Whether formally or informally, I’ve provided coaching to a variety of people over the years. Here are a few things they’ve said.
__________________
“You’ve allowed me to expand the definition of who I am and what I could become. I will always be thankful for that.”
—Callie Feyen, teacher and writer
“L.L. Barkat has a way of asking questions she may not need the answers to, but maybe you do. She also has a way of seeing improbable next steps that could be taken, which lead to places you never thought to go (or maybe you did, but somehow didn’t have permission). To your surprise, once having embarked on such a path, you wonder if there ever was another option. It all happens under a disarmingly gentle, though firm, power of suggestion that leaves all options on the table, and you know you are the one who truly must decide. In my life and career, this has meant expanding my directions from being a claim adjuster to also becoming an illustrator, a design-business owner, and a fiction writer. I suspect this is still just a beginning.”
—LW Lindquist, insurance claim adjuster, founder of The Willingham Enterprise design firm
“It’s funny how a question and a little bit of loosening around a subject can cause a chain reaction of shifting. Not ha ha funny. Always, over and over again, surprising funny.”
—Donna Z. Falcone, writer and artist
“Working with you has been fun, exhilarating, amazing, surprising…and…life-changing. Perhaps the thing I have most loved about our work together was how hard you made me think, how you invited me to plumb. That first questionnaire—such great questions, shot through with both now and the future.
There are various ways to do a cost-benefit analysis. By every measure I can think of, it was a good investment, and down the line I expect to see more and more ROI. You’re a phenomenal gift-giver.
I hope to keep my eyes and mind open in the ways you helped open them last month. I’d do it again. I’d tell anyone, if Laura Barkat knocks on your door, answer and invite her in.”
—Laura Lynn Brown, author, journalist, editor, writing coach
“You always push me to be more of myself, not less. You invite me to own my limitations and not feel shame about them. You hope things for me that I haven’t yet dared hope for myself.”
—Charity Singleton Craig, author, editor, corporate communications specialist
“Whenever I hit an icy patch of self-doubt, Laura leads me back to reflection, action, and a healthy dose of laughter. Her absolute delight in people helps them delight in themselves and their unique gifts. She has coached me into midlife with a clearer sense of my abilities and identity, and helped me pursue career steps I hadn’t foreseen.”
—Tania Runyan, speaker, business owner at Tell to Sell Case Studies, author and poet
“L.L. Barkat’s insightful questions never fail to offer fresh perspective. She’s identified strengths in me and nudged me to take risks, issuing invitations that led to new career opportunities. Her coaching has frequently expanded the way I view my work and more importantly, myself.”
—Ann Kroeker, writing coach, author, editor, podcaster
“I’m in awe of your way of unearthing treasures, your way of seeing things in me and my gift that I didn’t see—or forgot. It was an intense month and an exhilarating month; I feel such a sense of freedom and adventure and daring! I’d absolutely recommend this coaching experience. Because, if an individual is serious about exploring possibilities of a new direction or affirming and refining a current one, you are the go-to person. You have an uncanny intuition and a way of gently but firmly digging for silver and gold.”
—Sandra Heska King, social media team manager and writer
“I got my money’s worth in the very first week of our time together. You are a life changer. I feel different, more confident, inspired, extra alive.”
—Laurie Klein, musical performer and author
“You saw things in me I hadn’t consciously acknowledged, and you helped me find the undiscovered (beautiful) versions of myself (more of which I am sure will continue to surface). Altogether, you invited me on a journey to myself—a wondrous voyage filled with discovery, freedom, and action. I’ve developed new habits and perspectives and am walking in an exciting direction with an awesome plan.”
—Sharon Gibbs, oncology nurse