I began working with a coach in 2002. An acquaintance of mine was working on her coaching certification and invited me to be one of her ‘pilot clients.’ I was eager.

I was near burn out after 26 years in the same position. I hoped a coach could help me identify a needed career change. We started my journey together—I say “we” because the coach became a significant partner for my exploration. She asked me powerful questions that probed at what was important to and fulfilling for me. She made me face fears and move around roadblocks I often created for myself. She could feel my frustration for and burnout from the job, people and situations that had become a chore for me to deal with. 

 She invited me to think of a metaphor—a word picture—to describe the heavy,
weight I felt I was dragging. 


In my mind I saw a huge red bag full of problems, unwanted tasks, deadlines and unfulfilled dreams.  The red bag was drudgery. I dragged it along trying to find renewed energy and excitement in my work, but the bag always weighted me down.  My coach and I came back to this metaphor frequently to picture what I needed to get rid of as I pursued a variety of possibilities to find work that would inspire me.

Early in 2003 it dawned on me that the coaching process itself provided the inspiration I was looking for. With my coach’s encouragement, I enrolled in a coaching fundamentals workshop. It was like a fire lit within me.  Coaching and meeting other coaches was exciting. It fed a hunger I hadn’t realized existed.  I wanted more! 

Somewhere on the journey during a practice session with another aspiring
coach, I chose another metaphor. 
 
Coaching was exhilarating for me like I imagined skydiving would be. 
I had to take a hair-raising step into thin air, to move into my future.
That was a gulp! But then a billowy white parachute caught me and I floated
through space looking down surveying all that was there for me to know and experience. 
The silent wonder of imagining such a fall was awesome. 

When I landed in what I saw as a green summer field dotted with daisies, the parachute enveloped me like a security blanket. My future was safe. I peeked out from under the parachute playfully with an adrenaline rush of having accomplished a long desired feat. [Metaphors are a powerful coaching tool that help us get in touch with thoughts and feelings we often struggle to articulate.]

At the end of 2003 when I was officially leaving my job and starting Life Song,
my own coaching practice, it was clear to me that the white parachute should be
the graphic to represent my business. I searched for the right picture.  I asked my
daughter to sketch an original. I imported options from the internet. None of them
looked right.  I found a red one, but I wanted white.  I decided to try the red one
thinking maybe a printer could touch it up for me, but as my coach looked at the
 mock up, she exclaimed, ”The big, red bag! It’s upside down, empty and lifting
you to new heights!”  Oh, my gosh! What a thrilling confirmation that not only
was the graphic a great choice, but I had taken an exciting leap into a new career! 
I was no longer dragging the dreaded red bag.   

The metaphors that helped me map my journey live on in how I invite clients to
coach with me:  If you want something new or different in your life, you have to
take the leap that will put the song in your heart.  As your coach, I’ll be with
you on your journey.  I’ll support you in growing confidence to take the leap
into your life changes. And, I’ll be in your field of daisies to celebrate success
with you when you land!