CLIENT STORY:
Nurture Yourself

Meet Sarah,
Sales Engineer:

Q: How did you hear about coaching and why did you hire Kristin to be your coach?

A: I heard about Kristin’s coaching website from my friend, Jacqueline in 2004 and I signed up for the 12 week Amazing Life Course. I removed a lot of tolerations from my life and built good daily habits. I continued reading the Morning Mantra’s but in the beginning of 2007, I began to think there’s gotta be something more to life and I emailed Kristin an “Ask the Coach” question.

In February, I had an opportunity to take a severance package from my job which would have provided me 5 months pay and an opportunity to change direction in my life, but I was nervous to take a package without another job lined up and not really knowing what I wanted to do, so I hired Kristin and started to actively create the life I wanted.

When I started coaching my two goals were to:

• Create good work/life balance.
• Find more time & energy to devote to my relationship goals.

Q: What are the tangible results of your coaching experience?

A: I have so many tangible results after my coaching experience its hard to list them all.  Now, with Kristin’s guidance I have clarity on what I want in a relationship, I’ve created a relationship goal, I’ve said NO to activities and individuals who no longer help me reach my goal and by doing this I’ve created more room in my life for positive relationships.  I’ve made a Vision Board to keep me on track to reach my goals.  I’ve reinforced the importance of taking care of myself. 

During this process I’ve started attracting nurturing people to my life.  I’ve also received a new career opportunity an amazing work/life balance and a 30% pay increase.

Q: What are the intangible results of your coaching experience?

A: Finding the courage to say what I want and need in all aspects of my life.

Q: What are Kristin's strengths as a coach?

A: Kristin is awesome.  She is so supportive, positive and responsive.  She is creative and provides a new way to look at situations.  She is a wonderful listener and an awesome “dating cheerleader.”  I think Kristin’s greatest strength is that is she very inspirational and intuitive.

Q: What was memorable or meaningful about your coaching experience? Would you change anything?

A: I had so many “Ah-Ha” moments.  During my coaching sessions I began to realize patterns in my life and I began to uncover the reasons why I was consciously or subconsciously repeating the same behaviors and getting the same results.  Kristin provided me with many visualization exercises to help to start to change my patterns.

Q: Do you feel your coaching dollars were worth it? Why or why not?

A: YES!!!  Absolutely!!!  At first I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to afford it, but I looked at my budget and I looked at the investments in my 401k and I decided that I was the best investment in 2007.  I decided to reduce my 401k contribution and invest in myself with coaching sessions.  It paid off.  After a few months of coaching, I received a new career opportunity which is paying me 30% more and provides me with a great work/life balance.

Q: Why do you think coaching works?

A: You have to be willing to do the work.  Kristin kept me very accountable -- which is what I needed from a coach.  Change is hard and change takes time, but Kristin kept the process very fun and enjoyable.  I haven’t reached my relationship goal yet, but with Kristin’s excellent coaching I feel like I have a clear sense of what I want and the tools to get me there.  Everyday I am actively creating the life I want.  The freedom that comes with this feeling is overwhelming.

Q: Any additional thoughts or comments you'd like to share with people about coaching?

A: Be grateful for finding Kristin’s website and learning about coaching.  When I was first introduced to coaching I wasn’t sure what to think which is why I started with the on-line course first which was very helpful, but my one-one coaching sessions with Kristin really helped me reach farther and achieve my goals I didn’t think were possible.

Coach's Comments

Sarah's story is one most people can relate to. When she contacted me for coaching, Sarah was in the middle of a major career decision. When I listened to her, I heard how intelligent and capable she was. But, I also heard how tired she felt, too. That's always a hint for me! No matter how successful you are at work, if you feel exhausted... something needs to change. Most people think they can resolve the fatigue factor by climbing the ladder even higher, but that's not always the best solution.

So, we talked about her career goals and I started 'poking' around other areas of her life to get the complete picture of what she truly wanted. As we discussed relationships, fitness and balance, it became clear to me Sarah needed to make a major life shift in order to achieve results in ALL areas of her life...not just career. The shift? Sarah needed to spend more time nurturing herself and less time trying to take care of everyone else or trying to be a super achiever at work. The more she learned to nurture herself, the more her heart opened and good things started to flow in. That was Sarah's pathway to the balanced life she's living today.

What's really interesting is how Sarah eventually attracted a job change within her company and now works with a group of people VERY focused on life/balance. In fact they encourage her to be balanced, too. Plus, the new role bumped her salary 30%, without more work. I love it when that happens!

Oh, and by the way, the picture you see above was taken during a recent week at a spa where she indulged in wonderful food, yoga classes and body treatments...all while completely 'unplugging' from work. I hope Sarah inspires you to look for ways to nurture yourself more, too.

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