A 5-Year Reflection on My Coaching Impact
Earlier this year I celebrated five years focused solely on being “Coach Kate” of KaptivateMe, out of the corporate world. With a refreshed vision and roadmap to tailor, I took the opportunity to step back and examine my impact as a coach and consider where I might continue to focus my time. And when I say examine, I mean it! I went through every pre-call form, pulse survey, closing session notes and testimonial received from the past five years.
The following are anonymized direct quotes from that analysis that I feel reflect the difference I've helped people make in their lives through coaching. I share this for a couple of reasons.
I’m proud of what I do - and what other certified coaches do - and as a solopreneur I need to give myself some recognition ;)
I’m doubling down time spent on life and leadership coaching, I enjoy it so much and the ripple effects are huge. This means I’m reducing the more time-intensive career transition work to referral-only. Learn more about the services I’ll provide moving forward.
Perhaps someone else’s lived experience also resonates with you - and gives you hope that you, too, can reach your goals.
Before Coaching
New KaptivateMe clients complete a form before their first discovery call with me, Coach Kate. It’s the first opportunity to pause, reflect and capture: how you’re feeling in the moment, what goals you want to reach and what might happen if you don’t make your desired changes.
feelING & thinkING
“Stress from work”
“I didn’t get enough done; all the things I have to do - primarily for others”
“I’m a workaholic, and don’t know how to stop - so much of my self-worth is wrapped up in my career”
“I’m not successful or interesting enough”
“I’m not living up to the vision I had for myself”
“I’m so out of balance”
“About my never ending to-do list”
“Finances”
“Confused about how/why I ended up here…again”
“Discouraged about my weight, health, appearance”
“I’m better at advocating for others and their growth mindset than I am for myself”
“I’m disappointed in myself….”
“Relationships that aren’t working, or the ones that I want (romantic)”
“Beating myself up about past “mistakes” or how I “failed””
“I feel like I have a million choices – all great options – but I can’t make a firm decision around the “right” choice”
“Am I making the right decision?”
“Am I being an effective leader?”
“How come I still don’t know who I am? How am I this old and still trying to find myself?”
“I don’t feel good enough. I feel fat and dumb.”
“It all feels hopeless and pointless”
“Tired of living this way; it’s an exhausting mindset”
At Risk/What Might Happen If Don’t Make Changes
“A rapid decline of health and happiness”
“A lot of wasted potential”
“A lot of wasted time and energy”
“Missed opportunities to be happier and healthier”
“Stress and worry will continue to impact my mental and physical health”
“Not truly being happy as life unfolds”
“Plateau in my growth”
“I will continue to be unhappy in daily life”
“My physical and mental wellbeing will continue to decline”
“Never accomplishing what I want/my goals”
“Health issues”
“Regret that I didn’t take action sooner”
“I worry I will become a sad old person and never truly be the best version of myself - the person I could be”
“Separation from my partner”
“Set a bad example for my kids”
Goals GOING INTO COACHING
“I want to figure out what’s next”
“I want to re-evaluate my purpose”
“I want to get better with (at setting and achieving) long-term goals”
“I want to find effective tools that improve my daily life”
“I want to be healthier; lose weight; live a healthy lifestyle; exercise routine”
“Live my best life with no regrets”
“I want to find myself and figure out what my best life looks to me”
“I want to have a work/life balance when I return to/in the corporate world”
“I want to have energy at the end of the day”
“Greater confidence and leadership presence”
“Confidence to go after my dreams”
“Find a sustainable path forward – because what I’m doing isn’t working”
“I want to be more organized and productive”
“I want to have, feel and exude joy - I want to surround myself with what truly brings me joy”
“I want to live my best self whatever stage I might be at”
“I want to be grateful for all areas of my life and successes, and not let this one point determine my level of happiness”
“I want to be more present in my life – stop living in the best and beating myself up”
“I want to get unstuck from analysis or perfectionist paralysis”
“I want to be able to better manage my emotions so every day isn’t such a roller coaster”
“I want to set boundaries”
“I want to live without regrets”
“I want to spend time on myself without guilt”
“I want to make more time for reading, painting, cooking, meaningful time, creative projects, getting outdoors, road trips, time with friends and family, time for myself”
“I want to have more satisfaction with work”
“I want to let go of the never-ending to-do list and be more happy and satisfied”
“I want to find things I genuinely enjoy to fill my free time”
“I want to live more authentically; stop the act and putting on masks”
“I want to be confident in my decisions; stop second guessing”
“I want to advance in my career AND fulfill my personal/wellbeing needs”
“I want to be in nurturing relationships”
“I want to foster a stronger relationship with my partner and be a better partner”
“I want to advocate for myself and my needs”
“I want to spend my time differently”
“I can’t always change the larger systems - but I have control over and can change myself”
“Consistency in my day-to-day life”
“Greater confidence”
“Clear plan for the future”
“I want to be happy, healthy, content, satisfied”
“I want to develop long-range goals with a plan to get there, along with discovering how to live a purpose-driven, energized, joyful life”
“I just came off maternity leave and want to feel reinvigorated in my corporate sales career and “balance” my new role as a mother”
After Coaching with KaptivateMe
I’m so grateful for my clients who put their trust into me and the coaching process, and who put in the work to make real change in their lives and our communities. There is nothing better for me than seeing my clients grow in their love and confidence in themselves, and celebrating with them as they make intentional shifts.
FEELING
"I feel more like myself, living authentically and in my values.”
“I found my purpose in life and am feeling joy and calm.”
“I’ve developed confidence, and feel it getting even stronger as I keep taking action.”
“I am more powerful than I ever thought I was.”
“Everyone I know says that I'm happier than I ever have been before (I completely agree).”
“I’m feeling more empowered and liberated in all areas of life, recognizing the power of showing up authentically at work and holding new healthy boundaries with my boss and clients.”
“I feel less overwhelmed by everything going on, and more time and energy is opening up as I focus on my purpose in life!”
“Thanks to life coaching, I feel better about my life overall, and see the tides changing with the season, the actions I’ve already begun, and the developing plan.”
“Values put my life into perspective and helped me determine what I truly want! This energy shift has helped me be more positive and fulfilled.”
“I have my core values hung up on my office wall and not a day goes by where I don’t reference those as motivation.”
“This made the future self and life I desire feel possible.”
THINKING
“I know myself and my life purpose so much better.”
“I’ve made huge strides in quieting the inner critic!”
“I’m now seeing the things that scare/scared me with gratitude for how much I learn and grow! I’m no longer in victim mode, instead running with a growth mindset looking for new challenges.”
“I’m trending in a positive direction with proactive planning, goal setting and problem solving.”
“I feel like my world is expanding, my thinking is ever-broadening, and my creativity is on fire!”
“I’m actually having fun at work – I didn’t know how many ways mindset was holding me back.”
“I’m continuing to drop limiting beliefs and other's expectations, and focus on what matters to me and my life purpose.”
“I’m seeing things differently...loving myself, and recognizing it's a good thing, not selfish, to follow my dreams and take care of myself."
“Thanks to life coaching with Kate I’ve got a refreshingly simplified perspective on what’s missing and what’s next that I couldn’t have gotten to myself.”
“We dove deeper than I expected into where my life was heading, what my true values were and how I could leverage my strengths to feel more purposeful in all my various identities.”
“I have a clearer understanding of myself and a new found positive view of what I can accomplish in the future.”
ACTING
"I have accomplished so much! Made so many positive and healthy changes.”
“With practice, habits are becoming easier!”
“It has been crazy easy to do certain tasks that used to take me so much energy to complete.”
“I actually have energy left after work to make dinner and do other things that make me happy.”
“My time is so well managed, I think I can add in a hobby that uses real time! This life coaching program really worked.”
“I’m actually doing things! Like, really following through, and even CELEBRATING what I’ve accomplished. It’s amazing.”
“You’ve provided great tools for handling stress, and I am actively catching myself and reframing when the inner critic comes up.”
“I’m standing up for myself, my convictions and my ideas as I address the inner critic.”
“I’m seeing improvements in my relationships and my health based on the changes I’ve been making.”
“I'm happier in my life because I'm actively pursuing goals that matter to me and align with my values.”
“The values/life purpose work really inspired me to get creative and make my dreams happen.”
“Life coaching has inspired me and given me some amazing tools in a short time to do the work needed to realize my potential in the long-run.”
“Learning how to incorporate small, actionable steps towards what I want has been a game changer - it's too easy to overlook the important parts of life and get caught up in the day-to-day.”
“I’m shining light on my own life, and taking small steps for significant improvements.”
“Having dreamed bigger than ever, I found that I CAN make my fulfilling goals come true, one little step at a time!”
If you’re ready to feel, think and act differently than you do today — set up a call with me, Coach Kate.
Check it out! Coach Kate of KaptivateMe is featured in VoyageDenver’s Local Stories section in the interview-based article, “Inspiring Conversations with Kate Peabody of KaptivateMe.”