"I had just started my own business providing operational management consultancy, PA and bookeeping services. However I didn't feel very sure about the bigger picture, where my life was going, if my future was in Devon and whether the dreams I had always had would ever come true. I was attracted to SYSF life coaching because of the focus on discovering your life's purpose. I suppose at that point I didn't feel I knew what my life purpose was. I wanted to find the authentic me"

How did you feel about life back then?

"It was a nerve wracking time because I had left a good job to become self employed. I hoped that life coaching would provide me with the tools to make the right decisions along the way and boost my confidence and motivation"

Having had coaching with SYSF on a number of occasions through 07/08, how would you say it has helped you progress your career and/or your life?

"I think life coaching has stopped me from drifting and going along with whatever life brought my way. I feel more focused and though things don't always move as fast as I would like them to, I can see that goals that I have been working towards are getting closer. A lot of the things that I have identified as important to me through life coaching such as being more involved with the community and taking on more interests, like having an allotment, have all made life more enriching, and have helped me progress to where I am today."

What is it that you do now?

"I am still self employed almost three years later and have built up a successful business and secure income. I could earn more by being employed, but one of the things I learnt that I valued very highly during life coaching was freedom and flexibility, which my job allows me."

And what is happening in your spare time?

"I am in a running group, two book groups, I am busy with my allotment and I love going to all the local beaches for a good walk."

How do you feel now about your work and life in general?

"I feel like I am still on a journey but enjoying the scenery and experiences along the way. I still dream of having a lifestyle business one day, but consider myself to be very lucky to have found a means of earning my income that utilises my skills and offers me flexibility. I have learnt that I don't like to live in isolated places and since moving house have built up a good network of friends and feel part of the wider community, which is important to me"

Do you know what your life's purpose is?

"It involves family and community, and using my organisational and communication skills, my love of making comfortable and inspirational spaces and my passion for healthy organic food, art, literature, poetry, gardening and the natural environment to create a wonderful retreat, B & B or Boutique Hotel."

How is your work in the community helping you to fulfill your purpose?

"I had wanted to get involved with something within the local community. I thought about what I really loved doing and as my allotment was top of the list, I volunteered to be on the allotment committee. Once accepted I took on the role of fundraiser. My organisational and people skills have been a good asset so far."

What has been your greatest success in your role as fundraiser?

"Putting on events was part of the fundraising role so I decided to put on a shindig as the first event. I thought a good dance would be enjoyable as well as a good way to raise money. I organised all aspects of it from hiring the hall, marketing the event, recruiting local acts to perform and DJ (and they all did this for a few beers and some food). I wasn't short of volunteers to help me get set up and tidy up, which was heart warming. I found that everyone was willing to help if asked, so learnt not to be scared of rejection...most people would help if they could. The Shindig was a great success and everyone had a great time. We let children come in free of charge with their parents and that aspect of it was also a great success. The children really enjoyed themselves and made the event even more special. I also learnt what my areas of weakness were and have worked out how to address these in the next event"

Do you have anything else you would like to add about you, your life,
your coaching, Simon Blackler (your coach) or your future path?

"Just that I think that life coaching is an invaluable tool that everybody should gift to themselves. It would have been difficult for me to find the clarity about my life's purpose on my own, which is also due to Simon's sensitive coaching style and his values which are reflected through SYSF. Life coaching has provided me with resources that I continue to use three years later and will always be able to use. I still have my dream board and look at it periodically to see which dreams have turned into reality. I do also feel that life coaching has enabled me to be authentically me."

If you are interested in hearing more from Jackie or wish to employ her for her outstanding organisational skills, on the way to creating her wonderful retreat, B&B or boutique hotel, you can contact her via her company Supportive Management Solutions, Tel: 01548 550434 Mob: 07769 657199 Email: jobrien@supportivemanagementsolutions.co.uk