Why I Coach with OtO

Sheila Baker

Joined One to One in April, 2010

I first learned of One to One while attending a breakout session at the 2009 ICF Conference in Orlando. Susie Strauss was highlighting the One to One program and sharing success stories of the impact this organization was having. As a full-time corporate coach, I began considering taking on an external coaching client as a way to give back to the community while stretching my own coaching competence by incorporating some life coaching into my practice.

One of the things that attracted me to One to One was its focus on women……women who for whatever reasons were in need of support and who were determined to make changes to better their circumstances. The stage was set for both coach and client to play a role in transforming a life into one that would be more meaningful and productive. What a privilege to play a part in that transformation!

Along the way, I have discovered that One to One equally supports me as a coach as it does our coaching clients. The support, training and encouragement I have received as a volunteer coach has served to fuel my desire to give more.

For me, the mission and purpose of One to One aligns with my own personal values. The importance I place on relationships, collaboration, integrity, making a difference and a sense of belonging are all modeled and lived by the coaches that make up this phenomenal organization.

I Care For

The ICF (international coach federation) has a new project called “I Care For”.

Anyone who is a member can logon to their website www.coachfederation.org and go to the I Care For link to talk about their passion(s).

The statements will be shared on www.ICFICareFor.org and other communication channels.

Here’s what I posted about One to One:

I care for women who need a hand up and out… of poverty, domestic violence, substance abuse, isolation … but who have nowhere to turn.

I care for the non-profit One to One – Women Coaching Women, founded and run by professionally trained female coaches who volunteer their services.

I care for life coaching and how it helps these low-income, high-potential women take charge of their lives and have a powerful, positive impact on their families and communities.

Lee Sumner Irwin, PCC (USA)

WANT GROWTH? Get back to YOU - mind, spirit, body!

Live Your Life By Design

Sunday, September 12, 2010 from 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM (ET)

New York, NY

Are you a woman who wants greater satisfaction with your personal life and/or your career, but aren't sure quite how to begin?

Then devote a day entirely to you - to discovering and exploring your goals, dreams, and most heartfelt desires. Learn powerful techniques for transforming a life by default into a life you design for yourself. A life you'll be able to start creating, right away, with the proven tools and strategies you'll learn during this workshop.

Join certified life coaches Madhu Maron, Paige Continentino, and Karen Levine for the Life by Design Workshop. This one-day intensive workshop, created by women specifically for women, will help you focus on defining what you want to have, do, and be in your life - from money and success to passion, purpose, and personal growth.

Our mind, body, and spirit approach supports you in discovering what you really want and how to make it happen in your life. Holistic in concept, the workshop combines short presentations of key ideas with experiential learning opportunities. Come prepared to have fun as you make discoveries and learn to integrate these into action plans you can begin to implement right away.

During the workshop, you'll:

• Get in touch with your deepest desires.
• Set goals that match your values and desired growth.
• Create doable action plans to accomplish those goals.
• Experience the delight of being in community with other brilliant women who, like yourself, want to create more rewarding lives for themselves.

Deep shifts and transformations often occur quickly. All you have to do is be willing and jump in fully!

Dress casually and comfortably. Please bring a journal.

Early bird registrants will receive a complimentary, one-hour, follow-up coaching session.

Bonus: 10% of the proceeds for this workshop go to One to One, Women Coaching Women, an international nonprofit organization that provides pro bono life coaching services to highly motivated women who want to make a difference in and with their lives but cannot afford to engage a coach.

Your hosts are expert Life Designers.

Paige believes in harnessing the power of self awareness as a catalyst for growth and change. She transitioned mid-life from being totally focused on the needs of others and unsure of her own purpose, to finding her dream job. She has since created a life that honors both her love of helping others create deeply satisfying lives through coaching and meditation, and her desire to be an active and supportive mother. She attributes her success to her willingness to create change and her trust in her own inner guidance.

Madhu loves change and risk. She left her childhood home in suburban Michigan for an unpredictable life in New York City where she evolved a successful career in corporate Human Resources into a fulfilling life coaching practice. At the root of all these changes is a passion for, and commitment to self-connection. Her coaching practice focuses on women who wish to be more centered in themselves.

Karen lives a dynamic life of redesign and reinvention. A life and professional effectiveness coach specializing in coaching women in transition, Karen’s career has morphed from corporate America, through the advertising industry, communications consulting, freelance writing, and editing, to that of a coach who has the life experience - both the successes and battle scars - to be a wise, compassionate, and effective coach for women who want a fuller, more rewarding, more personally empowered life. When she’s not coaching or consulting, Karen is often pursuing one of her three great passions: traveling, scuba diving, and knitting

For more information: http://liveyourlifebydesign.eventbrite.com/

Excerpt from OtO's Follow Up Interviews

* OtO has been conducting interview with all past clients to gauge long-term effects of OtO's coaching program *

2. Describe what aspects of coaching were most helpful to you:

Encouraging me to trust myself and listen to myself. Be comfortable with my own thoughts and feelings

6. Please give specific examples of changes you have made in your personal and professional life or goals you have achieved as a result of your coaching relationship.

When I went to coaching the idea was to work on my education. Now I'm about to complete another degree. The coaching made me see I could do anything I set my mind too and to trust that I am ok in myself. With my work situation I better able to communicate my thoughts, take things less personality, and listen better.

8. Describe some possible ways this coaching experience could have been more useful to you.

I just really enjoyed the whole process. Because at the time I was so busy it would have been very difficult for me to leave work to meet with someone. The flexibility to meet with my coach on my schedule. The long distance was perfect.

The one thing that could make it better is if it was available to so many other people. Honestly, I got involved on a whim and think so many other people could use the support.

(With permission from Kym Robinson, OTO Client '04-'05)

Lighten UP

The Coaching Corner
By
Mary Mantei

Summer is a time of lightness in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Our days seem longer as the light of day extends late into the evening. We wear lighter clothing, perhaps eat lighter foods, and at night, we fall asleep under light coverings if anything at all. There is a sense of freedom in the many kinds of lightness we experience during this sweet season. We seem to automatically detach from many of our rituals and habits of the darker, chillier months

I wonder what lightness we could feel in our lives if we were able to detach from many of the habits and rituals we consciously or unconsciously practice. What obligations are you carrying around which weigh you down? What are you saying "yes" to these days that prevents you from using your time in a way that is completely satisfying to you and to those you love? What are you doing unconsciously because the world suggests it is the way things are done? What are you so attached to that, without it, you think you wouldn't exist in a valuable way? Musing over these questions, maybe even answering them with brutal honesty and taking action, could be a way to "lighten up" a bit . . . so that you can be more of who you really want to be in the world.

Here is a filter which might help you take a step towards lightening the load of obligation, resentment, and attachment. Pema Chodron, a Buddhist nun and teacher says, "When you do not seek or need external approval, you are at your most powerful." If you were to take Pema's quote to heart, what would you stop doing right now? What would you start doing right now? And, what would living in that way give you?

Lightening up is a path to more joy, more authenticity, and more energy to create what is truly important to you. I'll venture a guess that when you are lighter emotionally and mentally, your light shines brighter for everyone around you.

First official FRIENDRAISER

At our Spring Retreat, Tricia Schulte and Amanda Strauss unrolled the design for FriendRaising, complete with a sample invitation, invite list, script for a house party and forms for guests to fill out. The purpose for hosting a gathering of your own is to raise awareness about One to One, inform potential referral sources, and raise funds to support our organization. Susie Strauss and I decided to take advantage of a built-in time slot for some of our friends. We belong to a writing group called Women Writing (for a change) – pun intended. Our last class of the semester was approaching so we told our friends that we would be sending them an invitation to come and learn about an organization that we are passionate about. Susie sent an E-Vite which made it easy to see who was coming. We explained to anyone we spoke to that there would be an opportunity to make a contribution (at the party or at a later date) but none was necessary. We met at Susie’s home and offered coffee and iced tea plus muffins, cheese and crackers, and veggies with dip. We had seven guests.

We began with our personal stories of involvement in One to One. Then we showed the DVD and entertained questions. Our group included women who care deeply about women and the conversation was lively. There was interest in our clients but also the organization itself – particularly that it is designed and run by women for women.

What we learned:

1. It is EASY to generate excitement about One to One – particularly using the elegantly designed template created by Trish and Amanda.
2. Move swiftly to the DVD – it answers most of the basic questions that people are curious about and leaves time for them to ask the unanswered questions which leads to a deeper exchange.
3. The dreaded “ask” (for those of us who avoid fund raising) flowed naturally and our guests DID contribute generously. The fact that they knew and we knew it would have been a success merely to have spread the word removed any awkwardness or pressure.

Next week we have a second gathering scheduled. My daughter is a social worker at Children’s Hospital here in Birmingham. After hearing about the Friend-Raisers, she asked me if we would invite her staff to come and learn about One to One. She sent an e-vite to her staff making the connection between us evident. This will no doubt have a different feel since we don’t know the group personally, but they work with women in dire straits all day every day. I look forward to learning from them about the needs that they see. We are meeting after work for a wine and cheese party. Feedback to follow…..

Meredith A. Titus

2010 Annual Coaches Retreat

The 2010 Coaches’ Professional Development Weekend was a huge success, thanks to all those who helped plan and facilitate, as well our wonderful attendees. From the lovely connections made between new friends and old, the “dangerous” trainings, the wild dance party, to the delicious food and nurturing provided by the staff at Blue Springs Manor, the weekend together supported us in filling ourselves up so that we may continue to provide our awesome service as OtO coaches. We hope to see those we missed this year at next year’s CPDW!

- Coco Rosenblatt-Farrell