Sound Strategies - What Our Clients Are Saying

What Our Clients Are Saying

"When I started coaching, I felt "stuck" in my dating life and stagnant at work.

I feel considerably more optimistic about my future, now. I've built a strong sense of who I am and what I am capable of now. I found the courage to talk to my boss, after 3 years of avoiding it, about my professional future. Also, I feel "clear" mentally - I have a much stronger grasp on what I want and don't want professionally and personally. I still struggle with doubt, but I have skills I can use to attack that and I know where I want to be going.

I loved coaching, Ari and the process."

- Grace, College Administrator, Indiana

"Coaching has allowed me to find and nurture internal confidence. I now have a great job, make more money than ever, and live in my dream house. Ari has great energy and more times than not, we end up laughing."

- Sara, Project Manager, Illinois

"Coaching gave me back my hope that I could do the job I'm being asked to do and the job I hope to have someday. I believe my life is sustainable because of what I learned from you. You took my words and helped me see the "next step challenge" that flowed from them... You were always professional and inspired me to become more so myself. I felt respected and "met" where I was.

You have been absolutely terrific! I have and will continue to recommend you to friends and colleagues."

- Lynn, College Dean, Illinois

"When I started, I really didn't think this would work well for me. Yet, nearly a year later now... it has. My perspective has changed - and it has freed me to think, work, and act differently.

You have been honest, appropriately confrontational, supportive, insightful. Your decision to confront me at one point with the fact that my stated values were at odds with a reality that you saw, was very difficult for me. Those really were my values - and you were right - my work life was over-riding those values. Now I'm enjoying parts of my work again - over the last two years, I was just surviving it. I have 'my' life back - my average week is probably 50 - 55 hours instead of 70, and my kids now recognize me again. Coaching has given me back my life and my sanity."

- Jim, University Dean, Minnesota

Coaching has required me to be the person I want to be. It's given me the perspective to see my challenges and plot a course of next steps. It's reminded me that I can make the seemingly impossible, possible. It's brought me clarity that I can't avoid.

Ari is able to understand who you are very quickly. She can help you gain perspective on your areas of weakness and provide a clear framework of what to do with that information.

- Jesse, Associate Dean, Wisconsin

"In the first two sessions, we identified the things that matter most to me in life. This set me in motion to move on to a more spiritual path in life and has opened numerous doors for possibilities for the future, and has helped me to enjoy my current job a lot more while I am still there!

I am also grateful for the exhortation to incorporate spontaneity and rewards into my life on a regular basis, and to enjoy the journey (rather than always waiting to get to some 'destination' before I can enjoy life).

You are very positive and affirming, inspiring, perceptive, have great ideas, great resources and are excellent at what you do. Thank you, Ari, for making this such a positive, productive and validating experience, which also left me brimming with possibilities for the future."

- Amber, Administrative Assistant, Illinois

"I found [Ari] insightful and delightful and never short of tools. It’s sort of like hiring a professional plumber rather than getting help from a handy friend; the pro has everything he needs, knows which tool to apply, knows where it is in the box and can grab it quickly, and even has the arcane tools that rarely come out but are the only ones that work for a particular problem. ... I think [she] is a great talent and a powerful contributor to a better world.”

- Charlotte, Editor, California

"I've been able to take the pressure off of myself... I'm getting more comfortable asserting my true self when it comes to my career and my personal life. [The most important thing for someone to know about coaching is that] having someone besides yourself to be accountable to makes you much more successful."

- Patricia, Retail, Illinois

[Ari's] energy and enthusiasm are contagious - I think of her as my personal cheerleader. She listens and offers positive feedback, and constructively fine-tunes and enhances my “game”. My heart smiles when I think of the experience!

Through a variety of circumstances, I’ve had before me the opportunity to shape and create for myself exactly the life that I want. Hiring Ari as my Coach at this particular time in my life was one of the best gifts that I have given myself. I am truly grateful!"

- Courtney, Educational Consultant, Illinois

"A rewarding experience both personally and professionally. Whether working with the staff to help them look at creative problem solving or presenting on strong coaching and mentoring skills, Ari's presentations have been informative, organized and beneficial to the staff."

- Taylor, Human Resources Administrator, Illinois

"[A]t the beginning I was a little reluctant about the whole process, ... But you made it fun and engaging and not seem like work! I love your level of enthusiasm ... you have such a wealth of tools and approaches that you summon so naturally and readily. [Knowing] my core values and ... life purpose ... make decision-making much easier, and allows me to operate from a place of confidence. If something is bothering me, I’m now usually able to identify why, and figure out how to address it."

"I’m a better friend, employee, lover, and family-member because I’m able to be more true to myself. ... [S]ince we’ve started this relationship, I have a better job, I’m dating several people, I’m more physically fit, my finances are in better shape."

"[I]t’s amazing how much progress we’ve made! I feel like I am so much more “me” than I was before!"

- Eva, Artist - Massachusetts

"Where do I start?! ... [Ari] has caused me to look at life in a more positive light and see its endless possibilities. [She is] down to earth, easy to talk to and has a genuine desire to see you grow and love life."

- Zoe, Student - Illinois

"[Coaching] has given me lots of new perspectives I couldn't get on my own ... I'm getting much better at asking for what I want. I felt very supported ... yet challenged to step it up to the next level. I describe [Ari] as my personal cheerleader because she is so upbeat and enthusiastic about all that I do ... I've made more progress in one year of coaching than in ten years of traditional counseling. ... I feel more confident than I have been in years. I've lost 30 pounds in the last five months, and gone on a real date for the first time in years."

"Coaching takes you to places of emotional and personal growth in areas you didn't know you 'needed' them. It's very powerful."

- Yvonne, Educator - Illinois

"I have found [coaching] so valuable and I feel that everything we discussed has made a huge difference in my life and in my family's life. You opened my mind up to a different way of looking at things... I also felt that you confirmed some ideas that I had in my mind but couldn't quite name. This has helped my teaching dramatically."

- Suzanne, Educator - Illinois

"What stands out from our time together is your compassion. I know you truly care about me. I felt supported and held in the right space, not judged ... more and more I am able to see what is right for me, not anyone else."

- Hanna, Style Consultant - Illinois

"Coaching wih you these last six months has been one of the greatest blessings of 2006!"

- Claire, Entrepreneur - Illinois

"Working with Ari has helped me clarify who I really am, where I want to take my life, and how I'm going to get there. In just a few months, I have made more strides toward these goals than I had thought even existed prior to this experience. Perhaps most importantly, I have for the first time a newfound motivation to step confidently in a direction which I have defined, and a sense that I will achieve these goals."

- Ben, Engineer, Illinois

"My husband noticed that I had changed for the better, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on what was different. ... I do know that if I begin a sentence with ‘Ari says...,’ he listens. To me, this says that he sees the value in what I have learned and begun to practice.”

- Sylvia, Nurse, Indiana

"I received an AWESOME email from my client - holy $#@^ (can I say that?) - this is such rewarding work! I love making a difference! And - I want to make sure you know that every time I get that 'AWESOME' feeling from my work - I think of you and the AWESOME work that you do with me - THANKS!"

- Melanie, Organizational Development - Illinois

"Ari is engaging and educational. The interactive nature of the seminar creates a "long-term" learning environment, not just 'listen and leave.' The information given is practical and can be applied in a variety of situations."

- Maria, College Administration - Illinois

“Thank you for the clear tips. I found today's workshop very practical and applicable. Your belief and enthusiasm about the subject [was among the most valuable aspects of the presentation.] The information is easy to apply to both work and personal situations.”

“Please come back and do more!”

- Pamela, College Administration - Illinois

"The benefits ... exceeded new tools for our professional lives and spilled over into new ways of evaluating and improving all interpersonal relationships and communication. Her interactive hands-on exercises and role-plays teach practical lessons in formulating probing questions ... thereby gaining a deep understanding of the person. In the same way we observed through her real-life coaching demonstration, powerful questions lead the way to more meaningful friendships and healthy relationships."

- Jennifer, College Administration - Illinois

"Today was an excellent day for professional development - both on a personal and staff level ... It was a very informative session, in which we focused on leadership in our lives from a coaching standpoint. It was a well-spent day."

- Michael, Principal - Illinois

"Thanks so much for your wonderful presentation at our opening season workshop. [It] was an enriching and enlightening experience. You brought a level of professionalism and excitement that we're sure to benefit from for many years!"

- Craig, Conductor - Illinois

"Thank you so much for a wonderful experience. The skills learned will be so valuable to me and those I work with!"

- Elizabeth, Psychologist - Illinois

"I had expected the usual sit-back-and-relax employee seminar, but no, you had something a little more exciting in mind! It is a blessing to have shared this exceptional experience with you!"

- Brenda, Administrative Assistant, Illinois

"Thanks for a great day. The small group, the site and your work made for an extremely beneficial day ... Your style is conducive to learning a lot of material in a short amount of time and I like it!"

- Jacob, Principal, Illinois