Kerri Richardson

I was having tea with a Twitter friend and coaching colleague, and we were talking about how we don’t adhere to a lot of the old school coaching training, such as “Don’t offer your client advice. Simply help them pull the wisdom out from within.” Or “Never share anything about yourself during a session.” The conversation got me thinking. For the eight years that I have been coaching, people have asked if they could do “as needed” coaching with me. My answer has always been no — that coaching is about establishing and building a relationship to work on laying a solid foundation and not about putting out fires. While I still firmly believe that, I also have opened up to the fact that sometimes people just need a skilled coach to offer a fresh perspective on a specific situation from time to time.

As it usually happens, as I was contemplating this, I received a phone call from a woman inquiring about my services. What did she want? As needed sessions. OK, Universe. I get it.

So, I’m happy to announce that starting immediately, I’m now offering 45-minute Laser Coaching Sessions!

• Have you ever found yourself in a particular situation and you can’t seem to find a doorway out?

• Do you need to have a difficult conversation with a friend or family member about a specific subject and you could use some help with the language?

• Has it become clear that you need to set a boundary, but you don’t know how to go about it?

Then a Laser Session is for you.

In our 45-minute session, I will help you step back from your situation and suggest some best ways to handle it as well as provide input on how to do just that. We’ll not only handle the particular scenario you come to the call with, but we’ll also touch upon the possible sources, or deeper issues, of what is going on.

The key to these sessions is specificity, hence the term “laser”. A specific, targeted situation with which you could use some objective help is what is best served. When you book a Laser Session through my website, you’ll receive an email requesting a detailed description of your situation, as well as some days and times that work best for you. Please note, Laser Sessions are offered Monday-Friday, between 9 AM and 4 PM, as availability allows.

To book your session,

Do you feel like you need help putting the pieces together? Having worked with hundreds of people, I can tell you that a key ingredient to any success is having the right support. When you partner with a coach, you quickly see how much easier your ability to change and improve your life becomes. Through years of experience as a coach, combined with my intuitive approach, I offer fresh perspectives, accountability, evaluation of where you are expending your energy unnecessarily, and support in letting go of blocking beliefs and setting boundaries. Let’s chat and see how we can rock your world!

Life Coaching

Are you living with the nagging feeling that there’s got to be more to life than this? Give yourself the gift of a supportive partner who will help you get back in touch with your dreams and desires. Only when you feel truly nurtured and cared for (by yourself) can you then give freely — out of true joy and surplus instead of guilt and obligation. Your time is now. Don’t put it off any longer. Get in touch for a complimentary exploratory conversation. I’m here to support you, challenge you, and guide you. Oh, and we’re sure to have lots of fun, too!

Thoughts from past clients:

“I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciated your talent, devotion, and skill at what you do. What a godsend your clarity is! … your focus was so helpful, and you somehow came up with such helpful, practical/spiritual, strong messages and reminders. I am often agog at the surgical precision of your words, just the right thing at the right time. It can feel like water to someone in the desert. You made a big difference in my life.” — Ruth L.

“Since working with you, my life has changed in so many positive ways. It has been wonderful to have your guidance, support, and wisdom along with your upbeat personality guiding me along this path. I hope you know what an impact you’ve had on my life. I am very excited to see my life unfold.” — Laurie M.

“I know that every professional athlete, business person, creative artist and human being can benefit from working with the right coach and working with Kerri helped my business immensely! I have seen vast improvements in every area – financial, organization, clarity, focus and general peace of mind. Kerri asked my permission to be ‘tough’ on me and we went back to the basics right away. This cleared my head and helped me focus on laying a solid foundation for the future. I know I’m ready for every opportunity that comes my way now. I *loved* having Kerri on my team! “

Sandy Grason, author of Journalution

How I Work

I do all of my coaching via the telephone – during daytime hours (EST). I speak with my clients either two or three times per month (depending on the chosen plan) for 30 minutes each. In between calls, the support continues via e-mail (as needed). Through their work with me, clients find that they are able to see situations in new and different ways, and together we come up with appropriate action steps to move them in a direction that is aligned with their desires and values.

The main components of coaching that clients really appreciate is the ability to work with a supportive partner – someone who will hold them up when they struggle, and give them a gentle “kick in the behind” when they fall behind. Someone who will help them to set better boundaries so they can honor their needs and self-care. The support and accountability are both key components in anyone’s success.

There are many coaches out there who require a minimum three-month commitment to start. I understand why that is the case, as in the coaching world, we are told it takes a solid 90 days to see the far-reaching effects of coaching (although I would like to humbly admit that I find clients I work with see results sooner than that . I don’t require clients to commit to a certain number of months simply because we may find, in a month or so, that I am not a fit for you. I am then happy to refer you to someone else. Conversely, I have an ideal client profile I go by and may find that a client I started working with is not a good fit for me. For coaching to be successful, there must be an energetic match. This is why I offer the flexibility of working on a month-to-month basis. I am proud to say I have yet to have a client ask for a referral, and I credit that to my commitment to only take on those clients who I have a strong sense that we would work well together.

Fees for Private Coaching

Three, 30-minute calls per month, with email support in between, as needed: $400 USD.

Two, 30-minute calls per month, with email support on the off weeks: $275 USD.



This is the column where, each week, I’ll be answering one website visitor’s question in hopes of supporting all visitors through shared (and likely, relevant) challenges, triumphs, and struggles.

Dear Kerri,

My older sister and I are in our 50s and lived together until five years ago when I fell in love and moved in with a man. She had difficulty accepting this, and our relationship steadily deteriorated. Initially, discussing the problem helped, and she was OK for a day; then would revert to silence.

I’ve told her I want both of them in my life, but she tells me I’m dead to her, refuses to speak to me and acts like she doesn’t know me (in public). This hurts, but I realize I need to let the pain go for my benefit. Any suggestions?

Signed,
Estranged in Edmonton

Dear Estranged,

I’m so sorry to hear your relationship with your sister is going through such a difficult time right now. While every challenge is a learning experience, it doesn’t make the lesson any less painful.

It’s difficult to offer specific advice without knowing the full story of how the distance came about, however, I can suggest some things to consider in an effort to take good care of yourself.

If you feel unclear on the complete reasons your sister is not speaking to you, and you’d like to mend the relationship, consider writing her a note expressing your desire to get together and talk. If you do meet, instead of preparing for any kind of “battle”, have your intention for the conversation be more about sharing your feelings and being open to hearing hers. The point is not to declare a winner, otherwise you both lose.

If, on the other hand, you wish to honor her need for space and/or you feel like you need some space and time away as well, you could communicate that to her and invite her to get in touch with you when she feels ready to talk.

In the meantime, I’d encourage you to make peace with whatever option you choose and feels right at this time by being with the emotions as they come up. Journal, meditate, dialogue with your sister in writing (with no intention of sending it to her — simply for you to work through your feelings). As you do, try to get yourself into a compassionate listening place — for yourself and for your sister.

What could be the deeper story behind her pain and silence? Your finding a partner and moving in with him is merely a symptom of her pain. Invite her to explore and share the source if and when she’d be willing and if and when you’d be interested in listening.

Our relationship with our family is so important and so significant, yet can sometimes be quite challenging. So, I’d first encourage you to determine what you’d like your relationship to look like with your sister, and take it from there considering the above approaches.

All the best to you,
Kerri
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To have your question considered for Ask the Coach, simply send an email keeping the following guidelines in mind:

• Be specific. Make sure your question is clearly stated to prevent any misinterpretation. That way, you’ll be sure to have your specific need addressed.

• Keep it under 150 words. Any emails longer than the specified limit will be ineligible for selection.

• You only need to send your question once. While only one of the emails sent in a specific week will be answered, I’ll be keeping eligible emails for possible use in future columns. Be sure to keep checking back each week, not only to see if yours was selected, but to also check out the one that was. Chances are each week’s question can pertain to your life in some way!

• Only emails selected for publication will be answered. Due to the volume received, I am only able to answer the weekly selected question.

• By submitting a question, you are authorizing its use on this website.

• Submissions may be edited and/or shortened for content and length purposes.

To read the archive of Ask the Coach, click here. To submit your question, go ahead and send an email



This is the column where, each week, I’ll be answering one website visitor’s question in hopes of supporting all visitors through shared (and likely, relevant) challenges, triumphs, and struggles.

Dear Kerri,

About a year ago, I left a regular corporate job and went into business for myself. I work out of my home as the only member of my company. Things are going really well, however, I find myself second guessing my decision. Financially, business is very successful, and I love the flexibility in my schedule and the independence. Sometimes, though, I find my motivation and energy level dipping. Now that the somewhat frantic pace of getting the business established has mostly wound down, I’m often slow to get going and procrastinating a bit; even occasionally missing my old job, which to my logical mind, seems nuts since I couldn’t wait to get out of there. Do all new entrepreneurs go through this dip and what can I do about it?

Signed,
Perplexed in Poughkeepsie, NY

Dear Perplexed,

Congratulations on making the successful transition to entrepreneurship! That is quite a feat, and you should be proud!

It sounds like now that things have settled a bit, the quieter energy is allowing you to be with yourself more and with the busyness less. Depending on your personality, that can be a blessing or a curse.

When you’re feeling low energy, do you like to refuel with quiet alone time or by being around people? Some really need solitude to rejuvenate and feel “clicked in” again. Others, and this happens a lot with solopreneurs like yourself, the isolation that can come with running your own business out of your home can be a bit daunting.

My guess is that it’s not your old job you are missing, but the social connection of having co-workers. Give this a shot: Over the next week, choose two days when you can spend a couple of hours working from a local coffee shop or your public library. Try to stay at least two hours there, and while you’re there, as well as after you’re home, take a few moments to check in to see how you feel. I bet your mood will be lifted and you’ll feel much more motivated. Sometimes we just need to be in the energy of others without needing to engage in chit chat or conversation.

If you find that this “dip” that you’re feeling persists and begins to interfere with your daily get-up-and-go, you might consider seeking the support of a good therapist. You can ask for referrals from your primary care physician (if you really connect well with him or her), friends, family, or your insurance company. Giving yourself this gift of a full hour where you get to talk things through with an objective professional is invaluable. Take some time to write down your ideal qualities in a therapist, and be sure to interview a few to find a good match.

Best of luck to you in your business and in your ongoing self care!

Cheers,
Kerri
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To have your question considered for Ask the Coach, simply send an email keeping the following guidelines in mind:

• Be specific. Make sure your question is clearly stated to prevent any misinterpretation. That way, you’ll be sure to have your specific need addressed.

• Keep it under 150 words. Any emails longer than the specified limit will be ineligible for selection.

• You only need to send your question once. While only one of the emails sent in a specific week will be answered, I’ll be keeping eligible emails for possible use in future columns. Be sure to keep checking back each week, not only to see if yours was selected, but to also check out the one that was. Chances are each week’s question can pertain to your life in some way!

• Only emails selected for publication will be answered. Due to the volume received, I am only able to answer the weekly selected question.

• By submitting a question, you are authorizing its use on this website.

• Submissions may be edited and/or shortened for content and length purposes.

To read the archive of Ask the Coach, click here. To submit your question, go ahead and send an email

This past Easter, I met a miracle man.

After spending the beautiful day on the beach, we’re heading home to cook Easter dinner. As we travel down the tranquil, seaside road, we see an older gentleman crossing the street. As he reaches the other side, he stumbles on the curb and falls — into the road.

Fortunately, the woman driving the car in front of us is paying close attention and stops abruptly, just short of the man lying on the pavement. Without much thought, I jump out of the car and run to his side, along with the astute driver of the SUV ahead of us.

We each take an arm, get him to his feet, and walk him toward a bench so he can sit and settle his nerves. On our walk, I learn that Dave, an Air Force vet, was an expert skier in his day, spending lots of time while stationed in Europe hitting the slopes of the Alps and other epic mountains. He had a “bit of an accident” years ago that makes him a little wobbly on his feet. Later, I learn it was much more than a “bit of an accident.”

More embarrassed than hurt, we get him to the bench, and I decide to keep him company while a neighbor goes to his apartment to get his cane. As we chat, I learn more about his “little” accident.

Years after his service to our country, at the still young age of 32, Dave is skiing Killington in Vermont, using brand new equipment. Before he knows it, in a moment he doesn’t remember, he flies off the trail and hits a tree. A moment that would change his life forever.

In a coma, the doctors give him a very slim chance at survival, however, his mother’s faith doesn’t waiver. Seemingly inspired by her belief, the medical team makes her as comfortable as possible as she holds vigil.

More than three months later, Dave wakes to find a bolt through his temple, unable to speak or move his body, and missing a large portion of his scalp. The doctors are stunned to see him awake; his mother, not so much. She refuses to let them take him off life support. But, the prognosis isn’t good, the doctors tell her. They say he’ll never walk again and probably won’t ever speak. Apparently, they don’t know Dave very well.

Each and every day since he completed months and months of extensive and difficult physical therapy and rehabilitation years ago, Dave rides his stationery bike for 36 minutes, does 36 sit-ups and 36 push-ups. Next time I see him, I’ll have to ask him the significance of the number “36″. He also walks a full mile, round-trip, to the water’s edge and back home. This trek, that he’s been making for 27 years, is the one he’s walking the day I meet him. He decides, this day, that he’s going to give it a go without his cane. With his crystal blue eyes glistening in the sun, and his smile beaming, he chuckles, “Guess that wasn’t the best idea.”

As we sit on the bench chatting, a small crowd gathers to look at a seal that’s popped up in the water. Could this day get any better? Dave taps me on the arm with his camera that he’s pulled out of his shirt pocket. “I’m a bit shaken. Can you snap a picture for me?” I take his camera and climb up onto the wall and capture the scene for him. “I zoomed in as much as I could, Dave. But I make no guarantees that you’ll be able to see that the black speck in the water is a seal!” Dave just seems impressed that I know how to use his camera without explanation. “I can barely figure that thing out,” he says. Maybe next time I see him I can show him a couple simple tricks.

While it is a scary way for us to meet, I’m feeling incredibly fortunate for having been at the right place at the right time. Not only to help Dave to his feet, but also to meet this miracle man who had to learn to walk, talk, eat, read and write all over again. And while he admits to me, in a whisper, that there were times when he wanted to throw in the towel and end his struggle, his beaming and contagious smile comes back across his face as he says, “But I didn’t.” And Dave doesn’t blame his struggles on skiing. It’s a sport he still loves, as it was a huge part of his life. “And,” he, says, “it will be again.” And I don’t doubt him for a second.

Image by Neil Rickards