Amateur to Pro

I just spent five days at a Coaching Retreat with an intimate group of five extraordinary women. Together, we made six, and together, we made magic. Left to my default, I can be a lone wolf. I’ll take the few over the many, quiet over noise, and I choose depth—always depth. Transformational one-on-one coaching is the work I was put on this earth for because it checks all the boxes for how I love t...

Many of you know that in 1982, my partners and I opened the first Versace boutique in the United States. Considering the iconic brand it became in the following decades, it wasn't as daunting as you might think. Gianni Versace was still a relatively unknown designer when we opened the store. I was incredibly fortunate to be at the crossroads of several opportunities that allowed me, a teenager the...

The impact of Perfectionism is like the force of Gravity. Most (I’m hoping all) of us are aware of it, and ignorance doesn’t shield us from its effects. In other words, not understanding gravity will not prevent us from falling, and in that way, it’s shockingly similar to perfectionism. You see, not understanding perfectionism won’t shield you from its inevitable psychological and emotional damage...

Years ago, my son and I were traveling by plane. We were sitting in coach. He is a big guy, and I’m not such a big woman (in size). We sat quietly and peacefully beside each other for 2 hours until I spoke. Me: “Can I ask you a question?” He: “Of course.”

After a concert, a fan once approached the great violinist Isaac Stern and said, “Mr. Stern, I would do anything to play like you.” “Really?” answered the virtuoso. “Would you practice 10 hours a day for 20 years? Because that’s what I did.” I’ve been thinking about the powerful effect of Consistency and why it’s such a challenging practice for many of us, and I believe the answer lies in our rela...

How long have you believed that if you just had more willpower, you could finally make that habit change you’ve tried and failed at so many times? If you ask people why they want to work with a Professional Coach, one of the top three reasons they will give is to get help cultivating or stopping a habit. What they are hoping to get from coaching is a secret code that will supersize their low to no...

People like us, growth-minded optimizers that is, LOVE lists! Data supports our intuition that lists work. People who create lists become more conscientious over time and procrastinate less, which brings to mind Annie Dillard’s wise words, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”

What if you had indisputable evidence that your words could unquestionably shape your life? What if, like magic, everything you uttered created your reality, both for the better and the worse?

Pain made itself at home in my body sometime in my forties. Those who are quick to blame my trail and ultra running practice as “too much” and, therefore, the cause of my pain should note that my pain began years before I even knew there was such a thing as an Ultramarathon. I used to be embarrassed to admit that I suffer from chronic, unexplainable pain in my body. Every doctor I visited (startin...

Recently, I wrote a piece on regrets—specifically, how to not create them. I shared Bronnie Ware’s book, The Top Five Regrets of the Dying, a worthy read which, contrary to our perception of the subject, is not morbid but inspiring. After I published my piece, many of my readers asked me to explain what I thought Ms. Ware meant by seemingly the most abstract of the regrets, “I wish I had let mysel...

“Love you” are two words we either say too often or not enough. Years ago, an ex-boyfriend noticed I don’t end my conversations with loved ones with “love you” as he did. Of course, he knew how much I loved my kids, and on my part, I just thought it was silly to keep saying it.

Freedom has been my most significant life value even before I had the words to define it. My earliest and fondest memories are of roaming in our magical garden in Iran and feeling free to do and be whatever I wanted. That was my 5-year-old mind’s definition of freedom.

It’s that time of the year; whether consciously or not, we are all taking stock of the year that passed and thinking about the one ahead. You may or may not decide to set goals for the new year, but if you do, consider making them goals that change who you are rather than just what you do.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about scarcity and how it shows up in our lives. I was prompted when the host on this podcast asked me why many high-level female leaders are reluctant to help other women rise the corporate ladder. My response was that these leaders have a Scarcity Mindset, which is the belief that success in any arena of life is a zero-sum game.

“If only I had clarity, I know I have what it takes to accomplish any goal!” “If only I had the courage to pursue my dreams… but, alas, I’m just not brave!” “If I just had the confidence to try… write… build… say… (choose your verb), I know I would succeed!” These are words I hear often from my clients, regardless of age or background. They express the universal desire for the three “C’s”—Clarity,...

When someone asks me what I do, I tell them I help people create regret-free lives. This wasn’t the goal I set out with when I started coaching, but over time, I’ve learned that regret is a deep-seated fear for many, particularly those entering the second half of their lives. Forget about all the things we did that turned out to be mistakes. Here, I’m talking about regretting the things we didn’t...

People who come to coaching often fall into two categories: Those who don’t know what their next (or first) career move should be and Those with a job and career who want to switch to something else. Coaching the first group involves diving into their core life values, uncovering one or multiple life purposes, and drawing out their courage to take the first small steps towards becoming the “The Ma...

I know it’s meant as a compliment, but it irks me when someone says, “You’re lucky to have a high pain tolerance.” They usually follow it up with a story about their own natural, even genetic, low pain tolerance. I’ve spent decades learning and practicing to become more tolerant of discomfort and pain. Professionally, it’s what I help my clients do, as well. I’m not any more genetically gifted or...

An extraordinary Life Coach is probably not smarter, richer or more academically accomplished than her clients. She may not be older, wiser or more worldly than her clients either. But if she’s really good at supporting them to live a more optimal and fulfilling life, it’s a good bet that she has made one transformative shift for sure. She’s turned pro!

One year ago, during this week, still shell-shocked from the events of October 7th, I wrote the following article, Have Freakin’ Conviction! I could have never imagined that over a year later, our brothers, sisters, and children would still be held captive by the most evil and genocidal cult alive today. But I also couldn’t have imagined how much more robust, connected, and powerful the Jewish peo...

The rising generation, also known as Gen Z, has its work cut out for them! With nearly a decade of experience coaching this generation, I've witnessed their unique traits and behaviors. First, let me tell you what they are not. They are not stupid, uneducated, lazy, irresponsible, and a plethora of other negative attributions they’re generally given by parents, bosses, and those of their cohort wh...

At least once a week, I’m approached by someone eager to create a career as a Professional Coach. They often ask for my advice and sometimes the opportunity to work with me to build a thriving Coaching business. I’ve previously written about the qualities that define an extraordinary coach. Today, I want to share eleven non-starters on the path to becoming an impactful and successful professional...

I have a bone to pick with the Happiness Crowd! Through the last decade, we’ve been obsessed with exploring, chasing, and finding happiness. Look through any airport bookstore, and you’ll find countless authors promising happiness—only if you follow their specific formula. This is Happiness…The How of Happiness…The Happiness Project…The Happiness Equation…The Meaning of Happiness…and my personal f...