Q: Please share with us how you landed in this place, doing the work you do?

Ans: After many unhappy years climbing the corporate and law firm career ladders, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.  After the initial tail spin and grieving, with a glass half-full approach, I changed my diet and lifestyle and began to enjoy life again (even more than before).  Through illness I found my calling – - helping others change their diet and lifestyle in ways that alleviate some or all of the symptoms of many chronic illnesses.  My motto  is “make wellness a habit” and it derives from my own experience of changing my food, moves and attitude which resulted in a happier, healthier life. Laurie is also an accomplished ceramic artist.

Q:  How do you define wellness coaching?

Ans: Wellness encompasses the whole person. From what we eat, to what we think, to how we act.  It all affects our state of health and happiness. Starting from that premise, wellness coaching typically begins with changing our relationship with food since diet can have a profound affect on illness.  Good nutritional wellness coaching doesn’t start with a list of foods you can’t eat, however.  Instead, the goal is achieving sustained and sustainable lifestyle changes. That means we start with slow changes (no yo-yo dieting here) and crowd out the bad with the good.  In a coaching session, a client will typically receive two or three suggestions to work on until the next session.  Those suggestions can include new foods to introduce, exploring different ways to get exercise, tips on overcoming sugar cravings and managing stress.

Q:  What do you estimate is the typical duration of a client engagement?

Ans: Wellness coaching usually lasts from 3 to 6 months depending on the goals and the person’s state of health.   By the end of the coaching relationship, the person should have more energy, a healthier approach to meal time, respect for his/her body, and a sense of possibility.

Q:  I know that people often ask me if I’m a life coach and although my work with clients often includes what life coaches do, the difference is my own understanding of living with chronic illness and the experience  and body of work I’ve developed as a career coach.  I’m curious if and how you differentiate from other coaching/resources?

Ans: Like any coaching, wellness coaching is client driven and focused on specific goals. Unlike other types of coaching, the focus on food and nutrition reflect the goals of wellness coaching.  They can include losing weight, increasing energy, overcoming fatigue, sleeping better, improving digestion, reducing symptoms of chronic illness and getting more exercise. If needed, a coaching session might include cooking classes or even grocery store tours.

Wellness coaching differs from nutritional counseling or weight loss centers in that it goes beyond the food to address barriers to change. That may mean addressing time management, stress management, relationship issues, self-esteem or career matters. Wellness coaching is a holistic approach that looks at the whole person.

Q:  That’s interesting.  What benefits would someone get from working with a wellness coach like you?

Ans: I walk my talk. I am on a first name basis with life imbalance, having spent far too many years climbing the career ladder while ignoring my own health. Yet, when I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, I underwent a major paradigm shift and made health and healing my number one priority (losing 40 pounds in the process). During that time, I learned numerous strategies that I share with my clients about eating healthy, getting exercise and finding “me” time, all while still excelling at a career.  I know the stones in the road, and love to help others navigate the wellness path.

Q:  Whom do you think would benefit most from this coaching?

Ans: Any one who feels that chronic illness is sapping them of life’s energy, whether through fatigue, pain, depression or fear.  Wellness coaching can help people with multiple sclerosis, diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic lyme disease, auto-immune conditions, celiac disease, and even heart disease and cancer.

In addition to the traditional medical approaches to these conditions, research is showing us two additional means in which we can manage chronic illness. First,  our attitude and approach to illness (is it active or passive?) is a significant factor in disease progression and quality of life.  Research also shows that dietary changes can help alleviate and manage the symptoms of chronic illness.  I weave this together to give people the tools to feel better, but the tools to feel better, but the strategies to implement these changes in a busy lifestyle.

Ans: I strongly believe in the soulful benefits of a creative outlet. I encourage my clients to discover their inner artist. It opens doorways to the bigger picture of why we are here.  For me, I create artistic, yet functional pottery.  It was a grounding force as I absorbed the news of my own diagnosis. So my parting thought . . . when life gets too serious, get dirty.

THANK YOU!

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But you can be prepared and minimize the unexpected.  I don’t suggest that there is a simple fix: a ” one size fits all solution” or “10 easy steps” .  But you can manage your interviews by developing your strategy – learn where you can take charge and maximize this.

Learn more in my Post at Job-Hunt.org, Avoiding The Nightmare Interviews .

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Is being unemployed  feeling like a chronic condition?  Chronic — it’s not sexy,  exciting or fun.  Worse, chronic means it’s not changing and won’t go away.  Those of us with chronic illness know all about this chronic syndrome.  It weighs you down and keeps you from being “light on your feet”.

So, how do you find hope when you’re feeling your  condition is  “chronic”?  Perspective. What do I mean?  Check out American World Soccer Cup Team goalie, Tim Howard.

Here’s a guy with a very difficult to manage and off-putting chronic illness, Tourette  Syndrome.  Living with this, he’s risen to world class athlete status.  He’s the focal point of media attention that makes his visible, and to many oft-putting, symptoms very public.  FYI – I read somewhere that his mother said that she thought that playing soccer goalie, which requires supreme focus, helped his Tourette’s symptoms.  He didn’t twitch as much when he played.  My bet is he played often!

Few of us, even if we were healthy,  have the stamina or determination of Tim Howard.  But I believe that there’s usually something to  learn from people who achieve the extraordinary that we can apply to our own lives.

When you look at your job opportunities and the employment landscape, do you think, ” I’ll never find work”?  Are you blaming it on a  lousy job market, a difficult illness, your age or even the time of year?  They could all be true.

But — and here’s the thing — can you find something that you are good at and  you can do  and work this angle as hard as possible?

OK – most likely you won’t be playing for the Soccer World Cup or the NBA.  You might not get to be president of the company.  But your challenge is to get out of the chronically unemployed syndrome.  Can you do it?

Let’s face it.  You can’t do as much as you’d like to impact your chronic illness.  But you can take charge of  taking care of yourself as best you can.  The same is true with your employment.  What are you going to do about it?

CareerCollective Bloggers have this to say:

• Turn Off The Computer, Tune Into What’s Happening, & Heat Up the Job Search, @chandlee
• Heating up the Job Search-How to Stay Motivated During the Summer, @erinkennedycprw
• Light the Fire Under Your Feet, @careersherpa
• Cool Job Seekers Heat Up Their Search in the Summer, @barbarasafani
• Some assembly required, @DawnBugni
• Summertime, Sluggish Economy Provide Strong Motivation for an Updated Resume, @KatCareerGal
• 9 Ways to Heat Up Your Job Search This Summer, @heatherhuhman
• Getting Out From Under Chronic, @WorkWithIllness
• Upping Your Job Search Flame; Be ‘Needed, Not Needy,‘ @ValueIntoWords
• Is Your Career Trapped in the Matrix? @WalterAkana
• Put some sizzle in your job hunt – how to find a job now, @keppie_careers
• Summertime – and the Job Search Ain’t Easy, @KCCareerCoach
• Heating up your job search. 5 ways to dismiss those winter blues, @GayleHoward
• Hot Tips for a Summer Job Search, @MartinBuckland @EliteResumes

• Heating Up Your Job Searching Skills: Networking 101 and 102, @GLHoffman

• Treasure Hunt—Yo-ho-ho! Heat Up Your Job Search, @resumeservice

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Being young and living with a chronic illness – - whether it’s multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, diabetes, cancer,  you name it –  means that you can have a lot more in common with your grandparents than your friends. At age 30, I could relate too easily to my 80 year old grandmother’s complaints about her health and her life.

The thing is that being sick and disabled also gives you valuable insight into what older people experience, if you let it.  (Who said all life lessons are fun?)

I find that most people my age (57)  grew up expecting to stop work at age 65  and they think they deserve this benefit.  Even if they’re not sure they can afford it.

But I don’t see “retirement” as something to strive for.  I know (and so might you?) what it’s like to be unemployed. I also know it’s even worse when your body isn’t well and declining.

Sure there’s the yoga class, the adult learning on the civil war, and the travel you haven’t had time for.  Not working will give you all the time you could ever need to do all of this.  And that’s the problem.

I’ve seen that work is where most of us feel we have value. Family and friends do that,too, of course, but it’s a different part of ourselves that we use in those relationships.  Work creates a social structure and feedback loop that’s hard to replicate.  It keeps our minds active and our skills current.  Of course, if you’re working in a toxic environment or hate what you do, it’s always better not to work at that job, if you have the choice.

But for most of us, losing structure and a sense that what we do matters to someone else, is critical to our well being. I learned this lesson in my early40′s when I couldn’t keep the job I had because I was too sick and I didn’t have a clue what else I could do.  I decided then that I’d never be in that position again.

I’ve learned from watching my parents and their cohorts and from my clients with chronic illness that I’m not alone in feeling this way. Like it or not, work can keep us healthier.

Now here’s your challenge, no matter what your age or your state of health.   Create your long term plan for how you can keep working  for as long as you are physically and mentally able. Start conversations with your boss about flexible hours  or look for organizations that foster this.  Maybe this means re-designing your “career” or job path.

Ask yourself:  Are there new skills that will help me be valuable in a different way? Don’t wait until you’re 65 to think about the next state.  Do it now.  Share it here — or email me and tell me what you’re thinking.  (Or you can always twitter me @WorkWithIllness!)

Wondering about maintaining career with illness? Here are some of my thoughts in this article, ” Sick and Succeding” at National Association of Female Executives website.

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You know that moment when the lightbulb goes on ? I know, too often  it feels like it’s getting darker, not lighter (LOL).

But reading Laurie Edwards, achronicdose, describe a recent bout with illness  (On Work and Chronic Illness), was  such an “ah hah!“  moment.

In my zeal to encourage people to keep working while living with chronic illness, I forget to talk about how hard it is.  And that working takes a toll on the rest of your life – there’s only so much to go around. Don’t you think so?

Like Laurie, I’ve recently gone through a period where CI has been worse than “normal”.  Since early fall, I’ve had severe sinus headaches which also bring fatigue. Like so many chronic illnesses, it’s periodic and unpredictable and there’s range between “I can keep going even though it’s there” to ” This is intolerable!”

When it’s bad, I can’t think clearly, my production decreases and I’m running on empty – nothing left in my system to spare.  And these disabling symptoms cause the ongoing disabilities I live with to get worse,  e.g., poor balance, incontinence, numbness (need I go on?) .

Over the past few months, my life became that balancing act again.  Energy for work = energy for family, friends, myself. I’d wonder: How risky is it to accept the invitation to speak to a group?  Am I crazy  to start that new marketing project, install a new online system?  Should I plan a trip to see our daughters in NYC – or get tickets to a show?

Don’t you hate that?  It’s like you’re always second guessing yourself, looking over your shoulder instead of ahead.

When I noticed the spinning wheels,  I got back to basics and strategic thinking.   Top priority?   Keep my body as healthy as possible, my business going and the rest of my life in balance.

On bad pain days,  I hit a wall after 6 hours when I stop being productive  (or coherent).  I didn’t like it but it was the reality.  I put it in my appointment  calendar so I’d stick to it.

I exercised less  but still daily because I need it  both to wake up my body and for the routine.

Being there for my family is crucial to me.  But I have had to let others cook and clean up — neither easy for me!  I’ve minimized contact with friends and that’s big loss but I just don’t have the juice!  Especially when talking hurts!

If I wasn’t spending 6-8 hours /day working , I’d probably have  “enough” energy to keep up with the rest of my life.   But I would have been much  consumed with how badly I felt and  I would have felt much more sorry for myself.  And,  undoubtedly, I;d be in worse financial shape.  And when these headaches improve, as they finally are, I have work to return to.

What is it like for you when it’s bad?  Go ahead -  “complain” .  If you don’t do it here or somewhere, it just simmers — and the wheels spin.

Rosalind aka cicoach.com

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There was a problem with the blog and I am resending yesterday’s email.  My sincere apologies for sending two emails to subscribers — in a row!

Are you stuck on ONE ISSUE that keeps you up at night?

One issue, caused by chronic illness,

that keeps you from work success?

Working with chronic illness is difficult . . . but it does not have to be hopeless.  Your days are filled with all the normal challenges that healthy people face.   Plus you bear the added burdens that unpredictable and often invisible illness brings up.

Would it help to sort out your thoughts with someone

who is experienced in with chronic illness and career coaching?

My program, Just in Time Coaching, is an intensive approach designed to help you with one specific career/work issue that is keeping you stuck.

* All you have to do is fill out a one page questionnaire giving me the background I need about you and your situation.  If, after reviewing this, I don’t this is appropriate for this program, I’ll let you know so we don’t waste your time or money.
* Then, in a 50 minute, issues-based and problem-solving coaching call we will explore your situation so you can face it with hope and resilience.

You’re probably thinking, “That sounds great.  But I can’t afford it.  Maxed on the credit card and checking account with the holidays, a lousy economy and my health care costs.  Job or no job, I can’t take this risk.“

I know.  I’ve heard from so many people that they need just this but can’t afford typical coaching rates.  Which is why I’ve decided to offer this now — and post it here, on my blog — where I don’t typically write about my services.

And that’s why, for a limited time,

I’m offering ONE SESSION of the Just in Time program,

normally $100, for less than half the price:  $45!

You can’t afford NOT to do this.  Reserve your spot now! Spaces are limited.

Contact me and I’ll tell you how to get started.

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Pain or fatigue, common symptoms when you live with a chronic illness, can make working difficult or nearly impossible.

My clients living with chronic illness have held jobs from one end of the employment spectrum to the other — people who work in call centers, secretaries, truckers, self employed, not employed but looking, teachers, lawyers, doctors, business leaders, business owners.

What do they share? They can no longer do what they once could. Sometimes that’s a permanent state. Other times, it waxes and wanes.

When my client, Susie Q., told me that she is working about 20% of what she once did, even I was surprised by how little she can do. Susie is very ill with chronic pancreatitis. As the owner of a successful retail company, she’s able to keep her position even when she’s doing significantly less. But she knows this can’t go on forever.

Susie recognizes that she has to turn over most of the work to others so more will get done. But she doesn’t know how or where to do this. She freely admits that she’s uncomfortable delegating or sharing her workload.

And so it is with difficulty that Susie is developing her capacity to let others do more. She’s practicing the art of delegation. I shared with her a quote that a CEO of a Fortune 50 company, a woman who is perfectly healthy, told me several years ago. A mother of three children who is extremely successful in a highly competitive world, she lives by this motto:

“Only do what only you can do.”

I took this to heart in my own life. I’ve shared this quote with those who tell me they have neither  the energy nor the time to get their work done.  Here again we see that it doesn’t matter whether you’re sick or healthy. Life requires that we develop new muscles. Here’s one muscle worth toning.

Rosalind aka cicoach.com

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I often write my posts based on conversations with clients. It’s somewhat symbiotic. My writing springs from the client relationships and clients are often drawn to me because what I write helps them to trust me and that I understand their issues. Although I never use real names and try to change the facts and details, it’s not inconceivable that a person recognizes him/herself. And I learned years ago when I was writing newsletters, that nobody likes seeing their story in print.

When I became aware that I’d offended this person, I apologized not because it’s good business but because I was upset that I hurt someone.  But I don’t imagine the apology will regain the lost trust. Sometimes we make mistakes and an apology isn’t enough.

Blogging is like any life experience. We put ourselves ‘out there’ and hope that others receive as we intend.  And when we step in mud, we have to own it. I do.

Rosalind aka cicoach.com

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Or maybe you’re wondering if you should stay at your job or think about something else?  But chronic illness makes it all seem too complicated?

While working with a client recently, a light bulb went off around how people look at their options and fail to think strategically.  It was during the ‘bonus coaching call’  that comes free with the purchase of my Working With Chronic Illness Workbook system.  (You mean you haven’t bought it yet?  Click here to read about it).  

When Daisy (not her real name) explained her current situation — she’s stuck between accepting a job offer that she worries she won’t like (teaching 8th grade math)  or waiting for what she thinks she really wants to do to materialize (getting paid to play in a band). She has to make a decision and she feels paralyzed.  She hates to give up her dreams AND she’s afraid not to commit because that means passing up a sure thing for a long shot.  And, chronic illness leaves her feeling so vulnerable.

But when she broke her career plans into short term, medium term and long term plans, it all looked different. 

   Short term: Take the teaching job which is a one year commitment.

   Middle term:  Spend one weekend day/month developing the band idea and then reassess potential after one year.

   Long term:  EIther continue to pursue bands or in Year 2, enroll in a part time program that get her certified to teach music in public schools within 2 years – bringing her to year 4 of her planning.

Do you want to know how she came up with idea for being a public school music teacher?  I’ll tell you what we did to discover that in my next post.

Do you find this kind of planning useful?  Does chronic illness make it more or less difficult to do this and why?

Rosalind aka cicoach.com

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FYI: This month’s headache and migraine carnival hosted at Diana’s site is up.

Rosalind: You write a blog, Somebody Heal Me:The Musings of a chronic migraineur. What made you decide to do that?

Diana: I found myself spending increasing amounts of time researching headaches, migraines and depression for myself and my friends. I also needed an outlet for my growing frustration with the failure of every single thing I’d tried to help with my migraines. Starting a blog that combined my own health experiences with my journalistic and legal training just made sense.

Rosalind: Do you think that people who read illness related blogs tend to be people who sit around and feel sorry for themselves (which is what some people seem to think)?

Diana: I suppose some do. Truth be told, I fight against feeling sorry for myself sometimes, too. But I think people are reading these blogs because they’re searching for answers. It’s scary and overwhelming and isolating to be sick. By connecting with people in similar situations I think we are all able to benefit by both giving and receiving support.

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