Life coaching develops creative ways to achieve goals

By Barbara Brown

Everyone at some time in their life gets that ìswampedî feeling.

Whether they feel blocked at work, unattached at home or distracted in their relationships with friends, there are few people who feel like their lives are 100 percent perfect.

For those times when people might need a little help working toward a life goal, whether professional, personal or financial, a life coach might be helpful.

Thatís where people like Nancy Conger come in.
Conger, 39, used to work in the corporate world, where she said she was successful, but over-worked and generally unhappy in her career.
She decided to leave that job and become a life coach.

At the time, about seven years ago, Conger did not know that she was embarking on ìcoaching.î
She simply wanted to help people avoid years of self-battle with making a decision and achieve their own goals.

Nearly six years ago, Conger became a certified life coach, someone who will help her clients map out a way to achieve a personal goal and shed light on the pitfalls people often create for themselves along the way.

Conger makes it clear that she is neither a psychologist nor a psychiatrist.

Her clients are relatively well rounded, balanced, intelligent and successful people who want to make personal improvements but are having a hard time achieving their goal.

Congerís clients are located all over the country. She is paid on a monthly basis, and that fee includes four half-hour sessions ñ either on the phone or in person ñ and e-mail communication throughout the month.

Initially Conger has a two- to three-hour ìdiscoveryî session with a new client to get an idea of that personís values and life focuses.
After she has a good idea of what that client holds important, Conger can help them ìthink outside the boxes we put ourselves in,î to find innovative, creative and sometimes revealing ways to improve their lives.

Conger said after the discovery session, the client should have developed some kind of long- and short-term goals.

She said the goals can focus on improvements in personal, financial, career or relationship fields or a combination of a lot of fields.

For the months, and sometimes years, that follow, Conger helps guide her clients through their own personal decisions and accountability to achieve their goals.

Goals can range from not being late to dinner dates or setting boundaries at work to building a dream home or starting a new business.

Carole Hyder, of South Minneapolis, said she met Conger several years ago through the Open U at the University of Minnesota.

The two women taught seminars ñ Conger taught simpler living and Hyder taught feng shui.

A feng shui consultant for more than 10 years, Hyder has helped other people establish harmony in their homes and offices, but she felt discord in her own life, she said.

Hyder said she loves her job and, partnered with her drive to succeed, that meant she was wearing herself out working too much.

A couple years ago, after having met Conger several times, she became a client.
Hyder said she and Conger realized about five months ago that Hyder had achieved all the professional and personal goals she had set for herself when she first became a client.

Thatís when the process started over again for Hyder. She and Conger had a second discovery session and Hyder is on her way to achieving more goals.

Hyder was attracted to Congerís simple lifestyle, which comes through in her discussions with clients.

ìItís having an objective person who listens to you about what you are trying to do in your life,î Hyder said of coaching. ìShe gets right to the core and says things that a friend would never say.î

That guidance not mean or hurtful in any way, Hyder said. Conger simply has a different perspective and offers a chance for clients to look at their lives and decisions from a different angle.
ìShe reminds me that I really have made strides for myself and my goals,î Hyder said.

ìSheís my checks and balances.î

Conger is teaching an introduction to coaching class on May 23 at the Metaphysical Emporium in White Bear. The class is good for potential clients or coaches. For information, call 651-462-7353.

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