Butterfly's Resident Career Coach, Julie C.

As reported By Buttefly Co-Founder, Bradi Nathan


BN: Too often children are asked what they want to be when they grow up. How is my five-year old suppose to know the limitless opportunities that lie before her? Yesterday she wanted to be a soccer player and today she wants to be Hannah Montana. I am 37 years old and I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up, other than a grandmother. We spend our whole lives figuring out what we don’t want to do. And, if we’re lucky enough, we stumble upon our passion that leads to our long desired “ah-ha” moment.

Julie Cohen, Professional Certified Career/Life Coach, has enabled people all over the world to yell “ah-ha!” It is her job to guide those on their journey to find that ideal position, whatever and wherever that may be. As a mother, Julie manages her own work/life balance and today offers a teleclass called, “Overcoming the 7 Barriers to Work/Life Balance.” In an exclusive interview with Butterfly, Julie shares invaluable advice and guidance for anyone at a career/family crossroad:

BN: What did you do before you had your son?

JC: My career evolved over an 11-year period before I left traditional employment to start my own career and life coaching business. I spent seven years working at three colleges in various roles, the last one as a career counselor. I then transitioned into the corporate world as a human resources professional, working with employees to make the most of their work experience. In this role, I was exposed to coaching, which was my “ah-ha" moment. I knew this was the type of work I wanted do! So, I started planning how I would eventually develop my own business to allow me to coach full time. About a year after I was married, I took the plunge, resigned and started my own business. This also allowed me to begin having a lot more control over my schedule and to begin thinking about having a child. I spent two years starting my business and then had my son, who is now six.


BN: How did that prepare you to become a Professional Certified Coach?

JC: When I committed to developing my own business, I wanted to have the most appropriate and meaningful credentials. I invested time and energy in taking extensive training and working towards my certification. Fortunately, most of the training occurred in a teleclass format where I spent 400 hours in phone-based training classes with students and teachers from around the world.


BN: What did you need to do in order to gain this title?

JC: Professional Certified Coach (PCC) is a credential through the International Coach Federation (ICF), which is the professional association for the coaching profession worldwide. This certification requires extensive hours of training, coaching clients, recommendations and mentoring. I have just completed the highest credential, Master Certified Coach (MCC).


BN: How did your work in corporate enable you to start your own business?

JC: It gave me exposure to the coaching profession, confidence in my skills and credibility to potential clients. It also motivated me as I wanted to leave the corporate environment and have more control of my schedule and lifestyle. So, I worked hard to leave the corporate world and make my business a success.


BN: Are there any secrets you can share in achieving your own work/life balance?

JC: A couple of things are most important:

• Remember that work/life balance is a journey - at any one moment, things will not be perfect. Move towards what you've defined as your work/life balance choices...not what others think work/life balance is for you (or for them)

• Be gentle with yourself and don't be shy about asking for help. We're often our own harshest critics, assuming we should be able to 'do it all.' My work/life balance is at it's best when I'm at my best...taking care of myself and having a team of support around me.


BN: How has helping others benefited you with your own personal journey?

JC: It reminds me every day that there is no perfect mix of 'work/life balance.' We each have our own set of values, priorities and passions...what's right for me, is right for me.


Visit our Entrepreneur Section for specific resources.

Julie Cohen, Career and Personal Coach, p: 215-635-4719 w: www.JulieCohenCoaching.com
e: Julie@JulieCohenCoaching.com or visit Julie’s new website: www.7Barriers.com

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