Stephen Schmitt

I started using a personal coach in the summer of 2008. Steve Schmitt is a trusted colleague and business associate I met in the mid-1980's. We started our coaching relationship by working on a handful of personal issues. This framework allowed me to learn his process and to test my own ability to internalize the work we were doing.

My realization that our work was of real value came in the form of leveraged success -- the notion that progress in one area of my personal life would bring progress in another area without any additional work or investment in that second area. As Steve and I worked on strategies to enhance my positive influence on my son, I noticed my relationship with my wife improved -- not by accident, but because I was implementing "lessons learned" across many aspects of my personal life.

Based on logarithmic progress between July 2008 and November 2008, I decided to extend our weekly 50-minute meetings to encompass my professional life. Again, based on knowing and using Steve's framework, we made incredible progress in only three weeks. I went from being frustrated about my ability to make an impact on my team, to being the team's visionary -- setting team goals, representing the team to management, and developing tenets and deliverables. Through Steve's process, I was able to identify ways to apply my personal and specialized talents to make foundational changes. Steve's process allowed me to focus, concentrate, and stay free from counter-productive behaviors. Since Steve and I began working on professional issues, I have gone from feeling "directionless" to feeling
empowered, even enlightened. I am excited, prepared, and resolute.

The structure Steve suggests is truly impressive -- I was always completely comfortable with his approach -- mainly because Steve's goal has always been to do what is right for me. He allows me to set my own goals for his coaching, but never allows me to skip steps, get lazy, or ignore obligations. I drive, but he makes sure I stay on the track -- not because he steers, but because he challenges me to know why staying on the track is important to me, what it means to be a good driver, and allows me envision a perfectly executed lap.