Joan’s coaching has helped me expand my business, gain new clients and accomplish a number of ambitious professional and personal goals.
My main goal when I began working with Joan was to keep my business thriving while I took on a volunteer leadership role for a professional association. I had seen colleagues lose clients—and a lot of sleep—when they served in a similar capacity. I couldn’t afford to have that happen.
Joan asks great “what-if” questions. She helps me set priorities, delegate as needed, and stay accountable to my goals. She has also provided a number of valuable contacts from her own extensive network, some of whom have now become clients. Joan offers uncommon wisdom and insight about the business world and working with people. In the three years Joan has been my coach, I have seen a measurable increase in my business income, my volunteer group landed a top award, and I have gained more time to spend with family and friends.
I heartily recommend Joan Bolmer as a career and business strategist
for anyone seeking to overcome challenges and accomplish greater professional
success and satisfying life balance.
Susan H. Burnell, APR
President, Imagination Ink - Business Writing & Public Relations
From a Community Magazine & Marketing Company Owner
"I want to tell you know how much I appreciate your advice a few months
ago. We have set limits and enforced them and it has made a BIG difference
in our business. Our productivity has increased and our client headaches
have decreased. The past two months have been the most profitable in our
3-and-a-half-year company history. It’s not a perfect world and
there will always be problem clients, but now I feel we can at least minimize
them."
--Michael Hoffman, michael@hoffmanmarketing.com
Former Arthur Anderson Consultant Buys Her Dream Business "Thank
you for all your help over the years. I would not have realized my dream
of owning my own business without your help. I treasure your wisdom, kindness,
and acceptance."
--M. Young, Scuba Shop Owner
Overwhelmed and Ready to Quit Ted started a commercial
landscape and grounds maintenance division for a large, national hospital
housekeeping-service corporation. In spite of 13 years experience and
having build a profitable business entity, Ted was so discouraged with
the parent company's demands that he was considering going back to school
and making a complete career change.
After several months of coaching, he decided to buy the Commercial Landscape
Division from the parent company. This required thinking in new ways and
developing his own management systems. At first, Ted was overwhelmed with
paperwork, crew, and client demands. He needed help in prioritizing what
systems to work on first to minimize the fires, and how to train and delegate
work down the organization. After seven years of coaching, Ted is well
past the 2-million-dollar mark and growing at a very brisk pace, despite
a 3-year dip in the national and local economy.
Technical Writer's Dream Genevieve is a very talented
technical writer and "IT Information Architect." Although she managed
the technical writing department for a software company, she knew that
she wanted to be in business for herself. For six months before leaving
her employer, we planned her business strategy. She saved money and worked
on deepening her network of potential clients.
Within nine months of starting her business, she had reached her first
goal, which was to double her income. Over four years of coaching, she
developed a cadre of technical writing contractors to handle work she
does not want to do, published a book of poetry, and a much-needed software
textbook. She is right on track for building her business the way she
wants it to be.
Testimonials - Executive and Corporate Manager Coaching
"Dear Joan,
I will always be grateful for the incredible contributions you have made
to my personal and professional development this past year. Since starting
at a new firm in my first real managerial role, you've been a tremendously
positive, caring, and supportive coach. Your guidance, experience, and
insight into human nature taught me that the interrelationship of who
you are personally cannot be separated from who you are professionally.
To be happy, healthy, and successful requires much introspection, dedication,
self respect/belief in yourself, and hard work. All of the sweat and tears
were well worth it! It's also amazing how implementing the many management
techniques and tools you've taught me makes managing staff easier and
everyone happier. Thank you so much."
-Wendy Axelrod, Regional Practice Support Manager, Fulbright &
Jaworski
"Joan is an excellent management coach--warm personality, highly
intelligent, and extremely insightful. She has repeatedly helped members
of my team to develop personal and professional skills to enhance their
careers. It is always a pleasure to work with Joan and there is always
a clear value in her services and advice."
Top Qualities: Great Results, Personable, Expert
-Tom Barce, Assistant Director of Practice Support at Fulbright
& Jaworski
"Dear Joan,
I want to thank you for advising me, listening to me, pushing me when
I was stuck, making me laugh, lending me your assertiveness when I couldn't
find my own. Life continues to be interesting... And thank you again."
- D.S., Assistant Director, Large Nonprofit, San Diego, CA
"Dear Joan,
I want to thank you for your insight this morning. It has made a huge
difference for me. I am confident and now taking charge of my 'new' responsibilities.
I needed to do an about face! Thank you so much for telling me the truth!"
- J.S., Director of Corporate Accounting
Example of New Project Manager Coaching Success
When Janet was promoted from project lead to project manager, her supervisor
recognized her technical talent, but was concerned about her lack of self-confidence
and experience in managing.
Janet's project assignment was high profile and high pressure. She needed
more help than her supervisor had time to give. In order to assure Janet
a fast start and short learning curve, her supervisor offered her the
opportunity to have a company-paid outside coach to support her in this
transition.
Janet was delighted. She set specific personal development goals ranging
from managing difficult situations with clients and team dynamics to getting
enough rest and staying healthy under pressure and stress.
After eighteen months of coaching, Janet had matured beautifully and had
a superior performance review. Although the company cut funding for outside
coaching, Janet felt coaching had been so valuable for her that she continued
coaching and paid for it herself.
Job Search Testimonials
"Joan Bolmer is the woman who I spoke about at our meeting
last week. I followed up with her after she presented to the Sr. Managers
Group meeting a couple of weeks ago and she did incredible things for
my resume. The best thing was that she did not write it for me. She asked
me to send her written answers to questions that she sent me like ‘What
do like to do and do well?’ When we connected over the phone she
pointed out phrases that I had written and showed me how to weave them
together to better communicate what I do in my resume. They are my words,
not hers, but she helped me get them into my resume with power and focus.”
- Art Saxby, Sr. Marketing/Financial Executive
"Joan Bolmer pushed me to bring out my best qualities
and put them on paper. My resume stood out because of her creative insight
on how to display my experience. Working with Joan helped me get to know
myself and be proud of my achievements, giving me the confidence I needed
to land my perfect job.
Every single interviewer said I had the most unique and interesting resume
of all their applicants.
Thank you so much!"
- Sofia, PR Manager Latin America
"Dear Joan,
After completing my resume work with you, I sent a resume in response
to a job advertisement. Within one week I received a call from the HR
Manager.
At the start of the interview, the President of the company told me they
had received many resumes in response to their advertisement, but there
was only one resume that really stood out and that was mine!
Needless to say, I was thrilled and thought to myself that the money and
time I was spending with Joan was indeed an investment in myself that
was paying off."
- Many thanks, R. Moss, Manager Customer Service
"Dear Joan,
Many thanks for your comments. Your positive enthusiasm is a joy to experience!
I feel as though you are already in my foxhole and I look forward to working
with you.
It's been quite a ride up to now, but I would like to find a really fulfilling
job, where I am truly appreciated and paid well for my contribution. I
am so much more confident knowing that your are behind me."
- Thank you, BT, IT Project Manager
********
Clients include corporate executives and managers in companies
such as: Medtronic, Grunenthal Pharmaceutical, Shell Oil, Halliburton,
HP, BMC, IBM, DBM, Du Pont Medical Products, AT&T, Iowa Beef Processing,
Southwestern Bell, and The UT Houston Medical School.
Joan Bolmer, 2400 Briarwest Boulevard, #1907, Houston,
TX 77077; Office 281.293.8864
Copyright (c) 2007-2009, by Joan Bolmer, all rights reserved. Contact
Joan Bolmer by e-mail at joan@bolmer.com Website: http://www.bolmer.com
Permission is granted to reproduce, copy or distribute
this article so long as this copyright notice and full information about
contacting the author is attached.
