Meet Mike

My life as a coach: Coaching is actually a fourth career for me. I had worked in the church for several years as a pastor, then more years as a therapist. I took a break from the white-collar years with a little blue-collar carpentry work.

When I was first introduced to coaching, I was reticent to take the step. I was jaded from the problems I’d seen with both traditional ministry and therapy. I finally agreed to get trained, and as I got deeper into the field, I saw God working like never before in ways that were totally of Him. I realized I had found what I was created to do. Several years and many clients later, I find myself even more convinced of God’s call to this. So I venture further into the adventure.

What freedom and adventure mean to me: Freedom and adventure are what it means to be alive and living with Jesus daily. I know He died for me, so I am free. The adventure is following every crazy twist and turn the path takes as He leads me down the road. It is the simple pleasure of being truly alive, every day.

When I'm not coaching: When I’m not coaching I love getting in the outdoors, whether that is backpacking or camping or motorcycle riding, or just a hike in the woods with my family. I deeply enjoy my boys and my wife. I love creating and learning about things, like how to make wine or how a machine works or how to speak another language. I like lots of variety, so I am always into something new.

My favorite clients: My favorite clients are those who are hungry to grow, who choose the chance to try something new. To enter into the adventure regardless of what it might be or where the road might lead them. They are those who don’t ask to be entertained or have their problems solved, but ask to be stretched and challenged- they enter into life rather than asking for guarantees or easy steps to change. My favorite clients are those people who leave the dead weight of judgment and narrow mindedness behind and who pick up a spirit of grace and humility – they are learning to travel light. I am deeply drawn to people who enter into all that life has to offer rather than stay safely distant.

Meet Laura

My life as a coach: Entrepreneurship has been a passion and a way of life for me as far back as I can remember. I finally took the professional leap with a full-time writing business in 1998. Ever driven by the entrepreneurial spirit, I managed the business through several evolutions including the addition of coaching services in 2001. After several life-changing personal experiences, I now champion freedom through life coaching, small-business coaching, and writing.

What freedom and adventure mean to me: I didn’t know what freedom was for too long. My relationship with Christ was poisoned with religious obligation. I was a workaholic. I wound up in an abusive marriage, chronically adapted myself to fit the expectations of others, and had a heart buried so deep I had long since forgotten who and how God created me to be. I was a life in chains.

My journey of freedom began when I’d hit bottom. I was burned out, divorced, and had lost one of my three sons to pneumonia when he was five. Yet out of that wilderness, I have found new freedom to be me, to adventure, to let go, to fully be in every moment, to thrive in relationship with God outside the box of organized religion. Now I am passionate about helping others find freedom whether in business, relationships, their spiritual journey, or any other area of life.

When I'm not coaching: I am happiest enjoying the company of my wonderful husband (best friend and fellow coach Mike) and my boys. The four of us love to backpack and adventure in the outdoors every chance we get. When I’m not out playing, my typical days are structured around homeschooling my sons and working in my home office. In quieter moments, you can find me with my nose buried in a book or pondering life’s deep issues.

My favorite clients: Some of my favorite people to work with are visionaries, leaders, and entrepreneurs who are passionate about making a difference. They are excited about possibilities and big ideas, tired of the status quo, and ready for change in a huge way.They are ready to venture into the unknown.

A few of the topics I am most passionate about are freedom in every aspect of life, growing a relationship with God outside the box of organized religion, business, wilderness, and living the adventure. Because of my own journey, I am able to deeply understand people who have experienced dramatic (and sometimes traumatic) life changes and help them move beyond.