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"Passion Success & Balance for Women:
5 Secrets to Making More (& Being More) with Less Stress"
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LEARN WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE COACHING PROCESS
How did you get involved in professional coaching?
I actually started my career as a psychotherapist. After finishing my graduate degree and feeling like I had found THE career for me, I worked in some pretty intense and crisis-oriented positions. I was very proud of the work I was doing and I was good at it…but I was burning out fast!
Like many of the women I coach, I knew I had to make a change and do something that was LESS stressful and MORE fulfilling.
After leaving the field, I dedicated my spare time to “creating my vision”. I sat for hours and wrote about how I wanted to use the skills I had to help women in a more positive and pro-active way. The pages literally poured out of me. I wanted to teach women how to be happy in their work and their lives – and I wanted the same for myself.
Eventually, I got the courage (with the help of several wonderful people) to put my “idea” out in the world. I started sharing what I wanted to do with people and organizations and I eventually spoke to someone who said “what you’re describing sounds a lot like Life Coaching…have you heard of it?” At the time, I hadn’t…but I started to investigate.
Soon after, Oprah had her first “coach” on her show. I had been out jogging and saying my mantra, something like “Courtney you WILL find your passion” and I came home and turned on the TV. As I watched this woman describe what she did, it was as if she had literally taken the pages of the vision that I’d written and put them on the screen right in front of me. I could not believe what I was watching…and tears started streaming down my face.
At first, I was actually angry thinking “who is this woman - and how dare she steal my idea and put it on the Oprah show!!” I soon realized that I was being guided.
Although coaching was very new at the time, it DID exist and there was training and a business model that I could follow. Before long, I was taking my first coaching class and I literally felt like the heavens had opened up to show me exactly what I was meant to be doing…and I have adored my work since that day.
There’s obviously much more to this story including years of frustration, doubt and fear as I stayed stuck doing work that didn’t fit me. That is absolutely one of the main reasons I’m so committed to helping women find joy in their work sooner than later.
But if you ever doubt that it’s possible to find your passion without ever ‘seeing’ the job or the business in front of you first, just ask me ;).
How is coaching different than therapy?
As a former therapist, I get asked this question a lot. And while traditional therapy was not the right fit for me, I have HUGE respect for the therapeutic model and certainly blend much of what I know as a therapist into my coaching.
While both coaching and therapy can be transformational, they are different in approach. In therapy, the client typically revisits their past in order to explore unresolved experiences and feelings. Connections are made between past and current ways of operating, and healing occurs when clients understand and learn to tolerate the emotions associated with their history.
Coaching focuses on where the client is now and where they want to be with little emphasis on how they got there. Though similar issues arise, the heart of the coaching process is geared toward effectiveness, fulfillment and success. Coaching also has built-in action and accountability so clients change both through understanding and experience.
Why do you work exclusively with women…and “who” do you work best with?
Women have a unique way of defining and creating success. What I’ve learned is that when women combine personal development and professional development strategies, that’s when things really take off!
So every aspect of my philosophy and my programs combine both the “internal” (the mindset and psychology behind growth and success) with the “external” (the tangible career and business growth tools).
In terms of the type of woman I work with, my clients vary when it comes to business and industry. I work with coaches, consultants, financial planners, lawyers, real estate agents, corporate executives and women working at all levels in education, non-profits, health and wellness and creative fields…just to name a few. The fact that I am not an “expert” in every field often helps when working with clients. While I certainly coach women doing work similar to my own, the business, career, and personal development expertise that I bring provides my clients with a fresh perspective that often people within their industry cannot offer.
While their industries may be different, my clients definitely have many similarities. Every woman I work with wants to do work she truly loves as successfully as possible – and she doesn’t want to give up her life or her SELF to do so. My clients are high-achieving, committed and savvy professionally and they want their work to have impact, to support their lifestyle and to make them feel good. They also tend to be creative, intuitive, warm and fun!
What should I expect from working with you as a coach?
As your coach, my role is to help you to get clear on your vision for your career, your business and your life and to support you in making that a reality. My belief is that each of us knows intuitively what we want and has (or can find) the resources to make it happen. I’m here to share my ideas, my expertise and my intuition to help you determine and create your ultimate work and life. My job is to inspire you, challenge you, educate you and give you specific tools and strategies to help you thrive both professionally and personally.
As a client, your job is to be willing to think and act differently when it comes to your work and your life. While coaching with me is not painful (that’s just against my religion), you will be stretching and stepping outside of your comfort zone! I am always there to support you fully during the process.
One of the biggest benefits of coaching is the ‘homework’ you do between sessions – and you decide what you do (or don’t do) along with the pace that feels right. The commitments you make can range from calling a list of contacts to asking for what you're worth to saying no to obligations so you have more time for fun! I then serve as your "back up" on these commitments because we will always do more when someone else is paying attention and supporting us.
Tell me more about your 5-Step ‘Passion Success & Balance’ Coaching Method…
I developed my coaching method through years of helping women to be happy and successful in their careers and lives. While each woman is unique and at a different place in her professional and personal growth process, there are absolutely common themes and strategies that every one of my clients benefits from…so this has become my “recipe for success”. The details of the program are tailored to meet your specific needs.
The five components of my PSB Coaching Method include…
Vision & Passion
Career & Business Growth
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Improve your income and get clear on your value and your worth
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Develop your skills in networking, marketing, speaking and promotion
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Enhance communication in professional relationships, partnerships and negotiations
Organization & Effectiveness
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Master your schedule to create structure, focus and flexibility
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Create systems that make your job, business and life run smoothly
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Prioritize projects and get your ‘to do list’ under control
Success & Happiness Mindset
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Maintain motivation and focus throughout the growth process
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Work with your fear by allowing it to inform, not dictate, your actions
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Create new beliefs that support you and your ultimate vision
Work & Life Balance
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Create “sacred” time for professional and personal activities
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Set clear boundaries, say no to obligation and release unnecessary guilt
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Nurture yourself through fun, family time, relaxation and celebration!
How does the coaching process typically work?
I offer a few different coaching options, so the first thing we do is determine together which option fits your needs. Like my coaching method, I do have a standard program which tends to suit most clients best.
The process begins with a one-time ‘Discovery Session’ which becomes the foundation for our work together. In advance of this session, you complete your 'discovery forms' online which outline our business agreement, help me to learn more about you, your career or business and clarify what you want out of the coaching process. The Discovery Session is our chance to discuss logistics, design our partnership and get clear on your goals.
After the Discovery, we move on to regularly scheduled coaching sessions. Our sessions consist of homework review, education, brainstorming, strategizing, visioning and collaborative discussion all based on the topics and the program that we’ve designed for you. While I ask for a minimum commitment of six months, many clients continue working with me to learn and accomplish more. When we’re ready to finish, we schedule a completion session to review and celebrate your achievements.
How are coaching sessions conducted?
Whether you live in the Los Angeles area or not, I usually coach by phone. If you are local, we will meet in person for the discovery session and, depending on scheduling and convenience, either meet live for sessions or continue with regular coaching calls.
I sometimes get questions about the effectiveness of coaching by phone. My clients are always amazed by the connection that is developed and maintained via coaching calls. Many say that they feel more open and less self-conscious. Once they get comfortable with phone coaching, clients love the fact that they don't have the hassle of a commute. The beauty of this model is that you can coach with me from your home, from your office, from a business trip or even from the great outdoors! As long as you have a private space where you can concentrate on our discussion, coaching can fit easily into your life.
Ready to learn more?
to set up your Free 'Meet and Greet' Coaching Consultation
and we'll see if Courtney Parks Coaching is right for you
(consultations can be done live or by phone)
