Most importantly Joel gave me the “okay” to seek passion in my work. Our society is not really set up to encourage people to connect with and respect their truest self and then to go contribute to the world around them with their own passions and talents. My parents did a pretty good job supporting me in following my dreams, but at some level their own agenda and societal pressures set in and the goal was to get a job regardless. Then once I was in my chosen field, there didn’t seem to be much room to continue thinking about my dreams and how to reach them. I felt stuck in my own original dream with not a lot of support around for seeking something that might be more of my passion. You offered that place for me without agenda, question or criticism as if it is a complete given that we should all have the opportunity to find our true passion at work. That should be a given, but it’s not and so when the opportunity was presented to me, it felt like a true gift.
Joel has created a systematic way to discover and find the work that fully resonates with your truest passion. The honesty and wholeness with which he personally embraces life resounds in his work, making space for you to uncover your truest work.
Joel is his own best advertisement. He is so clearly doing the work he was meant to do his dream job. He is passionate about his work, and is wholeheartedly committed to and completely enlivened by the opportunity for others to work with their own passions, talents and gifts. His passion for his job gives you permission to follow yours. Joel is a partner in your journey to that passion, providing support, enthusiasm, expertise, celebration and joy from defining your dream job to landing it.
Joel was one of the best investments I’ve ever made in myself and my life.
When I began coaching I was in a job that I had previously defined as my “dream job.” It had all the elements of the ideal job that I had contemplated, listed and discussed many times. But while it fulfilled those requirements on paper, it was somehow unfulfilling in reality. I knew I was staying in the field because it’s what I was trained to do and it is something I feel strongly about, but I knew it wasn’t “my calling.” It not only didn’t fulfill me, but it also didn’t offer me an opportunity to use all of me at my best all of my passion, talents and skills. I knew there was another path out there for me; I was just scared to find and follow it.
I discovered my dream field the field where I would feel fulfilled and where all of my talents, passions and skills would be fully engaged and I landed a job in this field. On the process side, I was diligent, proactive, intentioned and committed. I learned how to see these qualities in myself and access them. This was the lesson I needed to learn experientially in order to generalize them to my broader life. Coaching gave me the opportunity to do that.
On my first day of work as I sat tieing my shoes, I couldn’t help but smile. I was on my way to my first day in the field I’d wanted to be in for 11 years. Joy at work was exactly what I was looking for when I started to work with you - joy and passion. Now I have both!
Brett Penfil
Organization Consultant,
Blue Shield of California