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Career Change Offers ‘A Gift’ For Life Coach

Published January 28, 2020

Shana Farrell of Kaukauna thought it was time to take her own advice. Having been in the field of education for 22 years, she was an advocate of setting aside fear to achieve personal goals. When her teaching position was eliminated, she had a choice. "When the college (Fox Valley Technical) was doing some restructuring, I was presented with the opportunity to take a different position or to leave," Farrell said. "I saw it as a gift. This was the time for me, and something I had thought about for two years. It was time to practice what I preach. There are a lot of people who want to start a business, and I knew I had the walk the talk."

Farrell, a Green Bay SCORE client, enrolled in E-seed Express, an entrepreneurial course at Fox Valley Tech, and developed a business plan. The result was New Life Coaching and Consulting, LLC, (4newlife.wixsite .com/newlife), a coaching, consulting, and training business that launched earlier this month.

"It was like all I could see was win-win so I said, ‘Here I go. I’m going to make the jump,’' she said.

She believes there is a great need to help individuals create a purposeful and meaningful life, especially youth, people in the margins, or those struggling with mental illness. In her career, she has worked in leadership, management development, mentoring, coaching, training, and advising.

This experience, along with education that includes a master’s degree in management and organizational behavior, and numerous certifications, gave her a passion for helping others and the incentive to start a business. A competitive analysis helped her narrow her focus.

"I talked to different life coaches and did research," Farrell said. "We all had commonalities, but I didn’t find any who had the extensive education that I have, and none who had the niche of working with people in the margins."

While most life coaches tend to go for wealthier clients, she wants to help those most needing it. She has worked as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for Outagamie County for the last several years, helping children who are abused or neglected, and is a hospice and bereavement volunteer with Compassus.

It is these experiences, along with personal struggles, that has strengthened her resolve to make a difference.

"The last decade was a real trial for me," Farrell said. "I dealt with a lot of loss and there was an unraveling of things in my life. I didn’t expect to lose footing like I did and went into a dark place. I credit my faith and perseverance and know that as I was going through this, there was learning in how I viewed the circumstances."

The trials caused her to develop coping strategies, and to find a life-changing strong identity and purpose. It compelled her to want to help people.

The outline of her business evolved to include one-on-one, group or team coaching, and training for teams and organizations. A separate program, Thrive, was developed as a Christian-based life purpose program for youth and adults.

"This workshop is perfect for faith-based organizations and communities," Farrell stated. "It helps to create more personal awareness and confidence in who you are, and in who God created you to be."

All of the programs are designed using perceptual, behavioral and communication techniques that she says make it easier for people to change their thoughts and actions. She says she is a storyteller and finds that people relate to her vulnerability. As she conducts these sessions, word of mouth is causing business growth.

But she also realizes that she will need more than that to reach the various demographic segments, and she is working with SCORE to develop a marketing plan and fine-tune her financials.

"I am proceeding with a shoestring budget and the passion I have for this work; knowing the positive impact I can have," she said.

She knows that results won’t be instant, and that success will take time. As she grows the business, classes and experience have taught her that it is important to be open to change and to never be afraid to seek help.

"I can set goals, but God is at the wheel. I will let it unfold — the place I’m in is teaching me patience and that’s an uncomfortable place to be," Farrell said.

Tina Dettman-Bielefeldt is co-owner of DB Commercial Real Estate in Green Bay and past district director for SCORE, Wisconsin.

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Green Bay Press-Gazette

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