Boston Career Coach Tells All

I was recently given some feedback about my website. And it wasn’t so good.

I was told it wasn’t personal enough.

“People don’t really get to know YOU.” My new coach said.

And you know what? She was right.

Because no matter how much I know about career coaching, no matter how much personality I try to infuse in my articles, with a very few exceptions, we’re not here talking about me.

Sure, on some level we are, because all this stuff lights me up. I get excited about it, so it is a part of me. But you guys don’t know me like my friends know me. You don’t know me like my 1 to 1 clients know me. I forget that.

And the truth is, if you’re going to feel comfortable listening to me, taking advice from me, and maybe even working with me, you’ve got to know who the heck I am. Or else I’m just another Boston career coach. Or career coach from anywhere, for that matter.

So I recently added a “Who is Jess?” page to my blog. But I also wanted to tell you all about me. Now, I don’t want you to think I’m self-centered. It’s just that this blogging thing feels very one-sided. I’m reaching out, but I’m not always sure if I’m touching someone. . . and I get the feeling you feel the same.

So here goes, a few crazy details about who I am!

Boston Career Coach Tells All

1. I was born in mid-coast Maine. But no, I don’t have an accent. Not even a little. (Ayuh.)

2. I married my high-school sweetheart. We’re still married. <3

3. I love to read, and I’ve thought about this hard: If I could choose a superpower it would be speed reading. (Though this was recently challenged – what if I never had to sleep?? I’m going to have to ponder. 🙂 )

4. My favorite book is A Prayer For Owen Meany.

5. I dream of living in a tropical climate on the beach. Think palm trees and white sand, huge blue ocean. . . heaven.

6. My Dad hated his job while I was growing up. I guess that made quite an impression.

7. I have both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Social Work, and I practiced as a clinical social worker and a therapist before becoming a coach.

8. I have two daughters. Sometimes I use their pictures in my posts.

9. I suffer from chronic migraine. If you get migraines or know someone who does, you’ll understand how much it stinks to get 15 or more a month. Thankfully, mine are now under control with Imitrex, Botox and lifestyle changes.

10. I haven’t eaten red meat or pork since I was 16. I figure, if I couldn’t kill it, I shouldn’t eat it. So I stick to turkey, chicken, and the occasional fish.

11. I’m (almost) always cold. (See number 5).

12. I’m kind of sarcastic, but never mean. (It’s an art form.)

13. My birthday is August 16th. I share it with Madonna and Steve Carell. I’m not sure what that means. It’s also the day Elvis officially left the building.

14. My mom was born in Italy. That doesn’t mean I can cook, though I do like to eat. But I can’t anymore. (Boo.) In fact, since last year (when most of my website pics were taken) I’ve gone dairy, gluten and sugar free (see #9) so I’ve lost 40 pounds!!

15. I’m actually enjoying eating better food (yay for veggies!) and I’m definitely enjoying feeling better!

16. I’ve gotten kicked out of public places for laughing too hard. But I wasn’t alone. That would just be weird.

17. Though the holidays stress me out like anyone else, I’m a big kid when it comes to Christmas. My husband tells me I like it more than my little ones! But seriously, give me a warm summer day and I’m the happiest of all!

18. I love to travel. I have a huge list of places I want to go. I was lucky enough to see Spain in 2014. We’ll see where 2015 takes me!!

19. My Myers Briggs type is either  INFP or ENFP. I’m right on the edge. . .

20. I love both movies and books that are thrillers or mysteries. Yes, I admit it. While I’ve read my share of classics and literature, at this point in my life I don’t have much time for any titles that aren’t self-help, business, or pulp! But my bucket list includes getting through the 100 best literary novels of all time.

21. I have a creative side. I used to paint and draw before I had kids. Now I don’t have much time for it, but I find that building my website feels very similar.

22. I have traced my genealogy back to the 1500’s.

23. I’m a morning person. In fact, in college when my friends were staying out late, it wasn’t uncommon for me to go to bed early and then step over their lazy (ok, drunk) bodies strewn across my apartment floor in the morning. But I wasn’t as boring as I sound. I was fun in the morning!!

24. Wishingwell Life Coaching started out as Wishingwell Consulting. It was a philanthropy consulting practice focused on helping people figure out where they wanted to give back in the world. That core idea evolved into the work I do today!

25. Here’s a few of my quirks: I think in pictures. That means I’ll tell you what I “see” and then interpret what that means. You have to experience it to fully understand, but my flashes of intuition can be remarkably accurate. I can’t talk and write at the same time. At. All. If I try it’s a mess. So don’t bother asking me something while I’m taking a note. It’s like I’m 10 months old and know 4 words. I think much better when I move. During my coaching sessions I most often pace. It helps me be creative. And, I’m terrible at math. Don’t try to make me feel better about it by saying “You can’t be that bad.” I really can. I get lost a lot while driving. I’m so bad that my kids made up a song that they sing when we’re lost. It goes, “It’s more fun the Mommy way, the Mommy way, the Mommy way. . .” sad, but true. They ask, “Mom, are we going the right way, or The Mommy Way?” You get the idea.

 

Ok! So those are some facts about me. What do you think? I hope it makes you feel like you know me a little better, and that you’re a little more comfortable.

I’d like to get to know you better too. Go ahead and tell me some things about you!