“Starting your own business is hard work! I never realised the effort that went into marketing strategy, branding, networking and other aspects. It’s been eye-opening to say the least – particularly when juggling a full-time job. But when you are passionate and driven by a bigger purpose, you find time to fit it all in.
I love working for myself and the flexibility it brings.
I love working for myself and the flexibility it brings. I love coaching people; and I love seeing the transformations. That alone was enough to push on through the workload!”
Frieda Levycky had a specific goal in mind when she joined the Coach Training World community. As a corporate attorney, she sought to offer the same empowerment and forward direction she’d discovered through coaching to other professionals in the legal community.
But her decision wasn’t made overnight. It was the product of time and considerable self-exploration.
Frieda’s entry into the coaching world actually began with the residuals of professional counseling. She had struggled for years with feelings of rejection, as well as a need for praise and recognition after her father’s departure when she was a teenager. This early lack of emotional support impacted Frieda well into adulthood.
Counseling helped her work through some of these unresolved issues. But she still found herself struggling to move forward in certain aspects of life and relationships, unsure which direction to take.
“Everything seemed pretty daunting and unfamiliar to my patterned past. So, I did a lot of reading, and came across a relationship coaching programme (my biggest issue at the time). It helped me put things into perspective – to realise that in order to move forward, I would have to work on myself first, before the external world.”
After three years of trial and error, Frieda finally met Justin, her ideal partner. Ironically, her priorities had shifted. A romantic relationship wasn’t as important as it had been when she started. Frieda had gained so much more from coaching. She felt lighter, happier and more empowered. Justin was icing on the cake.
This was one of many “a-ha!” moments Frieda would experience. She discovered a meaningful path forward – one directly aligned with a calling she’d had all her life. By supplementing her legal expertise with the tools and methodology of professional coaching, she could keep her day job while helping those within her specialty.
“I have always wanted to help people, from a very young age. Through law, I got to help my clients build their businesses and grow their empires. Alongside that, I found that my friends and colleagues often came to seek advice on a variety of issues, both personal and professional – many of which stemmed from their demanding careers.”
Frieda recognized a need and opportunity. She could empower lawyers and other professionals to be happier and healthier by helping them create a fulfilling balance between the professional and personal. Like so many of us who find our way to coaching, this gives her a chance to pass on valuable experience and knowledge to those who truly need it. Frieda’s coaching practice, Braving Boundaries, was born.
“Being a lawyer is tough. It’s a challenging job with long hours, complicated work and demanding clients, in a work environment that isn’t always the friendliest. As a lawyer myself for over 15 years, I know all too well how often work spills over into your personal life.
As much as I’ve thrived in the legal environment, I also watched the impact it had on my personal life. I watched romantic relationships fall apart, missed holidays and dinners, upset family members, and experienced suffocating levels of stress.”
So today, in addition to her law career, Frieda helps legal professionals who are burdened from juggling the many demands of their lives. She works to create real life balance so they can lead happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives, professionally and personally.
“I provide a safe space for legal professionals to talk about personal matters with someone who understands their world – issues they struggle to discuss with anyone else and may not even think are related. So many things have a significant impact on our work. I want my clients to find their confidence, to find their voices, and put themselves as their number one priority.
Truth be told, if they do that, they’ll become better lawyers!
Being a lawyer myself and having walked my talk (and continuing to do so), I hope to give legal professionals the reassurance that they are not alone. They can talk these issues through without judgment and in confidence. They can transform their lives and be the person they want to be. Best of all, they don’t have to quit their jobs to do it!”
Next, Frieda is set to become an accredited enneagram coach in May 2020. From there, she plans to develop her coaching expertise in the area of neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), and possibly other brain-based coaching skills. A return to school may also be in her future as she weighs the value of counselling qualifications. Having benefited from both counselling and coaching herself, she sees further opportunities for a combined practice.
Learn more about Frieda at: www.bravingboundaries.com