Our Coaching Institute Graduates

Name: Vicki Maree Lennox

Your previous job:

I've had many jobs over the years from teaching deportment & grooming; office work; retail sales; sales rep. in Travel, Hospitality & Pharmaceutical sectors to consultancy work. Most recent position before deciding to train as a life coach was at Hippocrates Health Centre.

How long did you work there?

7 months

What was your position?

I did everything – meeting and greeting new students, student orientation, exercise classes, classes on health and dis-ease states, preparation of all meals for faculty and students as well as classes on food preparation.

When/why did you decide to learn coaching?

I suffered what I like to call ‘a major meltdown’ and was totally incapable of even getting out of bed for a long while, so moved in with my mother who looked after me for about 6 years. Once I regained my physical health and was ready to return to the workforce, I realised what little confidence and self esteem I once had, was gone. What’s more, so had every ounce of ambition, imagination, energy and enthusiasm – gone, just drained away. I knew for sure what I didn’t want – I didn’t want anything at all… and that’s exactly what I felt I had – no thing at all. I knew about life coaching and once upon a time (long, long ago) had thought that I’d make a great life coach, but thought “I’m absolutely no good to myself. Look at me ….what good could I be to anyone else.

At that time, I had subscribed to the Healthy, Wealthy ‘n’ Wise newsletter and through it in January, 2006, was invited to attend a tele-class. That tele-class re-ignited the flame. I began to research life coaching courses and knew that The Coaching Institute was where I would like to study if I wasn’t so spiritually broken and $$$-poor. Even though I was completely unaware of it at the time, the flame continued to flicker and grow and a few months later after a string of what I thought of then as coincidences, I found myself enrolling as a student at The Coaching Institute.

What symptoms did you have that prompted this career change decision?

Physically – I was diagnosed with hypertension (high blood pressure), depression and was having a really hard time transitioning into menopause and was treated with anti-hypertensives, anti-depressants and HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy). I had intense pain throughout my body and was chronically fatigued which, I found out later was caused by undiagnosed glandular fever. I had absolutely no energy, no joy, no spark. I remember ending my prayers every night, “Please, God, if this is how I am going to feel for the rest of my life, take me now.” Fortunately, God had other ideas. I believe my ‘meltdown’ was truly a gift from God. It happened because I was way off-course and although I’d had many opportunities to take corrective action, for whatever reason, I had failed to notice them. A major meltdown was the only way I would be jolted enough to notice that I’d steered myself into a ditch. It was also the only way I could be isolated enough and stripped of every distraction and delay tactic that I’d habitually employed to avoid coming face to face with my own destiny.

What skills now benefit you and/or your company?

Oh, my goodness, I’m a completely different person. The first thing I learned was that in order for me to have more, someone else doesn’t have to go without – there is infinite abundance and as more people have more, the pie simply gets bigger. That was a big one for me. Then, I learned to ask for what I want – if I don’t know what I want, there is no way I can possibly get what I want. I learned to deeply ‘tune in’ to others, to listen for and hear what’s really being said/meant – just as we read body language to give us clues about the person we are observing, their languaging, tone and underlying attitudes are powerful clues, even if you can’t see them. And, I learned to listen & respond with my heart – not my ego.

What do I do as a coach?

My passion is to empower women who are just like I was a few years ago – to help them reconnect with their passion, values and strengths, reignite their dreams so they can identify what they want to be, do and have and live the abundant and productive life they deserve to live while fulfilling their life purpose.

Any other comments or examples you want to mention regarding how your training at The Coaching Institute has changed/benefited your life and/or career and those around you?

I just want to thank Terri, her amazing team and my fabulous C.I. [Coaching Institute] family from all over the world for all the love, support, sharing, encouragement as well as the practical training, mentoring, knowledge and skills they all so willingly exemplify, share and pass on, I am now living my dream and doing the work I was born to do. Thank you all from the bottom of my now full and open heart.

If somebody has a question and wants to email you to ask personally – can they?

I would welcome the opportunity to answer questions and inspire in any way I can. My email address is vlennox@bigpond.net.au