These are just a sample of the satisfied clients who are among the career changers, entrepreneurs and writers I've had the honor to coach:

• Len had substantial increase in salary and job responsibilities at his company in the midst of lots of change and layoffs. His policies and training programs have been implemented and he is headed back to school to finish a degree. He continually uses his values learned during the coaching process as a benchmark against which he measures how he will integrate new opportunities into his work and his life.

Here's what he says in his own words:

My experience with Melanie's career coaching has been very valuable in that it helped me organize my learning experience history, prioritize my accomplishments, identify my skills, and present the values I could bring to any organization. Our coaching sessions have led me to many contacts that have assisted me into the ideal field of work. The coaching sessions also broadened my view of the opportunities available. I strongly recommend Career Coaching as an organized approach to your dream career.

• Joy had a dream of writing a book about romances over the years between men and women now in their 70's, 80's and 90's has written numerous stories and is in the process of submitting them to magazines. She is also planning a Web site to share her stories and solicit additional ones.

Here's what she says in her own words:

Working with a coach has been a great experience! Melanie is helping me transform my dream of writing a book into a reality. She gives me loving nudges and knowledgeable support to guide me toward my goal. Besides being my coach, Melanie has become my personal cheerleader and wonderful friend. I would recommend her to anyone. We can all use some added direction in life's interesting journey. She helps me hear the music of my heart.

• Another client named Joy (how much joy can one coach stand!) wanted to spread the word about Educational Kinesiology, a process that helps people de-stress and use their brains to their fullest capacities..

Here's what she says in her own words:

Melanie always knows what to ask me: she's helped me write a book that I had planned for years, but had never started, helps me develop new and better ways to share my knowledge of Educational Kinesiology, helped me get to the job of my dreams, and she has helped me with personal and professional traumas. She's like a ray of sunshine on the other end of the phone. Regardless of the kind of day I've had, I hang up the phone and feel empowered to do my best. Thanks, Melanie.

• George wanted to be published and never had submitted articles to any publications before. With coaching and support, he took the risk to submit a manuscript to a prestigious journal and low and behold, had an article accepted! He is well on his way of realizing his dream of a writing career that parallels his work in the health field.
  
  
• Eleanor, who lives near the Twin Cities and heard me speak about coaching on the Jean Feraca radio program, decided she wanted to become a coach. We have been working together for more than two years and she now has a thriving coaching practice and is well on her way to becoming a certified coach. Her goal is to eventually leave her non-profit job and become a full time coach.

• After more than 20 successful years, Janice lost her middle management job in the health care field as a result of policy disagreements with her new boss. She had some challenges recovering her self esteem, but has now had great success writing a resume that truly reflects her major contributions. Her numerous interviews and job offs now tell her how limited her perspective had been about who would ever want to hire her now. Today she has many more choices available than she thought was possible.