Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Melinda Fouts, Ph. D.. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Melinda, appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

After having a successful private practice as a Jungian-based Psychotherapist, a global CIO suggested I become an executive coach because she had had several executive coaches throughout her career, and in her words, no had helped her and I did.
After taking an executive course for 8 months, I launched myself as an executive coach. I learned I could still use the tools and techniques I had crafted over time but in a different way, like I did with the Global CIO.
While trying to build up my coaching practice which was a minor risk to deviate from a thriving private practice, one day, a potential client called me. During our conversation, I helped him understand the two VP’s he was describing lacked soft skills. He was elated and told me I nailed it. Then, after a silence he asks, do you do leadership development trainings? I thought to myself rather quickly, say YES! I had taught at the University years ago, I knew I could develop strong content and so, my YES was a huge risk as I had not created any leadership development courses. There was, a YES hanging in the air between us. I quickly told him one of my best courses was on emotional intelligence which addressed the soft skills issue. He told me he would get back to me to schedule trainings for his organization. In the meantime, I started working on courses and now have 13 signature leadership development trainings I offer. The icing on the top were twofold. His company had me conduct trainings 6 times over the course of the year. And, the CEO brought me into his office one day and told me a survey was sent out to all the employees asking just two questions: what did they want more of and what did they want less of. He was shocked when the results came in. He told me, it was 100% unanimous they wanted more of Dr. Melinda Fouts. Now that was the best risk I have ever taken in my career. I tell my clients, show up, say yes, and then figure it out.

Melinda, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

In the beginning, I became a Jungian based psychotherapist and received my Masters and Doctorate. The journey as a psychotherapist led me to become an expert witness in court on domestic violence and child abuse. This specialty also was such a challenge as we have more of a legal system instead of a justice system. Because I understood the psychology of why the woman stays in an abusive relationship, I helped many of them win their cases. It was also the source of my burn out and turning to executive coaching.
Executive coaching is very dynamic and as I mentioned, I can use the same tools I’ve crafted over my career. There are several aspects that set me apart from other coaches. First of all, my plethora of years in working with individuals and organizations. I am often told by my clients, they were drawn to me because of my psychology degree and that I have a Ph. D. In addition to my formal training, my father took me on business trips and meetings beginning at the age of 5 and I was told, no crayons, you are going to sit, listen, and learn. By the time I was 12, I was consulting him in his business and editing his speeches.
I love what I do and passionate in helping those I work with to overcome what prevents them from attaining their fullest potential. My mission statement for all these years has been, if I can help one person have more inner peace, we are one step closer to world peace. When we are suffering, we inevitable create suffering. Imagine the person who becomes defensive, they are suffering and becoming defensive breaks down communication creating more suffering, instead of arriving at understanding.
This is why Success Starts with You. Even if you are successful, you still get in your own way. I have clients, CEO’s who suffer from imposter syndrome. That is internal suffering and robs them of feeling really successful. I witness is all the time.
What am I most proud of? Well, as a psychotherapist, the statistics are, I should loose a patient to suicide every 3 – 5 years. In more than 25 years, I have lost no one. Humbling, and at the same time, I am proud of this fact.
I have written a book, Cognitive Enlightenment as well as writing for Forbes. I am often a keynote speaker on different topics, one is Channeling Feminine Energy in the Face of Adversity. This is not about gender. Other keynotes are Embracing Change, and Understanding Accountability – Enhancing Company Culture.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Long ago, I worked for Arthur Andersen in San Francisco. With a strong business acumen and finance, I thought this was a great launch for my career in business. However, I did three moves that created my demise with that firm. There was an unwritten but well known rule of wearing only navy blue, black, or grey suits. Being an independent soul who loves colors, I wore a red suit with red pumps to work on Valentine’s Day. The next day, many of the men were wearing colored shirts. This was my first ding. The second was rather innocent, so I thought. We would spend weeks on audits sometimes working 80 hours a week. We usually started at 8am and you never knew when you would finish for the day. When the audit was over, you could find yourself sitting in the office with nothing to do. Being an avid sailor, I would see it was a good sailing day, check myself out of the office and go sailing. One day, some of my friends asked me where I go? I told them and they started to tag along. My second ding. We were supposed to be doing extra studies during our hours sitting in the office. Finally, I was on an audit at Ghiredelli Chocolate. My manager barked at me to reconcile a rather small, insignificant amount and I argued back it was immaterial. He told me to do what I was told. I walked out to calm down and saw the partner walking down the hall. I told him what happened. He told me I was out of line even though I was correct. He said, “You are supposed to do what you are told. I am here to let him know he is wrong.” That was the final straw and end of my career. Even though I was good at what I was doing, I was told to leave as I was a bad influence. I was offered a nice severance package to leave quietly.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I was a music major in theory and composition. Part of the music program was to participate in a small chamber group. I played the harpsichord. As much as I enjoyed playing with the group, I decided not to sign up the following semester because I believed I was not as good as a player as everyone else in the chamber group. Soon after the new semester began, I heard the professor of our group yelling my name in the practice room area. Everyone came out of their rooms as he was angry. When he found me, he yelled, “Why didn’t you sign up for the chamber group?” I told him I was not as good a player as everyone else. He stared at me with disbelief and said, “What!” You may not be technically as good but it is because of you the group makes music. Anyone can be technically good but not really bring out the music in the piece. You keep the group together and music comes out of the chamber group.” I was shocked as his words sunk in. It is about turning the notes on a page into something that sings to the soul. That day, I learned, a great deal. We often place importance on the technical, unimportant aspects in any business and do not focus upon what is really important, whether it is making music or connecting with the employee who brings something all together unique to the team.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.successstartswithyou.net
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melinda-fouts/

Image Credits

Most of the photos are my own and my husband took most of those. The Professional photos are by Michael Hefferon who has approved my use of these photos. I certify I have the rights to all the photos.