Professional life coaching has low barriers to entry but high barriers to success. There are successful coaches without certification and certified coaches who barely make a living. Why? Because to thrive as a life coach, you can't be just good—you have to be great, transformative, even life-changing. Good simply won't do.

Why is change so hard? Because our brains are attached to predicting the future. Somehow a negative but predictable future is easier to accept than a positive but unpredictable one. We'd rather read our horoscope than try a new action outside our comfort zone. But here's what's powerful: by taking new, consciously chosen actions, we become creators rather than predictors. That's so much more fun!

What makes the best coaching clients? I had an AHA moment listening to entrepreneur Bob Hurley say, 'I work with people who create magic every day.' That's exactly why I'm passionate about my clients. Each one stretches my limits and makes me more thoughtful, brave, compassionate, creative, and fearless. Together, we create magic—again and again!

Not a day goes by that I don't get asked: 'How is life coaching different than therapy?' Here's the truth: both help us understand ourselves and live more purposefully, but they diverge in important ways. Therapy looks at the past to identify what needs healing. Life coaching touches on the past for insight, then anchors entirely in the present and future.

After selling luxury handbags for over 20 years, I learned something surprising: my wealthy clients didn't need another bag. What they really needed was relief from the same emotional struggles we all face—the gremlins that tell us we're not enough. Why do we invest more in our lawns than in our minds? The next time you want that designer purchase, ask yourself: could this money transform your life instead?

After building a 20-year career in luxury fashion, I made a bold midlife career change to become a Professional Life Coach. Why? Because my work, however prestigious, no longer aligned with who I'd become or the values driving my life today. As I faced this turning point, I realized many in my network were facing the same dilemma.

When in a crisis, leaders are at risk of either under-reacting or over-reacting. Under-reacting means minimal empathy and downplaying the situation; over-reacting means constant high threat, catastrophizing, and creating panic. The adaptive mindset—captured by the Stockdale Paradox—balances unshakable belief in eventual success with deep acceptance of harsh present reality.

When Julius Caesar wanted to conquer England, he burned all the boats so his army had no choice but to move forward. My clients do this every single day—they take action that makes them uncomfortable, that feels risky, that doesn't come with guarantees. Now it's my turn to burn the boats on a 52-kilometer mountain race that scares me, reminding myself of what I ask my clients daily: dream big, take one small step after another, and never leave an exit door open.

Feeling stuck in your relationship doesn’t mean the love is gone. Often, what’s missing is the courage to communicate openly without fear of conflict. In this post, I share three simple but transformative communication skills—from reframing your inner story, to replacing expectations with agreements, to opening tough conversations with curiosity—that can shift your partnership from tension to connection.