sarah made sure to touch base on how I was doing and ensure that I was still trying to take time for myself to process things. As I was looking for opportunities I would discuss the details with Sarah to get her feedback or her thoughts. I value Sarah’s advise and I am so appreciative to have had the opportunity to be placed with such an amazing coach. Recently we had a 30 day check in as I transitioned into my new role and I had the opportunity to thank Sarah for being with me through this process.
We joked about how my new position is such a perfect fit and truly is a “Cinderella Story” to which I have aptly named Sarah my fairy Godmother. I honestly do not feel that I would have come this far and maintained my personal brand if it was not for the support of Sarah. Many thanks, Sarah!
What prompted you to hire Sarah to be your coach?
I was referred by a friend who said, “Trust me, start working with Sarah, this great career coach.” After one conversation, she helped me formulate a plan for identifying what I really wanted in life and in my career.
What are the tangible results of your coaching experience?
What are the intangible results of your coaching experience?
What are Sarah’s strengths as a coach?
Sarah is an excellent listener and got to know me on a personal level. She got to know my values, what I want in life, and what I need to be fulfilled. Then as my job search progressed, she called out job attributes that were not consistent with my values. She also guided me during setbacks and ensured I didn’t dwell on them. She really is an uplifting person, and she’s passionate about helping others find their own version of success.
What was memorable or meaningful about your coaching experience? Would you change anything?
The coaching was partly an education in practical knowledge for job hunting, and it was partly about emotional support to help me get where I wanted to go. I anticipated it being mostly about getting answers to job hunting questions, but it was also partly therapeutic in terms of finding happiness in life.
Do you feel your coaching dollars were worth it? Why or Why Not?
Definitely. I nearly quickly jumped in to a hasty job hunt where I would have surely taken the first job that came my way. I got confidence to slow down and choose from my options wisely, and even shape my own plan. I was also coached to not take a role where my gut said I would not be happy – and boy am I happy I didn’t take it now.
Why do you think coaching works?
When faced with major decisions and opportunities in life, it is good to have positive mentoring that will ask the right questions and help you find what will make you happy – and call out the things that will not. I’ve now identified a career path that is making me a happier person in life, and I learned things I didn’t even know about myself.
Anything else you would like to share?
Coaching with Sarah is so worth it. I’ve learned a lot through seminars and training on how to become a better leader and find my happiness, but nothing compares to having a coach who gets to know you personally and can give guidance tailored to your own unique personality and occurrences in your own life.
What prompted you to hire Sarah to be your coach?
While trying to get my new business running with little success, I decided I needed some insight and perspective on my way forward. A life coach seemed like the best resource for me.
What are the tangible results of your coaching experience?
There were many tangible results from my coaching experience. My sessions produced marketing materials and activities, sales call practice sessions, pricing strategies, interview preparation and a resume revamp.
What are the intangible results of your coaching experience?
Confidence and calm. My sessions boosted my confidence in selling myself while also decreasing my levels of anxiety with my path forward.
What are Sarah’s strengths as a coach?
Sarah is a great coach. She really listens and helps target the ideal areas to address going forward, moving you toward your goal. She is great at holding you to your action items, so you continually make progress. I really don’t know how she could be more effective.
What was memorable or meaningful about your coaching experience? Would you change anything?
Sarah became much more than a life coach for me. She became a coach, friend, confidant and trusted advisor. I wasn’t expecting her to become so significant to me during my journey.
Do you feel your coaching dollars were worth it? Why or Why Not?
The coaching dollars were well worth it. It wasn’t money spent, it was money invested. I will reap the rewards of my sessions for years to come. It was a tremendous period of growth for me.
Why do you think coaching works?
It makes perfect sense to me that coaching works. You have a goal, and someone trained to help you find your solution walking with you.
What prompted you to hire Sarah to be your coach?
I was not happy in my job. I wanted a change but was not clear on what I wanted or even why I was not happy. Learning more about Sarah’s background at the retreat in July 2017, I felt connected & decided to explore the coaching.
What are the tangible results of your coaching experience?
I got a new manager, got promoted, got a raise & have continued pursuing my dream of retiring at 55. I finished yoga teacher training & have been hired by the community center & the Elms to teach yoga.
What are the intangible results of your coaching experience?
Clearer vision, inner-peace, confidence, abundance, friendship.
What are Sarah’s strengths as a coach?
Great communication, clear expectations, organization, detailed, timely, genuinely vested in you.
What was memorable or meaningful about your coaching experience? Would you change anything?
The entire journey is something I will never forget. From the retreat at the Elms thru the entire coaching process. Sarah helped me navigate through the muddy waters & emerge! The most meaningful thing is that Sarah is always there for me, cheering me on, celebrating with me, holding me accountable & is a great friend.
I would like to have more face to face time, either by video meetings or in person.
Do you feel your coaching dollars were worth it? Why or Why Not?
Yes, I learned so much, grew so much, & to me that is priceless.
Why do you think coaching works?
Accountability, new ideas, resources, structure, vision.
What prompted you to hire Sarah to be your coach?
Job uncertainty made me want to focus on preparing for a potential layoff. I want my resume and personal preparation to be the best they can be. Needed to cut through the anxiety of the situation.
What are the tangible results of your coaching experience?
I feel like my resume is so much better as well as I’m clear on my personal story and brand. I know what my strengths are and can talk about them with confidence. And I’m more clear on what I want for a career path going forward and steps to get there.
What are the intangible results of your coaching experience?
I feel like I have more understanding on how to achieve goals overall. I’m thinking more long term about what I want personally than I have in the past. I’ve always been very focused on the present rather than the future.
What are Sarah’s strengths as a coach?
Great listener! I love that the things Sarah suggests are achievable and make a difference in moving me forward. Little things that make me accountable really work for me. It was easy for me to work on small tasks through every appointment that added up to a bigger overall change.
What was memorable or meaningful about your coaching experience? Would you change anything?
Not only did I feel like I got help on my objectives, I really feel like I connected with Sarah and enjoy hanging out with her!
I wouldn’t change a thing.
Do you feel your coaching dollars were worth it? Why or Why Not?
Yes. Investing in myself is the best investment I can make. And I will definitely come back when I need more help.
Why do you think coaching works?
Yes. Having somebody to help set small goals and be accountable for them really worked for me.
Anything else you would like to share?
Still working on networking and connecting with more people. Thanks to Sarah for helping me think through even more things besides job searching to prepare me for the future.
What prompted you to hire Sarah to be your coach?
I wanted to make some significant shifts in my life with a focus on finding my “why” or purpose. Sarah was connected to some acquaintances of mine thus I reached out to her. Her expertise was aligned to what I was looking to accomplish. After the first couple of months of working with Sarah, the focus shifted to looking for my next career move – which we she added a lot of value in preparing, planning and then executing a nationwide new job search.
What are the tangible results of your coaching experience?
I have made some significant shifts – more positive, productive, healthy, efficient (close the gap of time from concept to execution) and landed a significant promotion. She was a great help in achieving all.
What are the intangible results of your coaching experience?
Confidence. I have the view that anything is possible if I do the work.
What are Sarah’s strengths as a coach?
Builds trust, candid, challenges to take action, listens, and has a balanced perspective.
What was memorable or meaningful about your coaching experience? Would you change anything? Four months into our relationship, we began to focus on my next career move. A first step was networking with my network to discuss my desired career move. I told Sarah that I would contact/message 3 people a week. Sarah responded that I would speak to 3 people a week. I wanted to start small – stay in my comfort zone. Sarah pushed me to go big. I followed her advice and within weeks I was having on average 5 networking calls with some weeks being as high at 10. The initial push was magical.
Only item I would change is that at times I was not as prepared as I should have been in meeting with Sarah. Like most things in life – you get out of it what you put in.
Do you feel your coaching dollars were worth it? Why or Why Not?
Yes. I see Sarah as a trusted advisor- both professionally and personally.
Why do you think coaching works?
Coaching works if you keep an open mind and listen to your coach. Leave your ego at the door and trust the process.
Anything else you would like to share?
I have really enjoyed working with Sarah. I am glad I proactively reached connected with her. I plan to stay connected to Sarah.
What prompted you to hire Sarah to be your coach?
I needed to make a change in my life and I needed help. I hired Sarah so that – to myself and those that I love – I could distinguish this attempt from past attempts which, unfortunately, ended up as a multitude of empty promises. I needed someone to help me articulate the specific change needed, ensure that I was being honest and help me to hold myself accountable. Funny, this is what I do every day in my career. How ironic!
What are the tangible results of your coaching experience?
My goal might seem simple, but it was a hurdle for me. My goal was to get out of the office at a reasonable hour to spend time with my family. Not doing so caused great tension for me and our marriage. Sarah helped me to improve my work/life integration and increased my level of self-awareness in a big way.
What are the intangible results of your coaching experience?
My day-to-day decisions started to align with my priorities. I built stronger relationships at work with those that I shared my goal with. The support of these colleagues/friends was key in creating new habits. An “ah ha” for me was that home and work are not a vs or an either or equation – it’s AND. I’m learning how to best integrate my home and my work during this season of life.
What are Sarah’s strengths as a coach?
Sarah is crystal clear in every session that this session can be whatever I need and want it to be.
Sarah is courageous and able to gently tee up hard questions in a way that inspires me to think differently. Her comfort with silence encouraged me to talk through things without the need to know the purpose or where the thoughts would lead. The beauty – Sarah’s gift – is that through the sessions and the dialogue and the inquiry and getting curious (on both of our sides), the answers that were right for me gently exposed themselves. She asks the very direct and profound questions and then nudges and guides me to find the answer within. She throws in suggestions but without judgment and not in an effort to solve. She’s there to dialogue and ask me to consider options, but the solving is completely up to me.
What was memorable or meaningful about your coaching experience? Would you change anything?
Sarah’s preparation (including urging me to prepare as well) was incredibly valuable to focus the dialogue. It was also very important to me to be able to do these sessions over the phone. 30 minutes for a phone call is very different than 90 minutes out of the office. Our sessions were focused, effective and energizing!
Sarah’s professionalism and consistency are world-class. Every time she would send a Coaching Prep Form, remembered exactly the action steps from the last session and always focused on me. She also handled the times I wasn’t prepared or needed to cancel with complete understanding and grace. No guilt. Her style and approach to these situations – and to life in general — simply made me resolve to get better.
She is also a master at inspiring commitments and summarizing the end of the conversation. What do we want to have happen by the next call? How will we know that happened? What are you comfortable committing to? I LOVE leaving a coaching session with a tangible TO DO list. Progress is key to developing a new habit and Sarah knows this and takes it from theory to practice in every session.
Sarah also has a wealth of tools and resources that help to chart the course of the tough stuff. I so appreciated the structure of the Fab 2015 program that I went through and continue to build on the needs and values explored there as I learn and grow in this season.
Do you feel your coaching dollars were worth it? Why or Why Not?
Yes. There is nothing more important me than my family. Figuring out how to shift my thinking and then behavior to make the most of our current season/situation was priceless. Now, we’re broadening our sessions think through ways for me – at this season in my life – to lead in the areas of self, home, work and community keeping my values and needs at the forefront.
Why do you think coaching works?
I think coaching worked for me because it provided me a reliable way to get clear on priorities and hold myself accountable. This helped me to carve out time and space to think through these things. It is a forum to celebrate successes (how often do we cheer if we leave the office at 5:30 with our friends? Wonky!) – even the tiny ones – and just as importantly talk through and learn from the setbacks. Coaching is a completely open and safe place. And it is a place where it is OK to talk exclusively about yourself and who you want to be.
Anything else you would like to share?
I often find myself coaching others on various topics. However, the shoemaker’s children had no shoes. It’s an absolute gift to be given the time and space – and expend the energy – to get clear on my life’s vision, values, needs goals and to then work to align my life with those. It is not easy to incorporate the discipline needed to change old habits, but working with Sarah is a terrific first step.
What prompted you to hire Sarah to be your coach?
A promotion in 2013 resulted in my working for a very abusive boss; by the time he was let go in early 2015 I was a shell of my former self. My confidence was at an all-time low, and I found myself completely without any focus on career or personal goals. I had spent almost two years reacting and just surviving, and was not quite sure how to move forward. I needed to show up to work and demonstrate my skills / value with my new VP and felt completely unworthy. It was really hard to believe that after a successful 25 year career that I could not even articulate what I brought to the table.
Around the same time I received an email from Sarah announcing the launch of her Coaching business full-time; I knew immediately that not only could I use help, yet this was a perfect opportunity to support a former female colleague as she grew her business.
What are the tangible results of your coaching experience?
There are many tangible results of my year working with Sarah; I am not afraid to speak up at work, whether to present my ideas, deliver difficult messaging, seek out assistance, or join new groups / activities. About 3 months after I started working with Sarah I was asked to volunteer for a TEDx event at my company; I really had to push myself out of the safe cocoon I had built – and it was hard! It turned out to be one of the best experiences for me – opened doors to meet all kinds of colleagues globally, and ignited career interests I did not know existed. I have a new network of very action oriented people that inspire me every day with the courage, intellectual curiosity, and determination.
What are the intangible results of your coaching experience?
The nagging self-doubt has dissipated; I still have my moments, yet I am no longer afraid to make a decision and move forward. I appreciate the person that I am; my unique skills, personality, and sense of humor.
What are Sarah’s strengths as a coach?
Sarah has an unassuming and gentle manner in which she challenges me to dig deep, evaluate my situation, feelings, results, and is able to elicit different approaches to drive different results. Sarah asks the hard questions, coaches me through what is sometimes a tough process to get to the answer; I always feel lighter at the end of the session and have a clear path to move forward.
What was memorable or meaningful about your coaching experience? Would you change anything?
I have learned that by projecting and living true to my core values, I can draw all that I value into my life, both professional and personal.
Do you feel your coaching dollars were worth it? Why or Why Not?
Yes! The self-discovery process is very valuable, and it becomes a part of your routine and lasts long after your coaching session has ended.
Why do you think coaching works?
Coaching works if one is really open to undertaking the personal introspection and emotional closet cleaning required.
Are you ready to Build a Better Life?