 "To Know Thyself is the Beginning of All Wisdom." -Socrates The journey inward to find one’s true self is one of life’s most rewarding undertakings. As a Self-Leadership coach for FromWithin Coaching’s Women Over 50 What’s Next Program, I am passionate about supporting women as they begin this journey of self-discovery and for many of us, the return to self. In my early 50’s, I was at a very uncomfortable crossroad in my life. I was stuck. I find many of my clients come to me also stuck and:
If you are a 50 something woman and this sounds like you, know that you are not alone. When we focus on our Strengths, our doubts take a back seat. The team at FromWithin Coaching is here to help you take a step into developing the self-awareness necessary to boldly take aligned and meaningful action in this next chapter of life. And put those doubts where they belong...in the back seat. On November 10, 2022 we are hosting a Clifton Strengths live Zoom event for Women Over 50. Research indicates that finding and understanding your Strengths has been proven to increase self-awareness, self-confidence and self-trust. We are able to tap into our inherent creativity and make better decisions that are more in line with our true needs and talents. Understanding our Strengths helps us increase communication skills and form better relationships. Come join us our community of like-minded women as we share this time together. There will be opportunities for laser coaching and for a follow up coaching session if you choose. Details are below! I hope to see you there, Coach Augusta Good WOMEN OVER 50: WHAT’S NEXT?
CliftonStrengths 2-hour Zoom Event November 10, 2022 12 pm EST/9 am PST  About 5 years ago, I got tired of trying to fit myself into a box that I created. It looked something like the photo above... Though this fella looks fairly comfortable, I was not. I was cranky and tired and angry and overweight. I was short-tempered with my kids and even though I wanted to take care of myself on weekends and go for hikes, do fun things, and create art, I was utterly drained by my work week and unable to enjoy myself or my kids. The box I created was partially made of the need to prove to my father that I was a valuable human in this world by doing what he approved of (yup, even in my late 40s!) rather than what I wanted, and fear. I had built a massive fear box. You see, like many humans, we have strengths and interests that bring us an enormous amount of joy, but these strengths often get tampered down by society or by our families who generally have the best of intentions, but their fear gets in the way and is what encourages them to tell us what we ‘should’ do in our lives….and we sometimes believe it. I was a joyful child of dreams, ideas, and creativity. I was always thinking up new games and creating secret forts in the woods which of course were all wrapped into a giant web of stories of protecting the land from made-up enemies. I was always starting a new project and I always had a pencil in my hand designing my future homes….er uhhhh….castles and dreaming up plans and businesses for my life. At one point I was going to become a dolphin trainer and bring inner city kids to experience their gentle beauty (no idea how…I didn’t live by the ocean….I mean I was only 9). Some called me flighty, a space cadet, or in the clouds. I went to art school and then got a master’s in education taking me closer and closer to the ‘should’. Life took some unplanned and traumatic turns, and I made choices so that I could feed my children as a single mom while slowly building my fear box. AND THEN….AND THEN….I took the CliftonStrengths Assessment and the world opened up to me! My strengths validated me and the ways that I thought and went about my days. I realized why it was so easy for me to see patterns and connect the dots in ways that many others couldn’t. Finally, I knew in my core that it was ok to be dreamy, full of ideas, positive, and always ready to try something new because my top CliftonStrengths are: 1. Ideation 2. Positivity 3. Strategic (seeing patterns and connecting dots) 4. Futuristic 5. Adaptability Once I took a deep dive into what my strengths meant and what happens when you’re not using them (cranky and tired and angry and drained), my life changed. I am not joking. I got out of a soul-sucking work situation, that paid well but was killing me, knowing that I’d land on my feet because I always had I just was unable to see that because I had built my fear box out of bricks. Understanding that my different interests, dreams, and strengths changed from something I was ashamed of to my superpower. I became a career and trauma coach, refurbished my garage into my art studio, and with the energy I had from doing what I truly wanted and not doing what I didn’t want to do in the first place, I started hiking, running, and playing sports again. My kids were happier because I was happier. Yep, I still am always thinking of what’s next, creating proverbial forts wound up in storylines, being creative in my studio and in the world of podcasting, and I invite all women over 50 to allow their strengths to change their lives if they want, or to simply feel the stunning validation that CliftonStrengths can offer you to get you out of your brick box. - Coach Mary  WOMEN OVER 50: WHAT’S NEXT?
CliftonStrengths 2-hour Zoom Event November 10, 2022 12 pm EST/9 am PST  Are you familiar with the phrase, “hitting your stride?” What does that mean to you? For many women, they are just hitting their respective strides, both personally and professionally, when they are also just hitting their 50’s, 60’s, and on into their 70’s. Unfortunately, for some, that stride, described by the dictionary as “to walk with long steps, as with vigor…,” is tentative, unsure, and maybe more like a slow, plodding cadence. Certainly not vigorous, maybe more like going through the motions. At FromWithin Coaching, we want all Women Over 50 to stride boldly and with confidence. To help make that happen, we’re offering a special 2-hour event on November 10 th : “Women Over 50: What’s Next?” Because we know there’s a “next;” and we want any woman over 50 to fully embrace that “next” with energy, knowledge, and awareness of their talents…their Strengths. By using the CliftonStrengths assessment, participants will learn more about what they excel at and how they can leverage that information to enliven their pace and embrace the future. Life is too short to go through the world without ever experiencing hitting your stride. Join us for two hours to invigorate your trajectory and blast you off into your optimal future, whatever that may be. Wherever you’re headed, with your Strengths in your pocket, you’ll be striding boldly forward, embracing the decades ahead. The link listed below has information about the event, how to register, and the cost (very reasonable!) -Coach Lu Setnicka WOMEN OVER 50: WHAT’S NEXT?
CliftonStrengths 2-hour Zoom Event November 10, 2022 12 pm EST/9 am PST  I am a woman over 50. I do not like to be labeled, unless of course that label is biker chick or awesome mom. Labels like extroversion, sensing, thinking, etc. feel so superficial to me. And don’t even get me started with the acronyms. ISTJ, ESTP, ENFP?
I mean WTF? But five years ago, I acquiesced to take the Clifton Strengths Assessment mainly because it did not have acronyms. Upon completing the test, I promptly put my results in a manila folder on the shelf for two years. There is no way in hell a behemoth like Clifton owned by Gallop (and aren’t they all about TV ratings anyway?) could tell me who I am. I was so very wrong. Clifton labeled me Positivity, Connectedness, Learner, Intellection, Empathy. B-I-N-G-O. Once I learned my strengths, my life got easier. This light of understanding made my path so much more comprehensible and straightforward. I understood why I suck at some things and accel at others. I felt and still feel a little bit like Harry Potter in the Triwizard Tournament. His coach and mentor Mad-eye Moody counseled him to “play to your strengths, Potter.” Harry is a wizard who is an ace broom flyer. When he finally understood what Moody was telling him to do, he flew like the brilliant wizard he is and slayed the evil dragon. My strengths have helped me slay my own dragons. As a woman my age, there seem to be more dragons out there than there were even just a decade ago. Knowing my strengths, I am better equipped in all aspects of my career and my life, which is why I am thrilled that my colleagues at FromWithin Coaching are offering an online Clifton Strengths Worship this fall just for women. November 10th, 2022 12pm EST/10am MTN/9am PST Join us for 2-hour live discussion that will help you engage your strengths for a more fulfilling life beyond 50. See you there! - Jane Taylor, former CliftonStrengths Doubter, Current Believer  A friend asked me yesterday, “What all goes into writing a good resume?” This is such a huge question, I had to laugh. It’s like asking Serena how to play tennis or asking Billie Eilish, “How can I sing like that?” I don’t know tennis and I only sing in the shower, but I do know what goes into a good resume—especially for women over 50 who are in transition. The short answer is that the resume portrays what it is like to work with you. And more than a history of past work experiences, I think of the resume as a roadmap to the future that opens the door to what is possible. I do this by presenting not just accomplishments but the skills, qualities, and characteristics that made the accomplishments possible. My resume writing process is deeply introspective. I ask clients to complete an in-depth questionnaire about what they’ve done, why it makes a difference, and how it’s relevant to their life goals and dreams. The resume-as-roadmap factor is why I like to recommend that people keep their resume current. If you are looking for change and growth or wondering what it is you’re actually doing in your career, maybe it’s time for a look under the hood? Why are you so good at what you do? What accomplishments are you most proud of? Why? How did you get to where you are today? What makes you You? How do you want potential employers/colleagues to perceive you? How do you want to perceive yourself? Answering such probing questions can either reassure you that you’re in the right job or start to inform your path to the right job.   A neighbor invited me to the backyard for a bonfire and a sip of wine to toast the return of spring. My two neighbors (both women of a certain age) and I (also a woman of a certain age) stood around the smokey fire talking about crones and hags. In folklore and Disney movies, a crone is a scary old woman. She is disagreeable, angry, even sinister. Think of the witch who gave Sleeping Beauty that poison apple and you’ve got the right idea. We have been taught—largely by men—to fear the crone. It makes sense. The fellas have drawn a scary-ass picture. But back before those instructive men cold even hold a crayon, the crone of matriarchal societies was revered as a wise elder, a shepherdess of future generations. The Crone was the postmenopausal woman recognized and admired for her wisdom and leadership. “The literature describes the crone archetype as a pre-existent form in the collective unconscious that embodies instinctive ways of channeling wisdom, inner knowing, and intuition, guiding us through the transition of life, and going inward to bring forth the light for transformation. When women resonate or activate the crone archetypal image they tap into the psyche, to reclaim primordial images and receive the power within them that honor older women.” [1] In Irish and Scottish folklore, the Hag is represented as a divine deity of creation and weather. Her name is Cailleach, a direct translation of “old woman, hag.” There is a movement afoot to reclaim the name and elevated status of the crone archetype. We women of a certain age want to unveil her power by being ourselves. Think Whoopi Goldberg, Patti Smith, Alice Walker, Joni Mitchell, Jane Goodall, and the late, great Maya Angelou. These women are painting a new picture of aging in power. Back at the campfire, my neighbor (the one with grey hair she calls silver) said, “I feel invisible sometimes.” “Hooray for invisibility! Think of all the fun we can have while no one can see us,” I responded. (My hair is mostly grey, too, though I still have streaks of brown and gold.) Harry Potter fans will remember that when he donned the Invisibility Cloak, he learned great things that connected him to his past and his strengths. Invisibility was a gateway to discovery and growth. And invisible, he furthered the cause of good versus evil. As I step into my own cloak of invisibility (I had my 58th birthday earlier this week), I am ready to discover and grow. I encourage the same in the women of a certain age I write resumes, bios, and LinkedIn profiles for. We are at the height of our intellectual powers, it’s time we acknowledge our value, wisdom, and direction! -Jane Taylor   In FromWithin Coaching’s 12th year, we find ourselves inspired by the lessons of the past few years and the possibilities in 2022! As the owner of FWC, I am lucky to be surrounded by talented Coaches and Writers that consistently make a difference in their clients’ lives. And in mine.
We have added two more amazing Coaches and we want to take a moment to introduce them. I’d like to introduce them in order of their arrival to our FWC family: Tim Birmingham, both a Career Coach and Communications Writer, believes a rewarding career path can be blazed over any mountain and around any obstacle. Like a mountain range, career paths have peaks and valleys along the way. Having been through that change himself, he brings both a personal perspective and professional commitment to helping others find the right path and achieve their career goals. His clients are individuals who: ★ Are still searching for what they want in their career OR have an idea of what they want but might be unsure of how to get there, or where to start. ★ Are aware it’s time for a change and are committed to that change ★ Are rising or mid-career professionals seeking Career, Clarity, Strengths-Based Coaching as well as Job Search Strategies, Powerful Resumes, Cover Letters & LinkedIn Profiles and Interview Coaching & Training. Tim's Strengths are Futuristic, Significance, Empathy, Individualization, and Relator. We are lucky enough to welcome Amanda Lau to FromWithin Coaching as well! As a Professional Development and Simplicity Coach, she works with clients who are ready to set boundaries, simplify their lives and clearly understand their top priorities in their professional and/or personal lives. They want to learn to say yes to what truly matters and stay focused on those priorities. Learning to say no to requests, people, things, and buffers that will not serve us can be uncomfortable, but when these changes move from a new practice to an unconscious habit, that's when the magic happens. Her clients learn to believe in themselves and find the confidence to have a voice to advocate for what they need. Her Strengths include Connectedness, Relator, Empathy, Responsibility, and Maximizer. The change you seek starts here!  Career Coaching vs. Clarity Coaching
When I first started coaching 15 years ago, I’d get asked “What is a Coach?” way more than I do now. This is a wonderful thing because that tells me that more and more people are seeking Coaches or at least understand what a Coach is. It also tells me that coaching is becoming a more accepted form of support in one’s career, life, or business. However, the question I do find myself answering often is “What is the difference between job search coaching and clarity career coaching?” Good question! “Isn’t it all career coaching?” Yes and no… FromWithin Coaching is proud to support hundreds of clients each year, from students to seasoned professionals, to find happiness in their careers. It’s our specialty. We love helping clients find a career that brings them happiness. But in order to understand how we can help you, it’s important for you to understand the difference between these two different types of career coaching – job search coaching and clarity coaching- so you can consider what might be the best fit for your specific situation. Job Search Coaching is likely for you if you are asking yourself any of these questions:
And so on… What you’ll see is a theme of strategy – “how” or “what” is the key in these questions. A job search coaching client is seeking strategy, tactics, steps, and hints on how to handle a job search. Career Clarity Coaching is likely for you if you are asking yourself any of these questions:
What you’ll see is a theme of following up on the “what” and “how” with the “why.” Clarity Coaching is more about purpose and why you want to pursue a career. It helps you identify the problems holding you back from getting clear. Clarity comes by brainstorming solutions that value your strengths and individuality. This greater self-awareness will not only allow you to shift to experience yourself, others and the world in a much more positive way, but will also help you better understand what you need in a career in order to find greater meaning, purpose and fulfillment. And that is the frame you can use in your job search. To sum it up: Clarity first – job search second. You don’t want to leave it to chance that you’ll find your dream job based on who is hiring the week you look at your career alerts, Indeed, or wherever you’re searching. Now that you know the difference, it’s up to you to ask yourself: “What support do I really need?” Is it getting clear on what might be next in your career, or how to get there? Finally, to lock in the learning I hope I was able to offer, as a lover of metaphors, I’d be remiss if I didn’t use one to explain the difference. Job searching coaching is for you if you’re driving your “car” on empty with the orange fuel light on and there is no gas station in sight. You need strategy to find the gas station. Clarity career coaching is for you when you don’t know which car to get into in the first place! Still not sure? No problem. We offer free exploratory calls to help you determine whether you need fuel or the clarity on which car to drive. Amy Magyar, PCC, M.Ed. Owner/Founder of FromWithin Coaching  Where Can We Take Back Control? Reflections from Coach LJ Nieulant In these tumultuous times it may seem that your life is out of control. Whether you are without a job, furloughed or working, a lot of things came to a halt very abruptly. Work and life have changed; routines and schedules changed. We need to adapt. For my wife, three children, and me, we had to adjust to a new routine which we changed several times before we found a schedule and routine that benefits us all. This is where you can take back control in your life: decide what to do and what to avoid or leave for what it is. I am not able to develop a cure for the virus; I am not a scientist. I am able though to be of help and service to others in my community. Please take a moment to reflect on your current life. How are you doing, how is your family doing, and how are your friends and neighbours doing? Journal about your situation and see where you might need to make adjustments. What is it that you can do to regain some control in your life? Build a new routine; take it one step at a time. Adjust as necessary. Identify adaptations that benefit you and your loved ones. You might want to add a new activity to your routine. For instance, my wife and I walk our dog at the end of the day for an hour to discuss the day’s events. It benefits us although our dog thinks it is a little too much to be walked for the 7th time. An addition to your routine could be to reflect on your career so far. What did it bring and what are you missing in your career? Would you like to take a different route in the future? This may be a good time to prepare for that journey. Think about the things that brought you joy and what you would like to continue. What activities wore you out, which ones do you want to get rid of? Make a list of your Strengths, which ones bring a smile to your face? Make an inventory of your weaknesses and leave those for what they are. They are not working for you or with you so maybe take this opportunity to throw them out of the window and only focus on your Strengths. Ready to focus on your Strengths and take back control? Let's connect! - Coach LJ Nieulant Quick Follow Up to Coach LJ's Thoughts on Control |
AuthorThe authors of these blogs include incredible Coaches and Writers at FromWithin Coaching who are inspired to share their thoughts, ideas, comments, and possibilities with YOU, the reader. Archives
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