She'll Help You Get the Life You Want

Cheryl Richardson is a professional speaker and a personal coach who assists people in achieving professional success without compromising their quality of life. She has been voted one of the top 10 coaches in America by readers of The Professional Coach and is the first president of the International Coach Federation. Cheryl also holds one of the Federation’s first Master Certified Coach credentials. As a professional speaker, Cheryl has designed and presented programs to such major universities as Harvard and Georgetown, Fortune 500 companies, educational conferences and professional associations.

Cheryl is the author of two very successful self-care books, Take Time for Your Life: The Personal Coach’s Seven Step Program for Creating the Life You Want and Life Makeovers. Following is an excerpt from interview that Cheryl gave to iVillage.com after the publication of her first book.

· What made you decide to write this book?

CR: Well, I've been working as a personal coach for the past eight years. My book covers the seven common obstacles that consistently prevent my clients from living high-quality lives -- and it provides solutions that allow readers to reclaim their sanity and take better care of themselves. · You are a well-known personal coach. How does 'coaching' differ from therapy?

CR: Coaching is all about action. Coaching focuses on moving forward through fear, doubt and other emotional obstacles and making the changes you need to make to improve your life. Therapy, on the other hand, is more process-oriented. It can help a patient break through her emotional blocks as they relate to her personal history, whereas coaching is about today and tomorrow.

· What are the seven common obstacles that prevent people from living lives they love?

CR: Number One: We (women especially) still think selfish is a dirty word, and we keep putting the needs of others before our own.

Number Two: We spend our time and energy on other people's priorities and needs and not enough on what really matters to us.

Number Three: Our energy is drained by people, places and things -- the car that needs an oil change, the taxes that need to get done or the friend who is always complaining.

Number Four: Money -- or the lack thereof. We need to invest in our financial health so we have more choices.

Number Five: Adrenaline has become the American drug of choice; we just can't slow down.

Number Six: We lack a supportive, nurturing community that challenges us to grow and to be the best we can be.

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