What did I do before I was a life coach and created Start Loving Life?

I was blessed with a wonderful career in the cosmetic industry. Before that, I never loved school. I always thought it was kinda silly to study for a test just to forget it all the next day. I also felt something was truly off about the education system: it was set up to determine your level of intelligence by forcing random subjects on you and then judging you based on a grading system that someone just made up. So although I did well in school I was never a fan. And as much as I love to call out this “not ideal” system (like I do in my new book!), I actually appreciate my school experience very much. Because luckily (wayyyyy before my Start Loving Life self) I somehow figured out how to leverage my situation.

I always loved beauty, hair, make-up, and fashion, so I jumped at the chance to enroll in the cosmetology program my high school provided during school hours. I got school credit and it was free! That one decision set me up for something big before I even knew what it was.

After I graduated, I attended a cosmetics marketing program and quickly landed a job in the cosmetic industry. I started as a Beauty Advisor for the cosmetics brand Color Me Beautiful. It was an interesting entry level brand that coordinated your make-up colors (and clothing) with your skin undertones. It actually kinda worked – based on your skin coloring, certain colors do indeed look better on you. That’s why my love of pink make sense: in the CMB world I was a deep winter and looked best in cool tones. Within a short period of time I left for a more established brand, and first “real job” amongst the big beauty brands, working for Chanel as a Beauty Advisor in Macy’s Smithaven, Lake Grove, New York. I loved the job and the brand! From there, I grew and worked for many different amazing brands. I went from being a Beauty Advisor (make-up artist) to many different positions within management and multi-account management for retailers such as Macys, Bloomingdales, Lord & Taylor, Nordstrom … you name it! The brands I worked for included Estee Lauder cosmetics, their fragrance division Aramis & Designer fragrances, Puig, Prada Beauty, and Bare Escentuals. My last company within the industry was Clarins which I left in 2016.

I also did end up going to college at night very early on in my career. As I mentioned, I wasn’t a school fan but I am an “opportunity” fan and felt that not having my degree may put me at a disadvantage. So I went at night and on weekends for many years and graduated with a BS in Business.

I never imagined I would have gone from a career in beauty to the self-help industry. It’s a great example of how the universe pretty much knows better than you. My planned out life pretty much took a turn in a direction I never imagined and opened me up to a new life, a changed mindset, and opportunities I never even knew existed. I talk at length about this in my book, but I share here because life really is about being open, trusting, and embracing everything that comes your way. Even if, at the time, it makes no sense or it wasn’t in “the plan”.
I consider my time and experience in the beauty industry the perfect platform for the creation of who I am now, and who I am continually becoming. This is true of everyone’s past, once you understand the value of why things happen. Again, that’s something else I share in my book. And although it seems like I keep plugging my book (LOL!) it’s really because I feel so strongly about what I now know and how it changed my life.

How did I end up working with kids & teens?

I first started my coaching practice part time (working nights and weekends) while working full-time in the cosmetics industry in 2007. I worked specifically with executives ranging from various industries including retail, finance, law, and real estate.

After my clients achieved much success working with me, I found an overwhelming number of them requesting that I work with their kids. Originally, I took that as a compliment, but I really had no interest in working with kids. So I brushed off the conversation any time a client brought it up – until, one day a very close client shared a story about her 12 year old daughter being bullied at school. She placed her daughter in therapy, but saw little success, and the therapist recommended a light dose of medication to help with her anxiety. I was baffled (and pretty annoyed) as to why meds were the answer for her daughter. With the limited information her mother shared, I knew the answer. Her child didn’t need meds, she needed confidence. She needed to improve her self-esteem. That was the real SOLUTION she was seeking. So, low and behold (that universe is pretty smart) I told her mother to bring her in. After completing my Start Loving Life 30 Day Program, this girl went from wanting to switch schools to never mentioning switching schools again. She was happier, more confident, and was trying out for the school play by the end of the month. I was pretty amazed at how receptive she was to my teachings. I soon realized that kids, more so than adults, so desperately needed what I had to offer. I knew that teaching a child how to Start Loving Life at an early age would change the entire trajectory of their life for the better. As a result, Start Loving Life became the go-to for parents and kids alike, first on a local level and for the past few years it has grown on a national level.

I am proud to say I have influenced and impacted more kids than I could have ever imagined. How? By teaching them the easy, simple tools and techniques from my “30 Days to Happy” Program, which includes how to be happy, confident and love life in as little as 30 days. Something EVERY child should learn.

What makes me different than most coaches or therapists?

I LOVE LIFE. I LOVE what I do. I BELIEVE in what I do.
And my goal for your child is to achieve RESULTS.

There is never a reason for a child to be in therapy for years OR in therapy with little to NO RESULTS.

Do not settle for less than what your child deserves. Every child has the ability to be happy and confident. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE.