Testimonials
FROM L. S.: A fifty-year-old woman who hired a coach because she was having a challenging time in her new job. She wanted to make a successful transition to her new work place and produce high quality work.
“When I asked for coaching from you, I was looking for a clearer sense of direction for myself. I wanted to understand what was most important to me, what I valued, what was my purpose. I felt that I was trying to please everyone so much that I didn’t know what I wanted. I was giving myself away; reacting and reacting to the outside, not knowing or maybe just not acknowledging, what the inside was craving. Something was missing or did I ever ever have it at all? I was looking for my voice.
As I think back on our time together, I have such vivid memories of the images you helped me to create. You knew just how to connect the way I learned with visual and body perception. I remember that ominous slimy green dragon who oozed over my car during one of our sessions – my old boss(es) personified. And when he was bigger than a Macy’s balloon, and I was crying with laughter, we put a pin in it and shrunk that beast to a cute little pink Pillsbury dough boy. Not only could I see this creep but I could physically feel his presence. He’s still hanging around in various disguises and my body is getting better at recognizing him before he gets to my brain. When I feel my palms sweating and that tightness in my chest, I start looking for the pin. The mind-body connection was such a powerful “aha!” for me.
And your wonderful way of weaving laughter into our conversations has made a huge impact on me. (More about that next.)
You also introduced me to Olive (my higher self). I still see this strikingly handsome and dignified crone inviting me into her eclectic and tidy house for tea and almond cookies. And the time I wept my soul out to her about how my parents and loved ones were dying all around me and she told me I already had everything I needed to get through the hard times to come. Of course we still talk. I can see her so plainly and can almost hear her voice as my own. I’ve recently noticed that coming up on the 3rd anniversary of my Mother’s death, Olive is starting to look a little more like Mom or maybe Mom is looking more like Olive, but Mom’s voice is getting wiser and kinder and a lot more encouraging lately.
So while I’m on the visual kick, I found this in my journal about you: “she rerouted my auto-pilot so instead of following same old road signs – you’re not enough, you’re dumb, you’re ugly, you’re a jerk – she helped me to try different routes.” I learned about choices. Not just thinking about possibilities but actually living them.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to go back and remember our time together. You have given me so many gifts and I am deeply grateful.”
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FROM M. M.: A young man in his late 20’s/early thirties who had successfully completed challenging graduate work and landed the high paying prestigious job he thought he wanted. He was miserable and wasn’t sure what he wanted anymore.
“The most important issues/most useful areas we addressed were: my values and the mind-map. The values exercise was the core upon which everything else emerged. Without the explicit listing and discussion of my values, I probably would still be at my old job not knowing why I was so unhappy and what I needed to do about it. The mind-map simply helped me further develop my understanding of my core values (the reflection of who I really am) and to bridge it with my skills, experiences, and actions with the world around me. Of course, the somewhat meditative exercise of transporting myself into the future to meet with my future self helped me to envision myself and my legitimated space in my future life. From a personal lifestyle standpoint, it offered me a vision that would only be implied with a career vision. Oh, and the Gremlin book was a great ice-breaker to get my personal reflection juices flowing!”
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FROM P.C.: A woman who hired me because she had to! As part of her coaching certification program, she was required have a certified coach.
“It never ceases to amaze me what can be learned and explored about oneself in 30 minutes! I received coaching on my marriage, my weight, my mother-in-law, my daughter, and my coaching, including the ethics of coaching. You were so terrific to have as a coach while I was going through coaching certification because you are such a role model for excellent coaching, especially the CTI variety. You helped me find a new perspective on my mother-in-law that I still use today. I am able to “hold” her with humor as I look at the green squooshy ball on my desk with a smiley face and pink yarn hair coming out of the top. Coaching with you helped improve my overall sense of well-being. You are a warm, stellar human being with a sharp wit and superior coaching skills! I continue to feel much gratitude for our time together.”
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“She is very easy to talk through issues with and helps you come to your own solutions.”
“It is fun to work with her; she has a great sense of humor.”
Michelle Sanford hired Mary after just 20 minutes on the phone. “I didn’t need to call anyone else,” said Michelle. “One of the things that attracted me was Mary’s style. She is funny and fun. I can hear in her voice that she’s kind of wild and out there. She’s got lots of energy. She had a way of being very direct in her questions and comments. She is very curious about me, warm and open at the same time.” Michelle is working with Mary during a selective job search process. She hopes to land a position drawing on her corporate leadership skills and experience. “Mary is fabulous, awesome, she is so good! Mary continually reminds me of my bigger self, my highest potential, my fully alive powerful person. I think all of us go through periods of insecurity. Mary is one of my biggest cheerleaders, one of my best advocates.”
Michelle Sanford
Corporate Leadership Candidate
Jim, an information systems manager, worked with Mary for about a year after connecting with her through a year long leadership program he was attending. Their coaching relationship helped him to stay focused on the goals he developed in the program regarding effective personal and professional communication. “She’d ask a lot of questions and let me come to the conclusions,” Jim said. “Mary’s coaching helped me with some things I was hearing about myself and kept me focused on improving in those areas that I needed to.”
Jim
Information Systems Manager
After interviewing three prospective coaches, Jane Massengill chose Mary Olk. In fact, says Jane, she left another coach to work with Mary. After two years with Mary, Jane has achieved her goals and more. She has established a new business partnership, been invited to speak at an international conference, and is co-authoring a book. “I never imagined I would ever write a book,” said Jane. “Mary really supported me. When I was questioning my own confidence she did not let me get away with it. Mary coaches from her heart and intuition. She always held the bar for me higher than I could picture it for myself and pushed me to get there. Mary, to me, is an angel on earth!”
Jane Massengill
Certified Coach
Contact Mary
Call Coach Mary Olk’s office today at 952-939-0277, or email her, to set up your initial consultation.
