My Client's Story

I recently reconnected with Kelly Eppley, one of my clients, to learn what our coaching meant to her.

We started to work together when Kelly's beloved boss left her organization, the last in a series of events that had Kelly questioning her tenure and direction in her organization. Kelly loved her co-workers and her boss, so she had stayed beyond her "expiration date" even though she had grown restless.

But, after her boss left, Kelly felt like the last domino had fallen and it was time to wrestle with the question of her future growth and direction. Kelly no longer felt trapped by loyalty in a job she had long outgrown.

Kelly left that organization in early summer and launched Appleseed Content Services. Now, she is combining her love of writing with her deep experience and commitment to the nonprofit community.

I invited Kelly to share how our coaching supported her through this change. She graciously allowed me to record our conversation last month. Below is a partial transcript.

Thinking back, what were your expectations going into coaching?

To be honest, I didn't know what to expect. I had no idea. I think I was so locked into one way of looking at my situation that I couldn't even imagine what you could say or do that might be helpful.

But I knew that I could not do this by myself and that I there was in a position where I couldn't really go to people I worked with. So I definitely needed an impartial party who was removed--but someone who also kind of knew what they were talking about and knew what they were doing with helping people navigate stuff like this.

What was one of the early things that became clear to you because of coaching?

What became clear to me was that I didn't even know what questions to ask myself. It was like there was a door in front of me, and I was missing the key. Coaching was kind of like someone helping me find the key to open that door.

What else happened during the coaching that you could share?

One of the most valuable things to me was the gently delivered but very direct feedback. I really needed that, and I sometimes think people in your life who want to support you don't always want to say., "Like yeah, no, don't do that." Or "how about trying this other thing." Because this is not going to get you where you want to go.

I think one day you told me I sounded bitter, and I was like, “oh my God, you're right.” I don't think a friend would have just said that sounds kind of bitter. I needed somebody to say that to me so I could stop and look at it again.

I realized that's was absolutely true. You also helped me identify that I was coming from a passive place, and I had not considered that either.

I really needed you to help me start the shift to a more active place. I think I felt a little helpless.

I needed someone to help me uproot myself from where I was sitting. I didn't think there was another vantage point to view this. And there were many vantage points.

I needed someone to help uproot myself from where I was sitting. I didn't think there was another vantage point to view this. And there were many vantage points.